Equine Arthritis

I remember how my horse was slow and lazy and wouldn't do much for me when I was on the high school equestrian team. I thought she was just ring sour. She would limp away from home, and be perfectly fine when we turned around. It was when she started a more consistent limp that I realized something was wrong. "What could it be?" I asked many of the people I showed with, who suggested arthritis. After all, it is a common condition among senior horses - those 15 years and older.

I started feeding my horse MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), which has been known as a "wonder drug" of sorts. However, it is only recognized as a food supplement since there is no proof or reason as to why it does what it has been claimed to do. I combined this with the use of Flex Free®, which was also recommended to me by an acquaintance who was showing an older, arthritic horse. "Your horse has arthritis!?" was my reaction. The horse did very well in the show ring and seemed to move about with no problem.

I asked my vet look into the stiffness of my horse. He confirmed what everyone was suggesting - she is arthritic. She was very stiff with slow reflexes and had no desire to move. He prescribed phenylbutazone (bute) for use before riding and when cold or wet weather seemed to have an effect. She doesn't need it much during the summer and when she isn't active. With bute, I use my judgment as to when she needs it. However, to do this, it is absolutely necessary to get to know your horse and to have the ability to communicate with him or her. Communicating meaning relaying a message to your horse, and understanding what your horse is telling you.

The first step to understanding your horse, is to understand how your horse works.

The joint is covered with an outside protective layer and has an inner slippery layer, which is called the synovial membrane. In a normal, healthy joint, the bone is covered with a thin layer of cartilage. The cartilage changes shape to absorb shock and evenly distribute pressure. Unfortunately, it suffers from the normal process of wear and tear and does not generally have the capability of repairing itself. The synovial membrane is also shock-absorbing and provides a slippery lubrication to prevent friction within the joint.

From normal wear and tear, the cartilage begins to breakdown. The body then begins its natural process of cleaning up any debris in the joint. Unfortunately, as this is being done, the chemical composition of the synovial fluid begins to change. The synovial fluid begins to lose its lubricative properties. More friction is created and the cartilage breaks down. More debris is removed and the synovial fluid becomes less slippery. The cycle continues. Eventually, the cartilage breaks down enough that bone rubs on bone. As a result, more bone is created to strengthen the surface. Bone spurs and such may arise. In its final stages, if left unchecked, arthritis causes the fusing of equine joints.ą

Aside for normal wear and tear, arthritis can promote problems such as bone chips and joint injuries. When the horse has arthritis, there may be heat and swelling around the joint. The horse experiences stiffness and can't move it's joint in a very wide range of motion. Pain is noticeable when the horse limps or moves stiffly.

There are several treatments being used to treat arthritis. DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) is very commonly used by equine owners for many conditions. Bute is very common for arthritic horses. And the traditional cold water and ice treatment is still very effective when reducing swelling. One of the best treatments is simply giving your horse a good, long warmup before working. A twenty minute workout of walking and easy jogging will help warm up the muscles, increase blood flow, and increase fluid production within the joint. This will ease the friction within the joint when venturing onto harder workouts.

There are many treatments being researched for arthritis. Be aware of any new possibilities that may arise for the treatment of arthritis. Always consult your vet and remember to be aware of what your horse is trying to tell you.

I cannot stress the importance of researching any and all possibilities of treatment to make life more comfortable for your horse. The following links may be useful:

Degenerative Joint Disease in the Horse including The Hock and Spavin, The Foot and Ringbone from The Horseman's Advisor

The Knowledge Bank--Osteoarthritis: When Bones Collide from The Horse Interactive.

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1. Briggs, Karen. "The Knowledge Bank--Osteoarthritis: When Bones Collide." The Horse Interactive. March 1997.

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Last revision: May 5, 2002