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susanB

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24 November 2005
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Hi---am new here. My horse is a 28yp t/bred --turning very grumpy & some days does not like being brushed or even stroked. He's lost his shape on the topline & looks as though he could have arthritis in the spine. Today he is having difficulty getting down to eat the grass & I have put his feed bowl up a coup[le of feet from the ground to try to help him. Is anyone else experiencing similar problems with their veteran horse? Any ideas to help would be appreciated.
Thanks
SusanB
 
Feeding a joint supplement such as Glucosamine.
Also, being honest with yourself, and when you feel that he nolonger has a decent quality of life, having the guts to call it a day.
My TB is 17 but is alot older in his body. I have him on pink powder and he seems to be full of life.

Lou x
 
I knew a horse who had similar problems. We fed her from a hanging mager on her door. Unfortunately, she got so bad, that should could no longer lie down or roll.

You could consider glucosamine or devil's claw.

The outcome for the old mare was pts unfortunately. I hope your horse recovers.
 
Sadly, with such a veteran horse, I think you would be wasting your money on joint supplements. No supplement in the world can reverse the wear and tear damage that old age brings. But regular bute would probably help and with a 28yr old, you don't have to worry about long term usage. Plenty of humans could relate to the miserable effects of arthritis and joint pain but pain killers and anti inflammatories can make life worth living again. Also, many veterans lose their topline and develop a sway back, as a result of loss of muscle tone, slackening ligaments, different exercise regime etc. I'm really struggling to get any saddle to fit my Sunny who is 23 going on 6 and who has a sway back to the point where every saddle I've tried bridges.

Try bute or one of the similar products and hopefully, your Mr Grumpy will start to feel much happier again. Of course, you're only masking the symptoms rather than fixing the underlying problem but hey, if it gives your horse a few more years of decent quality of life, what the heck? x
 
I'd echo Box Of Frogs (she always has great advice, especially about the oldies
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Don't rule out Devils Claw, which would give pain relief rather than being a joint supplement per se. I use it for my mare who has arthritis in her hocks and fetlocks, and it really has helped her. I feel it leaves me bute to fall back on if she gets much worse.

Mine has also lost her topline, and it does make it quite hard to gauge her condition - if I condition score her, she comes up at around a 2, but she's well covered on her ribs and tummy, just nothing on her back/neck/bottom. I wouldn't worry too much, except as BOF said, check your saddle still fits.
 
my 28 yr TB is a bit stiff in the mornings and has been through the mill after major op at xmas ....i have him on nettle supplement it seems to be doing the job so much so he has been cantering around the field over the past few days....hope your neddy picks up....oh also dengie digestive health plus help with any gut problems its a prebiotic/probiotic and a yeast supplement.x
 
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