Hacking for the older horse

[welshcobabe]

Hi my horse is now 21 and doing OK apart from he is a bit stiff in his shoulder on the off side. I am told he has a touch of arthritis and the lameness is a slight delay as he first walks out. This does stop once he warms up , I have had various views from friends and vets that say he is best having a gentle hack out which I do but I always feel so bad at first till he loosens up and then is fine on the ride. He is quite a calm guy and still does enjoy a trip round the block we only have a gentle walk, he is on Boswella and a bute every night. I am also thinking of investing in a vibrating back pad and massage mitten. But I would love to hear from you who are in a similar postion. He is turned out daily and in at night and wears magnetic bands.

 

[oldie48]

My old TB had a bit of arthritis in both hocks, he could be stiff coming out of the stable or off the lorry but a long warm up in walk would loosen him up and he enjoyed being out and about. I would use the odd sachet of bute if it was cold and/or he looked particularly stiff but I honestly feel keeping him in work (albeit at a lower level) kept him happy.

 

[Antw23uk]

Can he not live out 24/7?

 

[planete]

Walk with him until he has warmed up then get on?

 

[Cortez]

I have a horse with mild arthritis. He lives out and is retired. I also have mild arthritis and would not like to be made to work. When my horse's arthritis becomes more onerous he with be PTS (I probably should be as well, but that's another matter....).

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

My oldie (26) thrives on regular hacking and I’m a believer if if you don’t use it you lose it. However he doesn’t have any really obvious arthritis and isn’t on any regular medication. If natural remedies don’t work then I’d happily give a daily bute to control any pain but if he’s still experiencing pain with meds I’d have to consider whether continuing riding was fair. As others have said if you can keep out 24/7 that would help prevent any stiffening up.

 

[Orangehorse]

Mine is the same, he gets one Danilon the night before a ride, but doesn't seem to need it just out in the field.
I do have the odd trot, but not for a very long well. He is a bit stiff to start with but nothing too obvious.
Vet is happy that I continue to ride him a couple of times a week, nothing too strenuous.

I am happy to give him one sachet, but if it took two to have him sound enough to ride, I think I would pack it in then.

Mine can't live out 24/7 for various reasons - heavy clay ground, no natural shelter, he gets miserable if left out in the rain as he really loves his stable

 

[Auslander]

My vet told me very firmly that Alf needs to stay in light work to keep him supple and comfortable. He starts off a bit slow, but by the time we get to the end of our drive, he's ready to spook violently at the stones of death, and after that, he's off like a rocket, albeit only in walk these days.
I let him decide where we go, how long we're out for, and how fast we go. Except for last week, when he grabbed the bit and tried to piss off up the hill that he has always believed should be negotiated in canter

 

[welshcobabe]

Thanks for your reply's, he comes in at night as the vet advised it was not good sleeping on wet ground, and he does love to sprawl full length every night. Cortez I would never dream of making him work if he was not up for it but his ears are pricked and like Auslander said he is much the same get to the end of the drive and he is good to go and spook. I am only talking a couple of light hacks a week I guess he will let me know when he is not good to go.

 

[spotty_pony]

Hi my horse is now 21 and doing OK apart from he is a bit stiff in his shoulder on the off side. I am told he has a touch of arthritis and the lameness is a slight delay as he first walks out. This does stop once he warms up , I have had various views from friends and vets that say he is best having a gentle hack out which I do but I always feel so bad at first till he loosens up and then is fine on the ride. He is quite a calm guy and still does enjoy a trip round the block we only have a gentle walk, he is on Boswella and a bute every night. I am also thinking of investing in a vibrating back pad and massage mitten. But I would love to hear from you who are in a similar postion. He is turned out daily and in at night and wears magnetic bands.

My 22 year old is quite similar. He takes about 20 mins of walking to loosen up and then is fine. He is also on boswellia. Do you know what the cause of the stiffness is? My boy has arthritis in his hocks and I get them medicated every 2 years - he will be due in the spring and I am starting to notice that it is coming up. He Is shod with a bit of extra support behind - having a fantastic farrier had really helped. My boy still enjoys hacks of up to about 2 hours, and I will be taking him to join the hunt on a steady meet for an hour or two soon. Riding definitely helps keep him supple and keeps him happy mentally too.

He lives out 24/7 as much as possible which is really helping and will be stabled only during the bad weather this winter. Plenty of turnout is key to keep them moving around. He is in about 6/7 acres so he does plenty of walking about.

 

[atropa]

I've always been told its best to keep arthritic horses in light continuous work as long as they are up for it, which it sounds like yours is. Hacking in straight lines is also highly recommended over schooling so sounds like you have that covered
I have a rising 20yo mare with chronic lameness issues, she is kept in work with the following regime: extremely careful, supportive shoeing, Feedmark Bestflex supplement, magnetic bands, rugging slightly on the warm side and regular physio. I always do at least 10 minutes walking warm up and cool down, and I also use a equilibrium massage pad on her and do stretches as recommended by my physio when time allows.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

One of mine has slight hock arthritis he comes out a bit stiff but after 10 minutes his fine, I find riding him after his been turned out for a bit helps and when it's cold or damp I put thermatex wraps on about half hour before I ride.

 

[tiga71]

I am having the same issues with my old boy of 23. He has still been jumping small but the last few weeks he has told me that it was a bit much. Still happy out hacking though I only go as fast as he wants. He lives out in a 33 acre field and the vet says that really helps as he is moving all the time. I try not to stable him at all.

I had the vet on Thursday and she said there is a bit of arthritis and stiffness but that he is moving great for a chap of his age. She suggested arthrimad (Sp) injections for his hocks and see how he goes. But she said he should definitely stay in work. I won't jump him anymore but hopefully the injections will make him comfortable to keep hacking and getting out and about. He loves adventures and he isn't ready to retire. I did get a prescription of bute from the vet, just in case he has days when he feels it.

The vet says if he responds well to the injections he might be happy jumping but I think I will just keep his legs for hacking now.

So hard when they get old.