About Happy Hocks

A Hock Sore Problem That Needed a Better Solution

Necessity is the mother of invention! When my mare developed hock sores, I had to find something that would stay in place to comfort and heal. It was frustrating. The products I tried didn't work consistently, so I set out to design a shield that would check all the boxes.

That's how Dawn McChesney describes the start of Happy Hocks. She tried what was on the market. Some were made of neoprene that trapped heat against the skin. Others wouldn't stay in place long enough to do any good. Nothing worked the way she needed it to.

Working with her daughter-in-law Cheyenne, Dawn designed every detail from scratch: breathable fabric that would let the skin heal instead of trapping moisture, padding shaped to the hock joint to allow freedom of movement, straps that would actually stay in place without putting pressure on tendons, and a design that could be hosed off and dried in 30 minutes for daily use.

The result was Happy Hocks.

Family-Made with Materials Made in the USA

Happy Hocks is a family business. Dawn and Cheyenne McChesney make every pair of shields themselves, using materials sourced and made in the USA. There's no overseas factory or mass production line. When you order from Happy Hocks, your shields are made by the same people who designed them and who use them on their own horses.

Why Happy Hocks Are Different

Most hock shields on the market use neoprene. It's durable and water-resistant, but it doesn't breathe. For a horse with open or healing hock sores, trapping heat and moisture against the skin works against healing. Some horses also have neoprene sensitivity, which creates a whole new problem.

Happy Hocks took a different approach. The shields are made with breathable rip-resistant fabric that allows air to flow to the skin. The padding is shaped to the hock joint so the horse can move naturally. And the crossover silicone-sided elastic bands hold the shields in place without the common problem of straps that squeeze, slip, or twist.

The design is patent pending because it genuinely does something different from what's already out there. It wasn't engineered to fit a price point or fill a product catalog. It was designed by a horse owner who needed it to work.

Our Promise

We know what it's like to watch your horse deal with hock sores and feel like you can't find a solution that works. That's why we started Happy Hocks, and it's why we stand behind every pair we make.

If you have questions about sizing, need help deciding between the Sport and the H2O, or just want to talk about your horse's situation, we're always happy to hear from you. Reach out through our contact page.

Thanks for joining our herd.

Dawn & Cheyenne McChesney