Is it possible that using liniment on the back of an older arthritic horse and still ride him make him worse?

Question

Or would he actually get better? I'm mostly just curios but this is related to my other question about back arthritis.

Answer 1

liniment is not a cure.  It's just to help relieve painful muscles.

Glucosamine Chondroitin supplement would be what you would want to start him on...or some other joint supplement.

If he has arthritis and the Vet says he can be ridden but lightly...I'd put a little on his back before and after the ride.

I wouldn't saturate his back though....just a little to get it warmed up.

I use it on my mares lower legs, stifle area, and her spine area near the withers.

I put it on before and after a ride.

For my gelding he gets it rubbed in before a ride and that would be on his lower legs and his stifle area.

He is now getting arthritis in his stifle from the short time he was a ropin' horse.

Answer 2

personalily i wouldnt bother. poor bugger if u had arthritis would in ur back would u be happy if some one came and jumped on u for at least half an hour every now and then or every day ( i dont know how much u ride)  im not trying to be mean im just stating the obviouos. would you like it if it was you wouldnt u rather be turned out to live the rest of ur days happyish

Answer 3

Linament makes soreness that is already there feel better - at least, temporarily.  Ben-g*y and menthol Mineral Ice gel made for humans works the same way:  I have arthritis in my neck, so when it's feeling really sore, I rum some Mineral Ice on it and the menthol in it numbs the pain for a few hours.  But it doesn't really make it go away, and the pain still might be there once the linament/Mineral Ice wears off.  Like taking asprin for a headache - it doesn't cure it, but it masks the pain for a while.

I am sure that an arthritic horse appreciates linament, but I wouldn't think of it as a remedy or something that will make him more useful in terms of health.  You might want to ask your vet if they think he could use a low daily dose of bute (horse asprin, basically) in his feed to make him feel a little better.

Answer 4

Let me start by saying I am no vet so I would always check any advice you get. What I understand is arthritis is a drying up of the joints, from age or injury, and the increased friction makes them painful and as a result we move them less and then the corresponding muscles get stiff which in turn reduces circulation and movment and so spirals the problem. If your horse is still up for it I would keep riding him as keeping moving will help circulation, but start with a long warm up. A lot of walking on a long rein, get him to stretch his neck out and a long stride. Circles, serpents and anything else in walk before repeating in trot. Lots of circles in the opposite rein from the stiff side to stretch where it is needed. There are also stretches you can do before getting on him. When riding take it easy and feel the horses movement but enjoy your time together for as long as you both want to. I'm not convinced in liniment other than the rubbing will help relax the muscles and he will enjoy the attention. Glucosamine has been proven to help joints but getting it to the right spot in a horse's joint might be better in their feed than rubbing it through the muscle.