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Pentosan for the mature dressage horse

Dressage
#1

Hi

I have recently purchased a mature schoolmaster - he’s just turned 18, and competed at a cross between third and fourth level (I’m in New Zealand, and our levels are different). I will be competing at a slightly lower level and will be doing a few select champ shows during the season.

Being in New Zealand, he lives out. I have him on Glucosamine Sulphate and HMW Hyaluronic acid with green-lipped mussel extract. He has a sportz vibe rug on before and after riding, I’m obsessive about warming up and cooling down, and he gets lots of road riding and forest hacking in between schooling and lessons.

It has been recommended to me that I put him on Pentosan. I had a mare of mine on Pentosan when she stuffed her stifle. It was purely to give her quality of retired life for a year. I haven’t had experience with Pentosan for joint maintenance / to keep them going, so am interested to hear pros and cons, or suggestions as to anything else I could be doing for my boy.

Thanks :slight_smile:

#2

My experience for my young half warmblood x arabian was very positive. He went through a painful phase and it was helpful. His vet is a reiner ( western), it worked, and we later discontinued it.

#3

My 20 yr old schoolmaster has old suspensory issues. He has been on Pentosan as it is recommended better suited for for tendon or ligament issues. He is sounder than he was 6 years ago and the Pentosan and 24 hour turnout are probably one of the reasons.

1 Like
#4

Pentosan doesn’t help my guy one way or the other. I stopped using it. His issues are stifle and hock joint arthritis. He gets Equioxx and Aborbine Flex Max, and injections in the spring.

#5

Simply for arthritis, I use Previcox. My gelding passed away at almost 30 years old. At one point, he stopped canteriing and trotted less. Previcox was awesome. I had two other older horses in training that went on Previcox and the trainer said it made a world of difference. Don’t know anything about Pentosan. Good luck!

1 Like
#6

I use Pentosan - recommended by a vet several years ago, and it made a marked improvement on my teen horse. Like any joint treatment, it works on some horses, not on others. Worth a try.

2 Likes
#7

Pentosan targets the joints, not soft tissue. He is probably sounder because his joints feel better, and the suspensories are feeling better secondary to that. If the turnout is helping, that also suggests underlying OA.

4 Likes
#8

Thanks, which injections did he get?

#9

Thanks, are you able to elaborate on what caused the painful phase / symptoms / etc?

#10

He gets hock and stifle injections in spring, and this usually lasts him through November. He gets very stiff this time of year but does pretty well on the Equioxx and Flex Max. I used Pentosan the past two winters and stopped this year. He’s no better or worse. (Horse is a 15 yr old TWH though, not a dressage horse).

#11

In response to why my competition horse was sore as a 6 year old, it could only be work. He’s 8 now and showing at PSG without any soreness or medication. We do the best we can to keep him healthy and happy.

1 Like
#12

I’ve seen marked improvement with two of my teen FEI dressage horses on the Pentosan Platinum. I do think it helps. It’s cost effective, as well.

2 Likes
#13

I use Pentosan Gold (Pentosan with glucosamine, administered IV) on my younger horse with a bone spur in his hock. It helps us go longer between hock injections, and I can feel a big difference versus not using it (I didnt use it when he was on stall rest for an injury and he felt way less comfortable once cleared to ride until I did a loading dose month).

1 Like
#14

Hi OP - I’m in Adelaide Hills SA, another Australasian! I have a 22 year old PSG schoolmaster in full work and competing at Medium/Advanced with me, who has been on it for about three years now and he’s much more comfortable. Noticeable difference towards the end of the month he is stiffer - then free-er after his shot. I combine it with 4Cyte’s product Epiitalis – his ‘goo’ - a daily gel in his feed, - which works slightly differently to cartrophen but combines with it well. (on vet advice) – keeping the oldies comfortable is balancing act, as this week he is sore from hooning around the paddock (gasp) ddx

1 Like
#15

I have my 11yo mare on prophylactic monthly Pentosan injections. No idea if it is doing anything as she was sound to begin with, but I want to keep her that way. Supposedly, research shows that oral joint supplements do not have as much impact as IMs.

#16

For those that are having success - how are you administering? Monthly? I had my horse on it monthly for a while and stopped it, but am thinking about going back to it.

#17

I found Pentosan monthly worked really well for one of mine. It did nothing for another, but Technyflex worked brilliantly for him. It is very much trial and error to find what works for each horse.

1 Like
#18

I have my 9 yo OTTB gelding on pentosan. Every 6 months he gets a loading dose (5ccs a day for 4 days as vet recommended) and then after the loading dose he gets 5ccs once a month. It makes an amazing difference for him. He had his hocks injected 4 years ago and has not had to have an IA injection since. I am very happy with the results and the fact that it keeps him sound without being invasive and is significantly cheaper than IA injections.

1 Like
#19

I just started one of mine on Pentosan Platinum. 1 shot per week for 4 weeks.

#20

Where is everyone getting it? I used to buy it from HorsePreRace but they don’t appear to carry it anymore.

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