The symptoms of arthritis might not be obvious at first, but they will become apparent as the condition worsens. Equine arthritis symptoms include: Lameness, limping, abnormal gait Painful joints Pain, stiffness in the back/spine Swollen joints Heat surrounding the joints Stiffness, especially before warming up for activity Cracking or popping sounds with movement Reluctance or inability to move, get up, exercise, or work Impaired range of motion Bumps on the joints ,Arthritis, also known as osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease, causes inflammation and deterioration of joints and cartilage, resulting in pain and lameness. It’s common in horses, especially as they get older, but can occur at any age. Unfortunately, it is chronic and progressive, so you can’t reverse it, but it can be treated and managed. Osteoarthritis is actually one of several types of arthritis in horses, which also include: Traumatic arthritis, caused by an injury Septic arthritis, caused by a bacterial infection Osteochondrosis, which causes the cartilage to develop abnormally Subchondral cysts, which form under cartilage and cause lameness. We consulted three equine veterinarians to learn about the symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatments available to help horses with osteoarthritis.