From: Ellen
Hi Jessica
My horse Rocky is a Connemara/Irish Draught cross (just turned 8) who has always been very sound. This summer he had some back problems and lameness, so I got a very good vet (David Watson, who specialises in structural problems in horses) out to take a look at him. He took Rocky down to his vet clinic where he was diagnosed with the early stages of degenerative joint disease in his hind fetlocks. He spent 12 days down at Winchester undergoing injections into his fetlocks and hock (and one shoulder), and David pronounced him sound (or nearly, 2% lameness in his left hind). He had no bony growths and the x-rays were fine, so apparently we caught it early enough that he can still lead a useful life. I understand that the treatment at this early enough stage can be considered a permanent cure, encouraging the joints to lubricate themselves again. He was given sodium hyaluronate as well as long acting cortico steroids.
My questions are this: is 2% unsoundness something that I should be worried about? According to David, this is quite common that many sport horses do have some lameness. And I'm not sure exactly what caused the problems but I can certainly put some of the blame upon the extremely hard ground we have had in past years due to drought in southern England. According to David, I should be able to work Rocky again (building up his fitness level slowly), but what is the current conventional wisdom about work on roads? The nature of the English countryside is that there are bridleways that inter-connect with many narrow paved farm tracks, so avoiding roadwork is nearly impossible in my area. Trotwork on roads has always been a part of an English event horse's training regime (preparation for roads and tracks) but I have never been entirely happy about the stress this puts on legs and joints. And of course after the events of this summer, I am loathe to take any risks on his joints again.
I hope you can advise! I've read as much as I can about DJD but still feel very uncertain as to how much I can ask of Rocky in future.
I wonder whether your vet said anything about the cause of this? I would be curious to know whether it might have something to do with shoeing, either because of hind hoof angles, or because something about Rocky's shoes (trailers on the hind shoes? or any other form of additional traction?) may have aggravated a problem by passing some torque UP the leg.
In any case, I agree that whereas a 2% unsoundness in a two- or three- year old would be worrisome, in an 8-year-old it is much less so, especially as you seem to have found it in time, and your vet assures you that the treatment should be successful.
Roadwork is a variable quantity, as you know, and the point of roadwork as preparation for roads and tracks is to build up the horse's bones and support structures. But many roads are unsuitable, and even when they are flat and textured, too much trotting on the roads can cause concussion that damages legs. For Rocky's sake, I would suggest that you do walk-work on the roads, and most of your trot-work on the bridle paths and in the fields (cantering, too, should be done on the paths and in the fields, and in any arenas or schools to which you may have access). It's the miles covered that make the difference -- and it may take longer to walk four miles than to trot them, but Rocky is likely to benefit more from slower work and reduced concussion.
There's a lot of anecdotal evidence to support the use of chondroitin sulphates in horses with joint problems, and they seem to be especially helpful in cases such as Rocky's, where the problem has been caught early before the joint has become dry and damaged. Oral supplementation seems to be effective, and it's certainly worth trying -- it may help, and unlike in-joint injections, it can't hurt.
I would suggest something else, as well -- an investment in sportsmedicine boots for Rocky's legs (yes, all four of them) might make quite a difference. In the USA, there are several different manufacturers of boots that actually offer support and concussion reduction WITHOUT interfering with movement. You've probably heard of the Professional's Choice SportsMedicine boots, as the company has a widespread and effective marketing campaign. But these would be my SECOND choice, not my first.
Les Vogt ProEquine boots are superior in construction and design, AND in the percentage of concussion reduction. It could well be that the demonstrated quality of these boots will push the competing firms to improve their own boots, and our horses will benefit from these efforts!
But for now, I would strongly recommend that you invest in a set of boots for Rocky, and if you can't find a source for them, get in touch with me and I'll arrange the matter.
Jessica
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