Holly Hocks
Well-Known Member
I took my 21 year old ex-racer to the vet today. He had abcess type symptoms about 4 weeks ago, but nothing came out, apart from a bruise on the sole, yet still had fetlock and pastern swelling. So I took him back to the vet today for some further investigation. Now he was heavily raced. He broke down and both superficial flexor tendons are seriously bowed. He has also had a fractured radius at the age of 17 which became infected and we thought we would lose him. Anyway, I took him to the vet today and she did some x-rays from the fetlock downwards, doing the whole joint, and down to and including the pedal bone. Both the vet and myself were staggered. Despite his very hard life racing (National Hunt) and all the other injuries, there was absolutely NO arthritis/ringbone/sidebone. He even trotted up sound when flexion tests were done....
Verdict - arsing around in the field - trod on stone and twisted fetlock.
Is it possible that joint supplements actually do work? I've had him on one for the last four years, although I always have my doubts that they work, but this has made me consider it differently.....I am still amazed....
Verdict - arsing around in the field - trod on stone and twisted fetlock.
Is it possible that joint supplements actually do work? I've had him on one for the last four years, although I always have my doubts that they work, but this has made me consider it differently.....I am still amazed....