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Aging Gracefully: Pain Management for Older Horses

As with people and other animals, each stage of a horse’s life has different requirements to achieve and maintain optimal health. As a horse grows older, managing chronic pain can become a primary concern because several age-related conditions in horses can contribute to this problem. At Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley, our veterinarians are always here to help you manage your older horse’s pain and underlying conditions to keep your horse comfortable, healthy, and happy throughout the golden years.

Recognizing Pain in an Older Horse

Unfortunately, our horses can’t tell us when they are in pain. There are, however, some telltale signs and symptoms that can indicate pain in a horse. These include:
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Elevated respiratory rate (breathing quickly or heavily)
  • Unexpected or unexplained sweating
  • Dilated pupils
  • Changes in behavior (agitation or aggression)
  • Reduced willingness to move around
  • Ear position (ears fully or partially flatted back)
  • Changes in posture or movement (lameness)
  • Pacing
  • Rolling
  • Pawing or kicking at their sides
Since these behaviors can indicate pain, it’s important to be familiar with your horse’s normal behavior, appearance, posture, and demeanor so that you can recognize changes that might indicate pain or another physical ailment.
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The Best Options for Equine Pain Management

Of course, if there’s a treatable underlying cause leading to your horse’s pain, the best way to manage their pain is to diagnose and treat the underlying issues. There are also a variety of additional pain management strategies that can be used with horses that suffer from chronic pain. Some of these strategies include:

Medications and Supplements including:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
  • Corticosteroids
  • Topical pain medications
  • Anti-anxiety medications
  • Nutritional supplements

Physica and Energy Treatments

  • Equine cold laser therapy
  • Shockwave therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Surgery
  • Articular injections
Most geriatric horses suffering from chronic pain can benefit from an ongoing pain management strategy that takes a multifaceted approach, using a variety of treatments.

Mobile Geriatric Care for Horses in Fishkill

Our veterinarians at Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley are highly experienced in treating horses of all ages, including geriatric horses. Our veterinarians come directly to you to examine and evaluate your horse while helping you adjust your horse’s diet, supplements, exercise regimen, environment, and lifestyle in addition to providing age-specific care to ensure your horse ages gracefully with minimal pain and discomfort. If your horse is suffering from chronic pain, our veterinarians can work with you to determine the most appropriate course of treatment.
To learn more about caring for your older horse or to schedule a consultation with an equine veterinarian, we welcome you to contact our office today.

Tack Box Must-Haves

Whether you’re going away for a day, the weekend, or an extended show tour, packing for you alone is tough enough. When you also have to remember to pack and organize what seems like a million items for your horse, it can become truly overwhelming, and the odds of forgetting something that you or your horse needs are high.
So, the next time you’re organizing your tack box for a competition or show, take a look at the following list of essential items to make sure you have everything that you really need when you need it most.

4 Categories of Must-Haves for Your Tack Box Checklist

1. Tack and Equipment

If you forget an essential piece of tack, you can probably purchase what you need at a pop-up tack shop on-site, but do you really want to spend the money when you already have what you need at home? Of course not! So, remember these essentials:
  • Girth
  • Bridle
  • Martingale
  • Saddle
  • Extra bits and bobs
  • Show pad, square pads, and schooling pad plus therapeutic pads if needed
  • Ear bonnets or plugs
  • Extra leg wraps
  • Boots
  • Crop
  • Tack conditioner and cleaner
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2. Grooming Supplies

To help your horse look his or her best, be sure you have all your grooming supplies tucked away in your tack box, too.
  • Soft and hard brushes, curry comb, and a mane and tail brush
  • Hoof pick
  • Show sheen or shine spray
  • Detangle spray
  • Baby oil
  • Baby powder
  • Fly spray
  • Hoof oil
  • Braiding supplies

3. Horse Care Supplies

Pack all the essential care items and a first aid kit to keep your horse happy and healthy away from home.
  • Wash bucket
  • Bathing supplies (shampoo, conditioner, linament sponge, and sweat scraper)
  • A spray bottle filled with liniment or rubbing alcohol
  • Poultice and poultice paper
  • Disposable gloves
  • Hoof packing
  • Food, nutritional supplements, and medications (Pack prepared meals in plastic bags, along with supplements. Label AM or PM and bring more than you plan to use.)
  • Equine first aid kit

4. Rider Essentials

Remember you need to be show-ready, as well.
  • Sunscreen
  • Chapstick
  • Deodorant
  • Bug spray
  • Hairbrush and hairnets
  • Riding helmet
  • Boot polish
  • Handwarmers and extra gloves (work and riding)
  • Show and schooling breeches
  • Show and schooling shirts
  • Show and schooling boots
  • Stock tie and pin (or other neck wear)
  • Show coat, safety vest
  • Spurs, crop
  • Number holder (vest, safety pins for saddle pad, etc.)
  • Watch (especially Cross Country watch if Eventing)
  • First aid kit

Ask an Equine Vet for Personalized Tack Box Recommendations

For personalized tack box recommendations, we welcome you to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian at Advanced Equine of the Hudson Valley. To learn more contact our veterinary office in Fishkill, New York today.