I’m wondering if anyone would be willing to share their stories with their horses with cervical arthritis / neck issues. What were your horse’s symptoms that made you suspicious and how was it diagnosed? Was it treatable? What treatments worked for your horse and what level did he/she return to/continue riding at?
TIA!
My horse tripped a lot. We thought it was a problem with his trim. But the lameness specialist said thats a classic neck arthritis symptom. We stopped jumping after a bad trip. We had his neck injected and went back to jumping. The lameness specialist said to avoid doing trotting poles or trotting grids (horse was a senior), as thats too dangerous.
Also a top trainer had said about his reluctance to flex in one direction, “he’s just stubborn”.
I really could kill her for that. The horse had serious neck pain.
Good Luck!
My 13 year old, had surgery at 10 for KS, was just not quite right. If I did any sort of pole work with him, even just walk over a 1" PVC pipe, his back end would go out of whack (for lack of a technical term). He’d be unsteady on his feet, and then recover, but not move quite right. It would take weeks to get him right again, and it took me a few times to figure out what was creating it. So, no poles. But then, just regular riding with him more upheaded - he’s Morgan - started to have the same effect.
A couple of years ago, he had a wicked Chlostridium infection towards the base of his neck. We got him over it, but I suspected maybe there was a nerve issue or ? All I could tell the specialist was that it was in his neck and what I suspected.
Turns out, something is seriously screwed up in his poll, and he has arthritis along his entire neck. No idea why. The vet thought we might inject down the road, but we put him on daily Equioxx and it’s made a huge difference. I still haven’t been brave enough to try poles again, but he seems fine carrying his head where ever he wants to now. He x-rayed in November, so we’ll see how things are as time goes on.
A very $$$ WB at our barn was diagnosed this winter with arthritis in C6/C7 area. He had started swapping leads now and then about 2 years ago. He was a gorgeous mover, so they treated him with chiro, etc. for back pain. He’d be better for a while, then start randomly swapping. Finally took him to a University vet clinic and they diagnosed the arthritis. They said to not ride him as he could fall - he would occasionally stumble when turning him around in the aisle. He was euthanized a few months ago. Very sad because he never staggered or looked terrible in the last months, but vet said he could fall at any time based on rads. He wasn’t ridden for the last 7 months of his life.
Not quite arthritis, but I had one with some minor bony and soft tissue changes in the lower cervical vertebrae. He had some minor tripping and a few hard stumbles on the landing side of jumps. He also exhibited reluctance to bend in one direction, what appeared to be shoulder stiffness but I assume it originated from the base of the neck, and an awkward standing position. He improved with injections, regular bodywork, and adequan. He went back to fairly normal work- jumping up to 3’6” and second level dressage.
My story isn’t quite arthritis either, but a developmental bone cyst on my mare’s C6/7 that has the potential to become arthritic. Bought filly as 2-year old, was NQR in the end hind once we started ridden work (PPE was clean). Hind end hitch was persistent after months of time off (allowing filly to grow and mature). After extensive diagnostics (radiographs of SI, stifles, hocks, etc., ultrasounds of both stifles and ultimately a bone scan), we found what was to be considered a small cyst on C6/7.
We treated with injections, shockwave therapy, Osphos and another winter off and unfortunately did not see good results (mare still off in hind end at 4 y/o). Do not have a final verdict yet, as sport horse vet is due to come up this Friday, but I am afraid we are out of options and this horse may not have a working career. All the best to you if you are dealing with a neck issue.
Stiffness flexing him left and right, one way more than the other. Flexing him to the right was harder so he’d try and keep himself flexed left even when on the right rein and trying to bend his ribs around my right leg. He’d come up with all sorts of evasions to avoid just bending through his body and flexing his neck. If you got him to work through it, the next day or ride he’d be no better, when if it’s just out-of-work stiffness they tend to improve day to day.
So the biggest takeaway for me in the early days was rather than him making small improvements with regular work, he’d never get any better and sometimes even got worse, even with coaching/riding from a pro rider.
Once the neck arthritis was found, it was a case of giving up any ambitions with him and just keep him in light work to keep him moving and as loose as possible for as long as possible/humane. Ride/work the horse you have on the day… which, being honest, probably isn’t going to be much.
As it deteriorated, there was stumbling (particularly if toes got even slightly long, so 4 week farrier appointments were needed), grinding/crunching noises audibly heard in his neck, when leading him he’d walk with his neck held out long and straight, and as still as possible.
Eventually he was diagnosed as being neurologic and a few months later had a major personality change where he became almost dangerous to handle. He became very nervous on the ground and if he got a fright, he’d be prepared to go right over the top of you, so I had him put to sleep.
Edited to add: Over the years I tried injections into the neck, arthropen injections, previcox, 4cyte gel, green lipped mussel powder, devils claw and a few other joint supplements that I can no longer remember. I think the most effective for my horse was arthropen injections along with green lipped mussel powder, has to be the good stuff though. The cheap stuff has usually been heated/treated and that kills off the part that has therapeutic benefit.
My horse is 10 years old (Quarter horse). I have owned him since he was 6 months old. He has always been a stiffer type of horse, but some are so it was not a big deal to me. I like to do a little bit of everything with my horses but when he was 8 years old, he really came on fire with his performance. Running 1D at the barrel racing jackpots, a breath away from winning several times with 70+ entries, and also qualifying for the AQHA world show in Ranch Riding, in only 3 shows and that was both my first year showing AQHA as well as his.
But then last year (age 9), he just wasn’t quite “the same”. He had come up sore in his hind end at the end of last year, which didn’t really worry me b/c that’s common in barrel horses and for especially how good he was running. So we quit early for that year, but the hind end lameness popped up earlier than I expected and ended up injecting his hocks and stifles for the very first time in July. We didn’t even make it 3 months and he was sore again, so I knew that wasn’t right.
He also never quite hit the same 1D level he did before. Running good, but not as good as he should. He also started getting really pushy in the bridle. It got to the point where I could only ride him in a ported bit because I was not strong enough when he decided to PUSH. Which wasn’t right considering the tiny bits I used to ride him in.
He also started tripping more. He was also the type to trip some, but it was getting worse. There were two barrel runs he tripped heading to the first barrel and I have no clue how he recovered and stayed upright.
My vet looked real hard at his neck last fall. She just didn’t think it was quite right for him to be as stiff as he is. We did xrays but only a little bit of tiny arthritis was seen. We tried shockwave which didn’t seem to help at all. Neither did Adequan or Pentosan.
This spring, we xrayed his back for kissing spine which he did not have. But she found a very, very good vet for interpreting necks. Because eveyrone else she had reached out to was about the same as her (“many some changes, but not real good at neck issues”).
Unfortunately, the news was not good. This neck specialist has never seen rads like my horse before. The vertebrae in his neck are both tipped cranially and also sideways, which narrows the channel for the spinal cord, and is most likely causing some compression. He is much worse to the ride. He can’t hardly bend his neck at all.
So the tripping, the heavy/pushing of the bit, the hind end lameness … it all makes sense. It’s his neck. We had tried neck injections which haven’t helped his stiffness at all.
So now my beautiful boy will live out his days as a walk/trot trail horse. Thank goodness he is the type that can sit for months, and ride off on a loose rein in a 40 mph wind and it doesn’t bother him a bit.
It really stinks though. I think neck issues are going to be more common when more vets get better at them. I think most vets just don’t have enough experience with it. I am very grateful my vet is persistant and she will find someone who knows the answer, if she does not.
Our good lameness vet has stated that one in three horses have an abnormality in their neck radiographs. His practice is comprised mostly of HJ and dressage horses.
My horse was diagnosed with arthritis in the C5 region when he was about 20ish. He started bucking more when cantering to the right, and then it turned into a buck every time we would turn right for a circle or to go to a jump. He was known to buck after a jump if he was feeling good, but this was clearly different - he had never bucked before a jump or resisted to turns while on course.
He was given injections, 2 on other side of the neck, and it helped a lot to make him more comfortable again. We eased him back into work slowly and he was able to go back to his usual jumping without issue. He never had any tripping issues so my vet and trainer were not worried about stumbles or falls. We only did the injections once because he passed about 9 months later from unrelated reasons but we didn’t notice the pain coming back in that time and did not have to repeat the injections.
My Dutch Wb mare who will be 11 this year got diagnosed with neck arthritis about 5 years ago …she never loved collecting and resisted bending …she would be a little heavy on her front end …as it progressed she became mildly neurologic in her hind end , and she became a little anxious and spooky the more you would ask of her in terms of contact /getting round /going on the bit and collection …what has helped the most is injecting her neck along with injecting her sub scapular (where base of neck ties into the shoulders) …she’s supplemented with Vitamin E and gets regular light chiro adjustments and acupuncture…she also gets Adequan & Legend.
22 yr old TB, performing at PSG level when 20, then stepped down a few levels. No physical reason, just that he had earned it. At 22 he started swapping leads behind, vet exam first led to hock injections, then 2nd exam showed some neuro changes in hind end. Xrays confirmed arthritis c5-c7; horse was injected 3 places each side. Marked improvement lasted about a year, happy and comfortable with about 2nd level work. Then noticed his one stifle would get left behind; stopped riding him but continued periodic lunging - 1-2x per week. No stifle issue w/out the weight of rider and saddle. Never did a 2nd round but was seeing some neuro decline as he reached 25. put down not long after for other reasons.
Early 20s TB, had always been a long, stiff type. Also had ringbone and a history of tripping that seemed to be related to that. (Looking back, probably also neuro) Started crab-walking in a lesson one day. Radiographs showed pretty extensive arthritis at, IIRC, C4-5-6. Tried IRAP. Tried steroid injections. EPM titer was in the “probably not” range, but he was simultaneously treated for that as well, just in case. On his good days he could choose his direction of travel, usually with a mild crab. On his bad days he lacked the proprioception to get from A to B without outside help (halter & lead, fence, other objects). From presentation to euthanasia was 3-4 months.
Another early 20s TB sainted beginner packer started porpoising when asked for the canter. Then sometimes grabbing one side of the bit and trying to bolt when changing the bend. Went fine w/t on a loop…until the day he lost it and bolted while trotting along on a loop, in a bitless bridle, in a straight line on the rail. He had moderate changes in his neck and severe (some fusion) kissing spines. He was not neuro and the neck by itself would have been manageable, but he was never ridden again due to the back. AFAIK, he’s still living happily in a field some years later.
Neck issues can apparently wreck the feet. As it was explained to me, a horse with neck issues can have a momentary lapse of proprioception which can cause them to put a foot down harder. Over time that can result in damage to the structures of the feet.
My WB mare started being NQR when she was 5 - it was hard to tell if it was front, hind, left or right depending on the day. Eventually DX with C6/7 inflammation. We injected the neck and had improvement - the NQR went away. But only a short year later she was grumpy and didn’t want to go forward after a fall in the field. Hip soreness appeared to be the issue. That resolved but she was harder to bend to the right. Then when she was 8, the difficulty bending right was very pronounced and her attitude about doing anything other than trail walks evident for anyone at least a county away (not really, but it seemed like it). Back to the vet, more neck films. Now it was C5/6/7 - tried a round of injections. No benefit. She was retired to trail walking at 8 yo. Really sucked. Know that isn’t what you want to hear, but that’s how it went for me.
And shoulders IME. Anywhere that they may compensate could receive secondary damage over time is what I was told.
@Peggy, I absolutely believe this to be true. I’m trying to find some documentation/research supporting this but haven’t uncovered anything yet. I vaguely remember a vet from CA who published something about this. Can you provide any more information? Thx!
Dug up this older thread because my 17 WB is having issues in his neck. Started with him not wanting to flex and carrying head very low. Injected his neck, did meso on his back, osphos, and vitamin e. Some improvements, but still not right. Took a very bad trip so we are not going to ride him until we get a more definitive diagnosis through a scan. Unfortunately, I think we need to be prepared for retirement. It’s helpful to read through others experiences.
I retired a 10 yr old about 2 months ago. All had been well until early 2023; we had been planning his GP debut. Then he just started to go backwards. Stiff one way, off on this leg or that leg. less willing to sit. He went from a dozen+ lovely 1x changes to having trouble with 4x changes to not wanting to do any right to left. Began to look unhappy and laid down more. Did the various things with little results, full on evaluation at clinic showed some neuro signs, questionable areas c6-c7. Scheduled myelogram/CT scan which confirmed moderate bone changes c5-c7 as well as mild changes up to his poll. Some spinal compression. 15.3 hand Lusi/Hanoverian cross.
@2tempe oh I am so so sorry. Mine was similar although not at GP he was schooling most the GP. before his injury.
Neck issues really are so horrid. Once they start showing symptoms I really feel they need an easier job and or to retired or if not retired to be humanly put to sleep. Neuro horses are a risk to any barn owner so it will be more likely less and less barns will accept these horses even for retirement.
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