Joint supplements for the older horse?

[Blizzard]

Can anyone recommend any, pref something cheap. He is only in light work and is very healthy, but he is 18 now and I would like to give him something to help him a bit.

At the mo he only gets a handful of hi fi with a few squirts of garlic, parsley and linseed oil (feelgood 30 range) as he is such a good doer.

I sometimes find he can be a little stiff at first, which is understable as he has been in quite hard work most of his life.

 

[Theresa_F]

I can really recommend instant linseed. Since Cairo has had it his movement has been so much better. I have actually taken him off cortaflex and am seeing how he goes. He has started schooling again, is far more forward going and really is doing well.

After 6 weeks I have noticed no difference to not having cortaflex.

You can get instant linseed from Simple Systems - I get mine with my other feed stuff or you can get it from gold label.

Also gives a lovely coat and it can add condition - I have not had a problem with weight but mine only get very low cal fibre feeds so for me it is not a problem.

 

[FMM]

On The Show Ring, we did a small trial for Cortaflex - I am still getting results back, but you may find what people had to say of interest!

http://www.tsrforums.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=6424

 

[Marilyn]

Have you tried Equimins Flexijoint?

 

[zoesophie]

My boy isnt v old - well hes 10 - but have just started using NAF Supaflex. Its helping him recover quicker from his injury we think so we will probably leave him on it now. Its £50 odd but its well worth it coz it lasts about 4 months I think (only on first pot so far) so works out not too expensive in the long run.

My friend also has her 16yo on it and has helped him no end with his dodgy legs!!

 

[Theresa_F]

Read it - interesting as what they say is what I found happened to Cairo when I started using the instant linseed. He had been on cortaflex for about 3 years prior to this.

He is more lively - and I put this down to his joints working more freely - he can spin on the spot again and do walk to gallop in one stride when "fighting" with Chancer - not bad for an old heavy horse. He has also stopped "paddling" with his back legs in canter.

Accord to SS "Good levels of omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. Linseed is also renowned for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects."

When I told them about how well Cairo is, they said several of their customers had stopped using cortaflex/other joint supplements and just fed instant linseed now.

 

[dressagecrazy]

I use SS Instant Linseed & can say i havent noticed any differance to my horses joint mobility at all, ive been using it for 2 years. The only thing i notice is better condition especialy over winter.

I do however use Feedmark's Extraflex HA which is fab stuff. The differance in my horse since using it is really noticable.

 

[mickey]

Extraflex HA has been life changing for my horse.....
And I have tried plenty of other joint supps believe me
www.feedmark.com

 

[FMM]

We used Cortaflex last year when we brought the old (17 years) chestnut cob in my sig back into work. He had been retired for 4 years - last year he was second at RIHS with me and qualified for HOYS (when he ran off with the judge which is another story altogether). Prior to the cortaflex his movement was getting quite bone shakery. This year (second retirement) he is doing dressage with one of the disabled riders and has won his first dressage competition. I am sure that many of them do a similar job, but I can promise you that you will notice a difference!

 

[pootler]

I use SS linseed and think I have seen results in terms of improved mobility, this is particularly interesting as I was already feeding apple cider vinegar and Mobifor (veterinary strength 5* superflex). He now has all 3 and I think it suits him really well, very shiny too!

 

[ISHmad]

Quite a lot of people I know have been having really good results from Riaflex Complete.

 

[hadleigh]

My old horse is 28 and I have used Codlivine with added joint supplement for him. He still hacks out quite happily a couple of times a week.

 

[Blizzard]

Thank you everyone, lots to think about there!

 

[buzzles]

My vet prescribed Newmarket Joint Supplement for my horse who's 13, he's been on it about a month now and so far he hasn't stiffened up which he is prone to doing. He also takes less time to warm up, I used to have to walk for 20 minutes before I could even attempt a trot and even then it would be another 10 minutes of trotting/cantering in a forward seat before he was totally loosened up. I was surprised at the expense of it but a tub will last him 4/5 months so when you break it down it's probably cheaper than some of the other brands on the market. He also gets linseed oil and apple cider vinegar. I've tried previous joint supplements (stride and cortaflex) but they didn't help him that much.

 

[MagicMelon]

NAF 5* Superflex. Great stuff.

And my vet also suggested oil of some kind to be added to the feed of my athritic pony. So I add a good gloop of Soya Oil.