Keeping an ex-racehorse sound.....

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Biglets Mummy

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I am really struggling to keep my 19 year old ex racehorse sound. Until two years ago he was fit,healthy and enjoying his life as my faithful bombproof hack that I hacked out 4/5 times a week. He then suffered a broken proximal sesamoid (sorry about the spelling) after playing in the field,then numerous different tendon strains(always front legs) throughout last year which resulted in almost 9 months off. Healed and sound for about a month, lame again with a pastern strain.Box rest for 2 weeks sound and back in a small paddock and this morning he is lame again on the other leg. No heat or swelling so vet coming out this afternoon. It is just one thing after another and I am getting really worried about my old friend.
Is this what happens with older ex racehorses ??Are his tendons just getting weaker and weaker? Ive had him for 7 years since he came off the track at 12. Hes the first ex racehorse Ive had so I would really appreciate any advice from other owners about how to keep him sound. He has a home for life if it is time to retire him as I completely adore him. Hes been amazing and is irreplaceable to me. I just want him sound and back enjoying his hacks round the village which he loves.
Would turnout boots give him a bit more support? I do use exercise bandages when hacking him out.Supplements ??
Any advice very gratefully received..Thank you in advance xxx
 
Hopefully vet can advise you but partly to bump and partly to say that we had been putting long turn out boots down over the fetlocks on my ex racehorse following a knock in the field He would wear these even if out for a long time which isn't ideal but worked.
 
I think the fibres in the tendons get less elastic as they get older and any damage also results in less elasticity.

It may be worth putting up some photo's of the feet, as any imbalances can and does have a knock on effect to tendons and ligaments. With mine who is 6 and an utter nightmare with regards to having soundness issues the feet put strain on the suspensories.
 
Hello Biglets Mum,
I'm a serial ex-race horse owner ;) When I was a kid the intractable racers were given away cheaply and I think my father used to go to the trainers' yards and say "well, my daughter's turning 4 next week, I thought I'd try and get her another nice thoroughbred". I don't know how I survived my childhood, really.

I've had many ex-racers, but I don't claim to be an expert. My one boy is 19 this year, too. I've had many that have stayed fit and well to a very ripe old age, and retired from their hacking in their dotage. Part of it is the luck of the draw, but I always try to adhere to the following with the older ones:

- watch weight carefully when they're older; better a bit under than over in my personal view
- let them have the best farrier you can get your hands on, whether they're shod or barefoot
- don't forget the dentist
- small regular exercise, even just in-hand walking keeps them moving nicely, which makes them feel better, especially when recovering from an injury and box rest, and makes the blighters less inclined to doze in the sun all day ;)
- remember that there's some sort of immutable law that decrees their lameness comes in "bundles" and this phase will pass. I have a pet theory that if the older TB has an injury causing lameness he's going to strain other muscles by compensating. This theory may well be rubbish from a scientific perspective, but I've seen it time and time again, so the older ones have a kind of "complex lameness". If your horse was well enough to frolic in the paddock and injure a sesamoid, he's probably overall in good shape.

Hopefully the vet finds nothing to worry about - best wishes for a speedy recovery :)
 
Ginger Bear, I'm in South Africa:) But you may be asking the OP that question... just thought you might be wondering where in the world people would be crazy enough to put 4 year olds on racehorses . And wishing I were in Essex right now.
 
Ancient Hacker said:
Ginger Bear, I'm in South Africa:) But you may be asking the OP that question... just thought you might be wondering where in the world people would be crazy enough to put 4 year olds on racehorses . And wishing I were in Essex right now.
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haha - yes aimed at the op but my mum also put me on an ex-racer at 7 years old - not quite 4 though! taught me to ride in a field on a lunge line.. she'd never seen any accidents before we moved a large yard..lol.. she wouldnt do the same things now.. lol
 
Hi Ancient hacker and Ginger bear !!
Your replies are just brilliant and have made me smile on a stressful afternoon at work!!
Vet says it is a tendon strain again but doesn't seem to be to worried so rest and TLC required !
He said ,funnily enough just like your post,that stuff like this comes in bundles and it will pass which is a very good job as I am going to have offer him favours if the bills keep racking up like this !!!
Ginger bear Im in Powys ! Just over the welsh border !
thanks so much for all your kind advice. Its really appreciated as even after 20 years of horse ownership Ive never had a veteran !! I was going to do some classes with him this year but will see how he goes !!
Thanks again for all your help xxx
 
if you are getting tendon strains I would look closely at what the hoof pastern axis is and make sure that the angles are all correct. If not this will need to be looked at. Tb's are a little notorious for developing bad angles. I know mine did.
 
Angua2 said:
if you are getting tendon strains I would look closely at what the hoof pastern axis is and make sure that the angles are all correct. If not this will need to be looked at. Tb's are a little notorious for developing bad angles. I know mine did.
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This made me chuckle... TBD are notorious for developing all sorts of funny things that keep my vet busy. My hubby calls them our "ambulatory vet bills". But for all the challenges, they are incredibly rewarding and as they get a little elderly they are a little more demanding but, at the same time, for me they are even more rewarding. They get to know us so well, and vice versa, and somehow an ultra-special bond seems to grow. I also think they appreciate love and pampering a lot more than youngsters do.

I am cautious not to work the old boy too much; keeping weight and muscle close to ideal becomes a combination of art and science, especially when the seasons change.

When I get downhearted and the oldy throws a small bunch of syndromes at me I have a good method of cheering myself up: itrawl the web for pics of famous oldies who have still done great things at 17, 18 or older (Toy Town) and then I am reminded of the good things yet to come :D

Biglets Mum, please keep us updated on progress!
 
Keep feet short, long toes cause strain on the extensor tendons because of the angle of the pastern bone, remember all his racing years his feet would have been kept very short, agree tendon boots in field, but general wear and tear is going to take place because of age and he is an ex racehorse.
 
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