Arthritis in 6 yr old -

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Horse1979

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Our pony has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the lower hock in both hind limbs. At a mild to moderate stage. He is 6 years old.
Realistically what are the chances of our lovely pony being able to have a competition career ahead of him with injections to help manage the arthritis. Or should we look at letting him be a hacking/ low level non competition pony in order to help prolong him having a job to do.
 
I think really you won't know until you've seen how you get on with the injections. Some come back to competition, and others don't, so unless your vet is willing to give an opinion, you'll probably need to suck it and see. Rehab isn't hideous, so it shouldn't be too painful to get through.
 
I don't think that I would be happy to put the joints under the stress associated with a jumping career, no matter what treatment was available, especially when the arthritis has started so early. I would think that a hacking home would be best for him, if you wish to prolong his useful (painfree) life. I understand Boswellia can be helpful for osteoarthritis.

Very disappointing, I know.
 
My horse was diagnosed at 7yr old. Utterly devastating and he was loss of use for insurance purposes. I still have him not at 14 yrs and he has led a successful hacking life with the odd fun ride etc but I couldn’t have competed him or jumped him and in fact even now I don’t school him on a surface etc. Sadly my competition hopes died with his diagnosis but we actually throughly enjoy what we do now
 
My partners horse was 9 when diagnosed. He has had two lots of Osphos, and then we had to give in and have them injected last year. He is better than ever, is ridden 5/6 days a week. Hunts every weekend and I will show him this year. He's just started doing a bit of jumping (hired XC course and a bit out hunting) and doesn't seem to be having any issues. Managment is key. Ours consists of: As much turnout as possible (9-10 hours currently, 24/7 in summer), magnetic boots, thermatex leg wraps on cold nights, a good joint supplement alongside Boswellia, avoiding deep ground where possible, not too much trotting on the road and not too many circles. I only school him once a week and I think thats enough.

We keep a close eye on him. If hes looking a bit stiff/off then he either has a day off or juts goes for a bimble round the lanes. So far so good.

**Edited to add. I know someone that competes her arthritic horse very succesfully (clear SJ & XC) at 1* level eventing. I think it entirely depends on each individual horse. Good luck x
 
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Horses for courses. No one here will be able to give you an answer I'm afraid as what works for some doesn't for others.

My mare was diagnosed in April 2016 as a 11YO (although I suspect she had this since a 6YO). She was given steroid injections in the first instance, which worked for around 3 months. In the second instance vet gave further steroid injections alongside a Tildren drip. There was no improvement at all. We tried another set of steroids in a different part of the joint, there was no improvement. I took her to Rossdales Newmarket where she had further alcohol injections which killed her nerve endings, this worked for a while, we had about 5 months of fun before she went downhill again. Vet suggested we operate on her, this operation consisted of my mare being knocked out and then holes drilled through her hocks, they then stick pins in this to stop the bones changing. It sounded very very painful, the cost was around £4500, she was also given a 40% success rate. I decided against this and asked another vet practice for a second opinion. After we took x-rays we compared to the first lot she had when diagnosed and despite all I had tried her Hocks had gotten much more worse. She is now loving life in a field out 24/7 as my lawnmower.

I am sorry you are going through this :(
 
My pony was diagnosed with arthritis in the hocks aged 10. I'm afraid that was that ridden wise... he is only 11.2hh and I had outgrown him so couldn't gently ride him myself, and he is extremely 'busy' and sharp so totally unsuitable for a small child to ride, and only a small child would be light enough to ride.

The good news is that he is now nearly 18 and still very happy, sound, and quite capable of causing mayhem. He doesn't have his joints done every year, just when I feel he needs them, but I wouldn't say there has been a massive deterioration. And tbh I think that's largely because we have managed him as sympathetically as possible, with a view to keeping him sound as long as possible. I have no doubt that had he been a bit bigger/more suitable for a child he would be very up for hacking/gentle schooling.

He had a successful career as an inhand pony with me, has done lots of long reining, ride and lead etc, with the restrictions being his height rather than his hocks and his refusal to put up with a child! So it all depends how the pony responds but if I'm honest with you, I don't think high level competition would be right for the pony if you are looking at long term soundness.

Low level dressage, showing would probably be ok if the pony is managed sympathetically, and responds well to treatment, but eventing/jumping will put a lot of stress on the hocks. I am really sorry you are dealing with this, I know it's gutting, especially when they are so young.
 
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