a little Bailey update (ginger cob who looked lame on the lunge!)

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sophiebailey

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For those who offered such helpful advice after watching videos of my old man on the lunge I've got a little to offer in the way of an update :)

So vet came and did lameness workup, he trotted out lame on 3 legs. She said given his age its 99% certain to be arthritis. She said it looks to be in his back hocks and front foot.

Decided against scanning/nerve blocking/injections etc as when I weighed up the chances of success vs his age and what he needs to be able to do (light hack) it just didn't seem worth the ££ and getting him all stressed out travelling and having injections (he HATES needles and gets very wide eyed and sweaty when having blood taken, having vaccs etc).

So he's started taking Danilon and we're currently looking into supplements. Currently he's on cortaflex but hoping to find a cheaper alternative.

He does seem (5 days in) to be feeling better on the danilon, he's still very 'clunky' when moving but just seems brighter and more alert and interested in everything!! Hoping to take him for a short 10 minute walking hack at the weekend and see how he copes.

Vet has also taken bloods for a cushings test so will hopefully know if he's positive soon.

Thanks all for the advice + tips :)

From a very grateful Sophie + Bailey xx
 
Ah finally a diagnosis. There's lots of different methods to manage arthiritis it's just about finding the right one for your horse.

I found ...

• daily turnout is essential or even better living out 24/7 is ideal.
• on cold/ rainy/ windy days bring in for a few hours.
• cosequin is a fantastic supplement and although pricey I found it was the only one which worked on my boy.
• light ridden work on a daily basis... Nothing too fast/ avoid jumping/ soft boggy ground/ very hard ground. But it depends how bad it is.
• and deffo no lunging at all.

Hope this helps :)
 
TrasaM said:
Hi. Have been way for a while and wondering how your horse is doing? Hope he's feeling better and responding to treatment?
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Hi! :)

He's certainly much more comfortable in himself now he's on Danilon. We've started riding him out every other day in walk for 10-15 mins and he does struggle a bit but seems to get better as soon as we turn for home!

Still waiting for his cushings results to come in, and trialling all sorts of supplements at the moment so I'm hopeful we'll at the very least be able to make him comfortable, but the vet seemed optimistic that he might be back up to our long hacks come the warmer weather next year!

Thanks for asking xxx
 
sophiebailey said:
Hi! :)

He's certainly much more comfortable in himself now he's on Danilon. We've started riding him out every other day in walk for 10-15 mins and he does struggle a bit but seems to get better as soon as we turn for home!

Still waiting for his cushings results to come in, and trialling all sorts of supplements at the moment so I'm hopeful we'll at the very least be able to make him comfortable, but the vet seemed optimistic that he might be back up to our long hacks come the warmer weather next year!

Thanks for asking xxx
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Really pleased to hear that you are able to ride him a little again. Fingers crossed for his test results but it certainly seems like he's on the mend and happier from what you're saying :) our old boy who's got arthritis is being a total loon at the moment and it's certainly not stopping him having a good blast when the mood takes him.
 
TrasaM said:
Really pleased to hear that you are able to ride him a little again. Fingers crossed for his test results but it certainly seems like he's on the mend and happier from what you're saying :) our old boy who's got arthritis is being a total loon at the moment and it's certainly not stopping him having a good blast when the mood takes him.
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I know it's rather frustrating because I can tell he just wants to go for a really good hoon!

I asked him for a few strides of trot on a grassy verge yesterday and almost got whiplash the little beggar!
 
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