Mild Arthritis - what to expect?

Gluttonforpunishment

Gluttonforpunishment

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I'm looking at buying a horse just for pleasure hacking - mainly plodding around the local lanes and bridlepaths with the occassional short canter. Realistically only going to be used 3 - 4 times a week for an hour or so at a time.

The horses I've been looking at are mainly mid to late teens looking for a slower pace of life but a lot are coming up as having mild arthritis.

Can anyone tell me what this means in terms of treatment / day to day care / long term prognosis.

I know it will be different for each individal horse but just trying to establish whether this is something to be avoided or if it is manageable with the right knowledge.

Thanks
 
I think for what you want then a horse with mild arthritis is an option. My friend has just bought one for hacking out a few days a week, maybe the odd clear round showjumping etc. She plans to keep him living out but rugged up warm, so he can keep walking around. he is not on any medication and is absolutely fine for what she wants him for. Although he failed a vetting on flexion tests, they had a chat to the vet and suggested that the horse is not suitable for more than hacking. If you have to keep the horse in then there is more chance of it getting stiff etc.

It depends on the individual. I used to loan a 22 year old ex-intermediate eventer who had moderate arthritis in his hocks. He was still fit for jumping 3m tracks and regular canter hacks. The only thing I did was made sure he had a day off after competing and no trotting on the roads. I used to take my time with warming him and and cooling him down too. He was on cortaflex and managed absolutely fine. He is now 25 and is showing a young girl the ropes in hunter trials.

I would consider a horse with mild arthritis if you do not plan to hammer it into the ground, and have a chat with your vet about it.
 
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My mare has mild arthritus in her hock but i hunt once a week, fair bit of jumping max 4' and hack her most days, she does live out all year and I never trot her on the road and make sure she has had a canter before jumping out hunting. she has a couple of danilon after hunting but thats it, probably wouldnt passs the vet but is happy in herself.
 
Thanks - that is kind of what I thought but as I have never had a horse with arthritis I really appreciate the info.

A friend has recommended Devils Claw as a daily supplement to help with pain / inflammation. Have you used this or know anything about it?
 
you sound just the sort of home that that sort of horse would be looking for! Often keeping them active keeps them more mobile.

I would just say management wise try and keep their weight down, a good joint supplement and if possible try and find grass livery as the more mobile you keep them the better.

Supplement wise, I have had excellent results with Equiflex on a variety of different horses with different problems.

Good luck!
 
I had excellent results with hilton herbs reflex and cider vinegar, really helped my old boy, who went til he was 32. I don't know if they still do it now, so you'll need to check. Good luck, older horses can be very rewarding and I love them!!!!
 
that would fit perfectly with my current pair - I'm lucky in that I have my stables and 8 acres behind the house - during the summer the girls are out 24/7 and then in winter just in over night.

I love my girlie dearly but she is not an easy ride so really just want another that I can have a bit of light relief and happy hacking on in between working my girl which can be a bit heavy going on occasions!
 
Mine is 31 now and is on cortaflex and has danilon every day, to look at him you wouldn't know, he looks much younger ! He also acts like he's 3 sometimes

I think it depends on the horse, I take mine to beach, fun rides even pop the odd jump on a fun ride (if there's a photographer) and the ground is good
 
I think to buy one with mild arthritis is would not cause you any problems for the activities you want to do over the next few years. When you view, make sure the horse hasn't been given any bute or danilon as that will mask any unsoundness. The only thing I would say is that the longer you have your horse, the worse his arthritis may become, so that is something you might want to consider if you think you will want to sell him in future years.


I have a 33 yr old shire cross, who has bad arthritis, he's currently on 2 x daily bute's plus herbal suppliments to relieve pain, and he still currently has a good quality of life. We retired him 6 years ago as he became too dangerous to ride because he was tripping too much (so, he was about 27 then). I think we noticed he was becoming stiff a little over 10 years earlier, so he would have been about 16 or 17 yrs old. I remember this, as it was the year I left school.

I would say though, that back in those days, in the 80s and 90s we didn't give any suppliments to our horses, and I have wondered if he had been put on glucosamine or something like cortaflex if we would have got more life out of his joints??? We will not know.
 
My old horse (29) who has arthritis in her rear hock is on one sachet of bute, powdered linseed (which is an anti-inflamatory) and formula 4 feet and will happily go out for 4 hour gentle hacks.
 
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