Managing an arthritic horse

[flirtygerty]

Hi,
Just looking for advice on keeping my 18yr old mare comfy over the winter.
She has recently been diagnosed with arthritis and is prescribed one bute per day. She has only been with us 8 months and arrived ribby and in poor condition, due to having too much grass (in hand, grazing sheep on it this winter) and chaff/micronised linseed once a day she is now on a diet, as the weight piled on, she stood in all day with a small haynet over summer and out at night, anyway, she is still heavier than I would prefer, my fat lad is spending this winter unrugged to get the weight off him, but given the arthritis and her age, how do I manage the mare.
This is new territory for me so please be gentle

 

[be positive]

She would be best out as much as possible, moving around is better for arthritis than being kept in, obviously rugged when required as she will also be better for being warm, could you make a track or something similar so the grass is restricted and she has to keep moving to find it, this would also help your other horse.
I have 2 in a field that I have fenced into an L and a square, they really move around when on the L part, if the field was a better shape I would go all the way round, put water in one end, hay at the other.

 

[paulineh]

How bad is the Arthritis and were is it.

I would leave her out as walking around is good for them.

Just enough rugs to keep her warm.

Before using Bute I would try one of the produces like "No Bute" or "NAF Flex" etc

 

[chestnut cob]

Before using Bute I would try one of the produces like "No Bute" or "NAF Flex" etc

OP says vet has prescribed bute so I don't think you should be advising them not to.

I had an arthritic horse for several years. The more turnout the better although mine tended to get stiff when it was wet/damp and cold so preferred to be in then. Rugging is a balance between cool enough so they don't get fat but warm enough to stop them from seizing up - trial and error I think.
Also get a good joint supplement. I fed JointFX and really noticed the difference if I stopped it. Exercise is good - not hammering them but regular work.

 

[flirtygerty]

Thanks for your kind replies, she is in light work, but only managed 45 mins hacking at a walk before getting footsore, she has arthritis in all four legs and shoulder, she gets bute and codliver oil daily, is in a med weight rug since temps dropped to -0, unrugged through the day if nice.
She has free access to to field, barn and stable 24/7, through the summer, access to 5 acres, hence the weight gain, now limited to 1 acre for the winter.
My problem is heavy mud on route to the barn, due to underground streams ending at the barn entrance, fighting through the mud can't help, so I was thinking of restricting access to the field 4 days out of 12, due to work commitments, leaving an area equivelent to 6 large looseboxes for 2 horses, 15 2hh and 16 2hh (mare) to mooch in, does this sound feasible with hay to munch on, my lad keeps her moving from haynet to haynet.
I Lost a horse in Feb this year due to slipping on churned up mud, injuring his leg and developing colic, I couldn't go through that again, so I do tend to worry, I have a lovely bond with this mare and want to do the best for her, even if that means making THAT decision.
Please keep the advice coming

 

[paulineh]

OP says vet has prescribed bute so I don't think you should be advising them not .

Rubbish-Vets are all too quick to tell you to use Bute, as Dr's are to give you pain killers.

If the OP has used and is using a joint supplement and they have not worked then fine, but there are many things out there that can help an Arthritic horse before going down the drugs route.