Anyone stopped feeding Joint Supplements?

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MillionDollar

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Mine has been on Suppleaze Gold for 18 months, I mainly fed it to him as a preventative measure seeing as he's only 6, sorry 7 now :p. Anyway just before Xmas I ran out. I thought I had another tub but, no, I had run out. So he hasn't had any since. And there's no difference in him. Plus I remember reading about Glucosamine having no effect on humans (yes, I know it might work on horses).

So I really don't know whether to buy more or not?
 
I stopped feeding suppleaze gold a few months ago and just bought the generic Glucosamine and MSM supplement from Equimins. And there has been absolutely no difference at all in my horse, if anything he's been going better than ever.
 
Well I wanted to put my 15yo TB on something as I have plans for him to compete (touch wood!) into his late teens, as a preventative measure. I use Cortaflex because I like the science behind it, they use the key isolates that are needed for healthy joint tissue, which are much more easily absorbed than glucosamine molecules. Can't remember exactly what was said but sure if you google it it'll come up! It would be nice to think that it works, but if he gets arthiritis at least I can say I tried! I wouldn't have thought you would see much of a difference as at the age of seven I expect your horse still has very good joints! I *think* our vet advised giving it to them at the age of 14 as a preventative measure. If I were you I wouldn't bother buying any more until your boy is older, as it'll have most effect then and you won't be pouring money down the drain! :) xx
 
I moved my horses on to a collagen II supplement last summer after reading a study that suggested that it could be more beneficial than glucosamine, initially alongside the existing glucosamine and MSM supplement they were on, then when that ran out have just carried on with the collagen. Both of the ones that get it (both elderly and arthritic) are far more mobile than previously even through the horrible weather we've had, and its a lot cheaper!
 
My 15yo TB has an asymmetrical pelvis causing a short-stride on his off-hind. He gets turmeric which keeps him moving much more freely and it's considerably cheaper than specialist equine supplements at a couple of quid for a month's supply :)
 
OH mare was on grand meadows mega flex, worked their way through hundreds of £ of powder, but the crunch has hit and the posh powder has run out not to be replaced.

I really haven't seen or felt and difference when riding or watching her. A few issues she had which I'm sure would have been contributing to any lack of mobility have been resolved. A saddle which is a better fit than her last one (which fitted, but being a sensitive old thing it seems fitting isn't quite enough!) and shoes off as farrier was struggling to find and maintain a balance that suited her and she tripped alot. She is on microionized linseed too as I think the omega oils in that should help a little if needed?

She is improved and I think it is more to do with her management than her supplement so we won't be continuing with that or any other one.
 
I have had my horse on various supplements since he was 7 now 14. I have never noticed any difference in his way of going, was told by vet to put on Glucosamine when I bought him as he is IDxTB and tends to slam his feet down and it might keep him sounder for longer but spoke to Equine America recently about their new cheaper range and the sales lady told me that pure glucosamine didn't work!!! I have run out and also mine froze when snowing and have not noticed any difference!! On another thread someone fed linseed and said that it worked better than any joint supplements she had used!
 
my ISH mare is on synequine just ordered pack of 100 sachets at £108 which was £125 last time ordeed but she has one sachet every other day, been xrayed as lame and swollen hock and vets put her on this they believe she damaged her hock as a younster and has callous bone growth touching ligament as she is only 5 need to look after her, looked into riaflex didn't think it would be any cheaper.she isn't lame so goin to carry on.
 
Fed supplease gold to my slighty arthritic mare for a couple of years, not a blind bit of difference when I stopped.

Same for a livery, older mare a bit stiff behind, fed superflex long-term, absolutely no noticable difference when she ran out & stopped feeding.

If it helps, my vet feeds cosequin to his eventers and says it is the only joint supp worth feeding. Personally I'm not inclined to try it at £100+ a tub...
 
We have a 22 year old ex masters horse who was on Suppleaze Gold for a year or so. He was so stiff and sore that the vet advised bute (half a sachet, twice daily) instead. He is much more mobile and at such a low dose for a 17.2HH, the vet doesn't have any concerns about side effects.
 
Had my now 21 yo on Cortaflex for years - then, (once I had a mortgage to pay) swapped onto the EA pure Glucosamine - ran out about 6 months ago and he is exactly the same as before - obbv no way of knowing if the Cortaflex/Glucosamine helped ward off any joint issues or not - he is a good MW IDxTBxWelsh D
 
I've found it very individual, tbh. I definitely had a couple that moved better on Cortaflex, although we did find a less expensive supplement that seemed almost as successful. They were also in their midteens, had logged a LOT of competitive miles, and were still working fairly hard.

Otherwise, I've had the most notable success feeding straight MSM - still pricey but better than the mixed supplements. It's also the only supplement I've ever read an unbiased study on with positive results. This is not to say the others don't work (it's not actually in the companies' interests to do such studies, as they are very expensive, time consuming and potentially harmful to sales if the results aren't good. Also, if supplements prove that they have pharmaceutical effects they risk being banned for competition and/or more closely controlled.)
 
I fed Supplease Gold as a preventative and was the first thing to go in my personal credit crunch! If I can afford it I will put him on something again for the summer but I will not bankrupt myself for it!
 
I have a now 14yr old who has Feedmark Extra Flex HA. I give it to him because, as a 4yr old he had an op and lay for 36hrs after. I feel there must have been some kind of damage done to his stifle during this time.

Occasionally I run out, and can tell the differnce, for so the moment I continue to use it
 
My 8 yr old had an arthroscopy last may for a spur of arthritis in his knee that damaged his cartiledge and made him lame. I double dosed him hundreds of pounds of Cortaflex and then tried even more expensive Vetroflex (£70 per tub that lasted a month!) but can now no longer afford it......and my boy is still lame on a circle (yet can run round the field like a 2yr old!)
 
I never used to feed joint supplements as I never thought they worked. I have fed them to her before and never noticed a difference.
I put her on supplease gold just before the snow as she was a little stiff and it really has made a difference. She cantered up the field 2 days ago and did the biggest buck, then yesterday in the school she showed me just how supple she was to the point where I thought I was coming off.:eek: She hasnt done that for a long time.
 
MillionDollar said:
Ok a few different thoughts already. At the moment I'm definitely on the side of not bothering at present. Ummmm.............
Click to expand...

Me too - I also ran out a wee while ago and never got around the reordering and then thought that I could probably live without spending £50 a month on them (did have four horses on the joint supp Butex)
In fact I have decided to cut out all my extra supplements for a few months and see if I see any noticable difference in any of the horses. If I feel they are missing them I will rebuy and if not then I'll save a fortune :-)
 
hmmmm, Bruce has been on Cortaflex, the HA version, Super Flex, Riaflex and is now on Suppleaze......he is DEFINATELY moving a lot better since swapping to the Suppleaze, but i am feeding it at the highest dose, not just the maintenance dose.

CS is only 6 but also gets the higher dose of Suppleaze, and I hope its helping keep his joints healthy for longer, for me the expense is worth knowing I tried to do the best i could.
 
I started feeding feedmark HA with rosehip but kind of forgot for a few months. Now he is starting to do more am starting with it again. He is only 6 so want to do what I can
 
my 8yr old is on Newmarket Joint Supp after stifle arthroscopy in April and the vet recommended it so insurance are paying. My 11yr old is also on it as on vetting it was recommended due to a slight difference in the way he moves his hindlimbs. My 24yr old is actually the only one not on anything and is still running around like a 4yr old - his joints are probably the best of the lot!
 
Bloss is on Global Herbs Move Free Plus - she has ''clicky'' hocks, and to be honest im not sure its doing anything and its costing me £40 a month so am tempted to take her off it. Shes in foal so i wont bother to put her back on anything until she comes back in to work in October/November time after weaning.

On the subject of which, if anyone has any suggestions for a joint supplement thats good for 'clicky' hocks then please let me know :)
 
Got both my boys on Suppleaze Gold... one is 23 and has stiff arthritic hocks and the other has an old injury and can come up short on his near-side hind.... both much better on Suppleaze Gold!

I've tried everything (Cortaflex, Cortaflex HA, 5 Star Superflex, Equistro Flexadin, Newmarket Joint Supplement, Global Herbs Movefree Plus and a herbal Joint Supplement to name a few) on the old boy over the years and Suppleaze Gold is by far the most effective and cheapest!

I buy the biggest pot (£87.95) and it lasts me 75 days giving them both a scoop each in their dinner... so £17.83 each per month!

:D

P.S. I didn't do a 'loading dose' as they were on Equistro Flexadin before and I didn't give them a break
 
Im wondering about the effectiveness of joint supps atm, i recently ran out of my Extraflex with rosehips & ive not noticed any differance yet in either my 26yo or 10yo.

Im thinking i may drop it off for a month & see if there is any changes in that time then make a decision. I too have tried nearly all of the joint supps on the market & i can't really say that ive noticed changes in any of my lot.
 
Hiya,

I am doing a survey on equine joint supplementation and the public's experience with using them for my dissertation. I think this is a very important area in need of research. There are hundreds of products currently in the market and I want to highlight the products that do work from the products that don't. Then try to isolate the specific ingredients from your results, to work out why the products that do work do!

If guys have any experiences at all with joint supplements, I would be super greatful, if you could complete my quick survey. You will be helping to remove products that don't work from the market.

To complete my Survey please go to the following website:
http://FreeOnlineSurveys.com/renders...x7m9nttt860195

Thankyou,

Emily Johnson Bsc(hons) Equine Science
 
Having spoken to my equine specialist vet, he was of the opinion that the vast majority of these supplimnets are a complete waste of money. I have had various joints replaced and expect us humans will not be SO different to horses when it comes to supplements and their effectiveness. No supplement made a blind bit of difference to me and I could say they didn't unlike a horse! Best thing to help ageing joints is keep the weight off! and regular exercise avoiding rough or uneven ground. Pity horses can't have their joints replaced.
 
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