A Horse's Life with Osteoarthritis

More than half of the horses in the US have developed osteoarthritis and are either lame or have health issues (Beyond Osteoarthritis, 2019). The disease forms after injury triggers an inflammatory response in the joint and causes abnormal remodeling of the tissue (Loeser, 2012). A horse living with osteoarthritis can see its career threatened, retire early and become a financial burden (McIlwraith, 2012). That does not mean the horse cannot live a comfortable life and spend its days turned out in the fields. In fact, it is encouraged.

When arthritis develops, it cannot be reversed. Instead, it is important to reduce the inflammation and pain as much as possible to limit future damage. If you catch the warning signs of arthritis early (stiffness, inflammation in the legs, and signs of pain), you stand a better chance of allowing the horse to live comfortably for many years and still enjoy low-impact riding disciplines. Along with continuing less strenuous activities, optimizing turnout lets the horse move freely and at its own pace. It is very important to keep them active and not bound to the stall. Daily movement promotes circulation, but depending on the severity of the case, limiting activity may be advised so that no further irritation causes a flare in inflammation (Meszoly, 2020).

If equine arthritis has advanced, simply turning the horse out for the day may be enough. A few guidelines for caring for your horse’s needs:

• Keep riding, but only to the horse’s comfort level. Do not work the horse to the point of lameness.
• Choose suitable ground to ride on and avoid steep hillsides and rocky, uneven or deep-mud terrain.
• Maintain a healthy weight so there is no additional pressure on the joints.
• Monitor the early warning signs of arthritis and whether they get worse.

Ensuring your horse lives a comfortable and healthy life matters as much to us as it does to you. One way we can help you and your horse keep riding together is Alpha2EQ®. AlphaActive™ filtration functionally isolates alpha-2-macroglobulin, the horse’s own naturally occurring anti-inflammatory molecule, from the horse’s blood so your veterinarian can deliver it to the joint, where it traps and removes the proteases that break down cartilage and binds pro-inflammatory cytokines. To learn more, read the science or contact us.