Why all the young horses with arthritis??

BluEyedCowgurl · 10-03-2007, 12:35 PM

I've never personally had a horse, old or young with arthritis. I've never been around a horse with arthritis either, but lately, it seems I keep coming across horses, as do my friends, that are five or so years old, with arthritis. I had one friend look at buying a five year old that needed medication and injections to keep comfortable. So, with my limited experience with it, I was wondering, are young horses getting arthritis due to being started young and overworked, or is it something else? Just wondering- another one of my friends just got a mare that is, again, five, and in need of injections to keep her comfortable while riding. She's young and beautiful, and very well trained (seems to have an awful lot of experience for a five year old). Seems like such a shame....

Nevada_Silk · 10-03-2007, 12:46 PM

I'd be willing to bet that most 5 year olds with arthritis is due to being overworked too young. But...that's just my opinion.

BluEyedCowgurl · 10-03-2007, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nevada_Silk

I'd be willing to bet that most 5 year olds with arthritis is due to being overworked too young. But...that's just my opinion.

See, that is what I was thinking....I was just wondeirng if there would be any other reason at all for this to happen? It just seems so unnatural....

sorrell · 10-03-2007, 01:12 PM

There are several forms of arthritis, some degenerative from over use, some age related, some due to drugs, bone deterioration due to disease, etc.
However, I have seen a lot of bone problems in show horses that were either started young or worked too hard.
Nearly every horse in the show barn I worked at was getting hock injections by age five. They were worked in sand arenas and jumped five days a week, so little wonder.

JBandRio · 10-03-2007, 01:38 PM

In addition to the overworked too early, there are conformational issues. Breeding for too-straight hocks or too long backs or too upright and short pasterns for whatever Look of The Decade is going to greatly predispose those animals to earlier arthritis, and when you combine that with too much work too early, well...

harli36 · 10-03-2007, 02:58 PM

overworked too young, incorrectly started, and breeding more horses for large size I think all have something to do with it.

I really wish that they would do more research on this.

Sue B · 10-03-2007, 03:20 PM

I've heard older trainers say that a lot of it has to do with the fact that there are 2 year old faturities for performance horses....they claim that they used to get performance horses ready for age 5-6 not 2-3. Also agree withy JB...a lot of confo issues related to selective breeding. For example WP horses want straight hind legs. Then there is the stuff that is creasted from incorrect trimming or "corrective" trimming...trying to make a hoof be too upright or correct toe in/out situations. An old Dressage trainer in Germany says that Americans ruin their horses by over use at too young an age....taking horses to upper level dressage by the time they are 4. Hocks are not finished until around 4.

10-03-2007, 12:35 PM	#1
BluEyedCowgurl Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: MT Posts: 748 Images: 46	Why all the young horses with arthritis?? I've never personally had a horse, old or young with arthritis. I've never been around a horse with arthritis either, but lately, it seems I keep coming across horses, as do my friends, that are five or so years old, with arthritis. I had one friend look at buying a five year old that needed medication and injections to keep comfortable. So, with my limited experience with it, I was wondering, are young horses getting arthritis due to being started young and overworked, or is it something else? Just wondering- another one of my friends just got a mare that is, again, five, and in need of injections to keep her comfortable while riding. She's young and beautiful, and very well trained (seems to have an awful lot of experience for a five year old). Seems like such a shame.... __________________ Everytime you ride, you're either teaching or un-teaching your horse.

10-03-2007, 12:46 PM	#2
Nevada_Silk Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: GA Posts: 1,143 Images: 13	I'd be willing to bet that most 5 year olds with arthritis is due to being overworked too young. But...that's just my opinion. __________________ There are only two emotions that belong in the saddle; one is a sense of humor and the other is patience ~ John Lyons Defeat: Osama, Obama, and Chelsea's Mama!

10-03-2007, 01:38 PM	#5
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 23,734 Images: 145 Blog Entries: 12	In addition to the overworked too early, there are conformational issues. Breeding for too-straight hocks or too long backs or too upright and short pasterns for whatever Look of The Decade is going to greatly predispose those animals to earlier arthritis, and when you combine that with too much work too early, well... __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - You can't hit me with all those snowballs!

10-03-2007, 02:58 PM	#6
harli36 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: northeastern Pa Posts: 4,551 Images: 43	overworked too young, incorrectly started, and breeding more horses for large size I think all have something to do with it. I really wish that they would do more research on this. __________________ The Morgan Horse! Everything else is just a horse. http://www.morganhorse.com/ “I have been NOEL’ed and Blessed In His Name” It's all fun and games until someone looses an eye *Splat I've been snowballed!!!!!!!!*

10-03-2007, 03:20 PM	#7
Sue B Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,824 Images: 6	I've heard older trainers say that a lot of it has to do with the fact that there are 2 year old faturities for performance horses....they claim that they used to get performance horses ready for age 5-6 not 2-3. Also agree withy JB...a lot of confo issues related to selective breeding. For example WP horses want straight hind legs. Then there is the stuff that is creasted from incorrect trimming or "corrective" trimming...trying to make a hoof be too upright or correct toe in/out situations. An old Dressage trainer in Germany says that Americans ruin their horses by over use at too young an age....taking horses to upper level dressage by the time they are 4. Hocks are not finished until around 4. __________________ Save a Horse - www.saveahorse.org December 13th - National Day of the Horse September 19th - International Talk Like a Pirate Day www.talklikeapirate.com

10-03-2007, 01:12 PM	#4
sorrell Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,098 Images: 39 Blog Entries: 6	There are several forms of arthritis, some degenerative from over use, some age related, some due to drugs, bone deterioration due to disease, etc. However, I have seen a lot of bone problems in show horses that were either started young or worked too hard. Nearly every horse in the show barn I worked at was getting hock injections by age five. They were worked in sand arenas and jumped five days a week, so little wonder.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Official February Contest Young horses, Aged horses, and Momma and Baby poll	Zoomarsgirl	Forum Contests	0	03-03-2007 05:50 PM
Young horses..?	Jennygirl011	Horse Training	4	09-03-2006 05:54 PM
young horses	Cara	Horse Chat	5	12-18-2005 05:00 PM
Young Horses	lucky_pine	Horse Health	43	08-27-2005 06:41 PM
Games to play with young horses, or with all horses	TheNaturalWay	Horse Training	5	02-02-2004 10:49 AM