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Post by NFK Dumpling on Oct 12, 2011 20:09:22 GMT -1
I have been walking James out regularly to counteract the sugar in the grass, which is now becoming less necessary. However, he also suffers from something akin to arthritis (which responded well to glucosamine and chondrotin) which means that in order to be able to exercise him next spring I will need to keep him ticking over through the winter.
Last winter I didn't rug him because he was warmer without a rug, I think it was a medium weight I tried. It has been said to me by a friend that to assist with his mobility I should rug him to cut out the wind chill.
I have no intention of clipping him, he already has a decent winter coat, and both he and Musk have a field shelter.
He is at least 22yrs old.
Is anyone else in a similar situation, if so, what do you do?
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Post by heathera on Oct 13, 2011 5:23:28 GMT -1
Our old Shetland pony did reach the point where he was more comfortable clipped and rugged, even though fully retired, which is probably not what you hoped to hear.
Even if they stay dry at skin level the constant damp and wind chill factor can make joints stiff, creaky and inflamed.
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Post by harveydales on Oct 13, 2011 5:40:47 GMT -1
I agree with Heather, some ponies at a certan age do benefit from rugging, especially from that biting wind we get off the North Sea.
With old Winnie, who is 38 and has a very thick coat summer and winter now, I've experimented lots. I don't want to clip him and I've found he is best through the winter in a medium weight rug but I make sure is is a very good but loose fit so it doesn't squash his coat too much. He's in some old FAL rugs at the moment which I like because they fit so well and are long lasting.
Last year Frankie (nearly 20) wintered without rugs but this year I will rug him in a similar way to Winnie.
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Post by NFK Dumpling on Oct 15, 2011 6:07:05 GMT -1
Thank you. The vet came to vaccinate him yesterday and said I can feed him up a bit now the grass is less good so he'll be happy. She suggested bute to help with the arthritis  The good news is that as he does less well the EMS will be less of a problem and he may have good 10yrs as yet  |
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Post by Debbie on Oct 15, 2011 9:09:33 GMT -1
Myrrh  Galahad and I both swear by it for his joint mobility. I use 1/2 Tablespoon in is morning bucket and another 1/2 Tablespoon in his evening bucket. Galahad's buckets are soaked (beetpulp plus Strategy), so its easy to mix in the powdered myrrh. I'm not sure what they'd think about the powder if it was all dry though? I use a lightweight blanket on Galahad, but he can go almost 10*F cooler than Blossom without needing a blanket. |
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Post by harveydales on Oct 15, 2011 11:23:50 GMT -1
That is good news.
A lot of people have success with various herbal treatments but I'm not anti-Bute at all. If it helps ease the stiffness and gets a pony mobile again, then why not? A lot of the herbal treatments could have side effects too and they don't have the full research behind them. I have tried all sorts on myself for arthritis and nothing really helps me other than ibuprofen.
I did try myrrh for Quest but he wouldn't touch it, even in mushy feeds as it is quite gritty and I do give all mine Linseed oil.
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Post by Debbie on Oct 18, 2011 9:41:00 GMT -1
LOL, I've tried other stuff with mine as well, and they'd point blank refuse to touch it. It really is down to trying it for the pony to see what works best for them. Maybe Quest didn't like the flavor of the myrrh  I can relate, if it tastes nasty, I don't care how brilliant its supposed to be, I refuse to eat it! |
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Post by harveydales on Oct 18, 2011 11:11:23 GMT -1
LOL, I've tried other stuff with mine as well, and they'd point blank refuse to touch it. It really is down to trying it for the pony to see what works best for them. Maybe Quest didn't like the flavor of the myrrh I can relate, if it tastes nasty, I don't care how brilliant its supposed to be, I refuse to eat it! LOL I tend to try everything myself for taste before I give it to my horses. I couldn't find any strong taste in Myrrh, just grittyness. Linseed meal and oil tastes lovely to me and equines seem to agree. I think it is trial and error and what works for one pony doesn't always work for another. |
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Post by Debbie on Oct 18, 2011 12:05:56 GMT -1
Mmm, and as the pony's needs shift, you may find an herb they can't seem to get enough of, they abruptly shun. Its very much down to paying attention to what they're saying. Interesting about the grittiness. The myrrh I get for Galahad can vary in size sometimes, but mostly its a very, very fine powder. Since all of his stuff is blended into soggy beetpulp and Strategy, the grittiness gets lost. I love freshly ground flax seed (ours is the golden variety...very pretty flowers  ) and coconut oil. Same as Blossom and Galahad  |
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Post by NFK Dumpling on Apr 1, 2012 15:31:08 GMT -1
A quick update; James got rugged during the 2weeks of cold weather that we had (so far), he was ridden once a week through winter and maintained the same level of mobility but I upped the dose of cortaflex to the maximium recommended dose for his size. He has a new rider - some 4st lighter than me - and both my boys went out together for the first time ever on Wednesday. I got some very odd looks from James but he behaved  |
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Post by harveydales on Apr 1, 2012 19:10:17 GMT -1
Good to hear this. |
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I can relate, if it tastes nasty, I don't care how brilliant its supposed to be, I refuse to eat it! 
) and coconut oil. Same as Blossom and Galahad 
