Old horse lying down more?

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oldie48

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My 26 year old TB, looks well and is eating well. he's currently in at night but I've noticed that when he's had his breakfast he lies down again. I've hardly ever seen him lying down in his stable before. He's on prascend for Cushings and has some arthritis in his hocks. Is he just feeling his age, resting his legs because they are painful or could it be something else? I've also noticed that he's pretty quiet in the field, usually he's the one to start a bit of a hooley. I turned him out for the first time with new boy expecting them both to charge around a bit, but the old boy just put his head to eat. any one else experienced a similar thing with their old horse?
 
Check his hooves for heat and pedal pulses. I would consider a vet visit, lying down more than usual can mean a few things (or nothing).but laminitis would be a concern, especially as he has Cushings. Perhaps keep him off grass and on soaked hay and see if that enables him to lie down less.
 
Providing there are no immediate and pressing health issues, it sound like he's just feeling old. It's when they stop lying down altogether that concerns me slightly - they seem to get to the point that it's too uncomfortable and painful too get up again. I'm sure he'll be fine - just elderly!
 
littleshetland said:
Providing there are no immediate and pressing health issues, it sound like he's just feeling old. It's when they stop lying down altogether that concerns me slightly - they seem to get to the point that it's too uncomfortable and painful too get up again. I'm sure he'll be fine - just elderly!
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Ditto this. An old farmer/dealer friend said that when an old horse had difficulty getting up it was time to say goodbye, as they feel very vulnerable. He kept his old faviourites for years, one old trotting mare was over 30 and a pony was 45.
 
Yes, i'm a bit concerned that it might be laminitis, he doesn't have a raised digital pulse as far as I can tell but my gut feeling is that he's just not himself so vet coming this afternoon. he's such a lovely horse and enjoying his retirement for the past 18 months, doesn't look his age but there's something going on!
amandap said:
Check his hooves for heat and pedal pulses. I would consider a vet visit, lying down more than usual can mean a few things (or nothing).but laminitis would be a concern, especially as he has Cushings. Perhaps keep him off grass and on soaked hay and see if that enables him to lie down less.
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If you think his arthritis might be giving him grief I can't recommend cider apple vinegar highly enough. Saw great results in horses, so tried it myself and although I hate the taste I wouldn't stop taking it, really helps with daily niggles.
 
Yes, I could do with trying the cider vinegar for myself as he's not the only one who is getting a bit past it!!
pip6 said:
If you think his arthritis might be giving him grief I can't recommend cider apple vinegar highly enough. Saw great results in horses, so tried it myself and although I hate the taste I wouldn't stop taking it, really helps with daily niggles.
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I have an older horse (23) and she is also on Prascend. She has developed her own routine. Breakfast, out into field till lunchtime (unless flies are bad or it is wet and cold in which case we are told in no uncertain terms that it is time to come in!) a bit of hay for lunch and then a siesta for a couple of hours. A nice groom, tea and an early night ready for the next day. She has a lovely shine on her coat, a nice bright eye, eats everything but this is the routine that she wants so that is what she has! She has jumped at International level, bred 5 foals and now it is her time. She adopts the above routine whether or not we shut stable doors and/or field gates - it is purely her choice!
 
Hi
thanks for your replies. Vet's been, he thinks he may have a touch of lami and we are treating accordingly but he also felt his arthritis was giving him problems. I'd given him a sachet of Bute this morning and I have to say he was a lot brighter. So, fingers crossed if I keep him a bit more comfortable with a sachet of Bute each day and manage him carefully to ensure, if he does have lami, that it clears up and doesn't come back, we may have him for a while longer.
 
Thats okay news, you can deal with that, the bute will also help the arthritis, which at his age he deserves to take a painkiller for. The lami you will manage with soaked hay and less time out on the grass, happy days
 
oldie48 said:
Hi
thanks for your replies. Vet's been, he thinks he may have a touch of lami and we are treating accordingly but he also felt his arthritis was giving him problems. I'd given him a sachet of Bute this morning and I have to say he was a lot brighter. So, fingers crossed if I keep him a bit more comfortable with a sachet of Bute each day and manage him carefully to ensure, if he does have lami, that it clears up and doesn't come back, we may have him for a while longer.
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Good news. You must be feeling a little more relieved. Bless him. Pictures?

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I don't see 26 as that old. I've got two older and they are fit a fiddles though retired. Obviously some age earlier than others.
 
If you are worried about the affects of bute on his liver and ulcers, read up on licorice root, it creates a mucus membrane to protect against this when fed alongisde nsiads
 
STRIKER said:
If you are worried about the affects of bute on his liver and ulcers, read up on licorice root, it creates a mucus membrane to protect against this when fed alongisde nsiads
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OP, your vet will provide the best guidance. Comments like the above should be viewed with caution.
 
My friend has 26 yr old tb who raced, this year set record as oldest horse ever to pass a competitive class at golden horseshoe on exmoor when she passed the 40km graded ride. Have to say her legs are brill, she looks like a horse in her mid-teens and behaves like a 2 year old.

Last weekend she passed the pleasure ride at the cirencester endurance ride. Hopefully will be doing boconnoc in 2 weeks, no stopping this horse! Took about 5 years to get her feed right (pm me if you want details), now she looks brilliant.
 
hairycob said:
Bute does get an unfair press & for older, creakier horses it is a real godsend.
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Ive just recently "given in" and decided to put my arthritic horse on bute full time- well i chose danilon but have to agree he's much happier on it.
Hope yours recovers well and has many more happy years x
 
Thanks he looks much brighter today. i've decided to keep him on bute if he has a better quality but shorter life then so be it. It's what I would want!!
poiuytrewq said:
Ive just recently "given in" and decided to put my arthritic horse on bute full time- well i chose danilon but have to agree he's much happier on it.
Hope yours recovers well and has many more happy years x
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At maintenance levels they can go on bute for donkeys years with no ill effects. If you get over 1 sachet a day for a pony or 2 a day for horses then you need to start thinking.
 
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