Joint Health

Healthy joints give horses the freedom to move. Recognize the clinical signs of joint disease, and implement management strategies to better support joint function.

Equestrian riding a bay horse in an outdoor arena, wearing a helmet and light blue shirt.

Joint Health 101

Horses are able to move with athleticism and grace, thanks to the design of their joints. Joints are composed of bones, which are protected by articular cartilage, and lubricated by joint fluid. All horses are susceptible to joint damage, but factors such as their environment, genetics, age and workload impact their risk of developing degenerative joint disease (DJD). DJD begins with synovitis, which is inflammation of the synovial membrane and joint fluid, and can lead to irreversible cartilage degradation and osteoarthritis.

Learn Common Causes of Lameness

A close up of a man looking for clinical signs of joint health while petting the back of a dark brown horse

Recognize the Clinical Signs

Joint disease can happen due to an acute injury or wear and tear from repetitive use. While sometimes subtle, your horse may show signs of lameness, leading you to suspect your horse could be suffering from pain and inflammation. It‘s important to know the clinical signs of joint disease, as more than 60% of equine lameness is caused by degenerative joint disease.¹

Clinical Signs of Joint Disease

Behavioral changes
Unwillingness to do work
Gait asymmetry
Lameness, ranging from mild to severe
Heat and swelling in the affected limb
Stiffness and decreased mobility

If you suspect your horse is experiencing any signs of joint disease, contact your veterinarian.

Mastering Joint Health With Your Veterinarian

Given that horses cannot tell us where they are hurting, it‘s important to schedule an examination with your veterinarian if you suspect your horse is suffering from joint disease. As Julie Settlage, DVM, DACVS, explains in this segment of Mastering Equine Health, your veterinarian can help diagnose joint disease by conducting a lameness exam to identify the affected limb(s) and the severity of disease.

See What to Expect During a Lameness Exam

Long shot of a women riding a white horse down a path with tress on both sides

Supporting Joint Health

If your horse is diagnosed with synovitis or osteoarthritis (OA), your veterinarian may recommend medical treatment to interrupt the inflammatory cycle, reduce clinical signs and slow disease progression.

Alongside medical treatment for joint pain and disease, you can utilize additional management strategies to protect your horse’s joints and support their overall health:

Provide balanced nutrition throughout their life
Set a training regimen that accounts for age
and fitness
Incorporate warm-ups and cool-downs
Maintain proper and regular hoof care
Be aware of the footing your horse is working on
Keep your horse moving to support strong muscles and avoid being overweight

Learn How to Manage Your Horse’s OA

Helping Every Horse Feel Free to Move

FREE TO MOVE is more than a joint health product portfolio with five industry-leading brands. It’s how we want every horse to feel. Whether helping athletes reach their full potential or maintaining comfort for cherished companions, our portfolio offers reliable solutions to keep their story moving forward.

See Our Joint Health Portfolio

Related Products

Equioxx (firocoxib) Tablets for horses, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, shown in bottles and packaging.

Feel Confident in Their Comfort

For treatment of joint pain associated with osteoarthritis, EQUIOXX^® (firocoxib) is the proven, consistent and convenient choice trusted for decades.

Learn More About EQUIOXX

Three bottles of Legend, a small green and clear one, and large blue and clear one, and a small purple and clear bottle.

Keep Their Legacy Moving Forward

LEGEND^® (hyaluronate sodium) is proven to safely and effectively treat noninfectious synovitis associated with osteoarthritis.²

Learn More About LEGEND

EQUIOXX IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: As a class, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be associated with gastrointestinal, hepatic and renal toxicity. Use with other NSAIDs, corticosteroids or nephrotoxic medication should be avoided.

LEGEND IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: The following adverse reactions have been reported following intravenous injection: occasional depression, lethargy and fever. Following intra-articular injection: lameness, joint effusion, joint or injection-site swelling, and joint pain.