At 11:42:02 on 23.11.09, hollie_jane wrote:
Anyone got an arthritic horse who is still going strong? I want to know about peoples experience with coping with arthritis.

At 21:22:38 on 23.11.09, spotty boy wrote:
My ex-racer developed signs of arthritis at the age of 20. We managed to keep her comfortable and in work for a further 2 years by bandaging during ridden work, always use some sort of padding under the bandages to ensure an even pressure. It is important to get the level of pressure correct, it needs to be even all the way down the leg, the bandage should cover the back of the fetlock down to the ergot but should not cover the front of the fetlock thus affecting the mobility of the joint. You need to check that it is not too tight by inserting a finger between the bandage and the top of the leg. Always bandage both legs. We also gave her cortiflex which although very expensive, did keep her sound. If your horse is out of work then bring it back into work slowly, start by 10 mins walk a day and gradually build it up, little and often is the key to keeping them mobile, they seize up otherwise, like us. Try to keep to softer ground to ease concussion. Once Prima was retired I could not justify the expense of the cortiflex and swapped her on to 'No Bute'. I'm not sure if there are any long term implications of using this. Speak to the herbalists among us, it is Devils Claw with some other bits thrown in. She was kept on this for 5 years before I lost her at the grand old age of 28, not due to lameness but age related internal organ issues.

At 13:01:07 on 04.01.10, xXxPonyLoverxXx wrote:
Hi. I keep zoes under control by feeding her glucosimine which has worked wonders with her stiffness. She also gets fed cider apple vininger wich help the inflamintalion, garlic and codliver oil. She has manahed to have a very busy summer of compeating and two pony club camps plus coming with us on holiday! I started off this winter bandageing her legs however i would be cautions about doing this. Bandageing legs is good in older horses to supporet there joints and increase bllod flow, however it can increase the risk of ingery as the ligiments are not as strong because they are being supporeted all the time . Meaning when they are ridden they are more prone to ingery as there legs are then unsuported ( a livery at my yard who hunts her old horse with out bandaging said it was like us wearing wells all the time then bein gmad to run around in flip flops) i have had to find out the hard way as my pony is lame after having a small trip. Before I started bandanging her legs she has fallen with me jumping and got strait back up as if nothing happened. This may just be how Zoes legs work as the story above shows how bananging can increase a horses comfort. I am going to buy zoe some stable chaps which keep the legs warm meaning that the blood flow is incread meaning her legs will not fill ( filled legs are due to a lack of blood flow and movement ) but her ligiments and muscules will stay strong. Hope this is of interest to some people ( My point about bandageing is a personal experience im not trying to upset anyone! )

At 18:55:41 on 04.01.10, hollie_jane wrote:
thats great news that your horse is still going strong! I have got Pepper on glucosamine, and going to get some apple cider vinegar (just finding where is cheapest at the moment) where do you get yours from? just the supermarket? i figured it would be cheaper there than at a tack shop. she is already on garlic, and will see about cod liver oil maybe. might as well! im eager to try anything that will help. I got her some of those stable chaps last month when the weather got very cold, and they have helped loads. they keep her joints warm and she isnt as stiff in the morning when she comes out of the stable. so i am really pleased with them. they stay on really well aswell. i agree that they are much better than bandages. mainly because they are so easy to put on, whereas some people get bandages wrong which can do more harm than good. i definately recommend stable chaps. hopefully will build her up back to her normal work load when the ground decides to thaw out :) cant wait to go on our rides again. I am alot more relaxed about it all now, especially since I have realised that she has been milking it a bit :) she pretends that her legs are really sore when i pick them up to pick them out, but she is perfect when the farrier comes!what a cheeky girl. she knows how much i worry about her obviously :)

At 17:05:50 on 12.01.10, Laneyloo wrote:
My horse hector is 16 and has been arthritic for as long as ive had him,to be honest it hasnt realy been an issue until this year.for good mantainance i use dengie hi-fi nutriant rich chaff,and suppliment with for summer veggie oil(from supermarket)much cheaper just as good an for winter i use concentrated omega 3&6 fish oil,apples and carrot a must of course(his favourites) i was thinking of no bute but to be honest he is doing fab on what i give him,he occassionally fills up but not nearly as bad as he has and a gentle walk for 5mins or going to the paddock usually sorts him out.I have never bandaged him or used chaps etc unless he gets worse of course but so long as he,s fit well and happy,i,m happy.codlivine is extortionatly expensive and even if it does work(a matter of choice and opinion)i would always buy an alternative,horses are expensive enough to keep during winter without the added and some times unnessesary extra expense on top,there are other products available just as good and at a fraction of the price.Happy days.

At 12:14:25 on 08.02.10, Angelalain wrote:
Our 20 yr old is a bit arthritic (everywhere, and nowhere in particular)He has been on cortaflex since he injured his knee when he was 15. Up till then he'd been doing everything, SJ CC and dressage. After the injury Susie decided not to jump him again, he's such a dear that she wants to keep him going as long as possible. He took up affiliated dressage and got to elementry with nearly 100 points. Last summer he was getting stiffer and taking longer to loosen up, so we didn't renew his affiliation, but he will still be out doing riding club this summer. we found that the liquid cortaflesx is definitely more effective than the powder (costs more too). He is also on Devils claw, and cider vinegar. He needs the farrier every six weeks since his feet are odd (so are his legs!) and they need shaping to keep him right. He also wears natural balance shoes to help him. I'd not thought of stable chaps for him, that would definitely be something we might consider. He's definitely not cheap to keep, but he's a dear and worth every penny.

At 18:31:29 on 10.03.10, Taz_N_Han wrote:
My QH Taz has arthritis that in the past two years has gotten worse. I have had the vet out numerous times and tried many different things to help him out. In the end I have found supplements from SmartPak that have made all the difference in Taz. He is on RecoveryEQ and half a doce of SmartTLC. Within a week Taz was back to his old happy playful self. He is no longer sore or lame, and is back in training. His supplements are about $55 a month. SmartPak has many products and is very helpful. Check them out, you will not be disappointed!

At 20:09:22 on 17.01.11, nut_lover wrote:
i am not really completely sure if nutmeg has arthritis or not. she is fine and free moving on the flat and going up hills but when we try and take down hill her back feet drag quite a bit (mainly her right). i was wandering if this is arthritis or something different. anyone know?

At 17:20:02 on 18.01.11, hollie_jane wrote:
Hi Nut_lover, I dont think it sounds like Nutmeg has arthritis, but im not a vet so dont take my word for it. I think you would notice it on more occasions if she did, especially going up hill and on circles. Its not just that shes a bit lazy going down hills? or doesnt feel comforatble doing it? my old pony never liked going down hill and used to end up going sideways and he was fine... just a wierdo. hehe. angelalian, do you think cider vinegar helps? i have been thinking about using it. Pepper seems ok on the glucosamine, but i think as she gets older I will have to tweak her medicines. I'm trying Litovet at the moment as i won a tub of it in a giveaway. i kinda hope it doesnt make a difference coz its over £100 a tub! but then anything that will help Pepper is worth it. not noticed a difference yet but will update :)