Caring for Young Horse Joints

Caring for Young Horse Joints

Author: The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care May 9, 2025 Duration: 58:55

Maintaining healthy joints in young horses lays the groundwork for long-term soundness and performance. Proper nutrition supports optimal skeletal health and development, while age-appropriate conditioning helps build a resilient musculoskeletal system. Regular checkups give your veterinarian a chance to diagnose and treat joint disease early, helping slow the progression of osteoarthritis and minimize associated pain. During this Ask TheHorse Live podcast, an equine surgeon answers listener questions about young horse joint care.

This podcast is brought to you by Dechra.

About the Expert:

Charlotte Barton, BVetMed, MS, Dipl. ACVS-LA, earned her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in London and, after completing two internships in the U.S., undertook a surgery residency at Colorado State University, in Fort Collins. After residency Barton stayed on at CSU as a postdoctoral fellow and her research interests include cartilage repair techniques and gene therapy.


Ever find yourself puzzling over a subtle change in your horse's behavior or wishing you had a clearer understanding of that latest veterinary study? Ask The Horse brings those conversations directly to you, transforming complex equine health topics into accessible, actionable knowledge. Each episode features recorded live sessions where seasoned horse owners pose their real-world questions to a rotating panel of top veterinarians and specialists. You'll hear discussions that range from everyday hoof care and nutrition management to explanations of emerging therapies and diagnostic techniques. The format captures the spontaneous, insightful dialogue that happens when curious minds meet expert experience, all without the filter of a script. This podcast, presented by The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care, serves as a trusted resource for anyone invested in the wellbeing of their horse, whether you're a weekend trail rider or a competitive professional. It’s like having a front-row seat to a continuous learning community, where the shared goal is simply better care. Tune in to gain a deeper confidence in your decisions and to hear the nuanced, practical advice that can make a tangible difference in your daily routine with horses.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 150

Ask The Horse
Podcast Episodes
Managing the Itchy Horse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Whether your horse has chronic seasonal allergies or occasionally comes in from the field with mysterious hives or rubs from scratching himself on the fence, managing his discomfort can be difficult. He needs a treatment…
Creating a Nutrition Plan for the Competition Horse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:31
Developing a well-rounded and balanced nutrition plan for your competition horse can be challenging. He needs a feed program that meets all his basic nutritional needs while giving him enough energy to keep up with train…
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Duration: 56:09
Horses can show discomfort for a plethora of reasons. Injuries, aging, veterinary procedures, and more can cause pain, and knowing how to manage it is paramount to equine welfare. Join our host, Alexandra Beckstett, as s…
Equine Joint Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:59
Prioritizing joint health is imperative to your horse’s comfort, both under saddle and in the field. Join our host, Shoshana Rudski, as she interviews Dr. Erica Secor, of Cornell University, and Dr. Julie Settlage, of Bo…
Understanding Equine Insulin Resistance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Feeding Senior Horses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:01
Good nutrition and a balanced diet are important for all horses, but do senior horses have special requirements to consider? Join our host, Shoshana Rudski, as she interviews Dr. Shannon Pratt-Phillips, of North Carolina…
Managing Your Horse's Allergies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:43
Do you have an allergy-prone horse? Join our host, Shoshana Rudski, as she interviews Dr. Lara Tomich, of Dermatology for Animals. You'll learn about potential causes of allergic reactions, treatment and management optio…
Myths and Misconceptions About Equine Nutrition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:57
Does alfalfa make horses “hot”? Should they not eat before exercising? Many of our feeding practices are based on tradition, but what’s really best for our horses? Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews equi…
EPM: Help For Your Horse [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:24
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is notoriously difficult for veterinarians to diagnose and equally tricky to treat. But there’s hope as researchers continue to investigate this neurologic disease. Join our host,…
Equine Gastric Issues and Digestive Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:52
An upset digestive system can lead to bigger problems, ranging from gastric ulcers to colitis to colic. Join our host, Michelle Anderson, as she interviews Dr. Alicia Long of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton C…