acute osteo arthritis

[sykes]

Help. My horse has been diagnosed with the above. Not sure if anyone remembers but bought him about four months ago, problems with riding, back person out, got temporarily better, regressed, back person out (and vet twice) third back visit vet suggested x-rays for hock as something not quite right which has resulted in the above diagnosis. Am absolutely gutted. He's only five and I absolutely adore him. Has anyone any experience of treating the above/advice/know of a specialist etc? I've been told the best I can hope for after three months off is gentle hacking. He was my horse for life and I wanted to pass him on to my daughter. We all love him so much and I am really in bits about it. I knew something wasn't right but this is extreme. He also passed a five-stage vetting when I bought him so is insured but that's really not the point.

My instructor uses a lot of NH techniques and dhorse is like a lamb with her, it definitely has an effect on him, almost as though he has been hypnotised! We were having terrible trouble when we first went to the new yard with him being all spooked up and barging us about. He was lifting us off the ground yet 10 mins with instructor and he was walking sedately like an old nag. Sickening really!

Oh and guess what?! I rode dhorse back to our yard today . I didn't get much sleep last night worrying about it but he was fab. The only time I got scared and wanted to get off (I didn't though) was when we were up on the Downs and he saw a couple of horses in the distance. He turned into a giraffe and I thought he was going to tank off after them but I got him in behind friend's pony and he was ok, phew!

Anyway it was miles and we even crossed a huge roundabout on a dual carriageway which was very busy being the feeder for three large supermarkets (we were cheeky and pressed the buttons to use the pedestrian crossings).

I never thought I would do it, but I did!

How brilliant. You must be SO pleased - that's a massive achievement, well done.
My horse is coming along and we've now hacked out three times - only in walk, though. Also, cantered for the first time in ages, well intentionally cantered, and he was so calm. Without wanting to get TOO excited he seems so much happier and calmer and is SO sweet to handle. I spent half an hour in his stable this morning. He was lying down and actually put his head in my lap. So hope all this continues as want to plan first dressage test - just walk and trot. Let me know how you get on - it sounds brilliant progress.

Ah thank you.

Your horse sounds like an absolute darling, you must be so relieved that he is feeling better. Lots to look forward to now!

How is everyone? It seems very quiet. Just thought I'd update those who've been so kind to offer words of support. It's going really well at the moment (please, please may it continue). Am now cantering on a regular basis in the school and even jumped him today (teeny, tiny). Also have hacked out (just in walk). I'm so pleased and I know we'll have set backs but I NEVER thought I'd be here just a month ago. He's obviously still green and is a typical five-year old in some respects but I'm honestly just so happy at the moment and even planning first show (God help me) and dressage (walk and trot only) in September. How's everyone else doing? Pixel - any more news?

Hi Sykes, you are doing brilliantly.

I've just got back from a week away camping in the New Forest so haven't seen dhorse yet but mum and sis have been spoiling him rotten. Unfortunately after all our wonderful progress he hasn't been ridden for weeks thanks to that horrid wild parsnip (see thread)burning his poor face and all around his mouth. He's been on bute for the pain and very miserable so any work at all was out of the question. I'm just glad I left his feathers on or I dread to think what state his white legs would be in. He's on the mend now thank goodness, the scabs are starting to come off and there is healthy pink skin underneath.

I'm just hoping that when I get to ride him again we aren't back to square one , well me at any rate, I'm sure he'll be fine. Apart from anything else, now that my sister has ridden him she has designs on him. She didn't want to know when he was a youngster needing schooling and thought all the lessons were a waste of time but now she's found out what a lovely hack he's turned out to be it's different.

Of course he still is a youngster and very green. Lot's more schooling needed but you know what I mean!

Hello - nice to hear from you Pixel. How's everything going now - so sorry about the burns and hope he's still on the mend and you're riding again. I have my first show on Sunday AAAAAGH. Am only doing walk/trot dressage and am horribly nervous. My main fear is what he'll do at his first party? Will he go bonkers? I was gong to do the riding horse class as well but the thought of cantering around with about 15 other horses - apparently it's a v big class - puts the fear of God into me. I really can't believe how nervous I am, I think my instructor thinks I'm a bit simple or something. Anyway, how are things with you?

Ooh good luck for sunday. I'm sure you'll be fine. Are you driving or can you have a stiff drink beforehand?

Haven't ridden dhorse yet, dcs back at school tomorrow so I intend to start trying to get back into the groove from next week. I've been concentrating on taking ds riding as he is loving it so much at the moment and dshetland for some reason is full of beans and loving going out too. Have to make the most of it at her age!

I did go to the other yard and have a lesson a couple of days ago while my mum had the dcs. The pony was much more forward going than I'm used to and also more responsive and well-schooled than dhorse so it was very 'interesting' and really made me concentrate. He was also quite small and narrow (New Forest) so I'm hoping when I get on dhorse next week he will feel like a big comfy armchair.

Hope it went well. Had the show today which was interesting .... Late, late late and no time to work in at all. Seriously, all of five mins before darting up to find where dressage was. Horse v spooky and am sure I didn't help - he was jumping sideways, small girls were shooting past on small ponies/v serious riders were working their horses in beautifully and there we were. Anyway, was v nervous but did the test, although riding past the bouncy castle, generator and all the flappy tapes and shouty children etc did little to calm my nerves. We got 54% so not great but were marked down hugely for "tension from horse and rider creating problems."
A fantastic teenager at the yard who is an inspiration to me took him in clear round and he was a star and riding horse - again, fantastically behaved. The later in the day he got more and more calm And, of course, he didn't have me on his back. But he was really so good for his first show and by the afternoon was really chilled.
How are things with you.

Sounds like you had a good day in the end, despite a shaky start. It will surely be easier next time as you have now seen that your horse can be chilled in a show atmosphere. What a good boy.

Well I got on dhorse today. I probably shouldn't have as we had gusty wind and showers and he's always hated the wind. But, I've run out of excuses and my mum and stepdad were there nagging me so on I got. He was a little terror! Not his fault I know, he hasn't been ridden for about six weeks and I was nervous which didn't help, but he kept on leaping in the air and felt like a coiled spring. We only went round the block but that was more than enough for me. My stepdad kept saying "he's ok, just let him go" which was easy for him to say (we were on the road btw), but my mum stuck up for me and told him that dhorse may not look like he's doing much but when you are on him he feels very strong so that made me feel a bit better!

Well done for getting back on. It's v nerve wracking, I know and the weather really doesn't help. It's progress so that's good. Went out on my own on him for the first time yesterday and we're in a very busy area traffic wise. His eyes were on stalks and I really had to keep my leg on to stop him going home but he wasn't too bad. He had five poos - a sign he's v stressed and one massive spook where a huge tractor with a massive trailer with flashing lights stopped for us. Dhorse turned round and tried to take off down the road but after a bit of persuasion we danced past - lots of snorting etc but we did it. Had a lesson today in the wind and rain and he was very good. Quite fast in canter but I can even use a schooling whip now (v small tap/tickle) which is good as he was getting a bit stuffy. A month ago we'd have been in the next county if I'd gone anywhere near him with one. Good luck with your horse this week and let me know how it's going. What's happened to MitchyInge?

Don't know about Mitchy, it's a bit worrying. I'm hoping she just hasn't been near the computer as she said she was with her daughter who is in hospital. But she has things going on with Barney too. Oh I hope he is ok, she will be devastated if he isn't.

Oh dear. Sorry to hear about her daughter and hope the pony is okay. Everything always seems to happen at once.