From: jsnyder@cadev5.intel.com (Jan Snyder )
Newsgroups: rec.equestrian
Subject: Re: arthritis
Date: 16 Nov 92 23:39:25 GMT
Organization: Intel Santa Clara Design Technology

In article <1992Nov15.155215.7016@netcom.com> wcollins@netcom.com (Walter J. Collins) writes:
>In article <BxIqF0.DBK@inews.Intel.COM> jsnyder@cadev6.UUCP (Sallijan Snyder ) writes:
>>Flex-Free this summer to slow joint deterioration, and I intend to start 
>>using bute on days I work her this winter.  This mare is so willing to 
>>"go" that it's easy to dismiss the more subtle signs of discomfort, and 
>>her regular rider tends to miss the subtleties (or maybe I'm overly protective).
>
>I'm curious what Flex-Free is: a drug or?  How does it work?

According to the Jeffers catalog, Flex Free is 
	"Alfalfa based source of Chondroitin sulfates, which are
	 essential elements in the bonding of collagen, fibers,
	 and the retention of moisture in cartilage tissue.
	 Replenishes valuable nutrients, fights damaging enzymes,
	 and is essential to the structure of all connective
	 tissues. Completely natural and will not test. ..."

My hope in using it is to slow down the arthritic deterioration; it's not
a cure or a pain-killer.  Looking at my post again, I phrased it rather 
poorly (trying to save bandwidth).  I do want to make her more comfortable 
while she's working--but she's not going to work any harder or longer.  
She's a trail horse now, but I'm going to start her in dressage and I want 
her to be feeling good so she can relax and start learning the new maneuvers.  
She's so stiff to one side now (from years of compensating for that bad knee) 
that I can barely get her to bend left.  I think if I can get her loosened up 
and bending both ways, she'll feel better all over.  Figure it's worth a 
try--she's an awfully sweet mare.  

Someone else asked how the Flex Free is working.  Can't be sure without
expen$ive te$ts, but she hasn't been stumbling quite as much lately so
maybe the stuff is helping.  I wish I'd known about this stuff 2 years ago,
or better yet, her previous owner had known about it.  (She's never been 
really _lame_ - just stiff and a little "off" on the right fore.) 

>Also, I'm not sure using bute is a good idea.  You already say it is
>easy to miss the signs of the mares discomfort.  If you give her bute,
>it will lessen her discomfort, but if you work her while she is on
>the drug, it will be probably impossible to tell when you are
>stressing her joints too much.  If you meant giving her bute *after*
>the workout to reduce any possible swelling and left-over discomfort,
>I think that might work out well.
>
>Kristin

I've hesitated about using bute for reasons well-discussed in this group.  
My vet, who has some years of experience behind him, doesn't think it would 
be a problem in the low, irregular doses I'm contemplating.  Then I talked to
my cousin the endurance rider and she suggested I try either InflamX or
Aspir-Paste before going to bute.  Fewer side effects, and the Aspir-Paste
is definitely less expensive.  

Thanks for your input!

-Sallijan
 Quiche, 18yo Arab "sweetie"
 Tammy, 15yo Morab "dear brat" (FOR SALE)
 the new girls: Shadow Dancer (10yo black Peruvian Paso)
                Picardia (6yo chestnut Peruvian Paso)
 and felines Imp, Gringo and Rags (geldings all)


--
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Sallijan Snyder, Wordware Engineer|"I don't let my |"It is not because things are
Santa Clara, California           |employer take   |difficult that we do not dare;