old boy getting stiff!

[taffy's mum]

:) I am bring Taffy back into work after having 8 weeks off 2 weeks with awful mudrash and then 6 weeks when i broke my wrist and couldnt ride him. I have been taking him in the school over the last 2 weeks or so for about 15 mins just walking or trotting or going on a light hack with friends. I make sure he gets a day off as well, problem is he seems really stiff which i thought would inprove over the weeks but it isnt getting any better. He is 19 now so isnt a youngster but is usually very active and keen to work.

I wondered if he needed something to help with his joints maybe a supplement of some kind.

Any ideas?

[Mathew]

umm a good suplmet is..B12.. it works for Tanner and he is 25 and runing. what i do is put about 2.TBS in 2 1/2 cups of 3way grain with molasses.... its works like a miracal and he just never stops. well i think this might help you with your horse and i hope to hear the results. Private message me if this has helped you at all


Tanner in Montanna,

Mat

[teabiscuit]

Mathew, i love your advice.
you're a great addition to NR, thanks

[marsden]

hey,

Not too sure if NAF's Easy Action will work. My last horse was stiff due to a injury he picked up when he was a 7 year old and was on Bute for most of his life. In his last year we all felt Bute just wasnt' working anymore and so we introduced NAF's Easy Action into his feed. It worked miracles, my boy was brilliant! He actually enjoyed being work and i even got to have a wild gallop over the fields with him! Sadly later that year we decided to have him put to sleep, as he started to have back problems. But i can't recommend it highly enough! I know without it, i certainly won't have got to have so many happy times with him in the saddle in his last year :)

I've used it on a couple of horses now and i think the results are great! :D

http://www.naf-uk.com/downloads/easyaction.pdf

When my 28 year old starts to get abit stiff, i'll definately be buying another tub
All the best

[MoeWalker]

My lad (18 yesterday) has been on cortaflex now for about 2 years now when he was a little stiff behind and he is fine now. We do lots of 10-13 mile fun rides which he loves
I buy the 908g size which lasts about 3 months and about £40.(SHOP AROUND)
He's also on garlic, easy breathe and linseed.
Hope this helps

Maureen

[abbiegirl]

glucosamine id good for joints in animals and humans!;)

[eventerbabe]

Cortaflex, expensive but worth it! also, magnet therapy may help. My horse has tendon wraps he wears when he's stabled overnight if he's been working hard.

[doris]

You could try adding some cidar apple vinegar to his feed as well.

[martini55]

Because of his age I'd want to try a joint supplement for him. Cortaflex is expensive but is brilliant :)

[taffy's mum]

Thanks everyone for your great advise.

Marsden i think i will try NAF Easy action thanks for the link it looks like just what i am looking for. How long did you use it before you seen any results?

glucosamine is amazing stuff as well i use it myself for arthritis in my hands and it reall does the job will try that if the NAF doesnt help.

[puzzles]

the two top nurients used in joint supplements are Glucosamine and, um i my mind has gone blank with the other.
cortaflex seems expensiv, but as it is fed at a tiny rate of around 8-9g per day (for an average 500kg horse) it is very economical. personally, i believe that it is the best available and would use it without hesitation knowing that it's one of the very best i can give to my horse and wouldn't use any other.
cider vinegar is also known to aid joint mobility, as does the herb Devil's Claw. both are well worth a try.
does the NAF not contain glucosamine then?

good luck!

[coss]

i give my mare soya oil if i give her a bucket of feed and i noticed a difference in her suppleness, she is 30 and still going.

[puzzles]

yup, cod liver oil is often used too
xx

[marsden]

Marsden i think i will try NAF Easy action thanks for the link it looks like just what i am looking for. How long did you use it before you seen any results?

.

hi taffy's mum, it wasn't long really i noticed an improvement in a couple of weeks then he just got better as each day went on :D its worth a try!

[taffy's mum]

Thanks everyone i have ordered the Naf in at my local saddlers and will pick it up on Wednesday. Although after Friday night i may be being taken for a fool. A few of us decided to go a ride to the beach on Friday after work which is about 50mins ride. Once there we decided to go for a canter and as Taffy is 14.2 and the the others we were with are 16 and 16.2 i popped him in at the back thinking he would find it hard to catch up. How wrong could i have been he shot passed the two of them flat out gallop which i must say is great fun so i encouraged all the way. He flew across the sand miles ahead of the rest and even jumped all the water tracks on his way, didnt think he was gonna stop at the end. We then almost swam back he was having so much fun paddling through the water. It was great fun for all of us as the other had fun trying to keep up with him and really enjoyed trying to soak each other on the way home. He walked home still full of life head up and ears forward. The next morning i brought him in from the field expecting him to be sore but he wasnt in the least bit bothered. Havent really done much schooling just riding out apart from yesterday when i tried to loose school him and although he was having fun and put up with me for a while ended up jumping out the school and going back to his bed :mad:

Sorry for the long update but just thought i would let you know that hard work seems to be the problem not stiffness........