Five Things About Joint Care

In human athletics, proper joint care is an important part of staying healthy and competitive. Those that play sports know that a severe injury to a joint increases the likelihood of osteoarthritis, which can be career-ending. Conversely, protecting and taking care of joints can keep one on the court or in the field for a longer time.

The same is true in performance horses. Healthy joints reduce risk for damage when a horse stops hard, spins fast or turns sharply. Plus, as horses age, a good foundation in joint care can help protect them from future injuries and pain.

Quarter Horse News spoke with Dr. Gabrielle Solum, Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Resident at Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, to get the lowdown on joint care for performance horses.

Start at the Beginning

While some might believe only those with horses in high-intensity training programs need to worry about joint health, it is something every horse owner should think about, Solum noted. Joint care involves a variety of elements, and while the horse’s training program is one of them, it also includes the horse’s conformation, diet and health history.

These factors are important from the very beginning. In fact, those raising young horses should consider having a veterinarian examine their stock before they reach adulthood.

The foal above has ample space to move while its bones and joints develop. This foal has good confirmation. * Photo by Amy Olson

“There are a lot of horses that we see for lameness that have conformational abnormalities predisposing them to lameness, which may have been helped as foals,” Solum said. “These abnormalities as foals include tendon contracture or laxity, varas and valgus conformation, and club feet.”

Solum recommended radiographing young horses before they enter training to identify any abnormalities, like osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesions or cysts, that can be helped with surgery. From there, routine veterinary exams can help identify any lamenesses early in the horse’s career.

Lighter Is Better

Many of today’s performance horses tend to be heavier weight-wise than recommended. This is because “fleshier” horses appeal to the eye more, Solum said. But putting heavy horses into intense training programs increases the risk of damage to their joints, along with other health concerns.

This is a fit young horse with good confirmation. * QHN File Photo

“Overfeeding [as foals] has been associated with development of physitis [inflammation of a growth plate] and OCDs,” Solum said. “Horses can be appropriately fed and maintain good nutrition without being overweight. As the horses enter training, overfeeding and obesity predisposes them to metabolic conditions.”

“Good nutrition is important so these horses have proper nutrition while they are not only maturing and growing, but also as they also enter their training program,” she added. “Typically, in Western performance horses, the majority of money-earning potential and athletic performance is completed while they are still skeletally immature. This, however, may not be the only cause of joint disease and lameness.”

A physically fit horse in “thoughtful” training may be able to extend its performance career, Solum said, noting a study in racehorses that found that the more starts a horse had as a 2-year-old, the longer its career tended to be. Therefore, she recommended more gradual increases in workload, rather than sudden, big changes, in addition to maintaining a horse at an optimal weight.

Take Care With Supplements

If you utilize a good diet, an appropriate training program and keep your horse at the proper weight, you can give it a good start on staying fit and healthy throughout its career. Supplementation with a joint care product might also give you a leg up, but if you choose to feed one, make sure to take a look at the ingredient list first.

“The use of supplements for joint health has been studied, but the results have been inconsistent and inconclusive for both symptom-modifying and disease-modifying effects,” Solum said. “If you are going to use a supplement, you should look for glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane [MSM] and omega-3 fatty acids.”

Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are components of normal cartilage and appear to stimulate the production of more cartilage. Omega-3s fight inflammation, and higher levels in the synovial fluid, which lubricates joints, are associated with decreased joint pain. MSM is also an anti-inflammatory and supports the body’s ability to repair connective tissue.

Don’t Skimp on the Veterinary Exams

Regular veterinarian visits are important because if caught early, some things, like early joint disease, can be treated via therapeutic injections before they become a bigger problem.

“While excessive intra-articular steroids are not recommended at any age, leaving joints in an inflammatory state at any age can ultimately lead to joint degradation,” Solum said. “Utilizing low dose, thoughtful corticosteroid treatments or orthobiologics can help to protect the joint and also help the horse as training increases with preparation for the futurity and derby years.”

Other therapeutics, like polysulfated glycosaminoglycan and hyaluronic acid, can help modify symptoms as well. Should a horse develop a lameness or injury, professional rehabilitation, under veterinary supervision, could be necessary to help it regain core strength and return to training.

Continue Support Into Senior Years A veterinarian at Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery is completing an ultrasound on a horse’s front leg. * QHN File Photo

Joint care doesn’t stop with the end of a horse’s limited-age years. As your horse ages, it will become even more important to maintain him or her at a healthy weight and monitor for systemic changes. But even if your horse loses some of its mobility and can’t compete at the highest levels anymore, that doesn’t mean its riding career has to completely end.

“Working closely with your veterinarian can help identify when therapeutic injections would be indicated as horses age,” Solum said. “Furthermore, keeping in mind past injuries or specific sites of joint disease are important so that proper care can be taken, or the use of NSAIDs might be indicated. It is also possible that if joint disease has developed, a lower level of athleticism or change in sport might help to maintain soundness and longevity.”