Calling all older/artritic horse owners

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Walder

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after my post yesterday about wether to go into the school to do some trot (page 2 if you missed it and dont know what the hell im talking about) i went into the school again today - oh how i wished i hadnt! she was lame on left rien on corners and short on her bad front on right rein - so im back to hacking in straight lines for now - do any of you others with older artritic horses ever do light schooling or just hack - how long after diognosis did you start schooling again? x x
 
I have an athritic lad (not old, only 11), and he is hacked daily. His front leg was diagnosed early last year, his 2 hocks were diagnosed last month. My vet has said to keep him as mobile as possible.
 
thanks teresaW - do you ever school him - how soon after the diognosis last year did he come completly sound?
 
Chloe was diagnosed with arthritis in her hocks a few months ago. I was schooling her again about 8 weeks later as she'd come sound. Unfortunately we went for a gallop on Sunday, and she was lame in front for my lesson on Monday.
We're just taking it a day at a time with her, she was doing fantastic medium trot and collection last week so her arthritis couldn't be restricting her too much.
 
Fairhill - I think ive started a bit early then although it wasnt really schooling it was just trotting round - but your reply gives me a rough time scale - thanks x
 
Mac is worked in the school, once/twice a week on average. He hasn't really been lame at all on his hind legs, and touch wood, hasn't been lame on his front for a couple of months. He can be a bit stiff first thing, but generally walks it off pretty quickly.
 
I have a pony who Ive been told by the vet has the beginning of athritis in her hinds. She does move a bit differently nowdays and can be stiff when she gets up etc.

One of my other ponies who's 20, I believe also has athritis as he can be quite stiff too and occassionally look lame if he's been lying down / standing for a while etc. although havent had him diagnosed as dont need to really.

Both are on NAF Superflex which is absolutely brilliant. Both are definately better on it. The mare, I dont work as she's only tiny so never been ridden etc. I do however lead her from my 20yo round the big field sometimes and she's usually is loopy as hell and tries to bomb off...... My 20yo is semi-retired. He's not worked all winter usually, but like now, I do go for little hacks sometimes which he loves. I make sure to keep on nice grassy ground though as I find rough ground hard work on him. He took off with me yesterday........ so even with mild athritis both the ponies are still doing very well and have days of feeling really good! My vet said thats what happens with athritics, they'll have good days and bad. Maybe you could only work yours on her better days? Gentle exercise is good though so keep it up if possible, and turn out 24/7 if you can.
 
Had the vet out yesterday and she assessed our big horse who has arthritis and hasn't been ridden for 8 months. He is now no longer on any bute at all, just a glucosamine supplement and although not 100% sound, he is as good as he has been for ages. Vet suggested I start gently hacking him out to give him something to think about as he is only 16. She said definitely no schooling and no lunging. Just gentle hacking on as even a surface as possible.
 
Cairo is kept more or less sound with magnets, corta-flex and instant linseed. He has the usual heavy horse problem of low ringbone and starting to get bit stiff on the hocks in canter.

He does gentle schooling once or occasionally twice a week but we never work on a small circle. Most of the work is walk and trot with a little canter. He does not get asked to do too much - mainly figure of 8s, transitions and a few three loop serps. We take plenty of time to warm up and do about 15 mins of actual work.

He can be a little stiff to start, but will work through. We do the occasional small jump as he does enjoy it.

He is exercised is some form, hacking, loose schooling or ridden schools 3/4 times a week to keep him ticking over.

I never do more than a walk on hard ground with him, so he goes into the school to do trot and canter work in the summer.
 
my little mare is stiff so my vet advised keeping her as mobile as possible, before i ride (esp if shes been in) i take her for a little walk in hand just to loosen her off and once i do get on i let her walk on a long rein for about 15mins and then shes loosened up and normally bronking and being her happy self
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hope this helps also i avoid doing circles smaller than 20m
Jess xxx
 
my horse has bone spavin not exacley the same but shes worked really hard as my vet has said its the best thing to do shes on a very good joint supplement but shes never been lame on it. only once or twice if shes had a really hard day the day before is she slightly stiff but shes 16 so you would expect it any way
 
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