Transporting a horse can be stressful at the best of times. But if you suspect your animal has a medical condition such as arthritis it can be even more so. Our equine friends give us so much pleasure that it’s awful to think they might be living in pain, especially as they get older.
Having the best horsebox insurance in place is vital for a successful journey but so is a pre-journey health check.
Just like in their human owners, they can begin to suffer from stiffness in their gait caused by arthritis. While this is a very common condition, if it’s spotted early much can be done to slow it down and reduce the pain caused to the horse.
There are several different types of arthritis that can affect horses but the most common is osteoarthritis. This type of arthritis is a degenerative disease that involves the breaking down of the cartilage within a joint.
As the cartilage breaks down there is also a loss in lubricating fluid within the joint. This loss reduces the joint’s shock absorbing abilities to protect against impact damage.
Over time this leads to inflammation, stiffness, pain and eventually lameness. Previous joint injuries and infections can also make a horse more likely to develop arthritis. The condition can affect any horse from race horses to those ridden for pleasure.
The key to keeping arthritis at bay is early detection and quick action to decrease further damage to the joint.
Symptoms that owners need to watch out for include:
As soon as you notice any of these symptoms then contact your veterinarian to get them checked out. A professional will be able to diagnose the problem, pinpoint the affected joints, assess how serious the arthritis is and prescribe any treatment.
Just as with having horsebox insurance for your transport, having effective horse insurance in place means you can act swiftly to remedy any problems as soon as they occur.
Unfortunately, despite medical advances it’s still not possible to cure arthritis. However, there are several treatments to reduce inflammation, slow further damage, ease pain and stiffness and possibly support the regeneration of cartilage.
The best treatment for your horse will be decided on a case-by-case basis in conversation with your veterinary professional.
As well as veterinary treatment, there are things you can do to help:
Unless you’re taking a horse to a veterinary appointment it’s usually advised not to transport a sick horse.
But what about a horse with a condition like arthritis? Whether or not it’s in the horse’s best interest really has to come down to the individual case. As their owner you know your horse best but it’s always wise to obtain veterinary advice to be certain.
If you do decide to make the journey then always check you’ve the best horsebox insurance in place. Undertaking pre-journey safety checks is also vital for a successful journey.
Remember there are many potential risks when transporting your horse. No matter how short the distance you could be involved in a collision. For example, skidding on wet roads or swerving because of high winds, or even a blown tyre.
An accident could result in damage to your horsebox or, worst still, your horse. Horsebox insurance can help cover any financial costs of repairing your horsebox after an accident.
From 3.5 tonne horseboxes to large HGVs up to the value of £750,000, the horse-loving team of insurance specialists at Equesure can help you find the right cover for your needs.
With over 60 years of experience in the insurance market, our extensive knowledge of the products and services we offer makes finding the best cover easy and straightforward.
We provide cover for popular models by Equi-Trek, Empire, Ifor Williams, Tristar, Alexanders, Ascot and many more. We also provide cover for trailers.
Arranging horsebox insurance through Equesure can give you a range of benefits including breakdown cover and horse recovery, so you never have to worry about getting stranded.
Other benefits can include:
Get a quick quote for horsebox insurance from Equesure today.
Policy benefits and features offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
We had another couple of busy weeks both with work and the horses – don’t know where the time has gone!
We managed to get two lessons in, one on each weekend for Bob. The first one was fantastic, we did some bounce fences (which yes I was worried he would revert back to his old ways and jump as a spread instead of a bounce – but luckily he didn’t!)
Now that Christmas and the New Year are behind us, along with the shortest day, it is time to start thinking ahead to sunny days and planning shows!
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