Most ageing horses experience some degree of arthritis. Horses often display signs and symptoms that pain is affecting their quality of life. Treatment can be straightforward with proper products and guidance.
1. Stiffness
Horses may get up slowly or move sluggishly, showing reduced joint range of motion. They often improve as they warm up through movement.
2. Lameness on a Circle
The inside foreleg experiences heavier loading on circles, making lameness more apparent. Signs include uneven tracking, leg favoring, and head bobbing during trotting.
3. Inability to Roll/Rollover
Horses struggle with rolling or getting up/down, typically caused by spinal flexibility loss from arthritis or poor fitness.
4. Reluctance to Extend the Trot
Horses that once extended willingly may hesitate or underperform. Extended movements increase joint loading and concussive forces.
5. Reluctance to Jump
Horses refusing jumps may experience joint pain rather than behavioral issues, as landing creates significant joint stress.
6. Better Movement After Warming Up
Stiffness that eases after 10 minutes indicates wear-and-tear arthritis, common in horses with concussive work histories.
7. Irritability
Painful joints can cause behavioral changes like ear pinning, tail swishing, biting, or bucking.
Arthritis is not a curable disease, but products exist to minimize degeneration and improve quality of life.