Mild lameness/stiffness - improves lots with work

[NU ABO]

Basically my boy is mildly lame/stiff on one side in trot. He's always been slightly stiff on one side, the more lateral work I did and encouraging him to work from behind improved it to the point of it being unnoticeable and him regularly scoring well dressage and showjumping.

To make a long story short, he had fall in the field a month ago, but he got up fine and was still walking and trotting sound, worked him for a few days afterwards (admittedly a stupid idea but I can't changed the past), he stared feeling slightly lame in trot so had vet out (luckily coincided with his injections!) and she said he was 4/10ths lame in his left pastern/fetlock joint.

As such he was put on 10 days rest from work (but still told to give him full turnout to keep joint moving) and one sachet of Danilon a day for the 10 days.
This has massively improved his way of going and he doesn't feel lame, however he's gone back to the stiff/unbalanced trot he had before I worked on his lateral/hind-end work. He's been off Danilon for 4 days now and no difference to when he was on it, haven't ridden him yet with a saddle on, but I've gotten on bareback and he's lovely and smooth in walk and trot, he just feels stiff/unbalanced on that side.

He's in no visible discomfort, no head-nodding, no swishing tail, smooth transitions (both in and out of paces and within the pace) and happy to stretch through his back.

My instructor doesn't seem to worried about his way of going as he improves so much during a schooling session and the vet has basically told me it's most likely arthritis.

I've just bought him a new bespoke joint supplement from Hack-Up (having heard good things about them) which contains Boswellia and Turmeric (as well as glucosamine, MSM, Zeolite and something else I can't remember the name of unless I go look at the ingredients list) so I'm hoping that will continue to improve him.
I'd like to buy him some magnetic boots to see if that will help as well, as I've heard good things about them for arthritis.
I've also started doing Straightness Training on the ground with him to encourage a more balanced, uphill way of going and might encourage him to move from behind.

He's a 17 year old cob-type (ID x Conn), who has only been taught hind-end engagement since I got him three years ago (and we really only cracked it with the past year)

So what I'd like to know is:

-Does this definitely sound like arthritis?
-Am I going about dealing with it in the right way?
-Is there anything else that might ease his stiffness?

Tea and cookies for anyone that made it through my stupidly long post

 

[be positive]

The stiffness could be due to him compensating for a little arthritis that is setting in, without going through a workup, xrays etc you will not find out exactly what is going on but can still manage it and help him while he remains sound in general. Plenty of turnout to stop him stiffening up, a good warm up period when riding, and cool down is important, a supplement may help reduce inflammation but the one thing I really recommend is getting a physio to look at him, they can usually help with the muscle stiffness or tightness relating to compensating, they will be able to release the tension which should improve him overall, a routine check every 6 months will also enable you to keep on top of things before it develops further.

 

[luce1]

Could be arthritis... My boy has been diagnosed with arthritic changes in his coffin joint.. He was quite lame, and vet suggested some new Aluminium shoes on the front which has helped him immensley and he is sound. However some days he will start off slightly un level in trot. If I carry on and have a little canter and then come back to trot he is ok. Vet said this is normal with an arthritic horse. He is on supplements (similar to yours) and also wears magnetic boots when he is in (currently out at night). Vet is coming back tomorrow for another check up and may suggest some steriods into the joint for some more support, but hoping he won't need them and I may opt out as this can bring other side effects. I think sometimes he may just feel a bit stiffer than other days!
Good luck

 

[NU ABO]

The stiffness could be due to him compensating for a little arthritis that is setting in, without going through a workup, xrays etc you will not find out exactly what is going on but can still manage it and help him while he remains sound in general. Plenty of turnout to stop him stiffening up, a good warm up period when riding, and cool down is important, a supplement may help reduce inflammation but the one thing I really recommend is getting a physio to look at him, they can usually help with the muscle stiffness or tightness relating to compensating, they will be able to release the tension which should improve him overall, a routine check every 6 months will also enable you to keep on top of things before it develops further.

Thanks for the reply, it's really helped me not to worry too much (trust me I'm an insane worrier!)

Funnily enough he had the physio out last year, then had to cancel a session due to unforeseen circumstances, tried to get in contact with her again in April and haven't heard anything back, so I think I'm gonna to have to find someone else

 

[NU ABO]

Could be arthritis... My boy has been diagnosed with arthritic changes in his coffin joint.. He was quite lame, and vet suggested some new Aluminium shoes on the front which has helped him immensley and he is sound. However some days he will start off slightly un level in trot. If I carry on and have a little canter and then come back to trot he is ok. Vet said this is normal with an arthritic horse. He is on supplements (similar to yours) and also wears magnetic boots when he is in (currently out at night). Vet is coming back tomorrow for another check up and may suggest some steriods into the joint for some more support, but hoping he won't need them and I may opt out as this can bring other side effects. I think sometimes he may just feel a bit stiffer than other days!
Good luck

My boy sounds a lot like yours so this is promising. I may talk to my farrier about lighter shoes for him, might convince him to not take so much weight on his front end as well, which is something I'm hoping the straightness training will help with as well.

Similarly to yours he's much better after his first loosening/free canter, but at the moment we're focussing on trot since I'm bringing him back slowly after his rest. We'll introduce loose canters towards the end of this week.

My vet mentioned injections when she last came to see him when he went down lame, but she did say that was a last option if he didn't improve.

Did you find the magnetic boots helped? I'm currently looking at ones he can wear out in the field and I've come across the Bioflow Brushing Boots, the Bi-Polar Magnetic Fetlock Boots by Premier Equine or either Magnetic pastern wraps or a magnetic band around the pastern.
There's so many options I don't know where to start!

 

[chestnut cob]

In my experience of a horse with arthritis:

- As much movement as possible, so 24/7 turnout if you can
- Carrying no extra weight, keep the horse fit and lean
- Lots of work in straight lines, working properly from behind. I used to do hours of hacking.
- Schooling actually isn't the best thing for arthritis always as the circles etc can be hard going. Keep your schooling figures large and shallow. Warm up with a hack first, to get the horse loosened up.
- I had success with Natural Balance shoes for my arthritic horse. Worth talking to your farrier about.

 

[WindyStacks]

I lost a reasonably young horse to arthritis in the fetlock. She was barefoot from 6-12 so no shoes issues. Similar symptoms as you. Wish id had the work-up done sooner as jags into the joint were "too late". Maybe if I'd done it a year or two before she'd have made it.

 

[mightymammoth]

good idea re the supplements I've never heard of that company before so would be good if you can update this thread in the future to let us know how you get on.

 

[NU ABO]

good idea re the supplements I've never heard of that company before so would be good if you can update this thread in the future to let us know how you get on.

So far I'm pleased with the service. I gave them all of Jack's details, his problems, his current diet, what supplements he's currently on, how stiff/lame he is etc etc, then they create a bespoke product to suit your needs.
I got a phone call the day after the night I provided the information from Alex so I could give him more information in order for him to get a clearer picture of Jack's problems.
The price has come in at about £57 for 3 months supply which was quite good in my opinion and apparently I can ask for them to change the amounts of the different ingredients (so if I think he gets stiffer in the winter months I can ask for more Boswellia/turmeric to be added).

Apparently I should be received the supplement today, so I'm getting him started on it tonight (luckily because I've just run out of his last joint supplement!)

This is the website if you're interested: http://www.hackup.co.uk/

 

[luce1]

My vet and farrier did alof of work together with the xray pictures to get the showing correct. I am feeling an incredible difference though! My vet came out yesterday and is happy with his progress and we are not going to go down the injections route.
I do find the magnetic boots help. He has them on when he is stabled. I use the Equilibrium ones. Be careful with the Premier Equine ones as I think they can only be used for a certain amount of time throughout the day/night...
Good luck with your horse and keep us updated with the progress! I am also a fan of hack up and think Alex is great!