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  Discussion on 18 yo mare
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Member:
mleeb

Posted on Thursday, Sep 1, 2011 - 9:45 pm:

About a month ago my 18 year old QH mare came in from the pasture with swollen fetlock joints in both hind legs. I don't recall any increased heat. She didn't want to stand on the left one, but otherwise showed no obvious signs of discomfort, and walked normally. I imagine a trained eye would have seen something in her movement, but I did not. She had been ridden quite a lot leading up to this day. We gave her several days rest, cold hosing, and a dose or two of bute, and she was back in the game again.
Roxie does not act like an aging horse, nor does she look it. She still attends regular events such as trail rides, team penning, and gymkhana, and shows no signs of slowing down. Quite the opposite, actually, as her barrel pattern is getting faster.
I'm wondering if this swelling is just our first warning sign, a reminder that she's getting older, and we should get our ducks in a row. What should I be doing as far as nutrition and exercise to keep her sound and prevent further incidents like, or worse? Our current system has her on pasture 24/7 with 3 other horses. Grass hay in the winter. A salt block and a mineral block for horses is provided year round. During high speed events, her legs are wrapped in sport boots. If she is quite warm at the end, she is hosed down. We use warm water at home, but at most events only cold is available so we keep it to a minimum. We seldom ride in the winter, so May through October is her usually riding season. Are we doing all we can already, or am I missing a step?
Member:
canter

Posted on Friday, Sep 2, 2011 - 7:21 am:

Hi Michelle,

It seems to me that you are doing a fine job with your older mare. My mare is 21 and working 4-5 days a weeks, still showing occassionally (only limited due to my schedule, not any issues with her). Frankly, I don't consider her 'old', although in my heart, I know her age is advancing and our working years together may be now limited.

I think that keeping her working (unless injured) is the best thing you can do for your horse. Keep a close eye on how she responds physically. If your mare is starting to show some stiffness, work and turnout, which you are doing, will keep her more limber. My vet recommended a gram of bute after hard work, just to ensure those older joints and muscles don't get sore. She tolerates it well, so I do that after every ride (not before as I don't want to mask any possible issues). Before and after work, I ask for good stretching over the top line and make sure she has plenty of time to warm up and cool down. Other than that, I give her the best of care and keep an extra close eye on possible age related issues.

I would think lightly riding, in the winter, if you can, would help keep your mare in shape as it takes longer for an older horse to regain condition. However I understand that is not possible for everyone.

I can't guess what caused your mare's swollen fetlocks a month ago - it may have been any number of things that just seem to happen with horses and that cause us to worry. I hope whatever it was, it was a one time thing and done with.

The only other thing I do with my mare is a good quality joint supplement (Cosequin).

Enjoy your old girl - these older mares are truly a treasure.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 2, 2011 - 2:58 pm:

Hello Michelle,
As Fran refers to above there are a myriad of reasons horses get bilateral cool hind limb swellings and we cover most of them at HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Diseases of the Lower Limb » Stocking Up: Cool Swellings of the Lower Legs. And yes, more work than a horse is use to can be part of the reasons.

Your questions on nutrition and exercise are so broad and the information we have so limited it is hard to say anything helpful except you should provide a good quality diet in proper amounts and exercise should be regular. We have whole sections of this site devoted to these two topics and if you are concerned you should review them. But start with the Overview Articles on these subjects:
HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Musculoskeletal Conditioning » Exercise Physiology and Conditioning
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses

One specific practice you mention that I disagree with is providing both a white salt and mineral salt block. We explain the reason for this at HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Minerals and Electrolytes for Horses, an Overview.
DrO
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Friday, Sep 2, 2011 - 8:16 pm:

Thanks, Fran, Dr. O.
I have read all the sections on hind leg swelling, and the nutrition section. I'll go back and do the other two now as well.
The salt and mineral I referred to is a blue salt block, plus a mineral block formulated for horses. I'll read the article and see what the concern could be.
Thanks
Member:
babychop

Posted on Saturday, Sep 3, 2011 - 10:57 am:

Have to agree with the exercise, my 17yo mare is full of arthritis and her chiro and vet say light exercise is the best thing to keep her lubed up and moving.
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2011 - 9:14 am:

Just read the article on minerals and electrolytes. Would I be correct in saying that the real concern is that horses will eat the salt block, but not eat enough of the mineral block on a free choice basis to give them the nutrients that they require?
If this is correct, then my concern is that if I am required to to dress feed on a daily basis to meet that need, they will actual fall even shorter in their requirements. Current life and work-style would not enable me to do that. Is there a single block that combines all the components of the two?
They do eat at both blocks. With free choice, it's just not possible to know who is eating it all, and if it's enough. On the plus side, we have 4 very healthy appearing horses right now!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2011 - 11:31 am:

I don't understand Michele what you mean when you say, "combine all the components". Specifically which components are you worried about?
DrO
Member:
mleeb

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2011 - 9:26 pm:

Interestingly enough, I'm not worried! They all appear quite healthy!
What I was wondering is this: If when you have two separate blocks a horse finds the taste of the salt block appealing and eats it, but finds nothing appealing about the mineral block, and therefore ignores it, wouldn't the best solution be to a have block the combines the ingredients of both into one? Is there such a thing? Is it even necessary? Or, am I wasting my money and my horses would do just as well with one block only, the one that is predominantly salt?
Member:
babychop

Posted on Sunday, Sep 4, 2011 - 11:30 pm:

Redmond Rock is supposed to combine both, my nags stick their noses up at it but some folks rave about it. Here's a link to their site. It never hurts to ask, they might send you a sample.

https://www.equinechronicle.com/community/redmond-minerals-introduces-new-redmond -rock-sea-salt-lick-and-red-top-dress-for-horses.html
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Monday, Sep 5, 2011 - 8:34 am:

I keep loose, coarse sea or kosher salt in mineral feeders in the stalls and also have a Himalayan solid chunk of mineral salt hanging in each stall. The horses go after both types of salt and like the Himalayan blocks a lot. Used to keep ordinary salt and mineral blocks and one of mine spent what seemed to be an excessive amount of time trying to get enough of the plain salt. He doesn't do this any longer since I switched to what I do now nor is he lacking in anything. Maybe it is "overkill" but works for me.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 6, 2011 - 10:45 am:

If you mean combining the salt (NaCl) with the minerals that is exactly what your mineral block is: over 90% salt with small amounts of trace mineral added. And your experience is exactly the problem: they only eat the salt, for which they have a strong drive, and may not be getting optimal amounts of trace minerals for which there is not a strong drive. By removing the salt block they will learn to get their salt needs from the trace mineral block and incidentally consume the trace minerals.
DrO
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