b'SPORTS MEDICINE ERICA LARSONTheHorse.com/Sports-MedicineConditioning Arthritic Horses: Dos and Donts8 considerations when your performance horse starts showing signs of wearL ets start with the good news: InWe asked two authorities on olderDo: Know Your Foecomfortably) as possible.general, horses are living longer andIts just OA, right? That common creaky, staying active later in their lives thanhorse care for their tips on conditioningachy condition we ourselves get in our ever. This means we have more qual- horses with osteoarthritis. Nicola Jarvis,knees, backs, and other joints over time. ity time with and rides on our belovedBVetMed, Cert. AVP (Equine Medicine,Sure, but its important to understand equine partners. Equine Surgery Soft Tissue), MRCVS, asome of its complexities and why it can be The bad news? As horsesparticularlysenior veterinary surgeon at Redwingsso challenging to manage in horses.sport horsesage, they begin to sufferHorse Sanctuary, in Hapton, Norfolk,Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive from related health issues. One of theU.K., and Karyn Malinowski, MS, PhD,disease process within the horses joint, most common is osteoarthritis (OA),professor and founding director at thewhich leads to damage of the articular which can make those rides uncomfort- Rutgers Equine Science Center, in Newcartilage (within) the joint, the bone able for horses. Brunswick, New Jersey, offer exercise,beneath the cartilage, and local soft-But theres more good news: We canmanagement, and veterinary interventiontissue structures, Jarvis says. There are take steps to help keep horses movingrecommendations to help these horsesmany initiating factors that could lead and even competing as long (and asperform to the best of their abilities. to OA in later life, such as general wear With proper exercise, veterinary intervention, and management, older equids like 23-year-old roping horse Deck can continuing performing.SUSAN KORDISHTheHorse.com|The HorseApril 2020 37'