10/14/2026
Hock pain is the most common hind end lameness in a horse.
A horse’s hock is anatomically comparable to the human heel: The point of the hock is called the calcaneus, same bone as the human heel.
That means the large tendon just above the hock is anatomically comparable to the human achilles.
In the horse, this is called the common calcaneal tendon, and is one giant attachment site on the hock for the:
🦵🏻 gastrocnemius
🦵🏻 soleus
🦵🏻 semitendinosis
🦵🏻 biceps femoris
🦵🏻 deep digital flexor tendon
Muscles recover quickly because of the amount of blood supply they have, but tendons do not always handle load or recover as well or as fast as muscles do. They can be the “weakest link” on an athlete.
In my old age (lol, my thirties) my achilles has continually given me more issues as I continue to lift and workout. I have to spend extra time recovering and warming up this one part of my body 🫣
If hock pain is the most common hind end lameness, we’re probably missing a LOT of cases of tendon pain or discomfort in our horses.
Blading can be done daily, each time you ride, weekly, or just anytime you’re willing to add it to your regular routine.
When a blade is applied to the soft tissue it creates micro trauma, or localized inflammation.
The activity of fibroblasts, and the number of fibroblasts increase, along with fibronectin, which then facilitates the synthesis and realignment of collagen.
Healthy, aligned collagen supports function of the tendon to maintain both its strength and elasticity.
Supporting your horse’s tendons supports their longevity, their comfort, and their performance.
Comment “blade” for the link to my class.
An interesting read here if you want to rear more:
Effects of Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Musculoskeletal Properties
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of IASTM in plantarflexors and Achilles tendon on the mechanical and neural properties of them.
Results: After IASTM, the dorsiflexion range of motion significantly increased by 10.7% ± 10.8% and ankle joint stiffness significantly decreased by -6.2% ± 10.1%.
