Although we often think of arthritis as a human affliction, it is also very common in horses and ends many racing and other performance careers.
Arthritis is a degenerative joint disease that affects horses by causing lameness.
Although it can appear in any joint, most common areas are the upper knee joint, front fetlocks, hocks, or coffin joints in the front feet. Arthritis can be caused by injuries, loose joints, an abnormal growth pattern, or it can be hereditary. Regardless of the cause, the disease begins when the synovial fluid that lubricates healthy joints begins to thin. The decrease in lubrication causes the cartilage cushion to break down, and eventually the bones begin to grind painfully against each other. Horses over the age of 15 are especially prone to arthritis since cartilage begins to wear out faster than it is produced at that age.