Warming up stiff older horse at comps

[EmmaB]

Just wondering if anyone who competes an older horse has any good warm up advice? My boy is 18 and needs a much longer warm up now, which is fine when we ride at home as we mainly hack out. I walk for a good 15 mins before anything, but he needs to go for a good blast to get him loosened up too.

The problem is at shows, even if I go early to have a long warm up, I can't exactly give him a gallop around the arena which is what I think he needs. I can try doing an even longer warm up but I don't want him to get bored of going round and round.

All he has is the Codlivine joint supplement, and he lives out 24/7 now which has helped a lot. Farrier and vet say he could have the start of arthritis but neither are too concerned. He is due for jabs soon though so I'll ask the vet if he thinks anything else will help.

Thanks

 

[AdorableAlice]

Assuming you are not competing under rules, it may be time to help him with a little pain relief on a daily basis.

 

[EmmaB]

Thats what I'm going to ask the vet about, but he totally refuses to eat bute. No matter what feed its in, no matter what you try and mask it with, he won't eat at all and then won't eat the next day even if there is no bute in the food. Last time he was on it daily for an injury (few years ago) we had to mix with water and syringe it into his mouth which he absolutely hated, and then still refused to eat anything for ages after, So don't really want to have to do that daily.

I could give it him that way if it was just before a comp, so not every day, but I didn't think I was allowed to even just doing unaff stuff.

 

[el_Snowflakes]

My horse is the same as yours & I always make sure she gets a good warm up & down. However at shows I admit I don't spend as much time in walk as I do at home. You could try some lateral work encouraging him to flex through his body & his neck. I find this helps soften them up & possible invest in an excercise sheet too

 

[Britestar]

Try devils claw, its a natural supplement for stiffness. Also invest in a massage pad, he can wear it in the trailer on the way over, and will help him a bit.

 

[MegaBeast]

Whilst you can't gallop round the arena you can canter round in a light seat which I've always found helps an older stiffer horse a lot.

 

[ann-jen]

I find with my old mare that spending some time flexing and lateral work in walk, then going straight into canter work loosens her off before trotting/jumping. Also she won't eat bute either (except with apple juice) but takes Danilon no probs on the odd occasion she's needed it .

 

[gunnergundog]

Massage and passive stretches......get a physio to show you how to do properly. Warms the muscles without tiring the horse.

Re bute, try golden syrup sandwiches!

 

[GlamourDol]

Have you tried adding caster sugar to his feed?
Or danilon instead of bute?

Re warming him up, have you tried magnets/ hot water bottles/ equisage?

 

[Primitive Pony]

Haven't tried it myself but lots of people are raving about turmeric for stiffness/arthritis - worth trying?

 

[stencilface]

I would try either a massage pad or a magnetic rug in the box, and in the stable overnight if it's the magnetic rug. I often take mine for a little hack up the road, especially at the comps where the warm up is small and you're only allowed in 8 before your go, this was on a younger horse too.

 

[tiggipop]

I have a 22 year old that last competed 11 years ago! I have just started taking him out BD - only at novice level ... but had put him on turmeric to help his creaky old bones. Honestly with him I started it on the sunday, my usual warm up when riding was 10 -15 minutes walk then "sloppy trot" for about 4 /5 circuits of arena on each rein before he would loosen up, on the Tuesday after starting on the sunday, I got on went into school and we bounced into a really forward trot ... and remained doing that for at least 20 minutes! he has continued to improve and seems to have regained his youth.. I love it!

the face book group is really helpful and has detailed files on how to go about feeding it. I have also taken it myself (Holland and barrett tablets) and it has helped me !

 

[EmmaB]

Thankyou everybody, lots of suggestions I can try!

Having a hack at the venue is a good point actually, that is definitely possible at at least a couple of places!

If the vet agrees to give me some bute for him I will try golden syrup, or danilon if that doesn't work.

Massage pads/magnets sound good depending on how expensive they are! Will have a look on ebay

As for turmeric and devils claw I tried both with no improvement, but soulful has let me know that it has to be fed with oil/pepper so will check out the facebook page.

Thanks everyone, good to know I'm not the only one with an oldie! Hopefully I can get a few more years out him yet! :biggrin3:

 

[Tronk]

Sorry to hijack but what Facebook page do you mean? Interested in the turmeric info.

 

[anna22]

Whilst you can't gallop round the arena you can canter round in a light seat which I've always found helps an older stiffer horse a lot.

I find with my old mare that spending some time flexing and lateral work in walk, then going straight into canter work loosens her off before trotting/jumping. Also she won't eat bute either (except with apple juice) but takes Danilon no probs on the odd occasion she's needed it .

As above but can someone post the link to the Facebook page for turmeric feeding?? If allowed to! I'm intrigued my boy is getting on and has a little hock OA. I used nutraquin, and have seen a definite improvement in him!

 

[tiggipop]

am really hopeless with technology but hopes this works

www.facebook.com/groups/415313751866609

alternatively search Turmeric User Group

 

[dollymix]

Thats what I'm going to ask the vet about, but he totally refuses to eat bute. No matter what feed its in, no matter what you try and mask it with, he won't eat at all and then won't eat the next day even if there is no bute in the food. Last time he was on it daily for an injury (few years ago) we had to mix with water and syringe it into his mouth which he absolutely hated, and then still refused to eat anything for ages after, So don't really want to have to do that daily.

I could give it him that way if it was just before a comp, so not every day, but I didn't think I was allowed to even just doing unaff stuff.

Mine also refused bute point blank to the point I had to syringe it down previously. However.. My new truck which by some miracles, does work, is Allen and Page high fibre cubes, soaked in hot water to make a mash. She LOVES it and I'm serious when I say I've tried everything to get to this stage! Worth a shot

 

[EmmaB]

am really hopeless with technology but hopes this works

www.facebook.com/groups/415313751866609

alternatively search Turmeric User Group

Thanks for the link!

Mine also refused bute point blank to the point I had to syringe it down previously. However.. My new truck which by some miracles, does work, is Allen and Page high fibre cubes, soaked in hot water to make a mash. She LOVES it and I'm serious when I say I've tried everything to get to this stage! Worth a shot

Nightmare isn't it! He does already have ready mash soaked which I thought would help hide the taste but I guess not! I'll keep the allen and page in mind as something else to try though thanks!

 

[Scarlett]

Our older lad, who has Si issues and hock arthritis, wears a Back On Track pad before being ridden to help loosen him off. I find it makes a big difference and now use it on all of mine before work. I find they are ready to work a lot quicker and the old man is nowhere near as stiff.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Back-on-T...quipment&var=550188968585&hash=item3a7ad4dbf7

 

[Pigeon]

Do have a chat with the vet. I recently had my horse's hocks medicated and he is so much happier. It's a very straightforward procedure - he won't eat bute either.

Otherwise could you loose school him at home in the morning before you leave for the show? The Equissage is a good idea too, I'm saving up for one at the moment!!

 

[EmmaB]

Do have a chat with the vet. I recently had my horse's hocks medicated and he is so much happier. It's a very straightforward procedure - he won't eat bute either.

Otherwise could you loose school him at home in the morning before you leave for the show? The Equissage is a good idea too, I'm saving up for one at the moment!!

I did see your post saying you had his hocks done actually! How did you know it was his hocks that needed the treatment? I sometimes hear a click if I lift his back legs but it's only when he's been stood still.

Also what does the procedure involve, and how much did it cost? (If you don't mind me asking!)

 

[Vodkagirly]

I compete a 21 year old. He is kept on premier flex, tumeric and linseed to help with stiffness. I have found rather than loading him straight from the stable, letting him have a walk, to loosen up at first at home helps.
If I over work him he gets bored and backwards, he doesn't enjoy schooling and I need to make it fun while letting him loosen up. I mainly do unaffliated ODEs so there is usually a field to work in. He generally comes out of the trailer full of himself so to maintain that energy I push off in a long trot to get him stepping out and work him in as big a space as possible. Walk /canter transitions and a gallop helps get him in the right mentality and off the forehand before I bring him in to do some circles and flexing work.
Finding the suggestions of a magnetic pad interesting, might try to get one to travel in.

 

[Pigeon]

He's insured and they cover the first one but I think it's about £150, and should last him a year or two.

His hocks showed up SLIGHTLY on a flexion test. Vet said he was completely sound before flexion, but he was just unhappy in canter with a rider, and slightly stiff coming out of the stable in the morning! Didn't bother with X rays or anything but I guess we would have gone down that route if the basic workup hadn't been definitive. 24/7 turnout would be good for him but no-one offers that round here in the winter Again might be worth looking into for your chap.

 

[ester]

my lad is now 21 and does need a longer warm up these days to step through properly behind. Which is a bit of a pain as he was always better with a short one. I tend to walk him for a while with a little bit of sideways (not proper leg yield just moving off my leg) then trot for 5ish mins in long stretchy trot and then pop up into a forward seat canter for a bit too loosen up. Then I ask him to work more properly and we don't do proper lateral work until he is fully warmed up.

Fwiw I've not known hock injections last 2 years .

 

[Pigeon]

No me neither, I think he was being optimistic

 

[bouncing_ball]

I have an older high mileage horse who can be stiff in school until warmed up.

Things I think help

Living out
Keeping warm
Equissage
Allowing him to warm up slowly
Regular structured varied work program
Regular bodywork
Glucosamine, MSM, turmeric

When competing, I tend to run Equissage 2-3 times whilst plaiting / polishing.

I also think (as Liphook vet said) that travelling in the lorry, the vibrations act like a giant equissage, so horse is often looser at a competition.

 

[Firewell]

I haven't read all of the replies but what about making sure he has an hr of turnout before heading to a comp and/or a spin on the lunge? I used to do that with my old boy. 15 minutes of trotting and cantering free on the lunge before travelling made him much easier to warm up at a show! Its also nice for their muscles to be warmed up before going on the lorry. Also keep him warm with a good travel rug. A joint supplement for seniors can also sometimes help.

 

[EmmaB]

Thanks guys. He already lives out 24/7 now as was just way too stiff coming out of his stable each morning and is a million times better now than he was! But I could deff give him a lunge before travelling to help warm him up. He is kept well rugged when he's out and have been travelling in his turnout or stable rugs which are warmer than his fleece.

I've just had a read about the hock injections, I'm wondering if this might help as he doesn't jump the same as he used to anymore, as in he is now more likely to chip an extra stride in right before the fence, and doesn't take me into them as much as he used to. I thought this was down to my riding and him slowing down as he gets older but maybe hocks are something to do with it? Just a musing really. I will ask the vet, he's booked in for Wednesday morning.

This might be a stupid question but what do they actually inject the hocks with?!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Steroids and the difference it made to my horse was superb. Hock stiffness is very common and not just in the golden oldies.

 

[EmmaB]

Steroids and the difference it made to my horse was superb. Hock stiffness is very common and not just in the golden oldies.

Thanks, I've been reading some more about it and I think I'll ask the vet to do a flexion test tomorrow.