More than half of the horses in the US have developed osteoarthritis and are either lame or have health issues. (Beyond Osteoarthritis, 2019) The disease forms due to injury, which then triggers an inflammatory response in the joints and causes abnormal remodeling of the tissue. (Loeser 2012) A horse living with osteoarthritis can threaten its career, cause early retirement and be a financial burden. (McIlwraith 2012) However, this does not mean to say the horse cannot live a comfortable life and carry on its days by being turned out in the fields – in fact, it’s encouraged. 

When arthritis develops, it cannot be reversed. Instead, it is important to ensure that you reduce the inflammation and pain as much as possible to reduce future damages. If you are to catch the warning signs of arthritis early on (which include checking for stiffness, inflammation in the legs, and pain your horse might have) you stand a better chance of allowing the horse to live comfortably for many years and still enjoying low-impact riding disciplines.  Along with continuing less strenuous activities, by optimizing turn out to the fields, the horse can move freely and at its own pace. It is very important to keep them active and not bound to the stalls. Daily movement can promote circulation, but depending on the severity of the case, limiting how much activity is advised so no further irritation causes a flare in inflammation. (Meszoly, 2020) 

If the progression of equine arthritis has advanced, simply turning out them out for the day could be enough. Here are a few guidelines of how to care of your horse’s needs: 

• Keep riding, but only to the horse’s comfort level as you do not want to work the horse to the point of being lame.   
• Choose suitable ground to ride on and avoid steep hillsides, rocky, uneven or thick mud terrain. 
• Maintain a healthy weight for the horse so that there is no additional pressure on the joints. 
• Monitor early warning signs of arthritis and if they get worse. 

Ensuring your horse lives a comfortable and healthy life is as important to you as it is to us. One way we can help you and your horse continue to happily ride together is with Alpha2EQ. Our AlphaActiveTM Concentration Process helps reduce inflammation and intensifies the all-natural healing proteins of the horse’s own blood. By preventing cartilage breakdown and loss, it slows the progression of osteoarthritis. To find more information on how our medicine could give your horse a happier, more comfortable life, please check out our research or contact us. 



Meszoly, J. (2020, October 22). Coping with Arthritis in Horses. Retrieved January 28, 2021, from https://equusmagazine.com/lameness/coping-with-arthritis-in-horses-8356 Beyond Osteoarthritis: ‘Other’ Causes of Joint Disease. (2019, October 30). Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://thehorse.com/154331/beyond-osteoarthritis-other-causes-of-joint-disease/. 

Loeser RF, Goldring SR, Scanzello CR, et al. Osteoarthritis: a disease of the joint as an organ. Arthritis Rheumatism. 2012;64(6):1697-1707 

McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE. The horse as a model of naturally occurring osteoarthritis. Bone Joint Res. 2012;1(11):297-309.