Troy hip clicking

[chescar]

Take a seat...this could be a long one.

Troy has always been a slow walker, will take his time and plod anywhere when leading him. He has a bit more about him when i'm on board. he will walk behind me if i don't gee him up, even when leading him to the field he takes his time.

YO, who turns him out in the mornings during the week, said that he has been a bit reluctant to go out these last few weeks and she has to really gee him up to walk on when turning him out. We wondered if it was because there is not much left in the grass or that he was a bit stiff as the weather is getting colder.

He has cortiflex every night and has done for about a year now.

We went on a fun ride on Sunday and he was a star, galloped, jumped. Completely enjoyed himself.

I gave him Monday off and lunged him tonight. He often canters on the wrong leg on the right rein, but tonight he would walk round on the right rein, but would not trot. He would back up and stand still.

I could hear a clicking noise so walked along side him for a while, i think it is coming from his hip? It happens when he puts his hindright leg forward.

I walked him on a really large circle for a good 10/15 mins then he went into trot better and we got a canter too. The clicking had stopped.

is this the begining of the end of Troy's hips?

[CityLights]

clicking usually is nothing to worry about its just a bubble in the joint fluid that just like bubble wrap pops everytime they move,

he is getting a bit older though isnt he now? i seem to think he is in his teens anyway

you have him on a joint supplement which is all you can do to help him out really, warm him up longer when you are riding him and keep his bum nice and toasty, something i was eventually buy for Den when he was getting on was a magnetic quarter pad as i felt the clicking came from his hip more than anything, type keep him moving around and turned out if possible and just look after him its fine, some never click even when ancient some clikc when they are young often its nothing at all

maybe this is why he had problems stirking off on one rein though as clicking can come with becoming more stiff, maybe try a different supplement for joints im not a fan of cortaflex myself but there are loads out there just need to do your research and find what fits you best

[AndyL]

gotta agree with Smile's last bit. normally clicking seems to be a problem of annoyance more than anything, but if it affects your horses ability to get going its something worse. so definately try out a new supplement that will actually do the job, otherwise your just throwing away good money ^ ^

[fougere]

My old mare had clicky hips (both of them). It wasn't a problem until she became quite elderly and then her hips started to stiffen up (worse in the winter) . I found cod liver oil and a supplement with devil's claw in it really helped her stiffness.

[chescar]

I'm thinking of changing his supplement from coteflex, although he is less stiff on it. Someone has recommended codlavine? Where do you buy cod liver oil from and how much do i give him? Took him for a gentle hack tonight, just walked, took about 10 mins for the clicking to stop. He walked nicely and not a bit stiff. Just clicky.

[fougere]

I used to buy cod liver oil by the gallon from Mole Valley Farmers. Gemma was 15.2hh and I gave her about 1 - 2 tablespoons in her feed. She loved it and would lick it straight off the spoon if she could.

[chescar]

I rode in the school tonight. OH came down to listen to the click, he thinks its more like the bottom of his back? He walked on the opposite side to where i thought the clicking was and said it sounded like it was coming from that side too?

Don't know what to do. It stopped after about 10 mins. Should i be worried?

[CityLights]

i fits really conceringing you then get the vet out a call out to say its nothing is better than you worrying yourself

i wouldnt try cod liver oil for his joints really, as he is already on cortaflex whcih is pretty high power i would go for something more like Super flex, ectra flex or a glucusamine supplement, you could always feed oil as well as it is pretty cheap