BEST joint supplement?!

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peanut0611

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My mare is 12 y/o and has done a fair bit of international show jumping. She is not retiring from the competitive world due to (my) health issues and (my) educational commitments, and is moving on to become a leisure/hacking horse. She is still being ridden daily.

My question is what the best joint supplement is that I can give her. I have noticed some swelling in her legs in the mornings, which however is gone after 15 mins on the walker. Also I feel she is getting stiffer and her warm-ups are taking longer.

I have tried NAF MSM, which seemed to make a difference at first but the longer I use it the less it seems to work.

I have also tried Cosequin, which was recommended by my vet, which has a ridiculous price tag on it. I kept her on it until the tub was empty, took her off it for a month or two to monitor differences, and didn't see one. Decided to try again; no change. I'm not willing to spend that much money on a supplement that doesn't seem to work... Not for my mare anyway.

So, my question is what is/are the best joint supplement(s) you've fed your horse(s)? Does it help with swollen legs as well?

Thanks everyone!!
 
best thing i find for swollen legs is to reduce protein/starch in feed and feed fibre based diet - and of course movement - 24/7 turno out will keep her far more supple than any joint supp.

saying that the ones i've heard work well are tumeric (but never tried it) and maxaflex seems to have turned around the oldie i have as a companion,
saying that pure MSM turned around an old pony of mine before all the new stuff came out
and the NHS uses suppliments with rosehips in so that has to say something

but i'm not sure any are actually proven tbh - and its also horses for courses - some work on some but dont on others - so its a bit of trial and error
 
Unfortunately 24hr turnout isn't possible where she is stabled. She gets turnout all day, from 6 a.m. until about 5 p.m. and spends nights in the stable.
 
If you search for my thread entitled "Newmarket Joint Supplement" in the Competition section I had loads of suggestions and some very useful tips on the affordable equivalents of some of the more expensive brands. It was about a week ago.
 
I'm using pernamax on one of my horses, and that seems to have helped/

Also, for my other horse, I've found superflex to be the best, I did try cortaflex and suppleaze gold for him, but superflex seems to suit him better.

Sometimes its a trial and error to find out what suits yours.

I also find magnetic boots useful too.
 
I am using Maxaflex on my older show horse and he's had really good feedback on his condition and movement from vet and osteopathist this year, definitely an improvement on his condition a year ago when he was on a straight high quality Glucosamine supplement - but he has gone through a lot of diet and exercise regime changes too during the last 12 months - more short intermittent breaks from training, a lower protein diet with higher fibre, more consistent everyday work focusing on his overall body strength and suppleness; I'd be cautious about loading it all to the Maxaflex but I do think that every little helps.
 
Arthritic cob is doing very well this year compared to how stiff he was last year with linseed meal and turmeric. Gets danilon overnight and he's usually out 24/7 so he wears magnetic bands but due to the sheer amount of mud mine are in overnight atm. Simply bandaging his hinds makes a huge difference and he doesn't walk out stiff at all. He walked out like a robot last year after one night in when he wasn't bandaged.
 
I've always used Cortaflex and definitely recommend it - I am pretty sure it works very well as I also take the human version and the results have been amazing!
 
My mare with bone spavin in her Hock is on Maxaflex and she has been totally sound for over 1 1/2 years with no steriod injections and getting 70% plus in dressage with her loan home :) i tried so many and that was the only that made a difference to her with her 'issues' cant give it to my youngster though as she is allergic to alfalfa so she is on NAF Supaflex - hard to tell if it works as she has always been on it since i got her and she doesnt have any problems
 
To be honest, ive tried so many diff cheap/expensive supplments and the thing ive found to work the best is....

Keeping my horse very well rugged up (tonight he is in a 300g, 200g, 100g) and keep their legs warm too, he is wearing magnetic boots at night with all these rugs and he is the soundest he has ever been! Currently competing novice dressage and gaining good %%
 
Have a look at Hack Up Ltd and Alex Gingell, he does Bespoke supplements which are unique to each horse, and he uses MS, GHCL etc and they work brilliantly. I used to use Coortavet HA but it was expensive and didnt seem to have the desired effect so i spoke Alex and got a bespoke one from and 18 months on and I havent looked back my horse is going better than ever BD and BSJA and works out cheaper than other supplements.:)
 
littlepetal said:
Have a look at Hack Up Ltd and Alex Gingell, he does Bespoke supplements which are unique to each horse, and he uses MS, GHCL etc and they work brilliantly. I used to use Coortavet HA but it was expensive and didnt seem to have the desired effect so i spoke Alex and got a bespoke one from and 18 months on and I havent looked back my horse is going better than ever BD and BSJA and works out cheaper than other supplements.:)
Click to expand...

Quite a few people on my yard have started using his supplements. He talks a lot of sense and they are well worth a try.
 
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