Arthritis in horses is the inflammation of one or more joints. Symptoms of inflammation include pain, stiffness, swelling and heat. This is an unpleasant condition that will severely interfere with your horse’s natural movement, performance and health. By using a system of natural horses health care, you can both prevent and treat this condition.

Simple, acute or chronic arthritis is normally limited to these symptoms. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative form of arthritis where the joint cartilage wears away. The bone margins are altered as are the membranes surrounding the joint. It is more common in older horses.

Acute arthritis is usually the result of an injury. However, it can result from the veterinary medicines used to treat previous health issues. Poor or inappropriate hoof management can also lead to this condition. But the stresses of a typical horse’s life, with insensitive training and pushing them to perform, will undoubtedly create many health issues.

Horses are very willing partners in our artificial world. They will try very hard to meet our demands, often to their own detriment. This is one reason why it is essential to be ultra sensitive when training and riding horses.

Veterinary diagnosis can be rather drastic. Nerve blocks are used to isolate each joint, once the affected leg has been identified. This is a risky and inexact diagnostic tool.

Then, scans and other radio-active imaging tests are carried out. These are not without their long term effect on the horse’s long term health.

Veterinary treatment involves rest and medication. Rest is an obvious must in any successful treatment involving musculo-skeletal problems, for a horse. However, the veterinary medication can have far reaching consequences on your horse’s health.

Pain relief, steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are not only liver toxic, they also suppress the horse’s immune system. This means that more problems are likely to occur in the future. Veterinary medicines do not address the cause of the problem, only the effect. The pain relief may also allow the horse to further damage the already compromised joints.

A much more effective, and safer, method to treat arthritis in horses involves a combination of what goes to make up natural horses health care. Let’s look at what this involves.

1 As already discussed, being ultra sensitive in your dealings (and expectations) of your horse is vitally important in his long term health. Tiny, subtle body language signals can keep you tuned in to his natural abilities and sensitivities.
2 Having at least one equine companion in the same field is imperative to keep a horse healthy and happy. Horses are herd animals. To deny this is counter intuitive to their long term health.
3 Feeding a natural diet, preferably grazing on organically cared-for pasture is the best way. Any hard feeds that are deemed necessary should be whole food from a clean source, unfettered by toxic pesticides, fertilisers, preservatives, etc.
4 As already discussed, rest is essential for any musculo-skeletal disorder. But not stable rest, which can drive a horse mental. Paddock rest, without artificial pain relief, will keep your horse’s mind happy, and won’t further compromise the affected area.
5 Treating all and every condition with a safe, natural system of medicine that works with the horse’s immune system. Probably the best one is homeopathy. You can see the results of homeopathic treatment clearly, by a faster than normal recovery rate. And a lack of chronic consequences.

Treating all and any condition, including arthritis in horses, with this simple, effective and economical total approach to natural horses health care, is good for your horse and your wallet.

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Madeleine Innocent

You know how often people struggle with their horse’s health? They want to know WHY they suffer with health issues and all their veterinarian can offer is drugs and more drugs? They feel helpless and at the mercy of another. Well, what I do is to help you pinpoint WHY your horse is getting sick and implement a strategy that takes you to a feeling of empowerment, of being in control of their life. A strategy that restores their health and allows you, and them, to enjoy life.

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