Help- Recommend a Joint Supplement

D

Dot1

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 December 2007
Messages
77
Visit site
Hi

New to a forum but hoping for some suggestions. I have 15.2hh BWB mare, who is stiff in her withers and quite tense. She is also very grumpy to rug and saddle/girth. She has been looked at by two veterinary practises who haven't been able to advice on what is wrong without lots of tests, and I am not keen to put her through this. We have just done a Bute trail and there was a marked difference, looser through her back, able to bend and relaxed jaw. She also seemed much happier.
Obviously bute is not a solution, so can anyone recommend a good joint supplement? My primary concern is that she is obviously complaining about the saddle/girth as it is painful, although she is an angel to ride but not very forward going, I want to diminish some of the pain, I think all may be unrealistic.
Has anyone had a similar experience or recommend a good joint supplement.
Thank you!!
 
I think personally, if the bute worked, you can use an alternative called Bute x which is more herbal, Global herbs make this and i think for 250grams is about £16.00. Good luck
 
Having tried all the 'usuals' - Superflex, Cortaflex etc. which did nothing at all for my horse who was recovering from a tendon rupture which involved an injury to the fetlock joint I chanced across the Horse Specialities (www.horsespecialities.co.uk) stand at Your Horse Live and bought some Grand Meadows Grand Flex which took 21 days to kick in but has made a remarkable difference. He no longer needs bute in his tea and walks straight out of his stable as sound as a bell whereas before even with bute the first dozen or so steps in the morning would be very tentative. I'd recommend this to anyone.
 
Hi - welcome to the forum
smile.gif


Any reason why you don't want to investigate it further?
Has the vet suggested any kind of physio etc? Has her saddle/teeth been checked? Sorry if you have already done all this
smile.gif


My 15yo pony has been under veterinary treatment for similar reasons i.e problems girthing/rugging but great to ride - not sure what the cause was, possibly ill fitting tack at some point, there is a definite sore point on his back but whether this is the main problem we don't know. Under vet's advice he had physio and a reflocked saddle which provided temporary but obvious relief but still not right. He is now having Bowen treatment under recommendation of my saddler.

It is a bit of a merry-go-round and if the Bowen doesn't work it looks like he will have to go somewhere for further investigation.

As for supplements, I haven't really gone down that route yet as I didn't want to cloud any treatment he is on now. Before I got the vet involved I did try the Pernamax tablets which appeared to make a difference. However, I think what suits one horse may not suit another so it may be that you have to try a few different ones.

Good luck with whatever you decide
smile.gif
 
IME (sorry vets)
wink.gif
the vets I have used for my horse's back etc do not touch the back and thus can give me a very limited amount of info re: back issues. I would always go to a well qualified physiotherapist after having an initial veterinary appointment.
I am always putting this on here in response to the many queries about joint supplements but I have tried lots of things on my horse with spavin, including various formulations of cortaflex. I use Extraflex from feedmark now - Which is fantastic IMO - Although I have him on the optimum dose rather than the maintenance dose.
smile.gif

www.feedmark.com
 
Thanks for all the replies!
Chumsmum, she saw the vet a lot when I first got her as I had numerous issues. and after six months of rehab she has only been in ridden work for 4/5 months. She is stressy and can be extremely difficult to handle, any further vet work would need to be done at the hospital as they are not sure what the issue is. I am loathe to put her through this, when I may be able to find another solution at home. This maybe very wishful thinking but worth a try!
I am thinking about a physiotherapist, I have used one for her in the past but maybe another 'go' is required.

Thanks again everyone
 
[ QUOTE ]
Having tried all the 'usuals' - Superflex, Cortaflex etc. which did nothing at all for my horse who was recovering from a tendon rupture which involved an injury to the fetlock joint I chanced across the Horse Specialities (www.horsespecialities.co.uk) stand at Your Horse Live and bought some Grand Meadows Grand Flex which took 21 days to kick in but has made a remarkable difference. He no longer needs bute in his tea and walks straight out of his stable as sound as a bell whereas before even with bute the first dozen or so steps in the morning would be very tentative. I'd recommend this to anyone.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ooooh snap!! Although we got pounced on at Burghley!!
grin.gif
Glad they did though, because it's been fab! Even our vet commented on how good Mo looked on the lunge (5m circle in trot on hard ground).
We bought the 20lb tub and are gonna need another one soon, so need to find a stockist. Do you know anywhere??
grin.gif
 
I can understand why you want to try and sort it yourself if she would get upset at the vets.

I'm guessing if they are not sure if it's muscle or structural they can't say if physio would be any good though may be worth trying. Everyone who has seen my boy is pretty sure it's muscular though he hasn't had x-ray/scans. Physio certainly did have some effect on my boy though wasn't permanent.

As I said before I have also been highly recommended Bowen (Equine Muscle Release Therapy) and I'm trying that out now and only time (and money) will tell if it works..

Not sure if this may be of use to you but I've been advised by saddler and Bowen man to buy a stubben string girth - they say that horses with problems like ours go a lot better in them - I am about to make a purchase....
grin.gif


I really hope that you find something to help your girl - I know how hard it is when it's not obvious what is wrong and it takes a lot of time, money and effort to find out.

Good luck and keep us updated
smile.gif
 
Absolutely agree with Chumsmum. And if you haven't had a physio involved at all, perhaps the time has come to do so.

I too use A Bowen Therapist on my horse, and he is treated monthly. He is a much happier horse and his pain issues through his back and neck have vanished.
 
Great, thank you, I think I will try Bowen.

Can anyone recommend a pratitionar in Kent or how I can locate one?
Chumsmum, never would have considered a stubben string girth but I think I will give that a go to. At this point I am willing to try, within reason!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top