Older horse starting to get stiff...

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dressage__diva

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My beautiful IDxTB mare will be 15 years old this year and is working towards Advanced Medium at the moment. Due to the weather and frozen paddocks, she has not been worked since Thursday last week and when I got her out to work her last night she felt a little stiff behind for the first 15 minutes.

She loosened right off (I just did lots of stretching with her last night) and worked really well for me, but this mare owes me absolutely nothing so I want to ensure she has the best possible life with me! She had a gorgeous foal for me back in 2007 and has given me a lot of pleasure. In fact, she continues to do so. Just before the bad weather she was working at her absolute best, really trainable and loving her work. She is a pleasure to ride.

However, the slight stiffness got me thinking and I don't want to ask her to do things that she may find difficult due to age. Therefore, I was umming and ahhing about taking her to my vet (lameness specialist) and considering some injections in her hocks.

She is a big 16.2hh mare who has worked with me all of her life, so she has never really had much time off other than to have her foal. I always knew it would come to stiffness in her hocks eventually (I believe she may have some DJD in there but never had xrays etc as she has remained sound).

Morally, would it be right to inject the hocks to continue her work at this age? Or should I be thinking of reducing her work load and letting her have a bit of a quieter life?

She is turned out every day with her bestest friend (my chestnut mare) for an hour, and in the summer they are out in the field for around 4 hours every day together (due to when I ride they only get half a day).

Any thoughts?
 
If they are a little stiff with arthritic changes then the best thing you can do for them is to keep them moving. If you can turn out for longer then this would be ideal. Personally if she is happy in her work then I would keep her going at her current level.
In your shoes I would probably xray and then if vet advises a steroid/lubricant injection.
I'm assuming she is already on a decent joint suppliment.
 
Try GlobalHerbs MoveFree - the liquid form, although more expensive, is more palatable for them. I used the powder on my big grey last year [he's 14 this year] as he'd come off the lorry quite stiff for lessons etc. It made a real difference and he became much more willing and easier to work with on the flat [still no saint though, but that's his attitude!]

*eta just put this because I didn't see anywhere that you'd used joint supplements. I would say a supplement would be first port of call before injections.
 
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If they are a little stiff with arthritic changes then the best thing you can do for them is to keep them moving. If you can turn out for longer then this would be ideal. Personally if she is happy in her work then I would keep her going at her current level.
In your shoes I would probably xray and then if vet advises a steroid/lubricant injection.
I'm assuming she is already on a decent joint suppliment.

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We can't turn out in the fields at the moment due to them still being under a foot of ice (literally... it has just not melted at all!) so they are having an hour together in the round pen which keeps them both active as on their own they just have a roll and then stand there!

She is on TopSpec 10:10 joint supplement which made a really good improvement to her in the spring last year when I started to use it.

I don't really want to go down the xray route as she is not great under sedation at all
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She really struggles with it... I didn't know whether they could inject the joints without from a trot up and a flexion etc.

I am also thinking of getting her some magnetic boots for her hind legs (my other mare has them on every evening due to a suspensory injury she suffered a few years ago just in case) or some stable wraps as have some of those already.
 
Our 19yo is on a combination of NAF superflex, No Bute and magnets. We have seen good results with Bioflow boots.
 
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how much turn out has she had since the ground has been bad and you havent been able to ride?

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She has been out every single day (she only missed one day of turnout with the snow when it first fell) for an hour with my other mare.

She was not ridden for 4 weeks over the Christmas / New Year period (was lunged twice by the yard owner) and then has been worked since I got home very gradually building it up for just over 3 weeks now. I noticed it when I first got back on her, and then it seemed to improve. But since she had four days off over the weekend with weather again, I noticed it again last night.
 
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Our 19yo is on a combination of NAF superflex, No Bute and magnets. We have seen good results with Bioflow boots.

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I was thinking about something like No Bute (is that the Equine America one?). Is it competition legal as she is currently booked in for a few comps with BD and I had hoped to continue competing her BD.

Bioflow... do they have a webiste?
 
i *think* she will need sedating for the injections anyway???

would def try some magnetic pads under bandages/wraps at night-my mums horse is only 13 but a chunky heavy moving sort and these have really helped not only with puffiness in hind fetlocks but with stiffness in his hocks. i use the premier equine magnetic pads under thermatex wraps (you are meant to use them with the premier equine neoprene stable boots but i just stitch un-picked the velcro tabs and used them under my existing thermatex wraps, jobs a good un!)
 
I didn't realise she would need sedation for the injections... my other mare had her coffin joint injected and was not sedated, just a local anaesthetic used first.

They are a no go then, as she really does struggle under the sedation and I don't want to put her through that unless absolutely necessary.
 
I've an older horse (24) who I've had for two years - he was extremely stiff when I got him and is now much more supple that he used to be.

He's on a flexijoint supplement and buteless and is turned out every day for as long as possible.

I also do carrot streches with him about 6 days a week which really helps and I notice a big difference if I don't do these for a while.

I've also got an instructor who is really showing me how to get him moving properly to work his muscles correctly and I think that has made a big difference.

I also have magnetic boots which he wears overnight in the stable and help him as one of his fetlocks fills if stood around for a long time
 
I have just ordered some magnetic boots from Premier Equine...
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Fingers crossed those help and I will speak to the vet this afternoon when he phones me back about other options. I just want her to be as comfortable as possible
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Well then the vets giving her too much then!!!!!

Bloss sometimes looks like shes about to fall over when shes sedated for clipping. The important thing is you let them support themselves when they are sedated. If you start holding their heads etc it makes it worse.
 
Sedation is recommended for these injections because the needle has to go into the correct part of the joint and there is a minimal risk of infection. There are various types of sedative drugs, you might want to speak to your vet about trying a different type or doing a very light sedation with hobbles or something like that.

However, in this case I personally would be thinking of a course of Adequan, which is injected IM (no sedation needed), magnetic or back on track wraps, and a good joint supplement with devil's claw. The very best thing is for her to keep in work and keep moving. Really, the work she is doing shouldn't be adding much to the wear and tear - it isn't like she is doing canter pirouettes or piaffe, or jumping large fences.
 
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Well then the vets giving her too much then!!!!!

Bloss sometimes looks like shes about to fall over when shes sedated for clipping. The important thing is you let them support themselves when they are sedated. If you start holding their heads etc it makes it worse.

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Even with a tiny dose she falls over... in fact with a smaller dose she is worse because she tries to move. The last vet who sedated her suggested only sedating when absolutely necessary because he said she obviously had an adverse reaction to it
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She made a right mess of herself the last time (about 5 years ago) and cut all her side as he tried getting her back up!

Thankfully, she very rarely needs sedating
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Sedation is recommended for these injections because the needle has to go into the correct part of the joint and there is a minimal risk of infection. There are various types of sedative drugs, you might want to speak to your vet about trying a different type or doing a very light sedation with hobbles or something like that.

However, in this case I personally would be thinking of a course of Adequan, which is injected IM (no sedation needed), magnetic or back on track wraps, and a good joint supplement with devil's claw. The very best thing is for her to keep in work and keep moving. Really, the work she is doing shouldn't be adding much to the wear and tear - it isn't like she is doing canter pirouettes or piaffe, or jumping large fences.

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Adequan is the one that was suggested... I didn't realise it was injected IM. Thanks for that
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I think that is why that particular one was suggested too, so she did not have to be sedated. We have tried quite a few different ones (although that was 5 years ago so it could be there are more up to date ones now that we could try) but to be quite honest, after the last time it has really put me off.

I am going to look for something with devils claw in... is this BD legal?

I have just bought some magnetic boots from Premier Equine which should be with us shortly (she'll feel all special!) and will continue working her. I was just a bit worried because before Christmas she was actually starting 1/4 pirouttes (and was pretty darn good at them too as she has a cracking hind leg in the canter) and I was so excited to carry on these when I had got her back up to fitness but beginning to think I shouldn't even be asking her these things
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Plus, she had started a few baby steps of piaffe (moving forwards) and again, this seems really unfair on her.

To be wholly honest, I am absolutely gutted that she has become stiff... I always wanted to get her to AM and my instructor thought she should be able to by the end of this year too
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But time has got the better of us I guess... She has a home with me forever regardless!
 
Forgot to say... there was the suggestion that it is carrier fluid which has something to do with her issues. She reacts badly to the carrier fluid of yearly vaccinations so it is entirely possible I suppose...
 
i dont think you have to give up on your dreams yet, there are plenty of older horses out there who with a bit of maintenance are still competing at PSG and above. once all her new presents arrive she may get a new lease of life and adequan should really help, dont forget that the magnets and the adequan are not masking pain they are actively helping to loosen and lubricate the joint so that you can carry on working her, not just keep her at a comfy level. i honestly think you have many more years left yet (at AM and above
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But time has got the better of us I guess... She has a home with me forever regardless!

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Firstly, shes 15, not 25!! Time has not got the better of her at all. Shes a little stiff, its cold at the moment, i think you'd be stiff if you'd not been worked for 4 days in this weather and only turned out for an hour a day!

My YMs horse i ride is chronically stiff, hes only 12. He has intermittant lameness problems, takes a good 25mins to warm up but when hes warmed up he does PSG movements.

It dosent matter if she takes 30mins to warm up. Do you start her off with a rug on? I would advise that, along with cantering to start with to loosen her off.

Bloss takes a good half hour to warm up, always has done ever since i got her. Im certainly not writing her off just because shes 17 this year and is slightly lame at the moment. Shes got arthritis, dosent mean its the end of the world. She still works at medium level at home.

And you say she has a home for life, but im sure shes advertised as for sale on your website????

Sorry hun, but you need to chill out, a lot! A little stiffness isnt the end of the world x
 
You can get Adequan IM or IA, and I don't think there is much of a difference in price.
Devil's Claw is legal
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Also, don't stop working her as you are, even the 1/4 pirs and halfsteps, unless she seems to struggle. Her body will get stronger the more of the work she does. huge difference between gymnastic schooling and actually doing pirs on the spot as per competition. x
 
All I would say is trying the magnets, my old boy wears them, not that he does anything anymore but I hope they help him a little. Also definitely try adding devils claw...
It maybe that she is just stiff because she hasn't been doing anything... it may well be the work that keeps her happy!
 
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i dont think you have to give up on your dreams yet, there are plenty of older horses out there who with a bit of maintenance are still competing at PSG and above. once all her new presents arrive she may get a new lease of life and adequan should really help, dont forget that the magnets and the adequan are not masking pain they are actively helping to loosen and lubricate the joint so that you can carry on working her, not just keep her at a comfy level. i honestly think you have many more years left yet (at AM and above
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Thanks... will just wait and see how she goes once her new bits and pieces arrive
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But time has got the better of us I guess... She has a home with me forever regardless!

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Firstly, shes 15, not 25!! Time has not got the better of her at all. Shes a little stiff, its cold at the moment, i think you'd be stiff if you'd not been worked for 4 days in this weather and only turned out for an hour a day!

My YMs horse i ride is chronically stiff, hes only 12. He has intermittant lameness problems, takes a good 25mins to warm up but when hes warmed up he does PSG movements.

It dosent matter if she takes 30mins to warm up. Do you start her off with a rug on? I would advise that, along with cantering to start with to loosen her off.

Bloss takes a good half hour to warm up, always has done ever since i got her. Im certainly not writing her off just because shes 17 this year and is slightly lame at the moment. Shes got arthritis, dosent mean its the end of the world. She still works at medium level at home.

And you say she has a home for life, but im sure shes advertised as for sale on your website????

Sorry hun, but you need to chill out, a lot! A little stiffness isnt the end of the world x

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I had forgotten she was still on there
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Not really done much to it since the autumn as the damned place has not changed
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She was for sale at one point, I got full asking price for her and then broke my heart at the thought of not having her there! I may resort to looking for someone to part loan her in the future, but after that I quickly realised I would do everything I could to keep her. So that is what happened
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I always warm her up in an exercise sheet as she is fully clipped... I do this until the air is warmer come April time.

I am chilled about her, just want to make sure she is happy enough to work. If she carries on being stiff and that results in her finding the work increasingly hard (ie. the things she was ok with before) then I will make some decisions then. But to be honest, it doesn't really change anything with regards to how she will be managed etc.

What worries me is that she is a big chunky IDxTB (and I do mean chunky) and I know how that 'type' are prone to issues within the hocks etc due to the weight, conformation etc etc.

I think it is difficult with her because she has never really been lame (there was once when she caught her hock at 10 months pregnant and needed some treatment), so it is so unusual to be worrying about her limbs... it is usually the others!

I will give the suggestions of magnets and devils claw a whirl and see how we get on.

Any good devils claw supplements people can suggest? I know there is one by Global Herbs and one by Equine America...
 
How about pure MSM - ive just text loaner and suggested that Bloss goes on it. Done some reading about it and its good for stiff older horses.

She will probably just take longer to warm up, like i said it is really cold out aswell. YMs horse takes a good 30mins to warm up in the evenings when i ride him as its freezing by the time i get to the yard.
 
I use hyonate twice per year (three injections into vein not joint so helps all joints) on my 23 yr old ID x TB. The difference is amazing and in my opinion well worth trying.

Morally only you can decide - but my boy loves his work and when they have arthritic changes the less work they do the quicker they stiffen up.
 
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