Good news from physio - rambling about Bute

[Orangehorse]

My 19 year old horse had a physio session today and the physio said he was in the best shape she had seen. Considering that she has been treating him for several years that was slightly surprising. I have retired from competition but she said he could do some easy schooling sessions, having previously banned this activity and recommended hacking only.

He has been on bute for arthritis for nearly 12 months and he is full of life and really striding out and enjoying his rides.
In fact he can be a bit of a handful sometimes.

I am wondering if there has always been a bit of a niggle or discomfort that didn't show up as lameness or behavioural problems - he was a successful show horse and did dressage and trec as well. What I am wondering is if the bute is actually enabling his body to work correctly, hence the improvement noticed by the physio. On his chart there were virtually no areas of tightness or imbalance, yet in the past there have been several. Nothing has changed about tack or my riding!

This is all good news, let's hope he carries on this way.

 

[SEL]

I have my 8yo mare on bute at the moment after she strained a muscle in the field playing around (I saw her do it, post snow shenanigans). Even though the muscle is still tight its amazing how much better she's walking out - its made up my mind about getting her hocks injected despite the vet saying she's on the young side.

I've got an 20+ year old shoulder injury that I've learnt to live with, so I guess horses are the same in terms of living with niggles. Sometimes you don't notice how much you put up with until the pain has gone!

 

[Cragrat]

i use a vet physio - she sometimes recommends a course of bute for my old mare so that she can work pain free, therefore working and building the correct muscles. Then hopefully when you tail off the bute, the horse has the necessary muscle strength and can continue moving pain-free.