Our veteran horses have gained their steadiness from experiences throughout their life. These experiences aren’t gained without some lumps and bumps along the way. If there was a way to help ease the progression of arthritis that came from these joint ailments, would you be willing to help them? Or better yet, help put off the development and slow the progression of osteoarthritis. The good news is by feeding a joint supplement with the right ingredients you can help ease these pains and slow the progression of arthritis for your horse.
Oral joint supplements can aid in slowing down the progression and improving symptoms of osteoarthritis, ultimately prolonging the horse's performance life and keeping them comfortable during retirement. There are numerous joint supplements available in the market that include Glucosamine, MSM, hyaluronic acid (HA), and complete vitamin-mineral supplements that help in preventing and managing osteoarthritis. By reading this article, you will gain more knowledge about the essential ingredients for promoting joint health.
Slowing Down the Degradation of Joint Health
A double-blind study by Forsuth et al. (2006) showed that glucosamine and chondroitin supplementation to veteran horses, ranging in age from 15-35 years old, helped to improve range of motion in all 6 joints analyzed, after only 8 weeks of supplementation. In addition, after 8 weeks of supplementation stride length significantly increased, indicating that the horses were in less pain. Regardless of the varying degrees of arthritis prior to beginning the study the horses had measurable improvement by the end of the study, demonstrating that glucosamine and chondroitin have the potential to improve the movement of all veteran horses, regardless of the stage of arthritis. The study concluded that supplementation improved horse comfort and wellbeing.
Joint Injections Versus Oral Supplementation
When considering supplementation for a performance horse and trying to slow the progression of arthritis, Rodgers (2006) conducted a study that showed oral glucosamine and chondroitin helped reduce the frequency of injections in horses under professional hunter/jumper or event training. The horses ranged in age from 4 to 16 years old and were followed for 8 years. The horses received no glucosamine or chondroitin during the first 2 years of the study, and then received a daily joint supplement for 6 years. In the two years of no joint supplementation the horses received injections on an average of 1.7 times at an interval of 6.8 months. After a full year of supplementation, the injections per year average fell to 0.7 with injection intervals extending all the way to 10.82 months. This data shows how glucosamine and chondroitin can help to mitigate inflammation and pain in these performance horses and help to decrease the number of invasive injections that horses receive in their lifetime.
Decreasing Lameness Issues with Nutrition
There are other important components of Joint supplements as well that are supported by research. At Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Pierce (2003) observed that giving hyaluronic acid orally for 2 months markedly improved soundness in thoroughbred racehorses.
Not All Equine Joint Supplements Are Created Equally
Whether it be your old steady Eddy, or your performance horse, the research
available points to how these components can be used to ease the pain and
inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. In addition, they will help to slow the progression on the disease. The combination of these powerful ingredients helps to boost the immune system and help with overall less inflammation in the body which can help to reduce pain associated with arthritis. It is important to note that not all joint supplements are created equal. Our products are made with human grade pharmaceuticals, chelated vitamins & minerals, and are formulated by horse owners, for horse owners. If you are looking for a supplement that contains glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Zinc look no further than Flaxen Flex Guard. It helps to provide relief for joint related issues, promote joint health & flexibility, and can improve the overall quality of your horse’s life. Flex Guard sets itself a part in the joint supplement department due to it being carried in a flaxseed base. The powerful combo of ingredients combined with the anti-inflammatory benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids make Flex Guard the ultimate choice for keeping your horses’ joints, happy & healthy.
Works Cited
Forsyth, R. K., C. V. Brigden, and A. J. Northrop. "Double blind investigation of the effects of oral supplementation of combined glucosamine hydrochloride (GHCL) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) on stride characteristics of veteran horses." Equine Veterinary Journal 38.S36 (2006): 622-625.
Garcia, Erendira Itzel Ceja, et al. "Dietary Supplements of Vitamins E, C, and β-Carotene to Reduce Oxidative Stress in Horses: An Overview." Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 110 (2022): 103863.
Marañón, Gonzalo, et al. "The effect of methyl sulphonyl methane supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress in sport horses following jumping exercise." Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 50 (2008): 1-9.
Marreiro, Dilina Do Nascimento, et al. "Zinc and oxidative stress: current mechanisms." Antioxidants 6.2 (2017): 24.
Pierce, Scott W. "Efficacy of orally administered sodium hyaluronate gel in the racing thoroughbred." Ch 6 (2003): 11-16.
Rodgers, Martha R. "Effects of oral glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates supplementation on frequency of intra-articular therapy of the horse tarsus." International Journal of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine 4.2 (2006): 155.
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