Holly Helbig, DVM, Equine Technical Services Veterinarian, Zoetis   With the help of a grande vanilla latte, I like to get to barns early for lameness exams—I watch the sunrise, observe horses in pastures, ask questions about feeding, watering, medicating and everything else barn staff members do at the crack of dawn. There’s always one horse kicking down the stall, demanding to be fed first or an obese mare getting that extra flake of hay because her owner insists, “she’s hungry all the time!” I observe the horse in her stall, how she banks her shavings and how she walks out into the aisleway. If it’s a routine exam or the lameness is subtle, I want to see the horse under tack. I want to see her routine, how she’s warmed up/cooled down and put through the motions of what’s expected of her. I even consider the type of footing she’s trained on. In other words, I’m not just there to flex and palpate the horse. Joint health encompasses the entire lifestyle that our equine athletes live day in and day out. Despite technological advancements in equine science, like regenerative medicine, mind-blowing imaging breakthroughs, equine wearable tech offering 24/7 health data and AI-generated diagnostics, proper horsemanship still is and always will be a primary component of joint wellness, from sunrise to sunset. Be proactive about joint health As fall approaches, many horse owners move indoors to ride and continue training. This time of year usually means less turnout, more stall confinement, tighter indoor arenas, changes in hay quality and cooler temperatures. For many horses, it’s been a heavy show season and they’re at peak condition. Subsequently, they can also be at peak levels of soreness. This is a great time of year to reevaluate joint health and develop a strategy to maintain optimal body condition through the winter months ahead. Regardless of the degree of lameness, joint wear and tear is part of every horse’s life. Protecting the joint structures starts early in life, and caring for them needs to change accordingly as the horse grows, trains and matures. Consider joint health every day: Regardless of your horse’s level of activity, joint health should be prioritized and evaluated on a routine basis by your veterinarian Preventive joint health encompasses nutrition, weight management, exercise, supplements, proper shoeing and everyday horsemanship skills Watch for signs of change in performance, stiffness, shortness of stride, change of gait, along with heat and joint swelling For horses with osteoarthritis (OA), work with your veterinarian to focus on treating inflammation and slowing the progression of the disease   Nutrition fuels horse joints Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of fueling healthy joints, and it should be focused on even before birth. As a horse ages and his workload changes, diet should change simultaneously. Here are some guidelines to help you navigate the matrix of equine nutrition regarding joint health: For decades, we’ve referred to the National Research Council’s Nutrient Requirements of Horses with sections focused on the equine athlete. An updated version from 2007 can be purchased at this link. Horses do best with a forage first diet, limiting grains when possible The goal is to provide adequate energy, optimal protein levels and balanced minerals, particularly calcium and phosphorus The high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E in green grass degrade quickly when hay is cut. A balanced supplement containing these ingredients with trace minerals, amino acids, antioxidants can restore these lost nutrients to the diet. Broodmares and young, growing horses require a heightened level of diet awareness. During the last months of gestation, a broodmare has the caloric needs of a horse in heavy training and requires balanced nutrition to ensure normal fetal development. Stacking excessive supplements with commercial grains can cause an imbalance in vitamins and minerals. Research is key when choosing supplements. Maintain a healthy weight to lessen stress on horses’ joints and to avoid metabolic issues If hay quality suffers in the winter months, supplement accordingly with options such as alfalfa/hay cubes, beet pulp or ration balancers For more information, read Feeding Frenzy: An Equine Nutritional Revolution. Living well with OA When we take a moment to think about the long-lived careers of show horses or a 30-year-old pony still teaching lessons down the road, you can’t help but appreciate the wear and tear those joints have had over the years. Sir Isaac Newton was right when he said, “A body in motion stays in motion,” a statement proven by award-winning human and equine athletes all around the world. Approximately 60% of equine lameness cases are related to OA, which is often associated with a loss of performance and early retirement from athletic careers.2 Primary OA is due to chronic repetitive trauma, with risk factors including breed, age, sex, conformation (horse’s shape/body structure which can affect her athletic ability), occupation and systemic predispositions of the bone and cartilage.2 Joint pain involves more than just the articular cartilage. It also includes the subchondral bone, synovium, joint capsule, tendons and ligaments surrounding the joint. Horses with OA can present with a range of clinical signs, from subtle changes in performance to severe lameness. Identifying clinical signs early and working with your veterinarian to develop an individualized plan for your horse is key. Like many species, most horses live comfortably day in and day out with OA. Until horses can sign up for yoga, there are effective ways to manage joint pain Reducing inflammation, slowing the progression of OA and providing comfort are the goals when treating horses with joint pain. The realm of treatments and therapies is continuously evolving, often leaving not only the horse owner but sometimes even the veterinarian questioning what the right therapy of choice is. Veterinarians look at multiple factors when considering how to treat and manage your horse’s OA: Age and breed Medical history Body condition, measuring both fat and level of muscling Metabolic status/history of laminitis Degree of lameness High-motion vs. low-motion joints