Premature arthritis in a 6 year old?

[JrRider89]

I have an ottb who is coming 6 and I have had problems with him the past 3 or so months. He has been nearly unridable (trying to buck me off, bolting, getting VERY hot and nervous) and that is unlike him! He is a slightly nervous thoroughbred but not that bad. I have noticed over the past month he hasnt been 100%, hes been short behind, and its worse when he circles, he also would get very tense through his back. So I decided to take him to the vet school for a lameness exam, they put him on the lounge on the asphalt and he was DEAD lame. They started by blocking his hind feet one leg a time, then they started moving their way up, they got to the area near his hind ankles and he was pretty sound after the blocking of both hind legs. They took x-rays and found signs of premature arthritis near his sesamoid and one other place (began with an o) in both hind ankles. He is going back on monday so they can block the exact spot the premature arthritis is just to make sure thats 100% what his problem is and if so they are going to inject it. I am looking to make him jumper (child/adult 3'6-4ft) and was wondering if hes going to hold up with maintenance and how bad this is that he has this. Does anyone have any experience with his? Ive had older horses with arthritis but never a 6 yr old, but then again he did race 16 times!
Let me know your opinions on this, thanks!

[dwblover]

I've had a lot of OTTBs and have a gelding now. I think you have to look at them differently than any other horse. Really no other horses have worked as hard or done as much by such a young age. I sort of agree to some arthritis whenever I buy an OTTB. I do believe with proper maintenance most of them can go on to successful careers as sport horses. The vet school can tell you just how bad it is and the prognosis, but IME these horses are tough and sturdy with hearts of gold. Plus he'll tell you how he feels based on his attitude, if he's happy in the work after the injections than you'll have your answer. Best of luck.

[GatoGordo]

OTTB's are prone to having arthritis from their workload/age, especially in the knees and ankles. This is not unusual, although the fact that he is so lame already is definitely not good. How did it go today at the vet school?

[Fharoah]

If there sound you should be able to enjoy. However your horse may last longer at a lower level. My horse developed arthritis after a collateral ligament in his pastern. Joint injections, IRAP, legend, adequan shoeing changes we could not get him sound. My horse had pastern arthrodesis surgery in August, will be about a year before he is hopefully sound. Ringbone can be harder to handle than hocks, every horse is different some horses are extremely stoic some become sore.

Best Luck!

[Posting Trot]

Arthritis may indeed be the issue, but I'd also say take a good, long look at how he's trimmed and shod. Investigate proper hoof form and don't just assume that the farrier knows best.

No slam intended towards all farriers, just based on my own experience of having a farrier gradually screw up the angles on my horse and that caused all kinds of problems. It's best to be an informed client and ask questions.

I'd also wonder about lyme disease, which can create body soreness and shifting lameness and, over the longer term, cause permanent arthritic changes.

In short, I'd talk to the vet and start asking questions when the farrier is there.

Good luck.

[deltawave]

I'm not sure that arthritis in horses is precisely the same disease as plain old osteoarthritis that affects older human beings. So "premature" may not be a relevant term for horses. Especially an OTTB--in these animals the word "premature" really applies to how soon they're asked for maximal athletic effort with immature skeletons. :sigh:

That's not to say a lot of them don't hold up and do very well, and a horse that retires sound from the track is often a tough cookie indeed.

[Go Fish]

I think many people would be surprised if they x-rayed their young, sound horses. Many have changes in one form or another. I suppose it could be a result of the amount of work we put horses through at a young age...I really don't know. Sometimes I think it's just the luck of the draw.

I was shopping for a young prospect several years back and was shocked at how many wouldn't pass the vet once we x-rayed their joints.

[GatoGordo]

I think many people would be surprised if they x-rayed their young, sound horses. Many have changes in one form or another. I suppose it could be a result of the amount of work we put horses through at a young age...I really don't know. Sometimes I think it's just the luck of the draw.

I was shopping for a young prospect several years back and was shocked at how many wouldn't pass the vet once we x-rayed their joints.
It's true that you can find radiographic changes in a lot of sound horses, but the fact that the horse is DEAD LAME in a circle on hard ground, to me, points to a more worrisome issue. Assuming it blocks out to the joint and there are no soft tissue lesions apparent, the progression of lameness suggests that the horse IS having problems from the arthritis and these issues MAY be progressing.

Lyme disease is extremely unlikely to cause bony changes in a 6 year old, unless he has had it for years, and there is no reason to suggest Lyme based on the OP. The symptoms are all well explained by the lesions found (fetlock arthritis causing bilateral hind end lameness, manifesting as short striding and back pain from compensation and progressing to lameness on circles). My guess would be that the horse was not running well, retired from the track, and is having problems now that he is being put back into work.

To the OP, I meant to say earlier, good luck with your guy. It's frustrating when they have problems when they're still so young. Your vet is the best one to give you a long-term prognosis but, ultimately, you just have to see how your horse responds to treatment.