ironhorse
Well-Known Member
I'm wondering what success people have had with Neutraceuticals to use instead of bute.
Our mare is 11, and looks to be getting the beginnings of arthritis.
We consulted the vet because she was finding it diffiuclt to stay in canter, especially on a circle and would buck and squeal. Her saddle, teeth etc are fine.
After a full examination, her ovaries etc were clear, and the vet could find little on flexion or after lunging on a tight circle.
She had a week on bute and didn't seem to improve much BUT she is the sort of horse that remembers pain or any conflict (ie will nap and kick out in a part of the school where she has been told off for spooking!) so this may not have been significant.
In the end the yard physio was visiting and examined her, suggesting she was sore across her back and one shoulder and the opposite hock. She treated her, mainly with massage, and the next day the mare was quite a lot better, altho she took a bit of convincing that she COULD canter and wasn't great on a circle.
We've been quietly working her for the last week - she's very stiff and tense unless you lunge her before riding (generally fine on the lunge and a lot straighter since the physio), but after a very bad ride at the weekend, the YO suggested trying another couple of bute just to see if it was 'remembered' or 'real' pain.
It was like getting my old horse back...she was soft and happy to canter about, even on a circle.
The physio is coming back out in the next week or so and I'm sure she will do her good, and the vet will also review her. But with little conclusive info so far, the vet has warned that the next stage is MRI etc.
I wouldn't begrudge her the cost, and she is insured anyway, but this mare is going to stud next year, and I just wonder if there is something that is worth trying to keep her comfortable for light schooling and hacking over the winter? I'm not keen to have her on a lot of bute long term.
Our mare is 11, and looks to be getting the beginnings of arthritis.
We consulted the vet because she was finding it diffiuclt to stay in canter, especially on a circle and would buck and squeal. Her saddle, teeth etc are fine.
After a full examination, her ovaries etc were clear, and the vet could find little on flexion or after lunging on a tight circle.
She had a week on bute and didn't seem to improve much BUT she is the sort of horse that remembers pain or any conflict (ie will nap and kick out in a part of the school where she has been told off for spooking!) so this may not have been significant.
In the end the yard physio was visiting and examined her, suggesting she was sore across her back and one shoulder and the opposite hock. She treated her, mainly with massage, and the next day the mare was quite a lot better, altho she took a bit of convincing that she COULD canter and wasn't great on a circle.
We've been quietly working her for the last week - she's very stiff and tense unless you lunge her before riding (generally fine on the lunge and a lot straighter since the physio), but after a very bad ride at the weekend, the YO suggested trying another couple of bute just to see if it was 'remembered' or 'real' pain.
It was like getting my old horse back...she was soft and happy to canter about, even on a circle.
The physio is coming back out in the next week or so and I'm sure she will do her good, and the vet will also review her. But with little conclusive info so far, the vet has warned that the next stage is MRI etc.
I wouldn't begrudge her the cost, and she is insured anyway, but this mare is going to stud next year, and I just wonder if there is something that is worth trying to keep her comfortable for light schooling and hacking over the winter? I'm not keen to have her on a lot of bute long term.