16 year old mare

[Tezzy]

My mare is 16 years old & she is now getting very slow. When I take food in the field the young ones run like mad to get to me, but my mare just walks slowly to me. The last couple of years I have noticed she is getting slower. I know it is to do with age, but I would like to use something to help her with her stiff joints. She as never been ridden at all. I have heard that Glucosamine is good for older mares!
Anyone on here heard about it or used it? If so can you tell me what you think please. Or if you use anything else for the older horse & what the outcome is.
any thanks in advance

 

[Brandysnap]

Hi Redrose,
While i'm a fan of glucosamine (+ other things), it may be well worth getting your equine vet to check your lady over, just to check her out, as 16 is a little young to be 'very slow'.

And like with ourselves, i'm a very firm believer in the benefits of exercise, together with good nutrition.

Glucosamine, if i'm correct, helps form connective tissue, including cartilage in joints. Other forum friends may know more, + i hope will contribute. In meantime, i'd try + work her gently, but be careful before you get vet's diagnosis. Maybe she's just laid-back + happy? Hope she's ok, BS x

 

[LauraWheeler]

I agree you should get your vet to have a look.
As for glucosamine I feed it to Lucy who is atleast 20. She has been on it for a couple of years now i put her on it as when we did dressage the judges kept commenting she was a little stiff. Only after a few weeks the comments dissapeared. She also till very recently hunted every week in the winter sometimes twice and did endurance rides of up to and inclu 80km at an average speed of 12kph all summer. The vets at endurance where always amazed by her age and she never failed the vet checks for being stiff. I also feed her cider vinager to keep her helthy. Oil is also good for the joints you can feed vegatable oil or corn oil (this is the best as it is easily digested and quickly absorbed). Gental exercise will help alot if she can't be ridden try walking her out in hand. Lucy has had to stop work due to a rare illness and i walk her out for 10 mins as i have noticed since she stopped work she is looking old and stiff for the first time in ages

. Good luck with your mare i hope this has been of some help to you.

 

[Tezzy]

Thank you both very much. I have the vet coming out this Wednesday to give her the booster for tetanus & flu injection & her teeth are being looked at as well. So I will have her looked over at the same time.
She is a real do gooder. She as always been in very good health & I have always used Apple vineger, like you Laura

I bought her when she were 10 years old. She was just being used for foals. She as had around 4 foals that I knew off. They said that she had ever been broke in for riding. I will start taking her on walks for 10 minutes a day. I know we both will enjoy that

many thanks again.

 

[Kallibear]

Ditto others about 16yrs and never ridden being awfully young to be slowed down extensively by arthritis.

You say she's a very good doer - are you sure she's not slightly laminitic? Frosty grass can give them severe laminitis if they are prone, and lami would definintly make her 'slow'

 

[Shantih]

I was thinking she sounds laminitic, too, especially as she's a good doer. 16 is no age to be slowing down - my 20 year old still races the younger ones up to the top of the field for feed (and wins).

 

[Tezzy]

Just an update. The vet had a good look at her in the field on Wednesday. You was right. She said she could be slightly laminitic

She said she would be eating her food very fast if she was. But she really takes her time with the food. She is always the last one to finish.
The vet could really tell as the field was covered in snow, so her hoofs were cold & she couldn't feel a pulse rate as her feathers are so thick. The vet as told me all the signs to look for & if she starts with them, then I have to put her straight into a stable on box rest & call her out.
I am praying it is the wormer. The vet thinks it could be the wormer or slightly laminitic. I just have to keep a watch on her. I pray she isn't laminitic, that is a horrible thing for an horse to have. Bless her.