Giving Danilon before farrier - do you do it and how much to give?

HollyWoozle

HollyWoozle

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Short version: do any of you give Bute or danilon for older, stiff horses before farrier visit and if so, how much?

Longer version: mare is 22 and has been retired for probably 12 years or so (I’ve had her for 15 years). She lives out 24/7 all year and is on a joint supplement but she’s starting to get a little bit awkward about her back legs, ie. having feet picked out and having them trimmed by the farrier.

She has never intentionally kicked anybody but she has always been unpredictable and not the sort of horse you can be complacent around if you know what I mean. I want for me and the farrier to be safe but I had the feeling this morning (was farrier day!) that she was considering booting us. Rather than saying it is “naughtiness”, I think it tells us that something is changing for her. She has been in the exact same setting/routine/location and with same farrier for many, many years but today she was swinging her back legs around basically. I assume she is stiff and uncomfortable, especially in this colder weather, and age is setting in?

I confess I don’t handle her as much as I should so maybe I need to be getting her out more and picking up her feet more to keep them more mobile?

ETA: to be clear, she didn’t kick anybody and it wasn’t anything dramatic today but I would rather she didn’t do it and that we all stay safe (and comfortable in her case).
 
Try the Danilon as it may help, the night before and again on the morning. Pidge had this as has hind leg hypertension, and it helped. However, he is now coming up for 28, and has had his back shoes off for a year as he was finding it too uncomfortable to be shod behind. Vet suggested mild dose of Sedalin just, but my farrier said he would rather not have is as he'd rather Pidge be fully woth it, and as he's shoeing him, I do what he says. We do get his bad leg trimmed first, and Pidge rests his toe on the ground for that, but that is how I taught him for feet picked out, so he's done that for over 19 years now, as he is better when not been stood a while.
 
Our 36 year old is on half a bute a day , has very “knobbly “ arthritic knee and hock but is sound . Over last year she has become reluctant to flex her hock for farrier so now has one bute night before and one in the morning .
 
Personally I’d go for a vet check first, then likely the Danilon will be recommended.

When I trim my own two oldies I will often have walked them in hand over slightly raised poles (just two poles on the perimeter track of my arena) just beforehand. This loosens both me and them up first! They do this two or three times a week anyway to help keep them supple.
 
Mine is 29 and she gets a danilon in the evening before and then another in the morning. She was starting to get a bit stiffer and I spoke to my vet about it after my blacksmith mentioned.
 
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