loaning

[fireflymac]

I have the possibility of a loan horse who has an arthritic knee. His owner assures me he is up to gentle hacking - she knows the level of use I am looking for. He has devil's claw at the moment but no other treatment. Does anyone have any experiences of loaning and /or arthritis that they can share? Any comments/ advice welcome.
Thanks.

 

[Divasmum]

I think that before taking on any horse it is worth getting a vet to have a look. At least you will then know the cost implications and the limitations the horse may have.

 

[Happytohack]

Both my heavy horses have arthritis. They are on Feedmark's Zerobute and ExtraFlex HA with Rosehips. The older one is now on Danilon. Gentle hacking keeps them ticking over, but that is all they are up to. A lot of people recommend arthritic horses are kept out as much as possible, however I find the cold and damp makes them worse and they are happier in - however they do have enormous boxes so they don't stiffen up. Correct shoeing is also vitally important. The hard ground can affect them as well.
How old is the horse you are thinking of loaning? Can you have a word with the owner's vet (with their permission of course) and find out the extent of the horse's arthritis. If all you want to do is gently hack, then fine - but what happens if the horse gets worse and can't be ridden, will the owner be happy to take it back? You will need to have a proper loan contact drawn up. Another thing to keep in mind is that supplements are pretty expensive.