The DOs And DON’Ts Of Managing For Healthy Joints

 
Reduce your horses risk for arthritis and other joint problems by following these commonsense guidelines.
DONT take chances with hoof balance
An unbalanced hoof puts stress on all the joints above it. Whether the result is chronic long toes and low heels or overgrowth slipshod or infrequent farriery care contributes to the development of arthritis.
Hoof balance is important for the health of all the structures of the horses leg. Adobe Stock
A single bad or overdue trim wont necessarily lead to lameness. Horses are good at compensating in the short term which can make poor farriery work hard to detect. But the subclinical damage done by hoof imbalances takes a toll on joints leading to arthritis years down the line.

This means that selecting the right farrier is key to preventing arthritis. One smart approach is to ask others who participate in the your sport or activities for recommendations. If you compete in reining for instance seek out the shoeing professional who cares for the soundest reining horses in the area. You can also ask your veterinarian for recommendations.
Of course once youve chosen a farrier its imperative to stay on  a regular schedule for trimming and shoeing. Waiting until hooves are overgrown to call for an appointment is inviting trouble. Schedule visits at regular intervals then stick to those dates.
DO avoid long layoffs if possible
Prolonged periods of inactivity can do joints more harm than good. The health and function of joints is directly influenced by the structures that surround and support them such as tendons ligaments and muscles. If these structures are weak the joint may become unstable leading to arthritis over time. So an outofshape horse may not be lame but his lack of fitness is silently stressing his joints. Movement doesnt just condition supportive soft tissues it also helps keep joints