Looking for advice/reassurance

[Solbaby]

Hello everybody! Worried horse mummy here.

I have a homebred PRE gelding who is coming up to 2 this year. His dam has just been diagnosed with arthritis in her hocks at only aged 8. Feel really worried that I have bred a foal that will end up with issues early in his life. What are the chances of him being predisposed to developing arthritis and is there anything I can do to help prevent it?

TIA xxxxxxx

 

[Slightly Foxed]

Arthritis is a bit of a catch all term, like cancer. The dam's arthritis may be the result of too much / too intense work as a youngster, or she may be pre-disposed to it through breeding, you may be the best judge of that. Research in the US has shown that diet can be beneficial in warding off arthritis and feeding glucosamine to young horses appears to be beneficial.