Horses age with time and rigorous exercises for competitions or heavy work causes the wear and tear of their bones.
The rapid deterioration of joints can negatively affect the horse’s health and, if not treated on time, could result in other fitness associated issues.
Just like human beings, horses require supplements to meet their nutritional needs.
Joint Nutraceuticals are essential to maintain the fitness level of horses.
The recommended doses of nutrients vary according to multiple factors, including horse’s age, fitness level, workload and activity, and horse’s type. But the critical question is how to find the best joint supplement for horses?
Equine researchers back up the idea of supplementing a horse with joint nutrients at the recommended level.
We have compiled a horse supplements’ guide in the light of research, to keep in mind crucial factors before purchasing a horse Joint supplement.
Here is quick pick
- Best Overall: Equine Plus Formula with Joint Support
- Best in Wafers: Equine Hip & Joint Support
- Tasty Flavor: Nutramax Cosequin – ASU Equine Powder
- Best for old horses: Vita Flex Equinyl
- Easy to Feed: Equithrive Joint (2 lb)
- Best Product for one time: Equithrive Joint Powder
- Best Powder Supplement: NaturVet
Factors to Consider Before Selecting Nutraceuticals
Joints are strong and resilient parts of the skeleton and integral component for body movement.
Two bone ends that make up a joint usually covered with cartilage and synovial fluid. Fluid provides a cushion and lubricant for smooth shifts.
Cartilage is a shock absorber, made of strong collagen connective tissues. It holds critical importance for a healthy joint because once damaged, and it doesn’t repair quickly.
When not, enough measures taken to improve the degenerated joint, then it leads to joint inflammation. Inflammation leads to further degeneration, and the cycle continues.
Therefore, to prevent irreversible joint degeneration, horse owners should count timely measures to maintain their fitness.
Multiple factors are contributing to the horse’s joint degeneration. So, horse joint supplements should contain nutrients in-line with their requirements.
Consider Horse’s Activity Level
Horses have varying degrees of activity level and workload. Some horses train for competitions, for example, racing, jumping, polo, dressage, or team chasing. These gaming horses require a different approach for nutrients and fitness levels.
Due to higher activity, their joints tend to age faster than other horses of low activity.
Due to repetitive load on joints, the cartilage around horse joints becomes inflamed, consequently degenerates. Thus, highly active horses require joint supplements that are anti-inflammatory as well as strengthen the cartilage.
Consider Any Signs of Infection or Disease
Horses are living creatures that fall ill due to infection, a viral disease, and changing environmental patterns. Infections and illnesses thus affect horse’s body and joints cases.
As a result, there joints loose power and fitness, consequently affecting their performance.
Chronic infection is a severe indication of weakened joints. Horse owners should treat the infection first and then treat him with recommended nutraceuticals to support its joints.
The veterinarian knows how to supplement the horse joint, which gets weaker due to infection.
Age of horse
A young, energetic horse doesn’t show symptoms of stiffness and discomfort. While an aged horse shows signs of lameness and pain, so he needs a senior-specific supplement to maintain his health.
Nutritional level
Best horse joint supplements are the ones that balance the horse health acting synergistically with food intake. But horse owner is more responsible for keeping track of a horse’s eating habits and attached nutrition.
If a horse is already feeding on an enriched nutritional diet, then there is less need for a joint supplement.
If you cannot research your horse’s nutritional intake, then consult with a vet. After that, you can only purchase joint supplements and to be sure it’s showing good results.
Horse Breed
The nutritional value of Equine largely depends upon its breed and environmental conditions. Each breed’s metabolism can handle nutrients at varying levels.
Thoroughbred and Morgan don’t require the same level of nutrition because you will have a fat Morgan and thin Thoroughbred.
- Arabs and Thoroughbred needs more nutrition
- Warm-blooded or Draft types require less nutrition
- Miniature, Ponies, Morgens have higher tendencies to develop equine metabolic syndrome.
Therefore, it’s crucial to analyse horse history carefully before trying to get the best horse joint supplement.
Horse Injury
Horses can injure themselves during extensive work or practices for athletics. Injured joints take a long time to heal completely. During joint injury treatment, the horse’s need for supplements increases.
Consult an equine professional for recommended supplements to heal and empower its joints fastly.
Best Joint Supplement For Horses Reviews
Here we are going to review 11 joint supplements for horses
1. The Missing Link – Equine Plus Formula with Joint Support for Horses
The missing link is the best to supplement for adult horses. Most horse owners only feed a regular diet. They focus only on hay or grain for daily requirements. But they don’t know about missing essential nutrients for the health of their horse.
The missing link has all essential ingredients like phytonutrients, fatty acid, omega 3, dietary fibre and other antioxidants that extracted from natural diet.
Ingredients are fresh and naturally extracted. As manufacturer confirmed usage of a cold-pressing method for the freshness of Omega 3.
Every ingredient has special function:
✪ Glucosamine will increase flexibility and overall health of joints.
✪ Omega Faty acids will help in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins which support energy level. Omega and fatty acids will improve intercellular health, immune system, tendon, muscle and ligament function.
✪ Dietry fibers present in this supplement will improve digestive system.
✪ Phyto nutrients will improve nutrition and general health.
2. Majesty’s Flex Wafers – Equine Hip & Joint Support Supplement
This product is different from others because it comes in wafers. It will make easy for you to judge consumption. During daily care of horses, we face a problem with liquid or powder supplements.
This unique wafer will give you fiver critical supplements in one easy to use. When you use powder or liquid, some horses drop top-coated feed on the ground or do not eat it. This results in less than optimal nutrition for the horse, as well as wasted product that you’ve already paid for.
These wafers will help you to watch your horse eat a supplement. Just hand your horse a wafer. You can separately feed horses from the herd with no need to a supplement. You can pasture without graining at night to get supplements into your horses
5 key ingredients are combined to produce superior wafers that reduce inflammation and increase range of motion.
Majesty’s flex wafers are recommended best for money because they are half in price as compared to other supplements. Bag contains 30 wafers which are enough for a month.
Supplement is made of oats, molasses and apple sauce which are combined to make sure everything in the wafer remains in the wafer, Majesty achieve around 98% feedability
3. Nutramax Cosequin – ASU Equine Powder
This supplement is specifically made for horses joint problems. The supplement comes in powder with tasty flavour. It is a broad-spectrum supplement with all major ingredients like Glucosamine, MSM and chondroitin sulfate.
Nautramex Cosequin contains all ingredients which work as a combination for joint health of the horse. Supplement play a vital role in biochemical and digestive action too.
Cosequin ASU is a dual synergistic formula: its specific glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate have demonstrated synergy in stimulating cartilage matrix production.
4. Vita Flex Equinyl – Glucosamine with Hyaluronic Acid Joint Formula
This is the first product which comes with types of Glucosamine for ultra care. Packing comes with a robust pack which contain 60 days supply.
The product contains 10000 mg of glucosamine. Glucosamine has a dual-action. Like 2000mg is patent-pending time release.8000mg is marine glucosamine plus.
First Glucosamine will provide an immediate supply of glucosamine with HCL. The second will do Patent Pending Time Release Glucosamine, releases over 24 hours.
Hyaluronic Acid and Glucosamine will maintain synovial fluid that lubricates joints. It supports joint for flexibility and long health.
Comfort X presence will comfort your horse from injury and acts on connective tissues. It controls inflammation and reduces recovery time.
5. Equithrive Joint (2 lb)
So this one is the best to supplement and top pick from myhorsenames. Equithrive is the first equine nutraceutical that contains a purified form of potent resveratrol.
There is a special phenomenon in each ingredient. Resveratol has the ability to reduce gene expression of inflammatory enzymes. Hyaluronic Acid is also present which helps to lubricate joints of horses.
Equithrive Joint optimizes the immune system to support healthy joints and maximum muscle performance. Resveratol does not produce any gastrointestinal side effect.
Hyaluronic Acid and resveratrol are present as an active ingredient. Seed powder, grape skin saccharomyces cerevisiae 1026 and some fermentation soluble as an inactive ingredient.
6. Equithrive Joint Powder – 8 Lb Container
Equithrive comes in powder which provides you with more applications to feed. This is the best choice for older horses.
Like Equithrive joint 2 lb, this supplement also has a specific action. It will reduce the genetic expression of inflammatory enzymes. There are no side effects like gastrointestinal effect observed.
Best product for the long term and daily usage. It comes in a big container which will keep powder safe and contamination-free for a long time. It will provide relief in joint pain and improves joints stability.
7. NaturVet – ArthriSoothe-Gold Advanced Joint Formula
Naturvet is the best product for healthy joint function. It alleviates aches and discomfort associated with exercise.Natuvet will improve the joint’s flexibility. Five ingredient formula is best for horses with arthritis disease.
The supplement contains Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic Acid, and MSM. It contains several anti oxidants that prevent free radicals.
It comes in the form of powder so easy in application. It is best for all kind of horses either performing or non-performing.
8. AniMed Horse Glucosamine – 5000 Supplement
Like Natuvet this supplement is also the best choice for horses with joint Arthritis. The supplement is made by famous AniMed company. If your horse has severe arthritis problem. Try AniMed Glucosamine for two months and you will see results.
It comes in powder form so easy for you to feed the horse. Product is made in the United States and certified. The best thing about this supplement is price, very economical joint supplement.
9. COX VETERINARY Lab Acti Flex Joint Compound Quart
First liquid joint supplement in the list and amazon’s best choice in supplement category. Cox Veterinary is an economical joint supplement.
Glucosamine, Sulfate Chondroitin, superoxide dismutase and Sulfate Methylsulfonylmethane helps in joints function.
These all ingredients improve performance by joint lubrication with synovial fluid.
synovial fluid improves joint flexibility and strengthens body parts that running puts under high stress.
Acti-Flex 4000 has key substances which work together to help the horses natural ability to produce joint lubricating synovial fluid.
Synovial fluid is responsible for repairing and strengthening the damage that stress creates in performance horses. Ester C is key to optimizing bioavailability of the other ingredients and is an essential antioxidant.
Knowing Ingredients of Best Joint Supplement for Horses
Horse joint supplements do wonders for his joint health and overall wellness. Before purchasing, do some research on the ingredients that must be present in equine nutraceuticals.
Understand how particular nutrient will help in lifting the joint health of the horse. You will find a range of products under the claim of best joint supplements for horses but not all worth your money. So, before purchasing, read nutrient labels to make sure if every required ingredient is present in it.
Below are the recommended levels of supplements when used alone, along with their benefits. Keep in mind that ingredients, when used solely, have different results as compared to combined ones.
Combined ingredients work synergistically and thus required in minute amounts when used in the form of a compound.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is a major active ingredient that is also an important natural component of cartilage. It helps to relieve pain and regenerate the horse’s cartilage. This most-studied ingredient is part of all connective tissues and relieves tension in joints.
Sometimes, it heals the pain in as short as 10 to 15 days. It comes in the form of glucosamine sulphate or glucosamine hydrochloride, and both formulas work well.
Studies show that it helps in slowing down bone degeneration and increasing cartilage production.
The recommended dose of glucosamine is 5000-10,000 mg/day on average. 10,000 mg/day is effective for horses involved in strenuous work. It’s also better to feed higher doses to injured horses to speed up joint recovery.
Chondroitin
The structural component of the joint comprises chondroitin sulphate that is a very tough connective tissue. Research shows that Chondroitin inhibits the inflammatory agents and increase joint comfort. Its absorption level varies in horses, so choose one with a higher absorption rate.
Its recommended dose consists of 1200-5000 mg/day.
Glucosamine+ Chondroitin
Some nutrients work best in combination rather than using alone. Glucosamine and Chondroitin work effectively synergistically. These are the building blocks of any joint supplement product.
The only difference is their small amounts in combination with each other. More companies are working to combine these two nutrients to develop one of the best joint supplements for horses.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid(HA) is a vital component of joint cartilage and fluid, thus helps to reduce joint swelling.
It also reduces joint pain and discomfort due to injury. If glucosamine and Chondroitin do not give the best results, then Hyaluronic acid is a feasible option.
You can feed gel formulations of HA as well as oral intakes to your horse. But, gel formulations are easy to use if you are feeding it your horse for the first time.Its recommended doses range from 20-100 mg/day depending on the need of a horse.
In most cases, 100 mg/day work very effectively and give reliable results. You can also add its powder of 20 mg/day to equine diet along with Chondroitin and glucosamine.
Avocado and Soy Unsponifiable (ASU)
Avocado and unsaponifiable are plant fats and do not undergo digestion in the intestinal tract. Hence, protected from absorption in the digestive tract.
A group of equine researchers induced arthritis in a test sample to find out fats’ reaction to it. In a group of supplemented horses, these products showed protection for cartilage, yet not relieving pain.
Supplementing with ASU boosts the growth factors needed for repair mechanism in horse joints. Another term for ASU is “chondroprotective,” which means protection of the cartilage.
Recommended equine dose is 12,00 mg/day.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)
Initiates anti-inflammatory activity in joints, but its action mechanism is still unknown.
It is excellent for joint mobility and enriches the blood with anti-oxidants. High doses of MSM are not very likely and therefore start giving small doses to your horse daily.
20,000 mg/day is effective for horses having arthritis.
Hydrolysed Collagen
Collagen is a structural protein that makes up the part of connective tissues in the body, bones, and cartilage.
Hydrolysed collagen is a term given to broken collagen units that are easy to digest and absorb. Small amounts of glucosamine, Chondroitin, and HA are present in it, but we cannot neglect their effect.
Most horses lack collagen protein, so a high dose dosage of 40,000 mg/day is recommended.
Vitamin C
An essential part of connective tissues is vitamin C, but less information is available for its mode of action. Be careful while giving its dose to your horse because higher levels may damage cartilage.
Moreover, the horse body can manufacture its own Vitamin C, so consider “less is more” before supplementing. A moderate dose can be 4,000 mg/day that is equivalent to human requirement.
Herbs
Herbs are active agents to reduce inflammation horse joint, but its effect is often long term.
Add herbs in the diet of horse who is not recovering from other supplements, and positive results will appear.
A wide variety of herbs are available, but most effective are Yucca and Boswellia. Recommended doses are 3,000 mg/day for 10% saponin_ 15,000 mg/day for 2% saponin for Yucca.
500 mg/day of the extract is best for Boswellia.
Manganese
It is required in trace quantities but plays a critical role in cartilage metabolism.
Horses can also get manganese from diet or mineral blocks, so don’t add it in this case. Higher amounts of the mineral are not beneficial for equines.
Copper and Zinc
Many supplements producing companies neglect the importance of copper and zinc in horse diet.
These are essential components for tissue formation and providing anti-oxidants. Both are good for better hoof growth which is available in all kind of hoof supplements.
50 mg of copper and 150 mg of zinc will serve the purpose of joint health when supplemented in the diet.
Don’t wait for your horse to show lameness and acute symptoms of deficiency. A regular intake of supplements is essential to prevent joint swelling, inflammation, and deterioration. Now use of Previcox For Horses with Joint Issues is also increasing.
While choosing for best joint supplements for horses, always trust authentic and trusted companies. Always look for products backed by equine researchers.
FAQs
What is the most effective joint supplement for horses?
Majesty’s Flex Wafers – Equine Hip & Joint Support Supplement is a top pick by myhorsenames. It is easy to feed and available in wafers. Tested by hundreds of horse owners as the best supplement for joints.5 key ingredients present in this supplement that will reduce inflammation.
Do Joint supplement really work for horses?
Sometimes veterinarian recommends injections over a supplement. But keep in mind Glucosamine is important for healthy joints. You should feed joint supplements to older horses.
What is the best joint supplement for horses with Arthritis?
NaturVet – ArthriSoothe-Gold Advanced Joint Formula is best for horses with arthritis problem. It comes in powder and easy to feed. Five essential ingredient formula will help to cope with arthritis problem.
