Hock arthritis and exercise

[Penny Less]

Those of you who have horses with arthritis and keep them on bute/danilon, what degree of exercise do you do, just walk, or trot? My hacks pre diagnosis would usually comprise mostly walk, couple of short trots, but I do like a canter. Only usually out for an hour or hour and a half.
Would you canter on bute ?

 

[AdorableAlice]

You really should be led by your vet.

I hunted a horse with arthritic changes in his fetlocks for 10 years with a little help from bute.

My current horse has had his hocks medicated 3 times over a 6 year period and although broken at present, he competed BD and was shown at top level.

The thing I would advise is regular exercise, rather than a lot and then little. Speak to your vets, they are by far the best to advise.

 

[Sophstar]

My vet simply said 'keep him moving' after he was diagnosed with hock arthritis, just a big no no to trotting on the roads. Mine isn't on danilon for day to day pottering out on a hack in walk but if we box them up, he has a sachet the night before and in the morning just to help with the journey. Then after at least a good hour of walking we enjoy a good trot and canter on a suitable surface or like last Saturday a jolly good attempt at bucking me off on the common

I have found that the benefits of going out for a looong ride of at least 2 hours keeps him a lot looser for well over a week!