My 9-year-old horse's legs crack, but he has no pain. Is this normal?

Question

Hi, my horse was previously jumped by a different rider when he was around 4 at 4 ft. He is now 9 and his legs now crack every time he moves but Dosent seem to cause him pain. I was just wondering if this was normal and if jumping at this height and age is normal and may have caused this? Thanks in advance :). Pet's info: Farm Animal | Horse | Male | neutered | 1200 lbs

Chad Brown, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you very much for your question. Crepitus, or crackling sounds, can be normal for a horse and is not necessarily indicative of pain or arthritis. This occurs with aging. Because there does not seem to be pain upon jumping or movement, I see no reason not to continue this eventing. One thing I would recommend, however, is to talk to your local veterinarian about putting you on a prescription strength glucosamine chondroitin or hyaluronic acid supplement to keep your horse moving pain-free. These have no side effects and research shows that they work quite well in delaying or preventing future joint issues. Thanks a lot for your question. I hope I have helped.

My 9-year-old horse's legs crack, but he has no pain. Is this normal?

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