Horsewalker & arthritis

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melanie7210

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Hi All,

My 16 yr old mare has just been diagnosed with mild arthritic changes to her hocks, and has had her joints injected. She hasn't been obviously 'lame', just 'not quite right' e.g. struggling with one canter lead etc.

We have a 5-horse horsewalker on our yard, and I understand that walking is a good activity for arthritic horses.

What are people's thoughts please on using a horsewalker in such a situation?

On the one hand, the 'walking' is good (ridden obviously better, but tricky to do daily with 2 very young children to look after as well). But on the other hand, I am conscious that 'circles' are generally considered to be not so good in such cases.

I'm trying to weigh up the pros and cons - advice appreciated please, especially from those of you with similar horses who have used a walker with either positive or negative results.

Thank you so much! :D

Melanie.
 
It is best to avoid using walkers in place of exercise for an arthritic horse. A 5 minute warm up or while mucking out a couple of days a week should be ok for most arthritic horses.
 
I no longer put my 22 year old gelding on the walker at all, nor do I lunge him. With careful management, including hock injections, he still hunts regularly with a Shire pack but as they get older and develop more issues, IME, you have to adapt your management.

Maybe longer turnout on a bare pasture where he has to walk to access grass/hay/water/feed would be better than the continued twisting stress that a walker would impart on his joints.

I also tend to avoid hard ground, no hammering on the roads, fast work on good going or an all weather, SJ on a surface only and XC is limited to good going only with all weather take-offs/landings.

The only walker that I would ever consider using would be the large rectangular ones that you find on some race horse yards.
http://www.kraft-horsewalker.com/en/references/rail-gliding-horse-walker.php
 
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