Confused about joint supplements

[pachypach]

My mare who is 13 has ringbone in fronts and start of bone spavin on rear hock. She is barefoot, lives out 24/7, and I just use her for hacking out.
She went lame a year ago, rested her, after vets said to, but wasnt improving. so took her last summer for xrays, then she had corticosteroid injections in hooves (helped straight away), plus a course of adequan IM a month later (which seemed to work for about 3 months). However, this was very expensive, and I cant afford to keep giving her adequan every 3 months or so.
I then looked into oral supplements.
She has been on premierflex plus since november last year.
after initial dose, I reduced it to maintenance dose, but found it wasnt helping, so after speaking to equine answers, they said I could keep her on 2 scoops (not one).
However, she is just the same (possibly a bit better due to warmer weather).
field sound, but lame in front fore when ridden in trot. (I don't ride her, just took her out last week to see how she was!)
She does get walked out in hand about every other day.

I have been looking into other supplements and am very confused!
The premierflex plus details are;
PREMIER FLEX Plus is fast acting and results are normally seen in a matter of days.
Analysis:
Glucosamine HCL 26%
MSM 15%
Chondroitin Sulphate 10%
Hyaluronic Acid 6000mg/Kg
Vitamin E 3000mg/Kg
Vitamin C 3000mg/Kg
Lysine 5000mg/Kg
Methionine 5000mg/Kg
Oil 15%
Protein 8%

Levels of main ingredients at initial dose:
Glucosamine HCL 13,000mg
Chondroitin Sulphate 5,000mg
MSM 7,500mg
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) 300mg
+ high levels of Devils Claw Extract

I have also read good things about cosequin.
ingredients listed are;
Each level scoopful (3.3g) contains Glucosamine HCL 99+% 1800mg Microcrystalline Cellulose Sodium Chondroitin Sulphate 95% 600mg mixed Glycosaminoglycans 5% Ascorbate (Maganese Ascorbate) 104mg Manganase (Ascorbate) 16mg Usage: Initial administration - average horse, 3 level scoops a.m. and p.m. 1200lbs and over - 4 level scoops a.m. and p.m.

Can anyone tell me in plain english the strength differences, purity etc etc, and which one my mare may be better on.
I just want to find something that is effective!!!

 

[galacasinoking]

My welsh cob also has ringbone and he was very lame last year before xrays. I now have a very good remedial farrier who has done alot of work on his feet. The only supplements I give him is herbs & he has (touch wood) stayed sound. My boy has Hilton Herbs - Reflex, 1xscoop AM and 1scoop PM. He also has green lipped mussel capsules AM & PM and Devils claw AM & PM. Only time I ever give him bute is if he has worked harder (which is very rare now) and even then I normally give him half a bute.
Alot of people dont beliveve in feeding herbs (each to their own) but this is all I feed my horse and at the moment he is fine

 

[nadinek82]

Try having a look at the Riaflex website, it has quite a bit of information on it and has a comaparison chart with some of the popular supplements on it

 

[supagran]

We tried PremierFlex with our mare but it made no difference, now on Cortavet. However not sure that works either!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

http://equinecare-and-control.weebly.com/a.html

The only joint supplement me and my yard uses , previous H&H members views here

 

[ester]

Well they don't display their figures very usefully! % aren't very helpful and neither is the per initial dose when they don't tell you what the initial dose is.

Given the figures given for HA (per kg and per initial dose) it would appear that the initial dose is 50g.

In which case I will compare the spec to what I use (suppleaze gold, purchase cheapest from thepetmedicine company).

Premierflex:
Glucosamine HCL 13,000mg
Chondroitin Sulphate 5,000mg
MSM 7,500mg
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) 300mg

Suppleaze gold:
Glucosamine HCL 27,500mg
Chondroitin Sulphate 10,000mg
MSM 12,300mg
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) 200mg

Which if right would make the spec appear lower apart from the HA level. Of course there is also the whole discussion about what can or cannot cross the gut and head into the joints

You may want to have a read of this thread .
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=368448&highlight=joint+supplement

I first started the suppleaze when mine started to feel a bit stiff we good initial results, about 9 months in he then went lame and has now had two coffin joint injections (one foot only!) of steroid and HA, the last being approx 6 weeks ago and sound currently. I give him 20g, the highest dose, as a just in case measure and to help it along but I don't think it will make the difference between a lame and a sound horse overall.