You and your horse routinely prepare for and participate in competitions. To ensure he is reaching his full potential, one area to be proactive about his joint health. Keep reading for eight actionable tips to help manage joint health in performance horses. Want to learn more? Read our sister publication The Horse’s in-depth feature, Managing Your Performance Horse’s Joints.
1. Understand osteoarthritis: Your equine athlete is, unfortunately, prone to osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that causes inflammation and degradation of articular (joint) cartilage. Osteoarthritis is the biggest culprit behind lameness, affecting around 60 percent of horses.
2. Prevent joint trauma: Shielding articular cartilage from trauma and inflammation is critical to combat OA, but there’s a lot more to it. Learn more about prevention strategies in the full feature article.
3. Manage weight: Overweight horses face the risk of increased joint compressive forces, potentially leading to arthritis. So, make sure your horse’s diet and exercise regimen are appropriate.
4. Consider supplements/nutraceuticals: Oral joint health supplements supported by scientific evidence, such as glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate and avocado-soybean unsaponifiables are popular choices for maintaining joint health. Veterinarians note, however, these should not replace treatment with other intra-articular and intramuscular products.
5. Explore intra-articular therapies: Talk to your veterinarian about options such as synovial fluid replacement products, corticosteroids, orthobiologics and synthetic products for managing joint discomfort.
6. Consider NSAIDs: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can keep inflamed joints comfortable. However, they should be used responsibly to prevent side effects.
7. Prioritize physical therapy: Conditioning and physical therapy offer significant help in managing OA in performance horses to ensure they stay fit and to prevent injuries.
8. Seek alternative therapies: Complement traditional treatments with alternative therapies, such as exercises designed to target muscle atrophy/weak muscles and postural exercises to improve coordination and proprioception (knowing where the limbs are in space). Additional therapies might include extracorporeal shock wave therapy, laser and acupuncture/electroacupuncture.
These tips can help you manage your performance horse’s joints effectively. For more information on osteoarthritis in horses and how to prevent and treat it, don’t forget to read our feature full of additional insights from highly respected veterinarians and researchers. Here’s to your horse’s lasting performance!
