Glucosamine pellets and MSM work wonders if it may be joint/arthritis that your horse has. I have had a handful of both OTTB's and other Thoroughbreds. I once had a 16YO OTTB mare that was pretty as a copper penny but could barely canter. After only 2 weeks of Glucosamine and MSM (you can get it at Tractor Supply and most online equine stores) she was cantering fluidly around her pasture.

If it is his hooves, I personally would treat him for thrush if you are smelling an odor. Do you think it could possibly be that he is tenderfooted? Does he go barefooted alot? Another suggestion would be to go Natural barefoot trims with him. And yes there is the constant battle between the barefoot horse folks, and the shoeing world of horses. I am not die-hard either way, but I have NEVER EVER gone wrong with correct barefoot trimming.

Worst case in my world was a 30 year old OTTB mare with TINY hooves that literally were falling apart. I started her owner's interest in barefoot trimming since she was paying an arm and a leg for shoeing and otherwise was just using the mare as a trail horse. After 6 months of a great barefoot trimming program, the mare had NO lameness issues, a VERY well formed, calloused, tough, sole, and could be ridden for miles every day. He owner told me that after owning for 5 years her mare had never been able to walk on the gravel driveway because of the tenderness of her feet. I was on the way back from a ride with her on one of her other horses and watched smiling,as the 16.1hh 30 Year-old mare with hooves SMALLER than my 14.2hh Quarter horse, that had previously been so bad, I had no hope for their recovery- walking and trotting happily down the long gravel driveway without so much as the slightest stumble. This was after an approx. 6-mile ride on pavement, dirt, pasture, and more gravel roads.

To those in the shoeing departement, I'm not anti-shoe either. And yes, I would also check the height of the frog on your horse also just to be on the safe side.

Well that was a long one! I do hope it helps in some way. Best of luck and let us know how he does!