I’m wondering what normal physical maintenance looks like for the teenage event horse that has been doing the sport for a while at the lower levels. (Novice, BN). Annual or twice a year injections in the Hocks or other joints? NSAIDs within legal limits at shows? Adequan, legend, supplements? The sporthorse vet that I work with is of the opinion that injections + NSAIDs is pretty normal sport horse management. Just looking for opinions.
Mine is 19 and we’ve been playing around at bn/n for a few years. Other than normal chiro/bodywork, he gets the Adequan loading dose (in the muscle) about once a year as a preventative.
I’m also careful to let him walk alot in the beginning of our rides with lots of stretching and suppling. I also don’t jump him more than once a week- which is hard because that’s our favorite! He also lives out 24/7.
I’m not 100% sure what should be considered typical maintenance, but this is our situation.
3 Likes
I have a 19yo still competing equivalent to your Training/prelim level here in Australia. I give him a course of pentosan over summer when the ground is hard…otherwise, he is shod with pads in front. No other supplements or injections. I don’t jump him much between competitions and pick venues where I know the footing will suit him. He lives in 24/7 turnout. Like most horses, he has legs iced and poulticed after XC.
All of that sounds pretty reasonable to me. My 19 year old is an ex-P/I horse now packing me around Training and below; she gets Previcox and a yearly loading dose of Adequan, lots of turn out time, lots of slow warm up, lots of dressage to build correct muscle, minimal jumping to preserve her joints. I haven’t bothered with MSM in a couple of years but it’s the only oral supplement I ever used after doing research on the efficacy of supplements.
I used to have mixed feelings on NSAIDs, injections etc, but I’ve come to the conclusion that if they are loving their job and not obviously uncomfortable, have at it as long as they’re happy. I’m 30 with OA, recovering from my 3rd knee surgery and you bet I’m happy to use my BoT stuff and NSAIDs if it means I can still do what I love! I may ache some the next day, but I wouldn’t quit for anything. My mare has made it very clear she is still absolutely loving her job so I’m going to support her as necessary until she lets me know she’s no longer happy or able.
5 Likes
Thank you for the responses!
My guy is 15. He’s been running Novice will be moving up to Training (this weekend eeeeee!). He was a 1.10-1.20m show jumper prior. He gets hocks and stifles injected as needed (ends up being every 1-2 years). Yearly loading dose of Adequan. We just tried Pentosan and it worked wonders, so might replace Adequan with that. He’s on a daily liquid joint supplement (Actiflex). Receives the random chiropractic and PEMF treatments as my pocket book allows.
I disagree with the long term use of NSAIDs because of a lot of the side effects. I will give him bute at the shows or after a hard work out if I feel it would benefit, but I have rarely felt a difference. Fitness and turnout do wonders for the oldies!
I will also say that my horse knows his job. So we don’t jump at home any more during competition season (we do 4-6 events between April and November). Maybe a gymnastics just for some strength/suppleness training. Since we are new to eventing, we do make time for cross country schooling, but still only occasionally. Other than that he only does flatwork or fitness work in the fields. I get my own jump practice in by lessoning on my trainers horse or giving training rides to other horses.
1 Like
My answer is similar to others above (maybe that means we’re on to a good thing here). Gelding is 15 and gets long walk warm ups, 12 hours of turnout, careful progressive conditioning, attention given to avoiding working him on hard footing, conservative jump schooling, and then just some previcox. This year he’s had some time off and lots of easier weeks between harder ones, but not due to any soundness issues. Knock on wood, he’s been happy in his work.
Think they were referring to not hesitating to use NSAIDs as needed. Not a blanket recommendation for long term use.
I think the above posts are pretty good examples of normal maintenance.
