noblesteed
Well-Known Member
Hi all
My gelding is 18 and I have had him 9 years. connie x andalusian. We've had lots of fun together and I love him very much. He's recently showed signs of slowing down, though I know 18 isn't particuarly old. He has a history of laminitis and I am now well-accustomed to spotting early signs and sorting it. He has arthiritis in both hocks and is treated for this with steriod injections. Due to this we only really hack now, though we walk/trot/canter/gallop round the woods for fun- he doesn't really do gentle hacks! He absolutely LOVES his adventures! This winter he's lost weight and needed extra feed to give him energy for riding. He came out of this winter ok due to more feed but then showed mild separation in hind feet when shod so was tested for cushings - this came back negative. But due to lami risk he can't have any more hock steriods injections so vet thinks he will now need some bute for riding. He has some stiff days with his arthritis but is on turmeric and now devils claw and he manages ok. On his painful days he lets me know by quite violently snatching at the bit! Painful for me too! However I am glad he actually tells me he's hurting as it means I can do something about it, give him some time off, pain relief and he's ok in a few days. The problem is if he is ridden on bute/pain killers I won't be able to tell if he's starting with laminitis and then it will get quite serious before I realise he has it.
I've taken him off devils claw for 2 months and he's currently very slightly lame in front - only noticeable when ridden in trot. No heat, pulses etc. He's had 6 weeks off work and frog supports on his back feet where he had the separation but they seem fine and farrier was happy to put the shoes with frog supports on. Farrier thinks he might have a bit of arthritis in his front fetlocks too, but vet will need to look at this.
It's a nightmare - I can't ride him when he is lame, I can't give him pain relief in case he starts getting laminitis and the pain relief masks the early signs! But he needs riding to help his arthritis and to keep weight off him, and he gets bored and starts being daft. Plus his insurance excluded, among a host of other health issues, laminitis and any form of arthritis.
Vet will be coming to see him again over the next few weeks, but at this point I feel like giving up and retiring him
My gelding is 18 and I have had him 9 years. connie x andalusian. We've had lots of fun together and I love him very much. He's recently showed signs of slowing down, though I know 18 isn't particuarly old. He has a history of laminitis and I am now well-accustomed to spotting early signs and sorting it. He has arthiritis in both hocks and is treated for this with steriod injections. Due to this we only really hack now, though we walk/trot/canter/gallop round the woods for fun- he doesn't really do gentle hacks! He absolutely LOVES his adventures! This winter he's lost weight and needed extra feed to give him energy for riding. He came out of this winter ok due to more feed but then showed mild separation in hind feet when shod so was tested for cushings - this came back negative. But due to lami risk he can't have any more hock steriods injections so vet thinks he will now need some bute for riding. He has some stiff days with his arthritis but is on turmeric and now devils claw and he manages ok. On his painful days he lets me know by quite violently snatching at the bit! Painful for me too! However I am glad he actually tells me he's hurting as it means I can do something about it, give him some time off, pain relief and he's ok in a few days. The problem is if he is ridden on bute/pain killers I won't be able to tell if he's starting with laminitis and then it will get quite serious before I realise he has it.
I've taken him off devils claw for 2 months and he's currently very slightly lame in front - only noticeable when ridden in trot. No heat, pulses etc. He's had 6 weeks off work and frog supports on his back feet where he had the separation but they seem fine and farrier was happy to put the shoes with frog supports on. Farrier thinks he might have a bit of arthritis in his front fetlocks too, but vet will need to look at this.
It's a nightmare - I can't ride him when he is lame, I can't give him pain relief in case he starts getting laminitis and the pain relief masks the early signs! But he needs riding to help his arthritis and to keep weight off him, and he gets bored and starts being daft. Plus his insurance excluded, among a host of other health issues, laminitis and any form of arthritis.
Vet will be coming to see him again over the next few weeks, but at this point I feel like giving up and retiring him