Hi All,

Have just been advised my poor boy has the above, he is only 10. He has been at Liphook since monday & today after having bone scan, back x ray & hock xray he is having intravenous drip injecting Tildren (think that is what it is?!)

Has anybody elses horse had the above and if so what has your horses lifestyle been since being diagnosed?

He is having to have 2 months off and one month light hacking then back to Liphook for re-asessment.Any advice, comments would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Sonja

What are the visual/physical symptoms you got from your pony before osteoarthritis was diagnosed. As my pony has been having leg and back problems (to which his legs gives way and he trips and stumbles onto knees) and vet cant find anything wrong and am thinking of getting him referred to liphook (or can he go there without a referral)and undergo these tests - are the tests expensive????

Thanks

One of my miniatures has osteoarthritis in all 4 legs. He was diagnosed with it in the back legs as a 2yr old, and front legs as a 3yr old, his was cause by other joint problems though..

He's now 7yrs and although not quite the same as he's not ridden he's still going on. He can do light walks out in hand in the summer, gets stabled, rugged and on painkillers over winter to keep him ticking over and a good joint supplement all year round. He is still perfect able to bolt round the field when he doesn't wish to be caught!
He is rarely sound though and vets has said they doubt he ever will be sound.

That is my only experiance of it and not trying to give you horror stories! lol Dinki is quite a bad case i suppose but fine for just being a expensive pet and whilst vets are happy with him we'll just keep him going...

However i did find magnets works very well for him, when he first had all his problems he had one on 24/7 all year round, now they are only in his leg wraps that he has on in the winter, really helps keep him going. (and when he can drag me into his stable at night.... i don't see much wrong with him at the moment! lol)


RIP Halo - 1998 - 2006. Miss you always.

My little horrors darlings.

He hasn't been right whilst being ridden especially in canter had physio for past few years and she suggested him going to liphook I was with another practice but now with liphook they are fantastic up there and explain everything clearly he was lame in both back legs and one front leg

He hasn't been right whilst being ridden especially in canter had physio for past few years and she suggested him going to liphook I was with another practice but now with liphook they are fantastic up there and explain everything clearly he was lame in both back legs and one front leg

as far as i am aware ,horses do have to be referred to liphook by your vet.The tests do cost alot of money,i had my horse go for similar tests and he rang up nearly £2000 by the end of the week!Luckily my insurance covered it.

I had 2 ponies diagnosed with this, both related so not suprisingly. One is 16 ish now and he too had the hock injections and he is doing just as good as ever!He is limited to doing only piddly jumps and his range of movement is restricted in that his trot circles, when ridden, are what we describe as 'squircles' as he struggles to put his hind leg underneath him properly.But he still does well in the show ring!
The other is now 8, he has been to a few equine surgerys, 1 said he had it the other said he didnt,but he had the injections any way but they only helped for a month or so.I don't know whether he had it or not in the end, so if he didnt that may be why they had no effect.But i think as long as your doing no major competing there is no reason as to why you cant carry on as normal

One of our friends had a forest mare that was diagnosed in her early twenties (I know this is more normal). Her owner managed the arthritis with bute and found that she had to catch the beginning of the flareup to get the best result. Continual dosing seemed to lose effectiveness. The pony went on working until last week when she was PTS at the age of 33. So careful care and light work may give yours ten years or more useful service but it does depend how fast the condition accelerates. Not much fun at all though.

Had no idea Son, are you ok?

Hows Chino?

Hi Hun,

Yeah sorry not been in touch but this was a bit of a shock and i've been a bit down in the dumps, this hasnt really been my year has it with all thats been happening. *** men & broken horses!!!

Chino is fab we are taking him to denmead show this weekend. How is your newbie going?

He's good, first show this sunday ahhhhhhh!