This is not about my horse specifically, at least not yet, but I’m wondering what can be some signs that a horse is experiencing some level of pain due to arthritis.
Some horses are very stoic and without the usual tiredness, stiffness or outward lameness that can be caused by arthritic changes how can an owner determine what level of pain the horse is in.
Some horses in pain have a pinched look to their faces, a distant stare to their eyes, reluctance to move that much.
They will also stand differently, maybe be a tad grumpy and just not quite themselves. I think it really pays to know what is normal for your horse because these changes are pretty obvious when you know what " normal" for them is.
What Bluey said about “the look” that they get. Once you’ve seen it several times, it’s fairly easy to spot. And shifting from leg to leg is another sign (not just resting a hind hoof, but shifting uneasily back and forth frequently).
Increased level of general anxiety/herd bound and more spooky than normal under saddle.
I am struggling with this about my 31 yr old and the upcoming winter.Good days and bad days…sigh
What ^^^^^ they all said:)
With my horse, who is a very willing and compliant 25 yr old, he won’t move when I give him a pat and say “good to go”. He won’t move right away but will instead look at me, lick and chew, as if saying “I want to go but please give me a minute” annnd I get a lump in my throat while I’m waiting,to see how long it takes him to put one hoof in front of the other on this day.
On the days he feels good, he will almost beat me to the door and looks longingly at the big & hilly pasture, where he knows he can’t go with the other horse.
As others have commented, you really have to know your horse, how it talks to you and pay attention as if you’re trying to figure out why a human baby is crying - or being too silent.
Our 22 year old has been on Prascend and thyroid supplement for 6 years now.
When we started, our vet said that most would do ok for 5-6 years, then founder badly or colic, but it gave them those years with a good quality of life.
The farrier was here last week and horse was fine when he started.
Then he started getting a bit cranky about standing there, way not like him, he generally is asleep.
Farrier was patient and giving him his time and we were commenting how strange he was wiggly.
Then noticed his chest muscles were shaking lightly, something was going on.
We were checking him over when he passed gas and more and more gas, like an explosion and for it seems like long time.
I am hard of hearing, so the farrier listened to his gut for me and said sounds were normal?
After that, he settled, so we kept working.
On the last foot, he again was unsettled, having cramps, so we waited and sure, more gas, like a machine gun.
Guess he had some gas pains, resolved once he vented it.
He took a deep breath and settled for the rest of the time.
Watched him all day and night and he was perfectly fine and still is now.
When a horse acts not like himself, there generally is a very good reason, pain one of those.
Not wanting to pick up their feet to have them picked or for the farrier for any length of time. DEFINITELY laying down more and having trouble getting up or getting up slower than usual. Leaning on walls or leaning back to rest their butt on buckets or feeders (especially with the start of laminitis or foot pain). Slower walk and resistance to walking, even if it’s to do something they like like go for turnout. Extra stiffness as it gets colder or if they’re just coming out of their stall, versus looking looser if they’ve been turned out and walking for a while.
When in doubt, always have your vet out to just gently flex them and/or put the hoof testers on them. (They don’t have to go full-on pre-purchase flexions.) That will get arthritis to pop up pretty quickly even in stoic horses and you should be able to assess how bad it is and if something like Equioxx can take care of it or if it’s causing enough daily pain that you need to start planning to say goodbye.
Coming from an area that gets snow and ice in the winter it’s always better not to risk an accident. And believe me, I don’t know a single person that even regrets putting an animal down too early. But I know several who regret letting one go too late.
Good luck to you and your horse.
We had an old arab mare who would stall walk and pace. That was the only indication she would give that she was in pain.
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