We battled bone spurs and  arthritis in my god horse for about 6.5 years before we had no choice but to retire her. It got to the point where even after injections special shoes and pain meds we couldn’t keep her sound for more than a week or 2 at the time. We chose to turn her out and just let her be a horse. Slowly took her off her meds and took her shoes off. We bred her and she has a yearling now. She is more sound now than she’s been since I’ve owned her. I’m kicking around the idea of getting her back in shape and running her again. She’s been retired off an on for 5 years but solid retired for 3 years. She’s 15 this year. As much as I would like to bring her back I’m afraid once I do she go back cripple and be worse than she was to begin with. What’s everyone’s thoughts on this. 

Leave her be.. If shes happy and moving better now I would just leave her alone.. 

Leave her alone.

I'd leave her and if you're happy with what she gives you breeding wise, I'd just keep her as a broodmare. You could risk the chance of really crippling her by trying to bring her back. 

I would ask your vet about Ophos.  They have had really good results with arthritis and bone spurs. It isn’t cost prohibitive.  The last time I used it , it was 350.00.  

I am legging up my 22 year old after being retired for a few years due to injuries.  He was limping due to arthritis in a front knee but a change in farriers and he is as sound as he was 10 years ago.  He no longer has restricted movement in that knee.  He is going to his first race this weekend.  I have been legging him up, took him to exhibition and he was ready to lay down a run, lol.  I don’t run hard, 3D/4D and will be selective where I take him and first sign off any discomfort he will be turned back out.  

We did. He said we could try it if we wanted but for the price he said he believed she was too far gone for it to work. 

no matter what you decide, she sounds like a great candidate for pentosan, it's cheap enough to be given to a pasture ornament.  Things have changed A LOT in the past 5-6 years in the equine veterinary world....

You can find deals on it if he will give you a script.  I got a dose for $150 on one of the Vet sites.  You would ivest more than that in injections to get her in running shape. :)