How to help horses with arthritis?
Taking good care of the soft tissues is a good way to keep the joints as well functioning as possible.
As humans and animals get older, the wear and tear of our busy lives starts showing up on our joints. In horses, we often see changes in joint cartilage even before they become senior citizens. This is often due to heavy, repetitive work, old injuries and the fact that a lot of horses are never taught how to carry the rider in a healthy way. Degenerative changes in joint cartilage are not reversible, because the cartilage's ability to regenerate is minimal. Despite the fact that we can't turn back the clock and make our horse's joints healthy again, there are ways to manage this issue and keep the horse moving sound for as long as possible. Here are some suggestions for managing horses with arthritis.
1.
Provide as much free movement as possible. When joints are not asked to move, the synovial fluid that lubricates the cartilage is not being secreted. This is why horses with joint issues often come out of their stall stiff. By providing constant movement, the synovial fluid is always lubricating the cartilage which reduces stiffness. Ideally, a horse with arthritis should be housed in an open stable or track system.
Open stables or track systems work well to provide as much movement as possible.
2.
Regular exercise. Arthritis is often the reason why owners retire their horses, but this can be counterproductive. While reducing the workload is a good idea, completely stopping exercise is not. Keeping the horse's muscles (especially the core muscles) strong actually protects the joints. Strong muscles act as shock absorbers, which reduces the stress and strain on the joints. Make sure the horse is getting regular, low intensity exercise. Hand walking on different terrains coupled with in hand exercises targeting the core muscles is a great option for these horses.
3.
No hoof, no horse. If we have chronic dysfunction in one area, we need to make absolutely sure everything else is working well. Hoof balance is crucial to the biomechanics of the rest of the body. By making sure the hooves are balanced enough to play their part in shock absorption you are taking the load off the joints. With an arthritic joint, never ever skip a hoofcare appointment.
4.
Take care of the soft tissues. When there is pain in the body, the muscles and fascia will try to help. They will tense up and create adhesions to take the load off the painful structure, but this will create harmful compensation patterns and more stiffness in the long run. Releasing the excess tension in the soft tissues will help maintain a good range of motion. Having a bodyworker out on a regular basis will help keep the horse's body loose and supple.
Hand walking is a great way to keep our senior citizens functioning well.
5.
What about supplements? There are many oral supplements that claim to improve joint function and offer relief for achy joints. Some horses do well with herbal support that reduces inflammation and offers some relief. Work with your veterinarian to find out which one works best for your horse. Always read the labels to see if the supplement actually provides high enough dosages of the desired compunds to actually make a difference.