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Joint Supplements - How To Choose?

1 February 2017

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- Posted by Simone McConnell

Every horse will benefit from a high-quality joint supplement. Along with other treatments as recommended by your veterinarian, horses can experience improved joint health through appropriate supplementation whether they are old or young, in heavy training or used recreationally, have a joint injury/disease or just normal wear and tear. The main ingredients in joint supplements — glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid — help build, repair and protect joint tissue and fluid.

Choosing the right joint supplement for your horse is a challenge:

With knowledge of how the key ingredients in joint supplements work, along with an understanding of your horse’s workload, finding the right joint support is much easier.

1. Know your ingredients

Every horse’s joints are under stress. Your horse’s body has the ability to repair and rebuild after moderate “wear and tear” from light activity, but research has shown that even wild mustangs can develop joint degeneration. When you add in the increased demands of riding and training, it’s easy to see how your horse’s joints may be experiencing more damage than his body can keep up with. Joint supplements can help support your horse by providing a steady supply of the ingredients he needs to cope with the demands of his workload.

If you’ve looked for a joint supplement before, you know that there are many ingredients available. Below, we’ll look deeper into some of the common ingredients to get a better understanding of how they can help your horse.

Glucosamine
- Plays an important role in the protection of joints. Research suggests it supports the production of new cartilage and it has also been shown to inhibit the free radicals and enzymes that break down cartilage.
Chondroitin sulphate
- Stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid and proteoglycans. In addition, it inhibits the enzymes that break down cartilage.
MSM
- Is a bioavailable form of sulphur for building and repairing cartilage. It also helps support a normal inflammatory response.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
- Is an integral component of joint fluid and articular cartilage that provides both lubrication and shock absorption.
Collagen and silica
- Helps maintain strong, resilient connective tissues, like tendons and ligaments.
Herbs
- Like devil’s claw, yucca, and boswellia are used to fight discomfort in joints and other tissues and support a normal inflammatory response.
Green Lipped Mussel
- Is rich in naturally occurring Chondroitin Sulphate, Glucosamine and Omega 3. It has proven anti-inflammatory properties.

2. Consider your horse’s workload and age

Your horse’s age can play a key role in your selection of a joint supplement. If your horse is showing signs of stiffness and discomfort as he gets older, you may want to look for a senior-specific supplement to help keep him comfortable.

Similarly, your horse’s workload can help determine how much joint support he needs. More work equals more stress, which in turn requires more support. But how do you decide how hard your horse is working? The NRC (National Research Council) has defined four workload levels: light, moderate, heavy, and very heavy. When determining which category your horse falls into, you want to consider what type of work he does, how often he works, and how long he works.

3. Ensure you joint supplements are purchased from a trusted source

Equine 2000 offers world leading supplements. We offer products that are scientifically proven in USA laboratories. All products have to meet stringent quality measures and show scientifically proven results. Every Equine 2000 product is manufactured using Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as set forth by the FDA and manufactured in AIB audited facilities. There is no chance of contamination – all ingredients used are quarantined checked and tracked to maintain strict batch control and full traceability. We are proud to offer this level of quality to the NZ equine industry.

4. Choose your Joint Supplement (and remember to feed it!)

Whether your horse is hitting the race track or keeping up with a rigorous show schedule, we’ve got a joint supplement designed to meet his needs. Use the information below to choose the best joint supplement for your horse;