I'm sure this has been discussed before - hopefully not too recently. How many of you automatically start injecting your horses instead of waiting on signs of soreness? I'm referring to hock/stifle/whatever else injections. If so, why?

I would much rather wait until he horse needs injections. No two horses are a like , different horses need different joints injected. 

i don't inject as preventative but I do use adequan, pentosan, legend, etc depending on the horse as preventative. 

I do the loading dose of Adequan 2x a year as maintenance.

I don't like to inject any joint without being confident there's pain associated there.  

I only inject when the Animal Communicator tells me the horse ask for it

I use Adequan/ Legend/ et al. as preventative maintenance and do an annual flex test, with a good once over at the vet and if anything needs a closer look we look into it and treat accordingly. 

I always wait for it to rear its ugly head and then take them in for injections.  I don't even know of a vet that will perform injections as preventative maintenance. Are there vets that do this? (my naivety is probably showing)

I know a trainer that injects all her horses x2 yearly, most of them are around 5 years old. To me, its unnecessary. When horses develops osteoarthritis, that is when joint injections are needed. Horses should not be developing osteoarthritis at a young age. I agree with Adequan users because it helps protect the joint cartilage. I think not over working them at a young age in small circles, gradually increasing the workload, keeping them a healthy weight, etc. are even more important than any prevenative injection. 

 I do not like going into joints unless it is absolutely necessary, so no, do not do preventive injections.  My preventive maintenance consists of a good farrier, good feed , annual vet care/checkup, lots and lots of turnout in a lush pasture. I try to let mine 'be a horse' as much as possible.  

Thank you guys for the replies. I'm with most of you - I dont inject unless my vet tells me it's time. I've been very fortunate to have horses that go a long time without needing injections. However, I do know of some people who inject as soon as their horses are started on the barrel pattern and I was curious how common of a practice this is. I like to do what is right by my horses but I feel like injecting into a healthy joint cant be ideal. For those of you that use adequan, what is the typical dose? I see on Farmvet.com that you can get a 5ml vial for about $45.00. Is that the recommended dose?

A bunch of vets down here in Texas are injection happy. 

Of course, its big time $$$$$$$$. I know a cutting trainer that takes about 20 Two year olds in twice a year for knees and hocks. Most vets would charge about 500.00 a piece for those injections. 500x20 is a lot of cash.. 

I've been watching Rock Star Vets---and WOW was I shocked at the number of injections they do thru that practice. . . Not being ugly, I was just shocked.  

IMHO, joint injections have become very trendy -- just like all those blingy jackets became so trendy in horse shows. Folks think they cannot win without a blingy jacket..... some think they cannot win without joint injections.   

At my vet joint injections are just as routine as vaccinations it seems. That being said, I wont do it, unless its absolutely necessary and even then I dont like it. I try my best to keep my horses in tip top shape, have a solid feed program and keep any of the fluff to a minimum. I do poultice if they have a particularly hard workout and I do use BOT wraps on my one horse, my horses also will see a chiropractor when we think something is out.. My horses are worked 6 days a week, minimum as of late. The older horse, if hes not rode, hes ponied for about 45 minutes to keep him in shape. I try to think of them as I do myself,  I genuinely feel better all around if I'm working out, eating healthy and keep moving! I take very little medicine myself. 

I couldnt agree more! When my horses are worked consistently and kept in shape, they seem to be happier and perform better. I know injections have their place. I just try to avoid if possible.

My mare was having some issues with her back legs, and I decided to take her to a vet other than our regular vet just because I wasn't thrilled with the thought of him as a lameness vet.  The only other local vet said we could bring her to the sale barn where he was working cows and he'd look at her.  Quick exam and he said "let's inject her."    I just didn't feel comfortable doing that after 4 minutes of his looking and no X-Rays or anything.  Ended up taking her to north AR to true lameness vet; he took X-Rays, did THOROUGH exam, spent 2 hours with us, showed/explained the films, and said in no uncertain terms that injections of any kind wouldn't help her.  He said that her barrel racing/heavy trail riding days were over.   Short jaunts around the farm or even just "hanging out" at events were ok, but he said for her safety and mine that's all he would recommend.   I cried off and on the 6 hours home, but I appreciated his honesty and care he gave us.  For a very reasonable price I may add.   I truly believe injections have their place, but I don't think they should necessarily be the first bandaid pulled out of the bag. . . 

I know some Western Pleasure people around here who are injecting their 2 and 3 year olds. I think it's bananas! I think it has its place, but I think a lot of people do it just because they think it's a quick fix.