From: Alyson
Dear Jessica And Horse Sense! I love you very much, so often you answer my questions before I have even asked them. Now I have a question to ask you. I do not have very much money to buy a horse, but I have found a very nice horse of ten years old. He is a gelding and can jump very well. The problem is, why his owner is selling him I think, he no longer enjoys to jump very high or sometimes to jump at all. My veterinary has seen him and taken some radiographs, and his advice is to not buy this horse because of the arthritis in the pictures. My instructor says that all horses have arthritis in some joints and bones, and that any horse of ten years will have radiographs similar to this horse's radiographs. I do not know whom to believe in this so I am coming to you. I want a horse to ride and also jump, and I would like to enter jumping competitions on my horse. I like this horse very much but if he will not be willing to jump, perhaps I should not buy him to jump. Do you think that he would be a good horse for me if I do not jump very much? Also, are there medicines to take away arthritis? My instructor says that Bute every day will let this horse jump well, it is just "horsey aspirin". What do you think?
Alyson
Hi Alyson! This is a complicated question, because you are raising several different issues. I will deal with these one at a time, to give you some ideas that you can then discuss with your veterinarian.
My first thought is that if your veterinarian has advised against the purchase, that should be the end of the story! Your veterinarian knows you, your riding, and your ambitions, and doesn't think that this horse is suitable. It's a very good idea to get professional advice -- and you've done that. It's also a very good idea to TAKE the advice that you're paying for! If you buy a horse that is unsound and uncomfortable, you may end up with a horse that can't be jumped but needs constant medication anyway -- this isn't going to do you any good.
Radiographs can be tricky, and your instructor is correct in saying that any horse of 10 is likely to show some arthritic changes on X-rays. But not all radiographs are equal, and your veterinarian obviously feels that the changes he sees in THIS horse are significant. That is one important point. Another is that your horse is showing more than changes on the radiographs -- he is showing discomfort and refusing jumps! Clinical signs like this should not be ignored.
Medication is also tricky. You may be able to help this horse with Legend or Aquedan or J-Flex or some other product, but then again, you may not. I would feel better about this horse if he were moving sound, jumping happily, and if your vet thought that he could be maintained on hyaluronic acid injections or chondroitin sulphate supplements... Bute is not a long-term solution. With some horses, it's not even a short-term solution. Bute is a serious, dangerous drug that causes problems for the horses that are given it -- starting with stomach ulcers -- AND Bute can cause problems for the person who handles it. Bute isn't "horsey aspirin" -- ASPIRIN is "horsey aspirin." If you handle Bute, you should wear gloves and a mask -- think about this. It can be a useful drug, but it shouldn't be administered casually or handled carelessly. TALK TO YOUR VETERINARIAN ABOUT THIS. You probably wouldn't ask your veterinarian for a riding lesson, right? So don't ask your riding instructor for medical advice....
I think that you should probably wait a little longer and keep looking for a horse that you like, that can jump, AND THAT IS SOUND. "Sound" can mean "needs extra bedding and a longer warmup and can't be jumped every day" -- you can make some adjustments and concessions for an older, experienced horse. But a horse that is up for sale and isn't sound is a horse to avoid, IMO. Be patient, take your time, and you will find the right horse eventually. And while you are waiting, think about your ambitions and goals -- if you truly want to JUMP, you must find a horse that is sound and comfortable enough to jump now and jump later and still be jumping in a year or two or five. Use your own good judgement and trust your veterinarian's advice.
Good luck finding a more suitable animal!
Jessica
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