What to do about this defect???

[HappyHoof]

My new 22 year old Arabian mare is down in her rear fetlocks, pretty badly. She is otherwise perfectly conformed. So, I've gotten lots of advice from both ends of the spectrum--do nothing at all to put on SMB and feed her lots of supplements. All I want is to be able to ride her a few times a week on short, low impact trails. So, any advice?

[Grandsgirl2003]

Retire her?

[Jess!]

My husband's gelding Jitters is dropping in his back fetlocks, as well. He moves pretty funky if you look at him from behind, especially at a trot. His canter is phenomenal, however.

Anyways, he moves sound and he enjoys getting out. His ears are perked, he moves out and he is willing.

I would say ride her until she shows signs of not being okay, then slow it down or just stop riding. I really feel that riding them keeps them young. Jitters is 18, or 19 or even older and he just is such a joy to ride.

We have shoes on him, but will be pulling his back shoes probably within the next month and using durasole on him to help toughen up his feet. He doesn't get any special food except his beet pulp at night with senior feed and flax. The flax seems to help his joints.

Here he is today, we went on an 8 mile ride this morning. This was after climbing a HUGE mountain, we were taking a break LOL

I use SMB boots half and half. Usually I use nothing, but I was on really, really steep and rocky trails.

[HappyHoof]

Flame's are probably about 45% worse than his. If she tries to really spur out of the gate in the pasture while chasing other horses (by which I mean, if she uses too much rear end power and really gets under herself like a horse in speed events would need to) then her fetlocks will nearly reach the ground! She has been a broodmare for several years now, and I want to get her back in shape with some long, slow distance. I just want to know if longer trail rides may be in our future, or if there's little hope. She gets Triple Crown Senior and wheat oil. LOL. Where to you get flaxseed oil at? I know it's better than wheat oil.

[Jess!]

Flame's are probably about 45% worse than his. If she tries to really spur out of the gate in the pasture while chasing other horses (by which I mean, if she uses too much rear end power and really gets under herself like a horse in speed events would need to) then her fetlocks will nearly reach the ground! She has been a broodmare for several years now, and I want to get her back in shape with some long, slow distance. I just want to know if longer trail rides may be in our future, or if there's little hope. She gets Triple Crown Senior and wheat oil. LOL. Where to you get flaxseed oil at? I know it's better than wheat oil.

His don't look that bad in the photo, I was at the wrong angle. When he moves...they drop close to the ground. Like I said as long as she seems to be moving okay and is happy and not hurting I don't see the problem. But I could be wrong, have you asked a vet?

I don't feed flaxseed oil, just whole flax seed. I buy a 40lb bag and it lasts for over a year. He gets about 3/4 of a cup sprinkled over his beet pulp and senior. He also does get oil for weight, but it's wheat germ/corn oil mix.

[doublebarr]

Here's the best advice, find a GOOD equine vet who does podiatry and ask him. You will get an honest educated answer there. Without seeing the horse and watching her go, there is no way we can tell you how bad or how much help anything will do for her.

[doublebarr]

Here is a really good link for you to study in the meanwhile:
http://dsldequine.info/

[Appylvr]

Does anyone remember what this is called? I've had a few friends with horses like this and can't think of the name... anyways... none of them rode their horses like that. Their horses were worse off than the pic of the one showed though. Their pasterns were parallel with the ground even at a standstill.

[doublebarr]

And maybe the MOST important part of the research:

EXERCISE:

The best thing for a dsld horse is turnout 24/7 so they can freely exercise at will. Stall rest usually does not help as it would in an injury, so turnout is the best choice. *Note- while on new treatment, a smaller turnout and leg wrapping is advised along with cold hosing the legs and icing.
DSLD horses should not be ridden unless diagnostics show it is in the very early mild stages and they have stablized. If the DSLD horse has dropped pasterns or flexes to much in the pastern and has shown lesions on ultrasound or tissue samples shows advanced stages, the horse should not be ridden. A diagnosed DSLD/ESPA horse should also not be bred, they could pass the disease onto their offspring and the added weight and stress of pregnancy causes much added strain to the horse that could cause more damage. DSLD/ESPA horses have damage internally that is often not visible outwardly. For example if only the rear legs appear to be affected outwardly, in reality all legs are affected internally on the cellular level. (This has been shown during necropsy results).

[HappyHoof]

Wow. Well, she's had a vet look at her and okay her for moderate exercise and she did say to keep her in a pasture. (Which is my preferred method of horsekeeping, anyway.)