Much like human supplements, horse supplements that target their joints contain key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, glucosamine, omega fatty acids, collagen, etc. These compounds help promote healthy joint function through cartilage maintenance and repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, much like human supplements, it’s not always clear how to choose the best horse supplements. But don\u2019t panic! I\u2019ve got you covered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the components found in horse supplements are essential in normal cartilage function. Your horse\u2019s body \u2013 and your body! \u2013 should make most of them naturally or acquire them naturally through a daily diet. However, even if everything is functioning normally, sometimes the body can\u2019t keep up with the wear and tear of everyday life. This is particularly true for horses as they spend almost all their time on their hooves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Horses that train often, compete in shows and races are even more susceptible to arthritic cartilage degradation and joint pain over time. The key to getting the right supplement for your horse is knowing what you want to achieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do equine joint supplements really work? Most horse supplements that work prevent cartilage breakdown. But there are studies that show certain supplements may actually repair damaged cartilage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are you looking to prevent damage with a horse whose joints are fairly healthy but is about to start heavy training? Or is your horse already having some difficulties due to arthritic joint pain and cartilage damage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re in luck! We know that horse supplements definitely work\u2026for some horses. Some horses experience significant results, while other horses have no effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your horse will likely see an effect IF you know some key things. Nutraceuticals, which is the term for these types of supplements, are loosely regulated by the FDA. This causes issues and means that you, as your horse\u2019s owner, will need to do lots of digging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breakdown of the Main Ingredients in Equine Supplements<\/strong> Now that you know roughly what works and what doesn\u2019t and how much of it you need, you\u2019ll need to start searching for the right supplement for your horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to verify that you\u2019re meeting your horse’s needs. This may be more difficult than it sounds because some supplements will have the right amount of one thing but way too little of another thing. You may find that you have to mix and match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you do this, I recommend getting one mixed supplement that comes as close as you need to most of your compounds. Then buy whatever else you need as pure compound. For example, if you are just missing 1,000 mg of chondroitin, then get a pure chondroitin product and add whatever amount you have to add on top of your all-in-one supplement. This just makes it easier, cheaper and there\u2019s less \u201cstuff\u201d you don\u2019t know about floating around in mixed supplements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You need to be looking into products very carefully before you choose to buy anything. Read reviews and forums. I would recommend spending 30 minutes to an hour on each supplement you are looking at seriously to try and figure out whether it\u2019s delivering what it says it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind you will see good and bad reviews for everything. Just because some horse supplements didn\u2019t have an effect for someone else\u2019s horse doesn\u2019t mean it may not be effective for yours. They may not have done their research and were dosing improperly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you are really looking for here is whether the company is reliable. Whether their label is legitimate and dependable. How long they have been around on the market. Whether they have been successful and acquired trust throughout the equine community. If you can answer yes to these questions, then you\u2019ve probably got yourself a good product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Run a test period with your horse to see whether the supplement works for him or her. Usually, you will see an effect within a month. If by the end of the month you are not seeing an effect, then consider switching and trying a new supplement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key is finding what works for your horse. There is really no direct safety downside to using supplements except maybe giving too many minerals. There are however, indirect downsides. If you are seeing severe symptoms in your horse, don\u2019t try and fix it yourself using supplements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supplements are meant for just that \u2013 to supplement whatever normal routine you have going. For issues like osteoarthritis, lameness, severe stiffness, and reluctance to move at all you want to get your horse to a vet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hoping to resolve a serious issue with supplements is just giving the issue time to worsen without appropriate, tailored care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, you want to note that vets will all have different opinions about nutraceuticals. I don\u2019t necessarily recommend following their advice exactly on whether or not you should use supplements or which ones to use. You can definitely take suggestions but do your own research and make your own decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vets aren\u2019t going to have the time to look into your horse\u2019s specific needs like you do. And they’re going to have a different opinion than every other vet just because the science behind these supplements isn\u2019t strong enough to back up one single angle. It\u2019s all about what works for your horse! Once you find it, stick with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are going to be working your horse, you may seriously want to consider starting them on some sort of supplement product(s). Remember that the real magic behind most of these these compounds thats really been proven is the ability to PREVENT degradation, not necessarily to repair it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combine the compounds that your horse needs keeping in mind that certain compounds are significantly more effective together than separate. Remember to find a supplement with collagen. These are not as easy to find but collagen has shown the highest and clearest effect in studies to date. Also make sure you\u2019ve done your math right and your horse is getting the correct daily doses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hope this helps you out a little bit next time you’re stuck on what horse supplements to use! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Martina <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click here for breakdown (Sorry! The image was too large to paste in and still be readable) <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nKey notes to remember<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Read the label<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Dig deeper<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Test, test and test again until you get it right<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Safety and Things to Keep in Mind<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
My Conclusion on Horse Supplements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n