spinal arthritis, any experiences with a young horse?

cob&onion

cob&onion

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 January 2011
Messages
2,744
Visit site
My mare was diagnosed with spinal arthritis (x-rays) at the end of June. She showed signs of it by finding it difficult to bend correctly, work in a consistent outline and very tense across her back where the back of the saddle fits, after physio and bute it was still no better. The vet said she was compensating for the pain in her spine by using these muscles. She had a month of bute throughout July but didnt seem to work as still tense in that area. Vet was hoping to have her in light work just hacking with no schooling or jumping (which she was still very keen to do the jumping and enjoyed it alot). After the bute not working (been off it now for 2 weeks) i have now turned her out 24/7 (been out on a steepish hill for around 2 weeks), plan is to turn away til next spring and then get vet out again to re-asses her.
Anyhow today she seemed alot better when i touched the area and not sore, didn't flinch or anything :) seems to have improved since shes been out on a hill 24/7. i don't want to write her off as shes a lovely mare and she's just 6 yrs old.
Does anyone have any experiences of this and wheteher the horse was able to be ridden again and to what extent??
Before she was diagnosed she was in work 5 days a week hacking jumping and schooling and only struggled with the schooling aspect of things - throwing head about/resisting and uncomfortable, but in other area she rarely refused a jump and would enjoy hacking out, cantering across fields etc.
Shes been out of action for approx 4 months now. Really hoping to get back on her next year and just take it from there minus the schooling work.............
thanks
 
Hi, my horse was diagnosed with arthritis in his spine in May. He has had steroid injections into the area affected, this was shown on a bone scan. He was then turned out and rested for 2 weeks. I have brought him back into work slowly, lunging using a pessoa and just walking out hacking for a while. After 3 weeks started some trot work, this went okay and have just started his canter work and so far so good, no bucking! The vet stressed the need for him to be working correctly over his back, he does a lot of work long and low. Has your vet suggested steroid injections?
 
Charliechalk said:
Hi, my horse was diagnosed with arthritis in his spine in May. He has had steroid injections into the area affected, this was shown on a bone scan. He was then turned out and rested for 2 weeks. I have brought him back into work slowly, lunging using a pessoa and just walking out hacking for a while. After 3 weeks started some trot work, this went okay and have just started his canter work and so far so good, no bucking! The vet stressed the need for him to be working correctly over his back, he does a lot of work long and low. Has your vet suggested steroid injections?
Click to expand...

No, no steroid injections.
The x-rays showed up as bony changes (quite advanced)
I may have a word with my vet about them. Don't really know much about it TBH and seems to be limited info on it.........
 
I couldn't find much information on it either. My horses changes were quite advanced and the vet really thought we would have to go for loss of use. However, the steroid injections really have helped, not sure for how long though as the vet said he may have to be injected again but at the moment everything seems to be going okay. He is no way in hard work though so time will tell as i up his workload. The injections aren't that expensive either, just the bone scan and xrays that have eaten up most of the insurance! The vet also suggested acupuncture as he has had good results with this but so far my boy hasn't needed it. There are treatments out there and if you have insurance the steroids are worth ago. The vet also said that when they have problems with the spine they are better kept in work as building muscle along the topline will help support the spine. Also feeding hay on the ground and lots of carrot stretches to keep them flexible. Hope it all works out for you.
 
There was a horse at my yard who had arthritis in the spine, diagnosed quite young. He was well bred and started as a showjumper.
His owner used to hack him out regularly but not much more than that. She had a nasty accident one day getting on when he just flipped out and threw himself backwards, she got smashed into a wall and knocked out. She re homed him after that.
Last i heard, he is still really enjoying his life as a happy hacker with his new owner.
He used to be on bute all the time from what i remember.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top