Endocrine Disease And The Equine Athlete – Podcast #036 ( Moved to community.thehorsesadvocate.com )
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How long do we think it takes for a horse to develop Metabolic Syndrome-Associated Osteoarthritis?
The answer is unknown as there is little research in horses on this. In addition the onset is insidious and therefore it would be hard to find a marker in the joint or blood that would indicate the beginning onset of OA. This said, we can all agree that it is age related based on observations of reduced activity in seniors (>26 years) and improvement in activity in these seniors after changing the diet.
Anecdotal reports will also indicate improvement in activity, soundness and willingness of movement (as well as suppression of inappropriate behavior) after removing inflammatory feeds in horses younger than 26 years. The same is true in humans who also report improvement in “joint stiffness” after eliminating inflammatory foods (grains, nightshades, seed oils).
Really great podcast. I have wondered about the resistance band training for horses. We do a lot of ground pole exercises, balance pads, and dynamic mobilization stretches, plus climbing hills for strength training. I can’t always control wether my horse uses herself properly to get the most benefit out of hill work though, especially downhill. I wonder if resistance bands would be another more controlled way to add strength training that is low impact on the joints? Of course the most rapid changes I’ve experienced so far in my horses have been through this diet, which has benefitted everyone across the board. They are moving and feeling like spring chickens, which makes our workouts much more fun. We are so thankful and have been spreading the word to others.
Thanks @Emily for this report. I am not an expert in resistance band training in horses. I believe there is a benefit based on the results found in human strength training with resistance bands.
I think the benefit of resistance bands in horses are 1) for horses living on flat lands (no hills) and 2) for horses recovering from an injury.
I hope there is someone who can add to this discussion. I have seen it used on 1 or 2 farms where they believe it does work. Please post any links to “good” reports on resistance bands in horses.
I am so glad you and your horses are benefiting from the diet and more importantly, you were willing to try. Doc T