Joint supplements

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Jo C

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Do they really work, is it a case of finding the one that suits your horse? I have tried Cortaflex but really couldn't see it making the slightest bit of difference to Patrick. I have also tried it myself but again couldn't notice any difference. Are these just yet more expensive supplements we are being convinced to buy by the increasingly marketing savvey manufacturers? Your thoughts please.
 
There is so much conflicting evidence about which joint supplements work and why. There are various forms of glucosamine which are absorbed by the body in different ways, and there is some controversy about whether HA does anything when given orally.

My horse has cartilage damage in his hock. I think it is vital that he is on a good joint supplement to prevent any further damage. After doing some research, I've put him on ArthriAid HA, as it delivers the highest amount of Glucosamine and Condroiten for the cost, and I supplement this with liquid Devil's Claw.

My vets recommend Equistro Flexalan, but it is super expensive. He had a pot of this after his surgery but I couldn't justify the cost and he seems fine on the ArthriAid. He used to be on Cortaflex before the diagnosis, and to be honest, I'm not convinced it did much. I know other people who swear by Mobifor, but I haven't tried it.
 
I haven't heard of ArthriAid HA, who manufactures it?
Patrick is 15 now and has had surgery to remove a splint bone in the past due to a bone infection so I am expecting at some point to have some stiffness problems, I have been considering putting him on some sort of joint supplement but there are so many out there and so many conflicting reports that I just don't know where to start. Equistro do make some fabulous supplements but they as you say are hugely expensive. I really don't want to put him on an expensive supplement that has no effect and it is very interesting to hear your experiences of cortaflex are similar to my own. I shall await further answers (hopefully) with interest.
 
I have an ex racer who's 24, he's lazy behind and squares his toes off anyway but he's always been a bit stiff when stabled in winter so I looked at supplements for him. Originally he was on Cider Vinegar which was useful. However he started to show signs of being stiff even when on that so I posted on here to see what people were using. A lot of people suggested NAF 5* so I tried him on that. I notice the difference with him. He doesn't trip when he's on it. I tried giving him half dose and he tripped more so he is on full reccommended dose now.

My dad's horses joints "click" a lot and he went on NAF 5* too. The improvement was very noticeable. Dad's now using a "cheaper" product and his horse has now started "clicking" again so I do believe it was having a positive impact on him.

I don't usually use supplements but have seen a benefit to using NAF 5*. However IMHO I think the benefits are only seen if there is a need for it. You don't mention if your horse is old, what work he does or if there is a "medical" history. All things that I feel will determine the need for a supplement or not.

Happy riding
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Thanks Runaway - he is currently competing at Aff BD elem about 2 weekends a month (more if finances permit) and schooled accordingly with long hacks and some jumping thrown in.
 
I use Cortaflex, Osc has been on it for about 5 years now. At the same time I started using it I also bought him a new saddle. His attitude to work improved a lot and has continued to improve ever since then. It could be that he just started to mature (finally), it could be the Cortaflex helping, it could be the saddle that made the difference. Who knows, but I'm not changing anything just incase!!

ETA: thinking about it last winter when he was in 24/7 apart from riding he got VERY stiff, but he is 15 now. This year it shouldn't be as bad because I've moved him. Hmmm, I wonder whether there might be something better out there for him.
 
He is starting to come out of his box in the mornings a little stiffly if he has been worked hard the day before nothing major and it soon walks off but even so.........
 
I have had only good results from Cortaflex. I used it on an elderly wippet who could not get out of her bed in the morning. After 1 week she was much happier and moving around under her own steam.

My TB has the horse version. She was a late starter to proper dressage at 12. She was resisting in her canter work and I gave her cortaflex. After 2 weeks, she overcame the problem and began to improve in her work. 2 months ago I stopped it because the TopSpec people said it was not necessary if I was using their product. The horse started to complain about right canter. I put her back on the supplement and 2 weeks later, she is right as rain.

These supplements can help some animals/people, but they are not miracle cures.

My horse also has crappy feet and I have tried everything to improve them and none of the top name supplements make any difference to her.

So as I say, sometimes things work, for some people.
 
Interesting thread.
Ive used with great sucess Equine Americas Glucosamine/MSM at £14.99.
Ive been looking into the Arthriaid HA, Equisto is just too expensive.
Halfstep, have you looked into using **Better Bones?**
It looks like it works alongside Cortaflex. Im not a fan of Cortaflex as Ive never seen any difference in any of my horses young or old.
But I do wonder if the BBs and Gluc/MSM might work alongside each other... thoughts??
 
I wasn't sure about Better Bones, because I couldn't see any evidence for it being any better than a properly balanced diet, but perhaps I'm just an old sceptic LOL.

I did all the maths a while ago and for the % active ingredients you get per serving, ArthriAid worked out the most cost effective. I've tried Conquer gel (oral HA) but to be honest I don't think it did anything.

Equistro Flexalan has the same % ingredients at the ArthriAid but also has Devil's Claw and a bit more HA I think. It works out cheaper for me to buy Devil's Claw separately.
 
historically i have never really seen any difference in feeding cortaflex and indeed the loading period is longer than with some other products. and also it can take up to six months for the supplement to take effect if any.

i feed a joint supplement by way of maintenance more than any thing and re-asses when my horse gets to that "age"

i have recently started adding NAF SuperFlex to my horses feed following severeal recommendations but cannotcomment further because ive only been feeding it for 5 days!

unfortuanetly i think it really is a case of working out what works for your horse.
 
Supplements which have a small molecular weight will have the best effects, along with high quality substances and high % values of those substances. We had a lecture from Equistro last year (biased I know!) and they stated that this was the reason for the expensive of their product, it has a very small molecular weight and the quality of the chondrotin and glucosamine is high.

I use NAF 5*, alongside Devils Claw as thats the only thing I have noticed a difference with my horse. I have tried Cortaflew and Synequin.
 
During a recent seminar with a well respected vet, it was suggested that MSM and Glucosmaine are the most effective, with little evidence to support feeding of chrondroitin, as it is not readily absorbed through the digestive tract.

The vet suggested that users of Cortaflex may notice more effect, due to the presence of devils claw in the formulation.
 
Ok sorry, I worked for a supplement company which shall not be named as I dont think there product is the best!!! My boy is on Cosequin and without it he is lame with it he is sound!!!! Not just me vet agrees, The low molecular weight thing is correct, however if you look at all the studys (lipelo et al) it cearly demonstrates that you need both Glucosamine and Chondrotin to have any benefit at all!!! Also MSM is great but it is a natural painkiller, which can help and hinder if your back hurts do you always take painkillers or does a bit of pain sometimes help???? You can order cosequin from america I have the details and atub which lasts 6-9 months will cost approx £100 so ver cheap pm me if you would like the details, Also cortaflex is a complete waste of money if you read the packet it has only SUGARS in it no Glucosamine or chondrotin sorry to go on!!!
 
OK so now I am even more confused, am I right in thinking what works for one horse may not work for another? Has anyone tried Devils Claw on its own?
 
I think devils claw is just a natural pain killer, so if he is having trouble with stiffness and inflammation it wont help him but may make him more comfortable.

I think with the joint supplements it is very much a case of you get what you pay for unfortunately. I can remember when i was at uni a couple of years ago having a lecture from a gentlemen who had researched all the leading brands products (other things as well, but prodominantly joint supplements) and he found that the contents were not only poor in qualitiy but none of them actually meet their label claims in terms of quantity, some of them were as low as 10%!!!!! They aren't regulated in the same way human products are so they can get away with anything!!!!

Having said that i have used the nupafeed calmer for years and have found it really good so i thought i would give the joint supplement a go and it has been amazing. I started using it on an old heavyweight hunter whos joints are less then perfect and his soundness was starting to get a bit dubious. He was as sound as a pound within two weeks and has been ever since. Theres lopst of stuff about it on their website, it contains stuff which they use for arthritis in humans which has all the glucosamine etc in it anyway but is also an anti-inflamtory. Cecasue it worked on my old boy i also started givig it to a filly with a big hock from having been kicked. I've tried having it drained, using iodine and pressure etc but it always came straight back. It took about a month and its not perfect put its about 20% of the size it was!!

The comapny that make all the Nupafeeed prducts are a pharmaceutical company which mostly do things for human medicine which i have to say gives me a whole lot more faith in them and is probably why it actually works!!!
 
I had Han on Cortaflex for 6 years... she is a bit clicky in her hocks, she always has been and the Cortaflex did make an improvement
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However, about three months ago my friend started working for TopSpec and recommended I try the 10:10 joint supplement for Grace because I was feeding her Cortaflex and pure MSM (for the ligament) which was costing me a fortune.

As it was, I had just run out of Cortaflex so decided to try both Han and Grace on the 10:10. With Grace I have not noticed any difference, but then if I am honest I do not think she needs anything as she is very loose and has lovely clean joints in the hinds (they have been xrayed) so I am guess the same may be of the fronts
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However, with Han I am completely astounded at how much it has changed her way of going!!!

She no longer clicks and creaks, even when she has been in a stable for a few days, and the way she has suppled up too in her ridden work is completely different to how she was! I would say she is feeling the best she has ever felt!!!
 
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