first signs of age ?

luckyoldme

luckyoldme

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My lovely idx who I thought was 20/21 but may be a little older is out 24/7.
He is incredibly active in the field and has a life of luxury... just the odd summer evening hack out to go and see Norman for a carrot.
He lives out 24/7 with four other horses...an extremely happy and relaxed little herd.
He has just passed his winter mot and is keeping condition well.
Over the winter he will have hay available 24/7 and will be rugged when the weather turns cold.
Im just wondering how others supplement their older horses over the winter and anything else I could do to give him the best chance as he gets older.
Although he has a stable available there is no way he would be able to go inside...the others stay out and he frets too much. Last winter I picked up a very slight stiffening up...nothing to worry about and the fantastic bloke who owns the other four said I was imagining it!(so evan if he was a wee bit stiffer it was only very slight)
I know nobody lives forever but Im wanting my old lad to be the first to do so!
 
In my opinion, if he has lived out most of his life and is quite happy and holding his weight well then at the moment I wouldn't change anything. Naturally keep an eye on him but don't go over the top otherwise paranoia will set in and you wont know what is genuine or your imagination. Its always good to have a second person (like the guy that owns the other 4) who doesn't see him every day like you do as they can spot changes you might miss. If I was to consider a supplement you could try Cortaflex, but I would say once he goes on it you will have to continue feeding it for it be beneficial
 
The gentleman who owns the other four walks round them twice a day! He knows a lot more than me but there again he s not had much to do with older horses. I think I got a shock the other day when the vet said he could be a little bit older than I thought...I ve seen what other owners on here go through and suddenly realised what lies ahead. In your post I detect a slight hint towards maybe im being a bit over the top! If so you are right...I really do need to get a grip of myself, im just dreading loosing him.
 
I don't think you need to be worrying too much. I have three oldies (25 - 35 ish in age range) and they all live out 24/7 365 days. Even in the really cold stuff earlier this year. If your chap is starting to show a little stiffness you'll actually be doing him a favour by leaving him out where he can stretch his legs and move around. (This is something I learnt the hard way with my real oldie.) As long as he is well rugged and fed with plenty of ad-lib hay if the grazing gets poor your chap should be fine. If you are really worried about his stiffness, or if it starts to get worse have a chat to your vet and ask them to check out him out for arthritis and don't panic if they do find something - it can usually be helped by low levels of bute to keep him comfy and a little gentle exercise, hacking if he can or walking out in hand if not - but keeping him moving is key as it will also help his digestive system as well as his joints and give him an interest in life as well.

Finally, and sorry to go on a bit, don't worry too much about him getting old - it happens to all of us and he may well have years and years and years in him yet :) You could be in for a surprise as to just how many :D
 
luckyoldme said:
My lovely idx who I thought was 20/21 but may be a little older is out 24/7.
He is incredibly active in the field and has a life of luxury... just the odd summer evening hack out to go and see Norman for a carrot.
He lives out 24/7 with four other horses...an extremely happy and relaxed little herd.
He has just passed his winter mot and is keeping condition well.
Over the winter he will have hay available 24/7 and will be rugged when the weather turns cold.
Im just wondering how others supplement their older horses over the winter and anything else I could do to give him the best chance as he gets older.
Although he has a stable available there is no way he would be able to go inside...the others stay out and he frets too much. Last winter I picked up a very slight stiffening up...nothing to worry about and the fantastic bloke who owns the other four said I was imagining it!(so evan if he was a wee bit stiffer it was only very slight)
I know nobody lives forever but Im wanting my old lad to be the first to do so!
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean. I have an IDx mare who is 21 and who brought me back to riding when i bought her as a 6/7 year old (I feel i owe her a happy old age for that). She is now retired due to a back injury (which doesnt seem to bother her in the field) and is generally very healthy, happy and sound. I have though, like you, picked up some increased stiffness (more than slight with the farrier for trimming) and have now got her on movefree (I also have the vet coming out to do a pre winter MOT). My OH thinks im fussing as she rolls in the field daily and can shift with the other two round the field if she feels like it (though she is far more likely to stand to one side and let them be stupid) but i know her and she would only be reluctant to pick up her feet if it was pain related. I, like you, intend to keep her out as much as possible and if in (on the very worst days) she will have the biggest stable so she can move about. Im also tyring to get her leaner over winter, she's about right now but dont want her any heavier with the back issue - by getting her leaner over winter it means she can enjoy the grass when spring comes.

As suggested, if you feel he's stiffening, speak with your vet and get some suggestions. There are so many joint supplements out there - its a minefield and no horse reacts to them in the same way.
 
Thanks for that 3oldponies....and my god 35 is something to aim for!
Its interesting that about leaving him out..my feeling is that it would be worse for him to stand in ..he would stiffen up more but its good to hear some one else say the same. He is the ring leader in all trouble happening in his field..........and flys round like a mad thing. We had the vet to him last week..just to check him over, and he was happy with his condition. I reckon ive not got enough to worry about so I have been overthinking!
 
I have a 20 year old with arthritis in his hock, looking at the research on joint supplements it's fairly inconclusive and if I had the same condition it's not something I'd even bother with myself! I just give him Naf veteran pink powder as it's a general vit/min supplement with a probiotic, I find that most supplements are based on fairly poor or even none existent evidence and if I wouldn't bother taking a human version of it myself then I don't bother giving it to him. He obviously has Danillon also but it sounds like your horse is fine at the moment without, it's probably something just to consider if he did get more stiff through the winter. Mine lives out 24/7 and is currently sound however when he had to go on box rest his hock stiffened up massively and he was very lame.
 
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