Ethics and treating horses

[Eventing2022]

Hello all
I'm all for making horses comfortable and not in pain, but where does this cross the line into unethical treatment? I suspect there is no easy answer.
I know of a 6yo horse. Chondromalacia diagnosed in one stifle. Operated on. Still lame. Steroids injected. Still lame. After box rest for 9 months, a very angry and sad horse was injected with arthramid and is now "sound" in that leg. Sound, or can't feel the pain?
Same horse then started reacting to saddling. Back xrayed and kissing spine identified. Patched up with steroids and mesotherapy.
Now lame on a foreleg. Vet didn't bother xraying as horse "looks ok" and has recommended remedial farriery.
Owner still has intentions to jump as big as they can, dressage etc.
Now, to me, this is bordering on unethical. Horse hasn't seen a blade of grass in nearly a year. Is so young and to my understanding things like Chondromalacia are likely to be present in both stifles. It just seems like constant patching up and numbing of pain so she can be jumped and competed. I feel like the vets in particular aren't looking at the whole picture.
Just a musing really, but where does "treatment" border on unethical?

 

[greenbean10]

I really struggle with this too but know that this is incredibly common in high level horses. A horse I know of jumps 130s and has been injected in virtually every joint in its backend, plus it’s neck. Sports horse vets will just do it.

I have had my horse’s back, SI, hocks and coffin joints injected. Lots of people would say that is unethical I’m sure. But the reality is the horse lives out 24/7 and has a very nice life with friends in the field. It’s the long period of box rest I find more unethical than the treatment itself.

Probably putting myself in the firing line here.

 

[expanding_horizon]

For all the high level horses competing surviving only on steroid injections, there are many many steroids work for short term and the length of effectiveness reduces each time until don’t work.

 

[greenbean10]

For all the high level horses competing surviving only on steroid injections, there are many many steroids work for short term and the length of effectiveness reduces each time until don’t work.

Yes I always think when people are injecting their horses at 6 years old whether they'll still be jumping aged 13/14.