When it comes to arthritis, all horses no matter what age, breed or discipline they train in, are at risk. Due to extensive training and competitions, the constant pressures sustained over a period of time wears down the protective cartilage, which most commonly occurs in the legs. The questions are not if horses will develop arthritis, but when. 

Common equine disciplines include dressage, horse jumping, racing, cross country and cutting. Each discipline showcases the horse’s athletic ability and can be very demanding on the ligaments, joints and tendons during extensive training or performances. However, this is not to say that horses early on in their years are at a lower risk of developing arthritis than a horse later on in its career. At any age, a horse has the chance of being affected, and statistics show that 60% of all equine lameness can be caused by osteoarthritis – which can limit the horse’s ability to perform well and could lead to an early retirement if not treated properly. (USDA 2000, Caron 2003) 

So, is there a certain discipline that is at higher risk? Well, all disciplines are potentially at the same risk of developing osteoarthritis, but each discipline may be strenuous on specific muscles and ligaments than the others. For example, dressage equine is established to be one of the most talented for showcasing the horse’s natural athletic ability and gymnastic development, causing most injuries to be centered around the hock and knees. (Dyson, 2019) But, if the horse is in cutting, because of the constant stop and turn motion, they can develop an injury in the lower orthopedic and back, as well as the legs. (Western Performance Horse Injuries and Problems, 2004) One thing to keep in mind though, is that all equine discipline put significant strain on the weight-bearing legs and should be carefully monitored for swelling, stiffness and discomfort. If you notice your horse is already lame, the arthritis could be advancing. (Meszoly, 2020) 

It is important to start making the steps to ease the pain as soon as you notice the symptoms so that your horse can continue to live a comfortable life and perform at any level. At Astaria, our mission is to give your animal the best life they can have pain-free. Our scientifically advanced formula of Alpha2EQ modulates cartilage degeneration that is the result of osteoarthritis and can decrease inflammation. So, whether your horse is at the beginning of its career or soon to be retired, don’t let them live the rest of their life in pain. 



Meszoly, J. (2020, October 22). Coping with Arthritis in Horses. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from https://equusmagazine.com/lameness/coping-with-arthritis-in-horses-8356 United States Department of Agriculture. Lameness and laminitis in U.S. Horses. National Animal Health Monitoring System, 2000. Available at:  http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahms/equine/downloads/equine98/Equine98_dr_Lameness.pdf. [Access date: July 10, 2020.] 

Dyson, S. (2016). Lameness and Performance in the Sport Horse: Dressage: AAEP. Retrieved November 7, 2019, from https://aaep.org/horsehealth/lameness-and-performance-sport-horse-dressage. 

Western Performance Horse Injuries and Problems. (2004, March 11). Retrieved from https://thehorse.com/152104/western-performance-horse-injuries-and-problems/.