b'SPORTS MEDICINEunnecessary strain on the joints, liga- Exercise can rangea flare-up after playing out at pasture orments, and tendons, so regular trims areslipping, leading to a swollen joint and required and can ease breakover (howfrom daily walks inobvious lameness, she says. These flare-the horses heel lifts off the ground andhand to a gentle hack,ups should be treated promptly, as the rotates over the toe during movement),inflammation ultimately causes further promoting soundness in the long run. but all should be accom- damage to the joint.Your veterinarian and farrier mightpanied by a warmupJoint injections and/or anti- even recommend special shoeing to re- inflammatory medications are potential duce impact on your horses joints. and cool-down. treatments for flare-ups; always work DR. NICOLA JARVIS with your veterinarian to treat them.Do: Keep Your Horse at a Healthy Weight Take-Home MessageWhat does nutrition have to do withand body condition (ideally, 4 to 6 onA horses ridden or even competitive OA? A lot.the 1-to-9 Henneke scoring scale, whichcareer doesnt have to end just because An overweight horse will struggle withwe detailed in the February 2020 issue)of an OA diagnosis. It might just take a excessive loading through the joints, andto avoid stressing his joints excessivelylittle more care and planning to keep him obesity is frequently linked with manyand keep him exercising for as long ashealthy, happy, and comfortable. inflammatory and degenerative diseasespossible. Get a definitive diagnosis, work with such as OA in humans and other species,your veterinarian to provide appropriate including horses (TheHorse.com/163759),Dont: Work Your Horse Duringsupport, plan workouts carefully, and Jarvis says.Flare-Ups implement management techniques to Especially if your horse is still perform- The caveat to keep your horse mov- support healthy joints.ing more technical or strenuous work,ing is when he has a flare-up, Jarvis says. And above all, says Malinowski, keep aim to keep him at an appropriate weightHorses with affected joints might sufferthe horse moving on a daily basis.hNext Gen Synthetic HydrogelFor Long-Term Joint Health.NOLTREXVET is a synthetic, inert and biocompatible,non-soluble hydrogel designed specifically for use in joints.By mechanically protecting the joint and reducing friction, it mitigates a root cause of soreness. Veterinariansuse code #TH0420 and receiveAsk your Veterinarian about NoltrexVet or a$ 100 discount *on ordersvisit www.noltrexvet.com for more information.of 10 or more.*Expires 5/15/20Nucleus Regenerative Therapies [email protected] Chastain Gardens Drive Suite 150Kennesaw, GA 30144TheHorse.com|The HorseApril 2020 41'