How do you all manage your horses with arthritis?

Laura-Maybe-IV

Laura-Maybe-IV

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Hi all, I know I've posted about joint supplements etc for horses with arthritis before :rolleyes: but I was wondering what you all do with your horses with arthritis? My horse has arthritis in both hocks and stifles.

I am currently bringing my horse back into work, she had an quiet winter which I realise now wasn't the best for her, with the weather and no school she has done very little work, which hasn't helped as she did cease up a bit over the winter, she was being stabled 14 hours a day :( I felt really bad (this was before I knew where the arthritis was) , but I had my vet come and see her yesterday and he said she is looking much better :) she's out alot more and is going to be turned out 24/7 come the warmer months :)

I am still hoping to compete my horse in low level dressage and some light showing, but would I be penalised for slight stiffness in her backed do you think?

Also could anyone recommended any good tips they have for managing arthritis in their horses? And how do you all manage it?
 
Mine was on equine america's buteless which was great but she's 33 and had to go onto proper bute last year. She comes in at night when it's cold or wet but goes out pretty much every day to walk and loosen up. She's naturally a very hot horse but I clip and rug so I can control her temperature better, cold joints are sore joints. She has a waterproof lightweight rug for wet summer nights and lives with a herd that keeps her moving but doesn't hound her. And she loves life! Good luck.
 
My lad has not been diagnosed as such but it is pretty obvious there is arthritis there. He really stiffened up this winter because he was not being ridden and then had to have some box rest for a foot issue. He was really stiff after this but now back on his usual routine of turnout for a minimum of 12 hours a day.
I have just started to bring him back into work and he seems better for it even in just 4 walks around the block.
I have not got him on any supplement for it but am aware that I need to keep him exercised through the winter this next time around. I will also be rugging him in the colder conditions, as that seemed to help him when he stiffened up earlier this year.
 
We used to take our 14.hh mare to Pony Club when she was getting very stiff inher hind legs and she did very well. One thing that we found helped was instead of riding her in before dressage or jumping, we lunged her for 10-15 mins to loosen her up without a weight on, and it really did help.

We also used to bring her home once she had finished her competing, and not hang around with her standing in the box. It did mean either a journey back or two vehicles if son wanted to wait for results, but we thought it worth it.

She led a happy life for 10 years on bute, pain free and retired at 30!
 
my boy hasnt been officially diagnosed, but for atleast 2 years he has shown signs of mild arthritus, particulary in his back end. he is only 15 this year, but raced for 5 years, so lots of wear and tear
he is on naf 5* superflex- expensive, but found after a month of using it instead of clicking and pratically hobbling out of his stable in the morning he was looking good! also felt terrible, i ran out about a month ago, and completly forgot to order more (i buy online in a big amount as much cheaper) and a noticed a week ago he has started to look really stiff, so guess it shows it works, back on it now.
i make sure he warms up before we do any fast work, and he does mostly hack, so lots of straight lines. however, still good at schooling and he loves jumping, im just careful not to over do it with him.
for a year and a half he has been in a new place with loads of land, and lives out all summer and as much of the winter as possible- this has made the biggest difference. also when he comes in its to a barn where he has about as much space a 4 stables to wonder around in.
 
My horse has (diagnosed by xray) hock and stifle arthritis, complicated by suspensory problems, which have resulted in a lot of box rest. He is on the highest strength glucosamine supplement I can get (from my vet), MSM, and turmeric. He doesn't seem to be any stiffer, despite just having come off three weeks box rest after suspensory treatment, so I'm pretty sure that the supps are helping. He was very stiff when I got him, having not been on a joint supplement.
I also use Riaflex Devils Alternative periodically, which seems to help him through particularly stiff phase.
He is on restricted turnout at the moment, so that he doesn't cavort about. He's out all day, but in a hard-standing pen rather than in the field. He is due to start work again in a weeks time, and will be taking it very very slowly - 10 weeks walking in straight lines. This is to build him up safely, partly because of his suspensories, but also to gently re-mobilise his creaky joints.
 
Things that worked for my mare: as much turnout as possible, no trotting on hard surfaces/tarmac, long warmup. Once the arthritis is bad enough, bute.

Edited to say: and take it day by day. She had good days and bad ones. When it was playing up it was better not to bother.
 
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Boswellia from Pegasus health called naturebute amazing stuff my girl has never moved so well since being diagnosed with bone spavined in both hock and back is doing amazing on this now use it myself
 
Turnout 24/7, ideally on a track layout to keep him gently moving.

Removed his back shoes and allowed him to balance his own feet - this made a HUGE difference. Taking the fronts off later helped too, but I didn't see the same difference as when I took off the hind shoes.

Feeding D&H Mobility Mix and linseed (currently with A&P Veteran Vitality and Pro Balance).

I started doing more in hand work and long reining as he got older to keep him physically and mentally active. I even took him XC schooling on foot when I didn't want to subject him to jumping with extra weight on his back. We got some strange looks but he loved it!

At 33, he's now retired but regular gentle exercise, including hill work was key while he was still in work.
 
Spotsrock said:
Mine was on equine america's buteless which was great but she's 33 and had to go onto proper bute last year. She comes in at night when it's cold or wet but goes out pretty much every day to walk and loosen up. She's naturally a very hot horse but I clip and rug so I can control her temperature better, cold joints are sore joints. She has a waterproof lightweight rug for wet summer nights and lives with a herd that keeps her moving but doesn't hound her. And she loves life! Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thank you spotsrock, I was looking Buteless for my horse for the bad days and I think I will get her some it's reasonably priced! Oh that's a good tip my horse is quiet a hot horse naturally so I might clip more off of her next year, she is rugged anyway but only with a light/medium rug at the moment. Thank you :)
 
pottamus said:
My lad has not been diagnosed as such but it is pretty obvious there is arthritis there. He really stiffened up this winter because he was not being ridden and then had to have some box rest for a foot issue. He was really stiff after this but now back on his usual routine of turnout for a minimum of 12 hours a day.
I have just started to bring him back into work and he seems better for it even in just 4 walks around the block.
I have not got him on any supplement for it but am aware that I need to keep him exercised through the winter this next time around. I will also be rugging him in the colder conditions, as that seemed to help him when he stiffened up earlier this year.
Click to expand...

Thank you Pottamus, yeah that's basically what has happened with mine she hasn't done much over the winter so it's really set it from that. She is currently just going for walks to help, I have been taking her around a square block so not too much turning involved. Thank you for your advice :)
 
Adopter said:
We used to take our 14.hh mare to Pony Club when she was getting very stiff inher hind legs and she did very well. One thing that we found helped was instead of riding her in before dressage or jumping, we lunged her for 10-15 mins to loosen her up without a weight on, and it really did help.

We also used to bring her home once she had finished her competing, and not hang around with her standing in the box. It did mean either a journey back or two vehicles if son wanted to wait for results, but we thought it worth it.

She led a happy life for 10 years on bute, pain free and retired at 30!
Click to expand...

Thank you Adopter, Oh I may give that a try. I was a bit worried about lunging because of her stifles but i'm sure light lunging walking and trotting for ten mins won't hurt to help get her warmed up :) that's a really good idea! thank you :)
 
Auslander said:
My horse has (diagnosed by xray) hock and stifle arthritis, complicated by suspensory problems, which have resulted in a lot of box rest. He is on the highest strength glucosamine supplement I can get (from my vet), MSM, and turmeric. He doesn't seem to be any stiffer, despite just having come off three weeks box rest after suspensory treatment, so I'm pretty sure that the supps are helping. He was very stiff when I got him, having not been on a joint supplement.
I also use Riaflex Devils Alternative periodically, which seems to help him through particularly stiff phase.
He is on restricted turnout at the moment, so that he doesn't cavort about. He's out all day, but in a hard-standing pen rather than in the field. He is due to start work again in a weeks time, and will be taking it very very slowly - 10 weeks walking in straight lines. This is to build him up safely, partly because of his suspensories, but also to gently re-mobilise his creaky joints.
Click to expand...

Thank you Auslander, I am going to put my horse on cortaflex HA super strength for bringing her back into full work, then see how she gets on with that. I hope your boy feels better soon, my horse has currently just been doing walking for the last 6 weeks and it is really helping, she will have two more weeks of it then I will start ridden work walking and trotting only for 4 weeks then progressing onto canter work.
 
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