Equine Arthritis: Welfare Management
Osteoarthritis (OA) is extremely common in horses and is a leading cause of lameness, reduced performance, and welfare compromise. Managing arthritic horses well — balancing pain control, appropriate exercise, and quality of life — is a core responsibility of horse owners and veterinarians.
Recognising Arthritis in Horses
Arthritis signs vary by joint affected: stiffness after rest (particularly on first movement in the morning), reluctance to move or go forward, resistance to lateral flexion or collected work, altered gait (shortened stride, altered foot placement, asymmetric movement), joint swelling and heat, and positive flexion tests on veterinary examination. Horses may compensate by altering posture and movement to reduce loading on affected joints, masking the degree of underlying pathology.
Early arthritis is more effectively managed than advanced disease — annual veterinary examination including flexion testing, and prompt investigation of any change in way of going, enables early diagnosis and intervention.
Medical Management
NSAIDs: Phenylbutazone ("bute") and meloxicam provide effective analgesia and anti-inflammation. Regular use requires monitoring for gastric ulceration (the primary side effect). Lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary period, with gastric protectants where longer-term use is needed. Joint injection: Intra-articular corticosteroids and/or hyaluronic acid provide targeted joint-specific pain relief. Recent advances include regenerative therapies (PRP, IRAP) with growing evidence bases. Pentosan polysulphate: Injectable disease-modifying therapy that may reduce cartilage degradation rates.
Exercise and Management
Appropriate exercise — gentle, regular, low-impact movement — maintains joint fluid distribution, muscle support, and mental wellbeing in arthritic horses. Prolonged stabling worsens stiffness; regular gentle turnout on level, non-slippery ground benefits arthritic horses more than complete rest. Soft, deep bedding reduces pressure on joints during lying periods.
Farriery — appropriate shoeing or therapeutic trim by a qualified farrier in collaboration with the veterinarian — significantly affects joint loading and pain in arthritic feet and lower limbs. Square toed shoes, rolled toes, and wedge pads can reduce the pain of specific arthritic conditions.