Ooh what is tumeric and where do I get it? Also how much do I feed a horse who weighs in around 550Kg (varies through the seasons)?
He has (are you sitting down?):
Arthritis of the off fore coffin joint which was medicated in October but vet doesn't want to do it again.
Extensive scar tissue and damage on the near side check ligament and flexor tendon.
A lump of bone where the annular ligament joins the pedal bone in the off fore foot.
What appears to be the starting of sidebone in his pasterns all round.
Gosh he sounds like he's falling to pieces!
Please rest assured, I am not keeping a hobbling horse dragging itself round the field in agony!! He is a very happy horse and most people don't think there's anything wrong with him (certainly he did well out in-hand at the weekend). He is one/two tenths lame most of the time, worsening to three or four tenths lame after a complete hooly when the ground is rock hard or when it is eight inches deep in mud (winter upsets the tendon/check ligament, summer upsets the arthritis
). He comes sound on a bute or two.
I just want something to help him along, but not as "agressive" as bute or other *mediciines*. He is not yet at the stage where he needs maintainance bute and I want to keep that stage as far off as possible, as he is only 14 and I am fully aware of the damaging effects of long-term bute.