Good Joint Supplements?

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Apercrumbie

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Hi, I have a 20 yr old tbxwelsh who is understandably starting to stiffen up so I would like to help him as much as possible. What joint supplements do you use, whether they are joint specific or not, and do you think they are really worth the price tag? Thanks in advance and apologies for the rather boring post!
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I use Riaflex Complete - http://www.riaflex-equine.co.uk/product_riaflex_complete.htm

It's a slightly higher spec. than Synequin (which is the one most vets recommend) but considerably cheaper. It has extended the useful life of husband's HW hunter (high articular ringbone) by at LEAST 3 years - and allowed my 18 year old stallion (coffin joint arthritis) to come OFF bute and stay sound! I've recommended it to dozens of people and all bar about 2 were VERY impressed with results (the two who weren't claimed their oldies started bucking - which I would have thought a GOOD sign!
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I use Premierflex HA from equine answers. I started feeding it in the summer as my horse just feels the hard ground these days and I've been very pleased with the results. A couple of people on my yard have started using it too and been impressed.
It's £40 for a 3 month supply so a bit cheaper than cortaflex but it has the same ingredients.
 
newmarket joint supplement, i use on my 19 yo mare and 12 yo cob wit arthritus does them world of good. 1.5kg tub last them 5 months, cost 67quid but well worth it. only one i know that lasts so long
 
I used to give Cortalflex to 19 year old, but after being diagnosed with bone spavin we changed him to Newmarket Joint Supplement. He seems much less stiff in a morning now.
 
NAF superflex is good.

Sorry to be bearer of bad news but a lot of research has been done on the benefits of neutraceutical joint supplements and main consensus is they only really help if used prior to onset of disease, as a prophylactic measure rather than a treatment.

The odd staategic day of bute here and there is likely to help your horse more and be more cost effective for you.
 
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there is a vet student on my yard and she looked into this and found that one called equiflex has not only the best value for money but the highest levels of ingredients at only £17.95 with free pp and at a maintaince level last 60 days as the scoop is tiny


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At maintenance level - 1.5 scoops for a horse over 500 kg - this product gives 25% less than recommended levels of Glucosamine and less than 40% of the recommended level of Chondroitin (which is the expensive ingredient and not worth feeding at below the recommended level.) And NO MSM which is a valuable component in most joint supplements. Your vet student friend needs to check out her research!
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Not sure why my post has not worked? But I went to Your Horse Live and visited Science Supplements stand. Really helpful and recommended Flexability - no I had never heard of it either but you can only buy on line from sciencesupplements.co.uk. My horse is 17 and been on it for 7 days now and much improved. Sorry if I have repeated myself!
 
I use cortaflex HA on my lad and it really helps. I did a little test, started him on it after one farrier visit & did not say a word to farrier on next visit, farrier mentioned how he was more supple (before he could not have one of his hinds out behind him it had to be almost underneath)
 
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there is a vet student on my yard and she looked into this and found that one called equiflex has not only the best value for money but the highest levels of ingredients at only £17.95 with free pp and at a maintaince level last 60 days as the scoop is tiny


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At maintenance level - 1.5 scoops for a horse over 500 kg - this product gives 25% less than recommended levels of Glucosamine and less than 40% of the recommended level of Chondroitin (which is the expensive ingredient and not worth feeding at below the recommended level.) And NO MSM which is a valuable component in most joint supplements. Your vet student friend needs to check out her research!
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Thank you!! I am feeding this one, as already had it before she mentioned this one is this one any good????

http://www.feedmark.com/Product.asp?Product=Extraflex+HA+with+Rosehips
 
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Thank you!! I am feeding this one, as already had it before she mentioned this one is this one any good????

http://www.feedmark.com/Product.asp?Product=Extraflex+HA+with+Rosehips

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Again, it provides far less than the recommended levels of Chondroitin. Glucosamine and MSM levels are ok - and the rest of the stuff is just 'filler' and an attempt to be a bit different!

In a joint supplement, you either need to go for a low cost option (Glucosamine & MSM) - of the Full Monty - including Chondroitin - but the levels have to be sufficient. Research has showed that low levels are not much use.

The recommended levels - based on the research available - are

10 g Glucosamine
10 g MSM
and - if including Chondroitin -
4,000 mg Chondroitin (anything less isn't much use!)

Some of the companies are naughty in the way they present the content and cost.

Extraflex gives the content based on 3 scoops - but 3 scoops provides a quarter of the Chondroitin needed - and is claimed to be optimum level for a horse 400-600 kg. But the pricing for a 60 day supply is based on maintenance level for a 400-600 kg horse (half the optimum dose.) So it's very expensive for what it contains at optimum - and almost useless at maintenance level.
 
Feeding at the optimum rates is desirable, however some just work better than others. I find Superflex to be really good, yet synequin and riaflex did absolutely nothing.

arthriaid seems to be quite good too (am in the midst of a trial) and mobifor didnt offer anything more than superflex even though it is meant to be the "vet" strength version of superflex.

I am also trialling premier answers premierflex - this has added devils claw so think that is making a difference (rather than the actual joint part of the supplement).
 
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suppleaze gold from Aviform is fab, and good value for money.

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It LOOKS good value - when you see a 250g pack (£19.95) is "up to 100 days supply".

But when you read the spec you work out that to get the requisite level of ingredient for a 600kg horse, it is only 10 days supply - so £1.95 a day. Whereas Riaflex complete gives you the same levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin - and MORE MSM - for about £1.24 a day.
 
We have numerous natural horse supplements, and feature many testimonials on our site. Have a look at the link below to view one of the most recent ones:

http://bcchallenge.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/jonjos-40-day-feed-diary-using-blue-chip-original/

The product that Blue Chip do that is designed for horse joints, is Blue Chip Joint RLF. It is very good value for money, and is well worth it - take a look at what it's done for other horses.

If you have any questions, please do get in touch, many thanks.
 
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