Exercising your horse with djd/arthritus

C

Carolx123

New User
Joined
31 May 2017
Messages
7
Visit site
Hi all. I've just registered as my 20 year old has recently been diagnosed with djd in his hocks. He's been started on a joint supplement and now had 4 cartrophen injections and is starting to feel better. Interested in knowing what you do exercise wise with your arthritic horses as i'm getting conflicting answers - some say go back to regular work, others are telling me not to continue dressage which is what we do (only novice level). Thanks
 
We don't do any tight turns, jumping or extended fast work. Mainly we stick with hacks, a stretch of the legs and give her as much turnout as possible.

RE dressage, I wouldn't go any higher than novice and watch to see even the slightest notion that that she/he could be in pain or even a bit stiff. I'd build up to it slowly and get a much advice from your instructor and your vet (vet being my first call) as possible!

We also add in leg checks to the daily, feed and poo checks etc. and check for any back pain, we found that even though in her hocks she had some back pain alongside it which was interesting haha.

Be as forgiving, gentle and calm as possible. Some days will be better than others, one day she might be bucking and broncing round the field full pelt and the next really stiff and uncooperative.

Good luck! x
 
Cartrophen didn't work for my mare and she can't have steroids due to her metabolism, so I very slowly brought her back into work alongside support from physio and vets. The main aim has been to strengthen her core muscles so that she holds herself better, carries the weight of the rider better and puts less pressure on her hocks (she's overweight and doesn't have great conformation). So lots of in-hand work over poles - huge help - and gentle riding around the field to start with. I do something with her everyday to help with her joints and her weight.

I'd say start work in straight lines - hacking - and see how he gets on. I don't lunge on tight circles, but on a large 20m+ circle my mare now looks sound when warmed up. I know there are people on this site who went on to compete horses who were treated for hock arthritis successfully so personally if I think if your horse is responding well then I don't see why you couldn't go back to what you were doing before.
 
From memory I think its turn out the day following injection, with ridden walking and trotting 3 days post injection and full work after five days - seven days. Recommendations are that lunging isn't done for around a month as it can place uneven stress on the joint during this time and the best results following the joint medication can be seen 14 days post injection. Might be worth getting the physio to have a look at him as there may be some tightness left over from the way he's been holding himself prior to the treatment and the physio can loosen any tightness off.This can be seen in the back and hamstrings a lot of the time.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The main aim has been to strengthen her core muscles so that she holds herself better, carries the weight of the rider better and puts less pressure on her hocks (she's overweight and doesn't have great conformation). So lots of in-hand work over poles - huge help - and gentle riding around the field to start with.

Thata really useful thank you. Ive been riding throughout (on advice of the vet who told me to keep him going) - he's fine on straight lines and on a 20m circles (after a good warm up). Did the vet give any specific exercises to support the above? Thanks very much
 
Mine got a Spavin at 13. I was pretty miserable about it. He got 3 steroid injections 2 weeks apart and came back into full work, xc, jumping dressage everything. He never had anymore bother with it. I got the physio every 6 months. I put magnetic boots on after xc and started putting stable boots on overnight in the stable and put him on a joint supliment.

Then age 17 he got arthritis in a front fetlock. He got steroid injections again but these didn't work and he never came quite sound. As vet out it if he took a stride that was 2 inches longer he wouldn't see anything wrong. He was put on 1 danilon a day and hacked out 3 times a week. Started putting stable boots on the front and turnout boots in the field. Was checked every year when he got his jabs and always sound but I ever took him off the danilon. I lost him at 21 when his tendon went again. But the use of danilon made him colic and we were in the terrible position of not being able to give him painkillers as he would colic. But the danilon gave him 3 more years of hacking and quality.
 
Mine was diagnosed at 8 with bilateral hock spacing, ring bone in front and a torn ligament in his knee. The ligament needed rest, the arthritis needed movement 🤥. He did 6 months boxrest with in hand walks every day. I then started to lightly hack him. He turned 17 last week and we celebrated his birthday by going for a 3 hour fast hack. The fitter he is, the better his stiffness is. He has the occasional bad day where I can feel.his legs are hurting. On days like these, we'll go for a short stroll - sometimes he loosens up and we'll go further; other days, he'll just go back to the field. He was in Feedmark Extra flex with rosehips for years, after trying many different joint supplements, this was the most effective. He's now on turmeric which definitely helps him. We do very little schooling though, mainly as it's never been my thing. The vets are happy to give me large amounts of Bute to give him as and when needed. But I've used a box of 100 in the time since his diagnosis, used mainly for a few days before shoeing to help with the prolonged lifting of his legs. We haven't had any for about 4 years.
 
My guy has bilateral hock arthritis, and suspensory issues. I take each day as it comes. Some days, he just wants to amble around on the buckle, and others he's full of energy, and up for playing in the school, or charging around out hacking. He's a pretty honest chap, so if he feels lazy, I listen to him.
I always walk for at least 15 minutes before doing anything else - it takes him 10 minutes to loosen up, and the extra 5 to realise he's loosened up.
 
Auslander said:
My guy has bilateral hock arthritis, and suspensory issues. I take each day as it comes. Some days, he just wants to amble around on the buckle, and others he's full of energy, and up for playing in the school, or charging around out hacking. He's a pretty honest chap, so if he feels lazy, I listen to him.
I always walk for at least 15 minutes before doing anything else - it takes him 10 minutes to loosen up, and the extra 5 to realise he's loosened up.
Click to expand...
This is exactly my experience with my boy , too.
 
My horse has a bit of arthritis in one hock and the opposite pastern. Diagnosed 2yrs ago. He has had and still has regular courses of cartrophen injections, it help keep the cartledge (sp) healthy and re-generating as that is what protects the joint. Once it wears away totally you have bone rubbing on bone which is extremely painful. He also has Osphos injections once a year, that slows down the progression of arthritis. Also has Synoquin joint supplement, has had reliable clinical trials performed. We hack out regularly, have lessons and compete at Elementary dressage and most importantly I keep him trim. He is carrying less weight now than he ever has in the past and looks amazing. He has regular physio, and I mean a proper Physiotherapist, not a "back person", every 2-3 months as if he has any pain atall it usually shows in his neck/back. He also has Danilon if he needs it e.g for travelling. I also keep him well wrapped up in Winter and regular turnut so as to keep him loosened. He does take a bit more warming up, usually plenty of walk,bends, turns, long rein stretching down. Also use an Equilibrium massage pad which he loves. Hope that helps.
 
Izzwizz said:
My horse has a bit of arthritis in one hock and the opposite pastern. Diagnosed 2yrs ago. He has had and still has regular courses of cartrophen injections, it help keep the cartledge (sp) healthy and re-generating as that is what protects the joint. Once it wears away totally you have bone rubbing on bone which is extremely painful. He also has Osphos injections once a year, that slows down the progression of arthritis. Also has Synoquin joint supplement, has had reliable clinical trials performed. We hack out regularly, have lessons and compete at Elementary dressage and most importantly I keep him trim. He is carrying less weight now than he ever has in the past and looks amazing. He has regular physio, and I mean a proper Physiotherapist, not a "back person", every 2-3 months as if he has any pain atall it usually shows in his neck/back. He also has Danilon if he needs it e.g for travelling. I also keep him well wrapped up in Winter and regular turnut so as to keep him loosened. He does take a bit more warming up, usually plenty of walk,bends, turns, long rein stretching down. Also use an Equilibrium massage pad which he loves. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Izzwizz - I've just looked up Osphos as I haven't heard of it. On the web it says for navicular, but presumably its helping the hock as well? I know my horse is going to need 'something' for her hocks since cartrophen didn't work but steroids are high risk so I'm thinking of asking the vet about this.
 
Typed a response but it's not saved grr! SEL - my vet recommended 3 things:
Synequin for joint fluid, cartrophen for cartilage, osphos for bone remodelling. I went for the first 2 purely so I could see if these were working - next time I may get osphos too. I've heard good things about it from multiple people and apparently it's similar to tildren X
 
SEL said:
Izzwizz - I've just looked up Osphos as I haven't heard of it. On the web it says for navicular, but presumably its helping the hock as well? I know my horse is going to need 'something' for her hocks since cartrophen didn't work but steroids are high risk so I'm thinking of asking the vet about this.
Click to expand...

Yes it does say that about it but it was recommended for my boy as an alternative treatment for Tildren which has to be infused by drip for which he had to be sedated. Osphos is the newer version, injected into the muscle and much quicker to administer. We have it onc a year now for which I pay for as his Insurance wouldnt cover, having paid out for it initially. Cartrophen helps the joints to stay healthy, its not a cure but it does have pain killing qualities in it. My old Labrador has it for her stiffness now she's 13. Works wonders for her !
 
Carolx123 said:
Typed a response but it's not saved grr! SEL - my vet recommended 3 things:
Synequin for joint fluid, cartrophen for cartilage, osphos for bone remodelling. I went for the first 2 purely so I could see if these were working - next time I may get osphos too. I've heard good things about it from multiple people and apparently it's similar to tildren X
Click to expand...

As previous answer Osphos is the newer version of Tildren, also worked out cheaper by the time I'd done with sedation, drip etc. Other side effect of Tildren was it made him wee a lot, probably due to the fluids infused with the drug.
 
Also ought to add that I work for my Vets so have a great advantage of being able to find out more about these products.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top