Road work- Should I feed a joint supplement?

Rjd84

Rjd84

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Hi everyone

I'm new to the forum and I know there are a lot of wise minds out there! I have a 12 year old 16hh welsh sec D type (exact breeding unknown but definitely has welshy looks and characteristics!) I have owned him for 6 months and he is in perfect health, sound and no issues. However where we are stabled we have to do a fair bit of road riding, all quiet country lanes but bridle paths are few and far between! We hack out 3-4 times per week and anything from 30 minutes to 4 hours. On longer rides I can get off road and I do limit trotting a lot on the roads. However, at times he can get excitable in trot and he can trot extremely fast and extended (much like a driving horse) and it can take me a while to settle him. I'm working on this in schooling but I'm worried about the impact on his joints. He's shod regularly but I'm wondering if I joint supplement could help or guard against impact, degeneration or deterioration in his joints.
I'd be really grateful for your advice,
Rebecca.
 
I feed apple cider vinegar for this very reason. My boy is 20yrs old and I think he could do with some help for his joints though nothing wrong as far as I am aware! I feed unpastureised ACV from farm shop. £5 for 5 litres!

Look on the site for ACV for equines.

Jane
 
Welsh section D's are not usually 16.00 hh.
I hardly dare mention barefoot, but can you imagine running on a nice smooth tarmac road, then having steel crampons on your feet?
If he was previously driving or showing to encourage extended action, why do you feel the need to stop this?
 
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Trotting a shod horse on the road will knacker his legs eventually. Perhaps you should give him some sort of supplement, he probably could do with all the help he can get.
 
MrsD123, the OP didn't say her horse was a Section D but that type. If she's doing a lot of roadwork he probably needs shoes! She has also not mentioned he was a driving horse. Do read the post before replying.

Jane
 
Janah said:
MrsD123, the OP didn't say her horse was a Section D but that type. If she's doing a lot of roadwork he probably needs shoes! She has also not mentioned he was a driving horse. Do read the post before replying.

Jane
Click to expand...

'Doing a lot of roadwork probably needs shoes!' Interesting concept.
 
Thank you Jane.
MrsD123, I'm just stating he's a sec D type, he has paces very indicitive of that breeding but as I said, his breeding is unknown as in, not recorded on his passport.
To my knowledge he has never been driven.
I only feel the need to adjust his pace on the road as the length of his extension in trot whilst is striking and beautiful, is very fast and heavy and I was concerned this may impact upon his joints. Of course I'm aware trotting on the roads for sustained periods has the propensity to be damaging in itself. I just wanted to know if there was anything I could do to as has been so delicately put "give him all the help he can get". I must say as this is my post on this forum I'm a bit apprehensive to post again...
 
Firstly, don't be put off by your first post... most people are very helpful on here. I'm a newbie too and within a week i've had lots of helpful advise! :)

I think you're right to consider putting your horse on a joint supplement, it won't do any harm so can only be a good idea.

I'd also suggest cold hosing him after any long rides or after long periods of trotting on the roads, this will help to keep in the long run :)

Hope this helps.
 
Feeding a joint supplement will do him no harm. Opinions are divided as to how well they work but for the record I do feed mine one.

I feed aviform equine gold which is very good spec for the price.

your horse is coming up to his teens I would consider putting him on one.

I also trot on roads. A certian amount of road work is good for horses but not pounding on roads so yes schooling and improving the trot will help protect the joints.

As for the shoes that is up to you people get very opinionated if it aint broke and your happy leave it be :)

Please post again. Everyone has there own OPINIONS it does not mean they are right & u are wrong just work out what works for you
 
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