Weather and stiffness......

[melissa]

Just wondering if any of your horses are more stiff when the weather is damp or raining?

My french boy is definitely worse in this kind of weather Although he walks it off in the field and it obviously doesn't bother him that much as there are skid marks galore in his field!!lol

Also is there anything you can give them? He is on half a danilon a day which has worked wonders.

[lolamae]

Hi,

I guess the dampness affects us all in the end, I was practically crippled with achy joints in the UK. Moved here, to the land of not much rain by British standards, snow, ice, winter sunshine and bracing temperatures and I have never felt better, no SAD and no achy joints.....well, MSM and cod liver oil helps me too.

I have had several older horses in the UK that were really uncomfortable in the UK winters, feeding cider vinegar and MSM did help but not that much, full turnout is much the best thing I am sure.......but it's catch 22 isn't it?

Warm, dry bed, but restricted movement versus chill, damp, foot sucking (in some cases) turnout.

Very hard to get it right when the elements are against you.

[sarahfox]

Yes,arthritis is often worse in cold damp weather.
It is also made worse by long periods standing,although that makes life a tad awkward as we bring them in to keep them warmer and drier,but then they are standing!
You could stable him in an enormous barn,that would be good!lol!
Some people bandage the legs to keep them warmer,but tbh Im not convinced by that one.
We found the best thing is to keep them as active as possible,ours go on the walker in the winter which helps,otherwise,just up the painkillers if necessary.
Not much help am I?!

[julz]

Linseed oil..... cannae beat it! or soya oil....

[melissa]

lolamae - I wish I had the balls to move to a country like that....I get so depressed by the miserable weather here!! Maybe one day.....

Thanks all....he is def better now he comes in at night, although he is a little stiff when he first comes out, but as I said he walks it off quickly. When he was out 24/7 he was worse. Maywell try the oils, thanks julz.

Sarah...I like the idea of bandaging the legs lol! I might try it and see what happens......

[specialsparkle3]

My arthritis is truly appauling at the moment especially at night, so I don't see why a horse suffering from arthritis should be any different.

[melissa]

poor you ss3 - its not nice i know. i have it in my wrists:( blooming weather. i have always said i was born in the wrong country!

[lolamae]

melissa said:

lolamae - I wish I had the balls to move to a country like that....I get so depressed by the miserable weather here!! Maybe one day.....

quote]

I keep raving about this place but it's honestly the best thing we have ever done. Balls didn't come into it, everyone says that, but we just decided, upped and went......7 months it took from first interview to the day we landed, and hopefully, within the next 6 months we will have our Permanent Residency Visas! ;D

My husbands allergies (to animals) vanished, and as I said, my SAD has gone totally, and my arthriticky joints are 90% better than they ever were. I have discovered though that I am ultra sensitive to sun and high temps but it's a small price to pay.

[julz]

weather looks great in your pic on another thread, Lolamae..... im glad we dont get as much snow as you do, lol

[lolamae]

julz said:

weather looks great in your pic on another thread, Lolamae..... im glad we dont get as much snow as you do, lol

Oh, the snow is no problem. Clean horses too, because most of the time the ground is frozen, by March I have forgotten what grass looks like though.
As long as you have a snow plough, we have them on the tractor and the ATV, and a stack of rock salt then you are fine. Heated, automatic waterers are essential too.
This country is geared up for it, most of the time it's just a matter of 'life goes on as usual' Even when the ploughs haven't done the roads, like today. This is the dirt road outside our house:

A lot of the farmers have snow ploughs on the front of their trucks for months in the winter.

[marianne]

Lolamae, I LOVE snow, but not sure what my horses would think!
[Whistler is my favourite place in the whole wide world, but I haven't been there for almost 10 years hahaha]

[zack]

I have sooooo had enough of English, neither-here-nor-there winters! And my horses arthritis is definately worse, my foot trimmer noticed a huge difference with her back legs. I have battled with the 'in and warm but stationary; or out and active but cold' issue. Think out is best for mine, and when it's not too wet she has her magnetic wraps on which help, I think. I am bit worried the glucosomine and MSN is having less affect than it once did...

[melissa]

lolamae - wow, i love snow!! where abouts are you? i have never been to canada, so have no idea of areas etc. its amazing how much your life has changed for the better since moving there. do you have family there?

zack - i stopped using the glucosomine and msn as i think it didnt work as well on my french boy as it did on my oap pony - i guess it works differently on each horse. i also tried the magnetic boots...not sure if they helped or not.

[zack]

That's the problem, there are so many factors that could be having an affect, and so many different combinations of things that you can try, and then it all gets very confusing, and you don't dare stop giving something in case it's the only thing that's keeping your horse from seizing up completely! Are you giving your french horse something instead Melissa?
Sorry to hijack the living out thread- I totally stand by that being the best thing for arthritics, put mine in a box now and she hobbles out the next morning!
PS can we move to Canada with you Lolamae? How difficult is it to get a visa?!

[zack]

Oh, sorry Melissa, I see from the top that you say your french boy is on half a dalion a day-what's one of those?!