Joint supplements

[Bluesparks]

I have a 13 year old tb who's got a fair amount of wear and tear, probably some arthritic changes and lumps
and bumps but most significantly and recently a huge splint that appeared in October and just won't settle, he's not on any supplements at the moment just chaff and beet and haylage and looks very well, the vet is coming out tomorrow to re asses the splint that she xrayed in October and see where we go next, just wondering if a good joint supplement could help and which ones people have used with some success please? Thank you

 

[Mrs B]

You'll get lots of different answers, I'm sure! So work for some, not for others.

In my case, my TBxID had a really knack'd right hind, especially hock and very odd action with it ... used to keep it ok with steroid injections and exercise, but then he was diagnosed at 17-ish with Cushings, so that was the end of using steroids.

Friend of Y/O had had great success with Vetroflex in conjunction with Vetrofen so I decided to give it a try. It was really noticeable from about 6 months in that his range of movement and flexion was markedly improved. He seemed much more comfortable in his work and I didn't end up sitting to the left so much, when he tried to move me off his right quarter!

I hope you find something that works for your boy

 

[oldie48]

I've always given my horses and ponies Blue chip dynamic, I have no idea if it really makes a difference but it makes me feel better! Interested to see others posts as I have a lovely gelding who is now 13 and I want him to go on forever (or at least until I'm too old and stiff to ride).

 

[oldie48]

that's really interesting! I use a very well respected equine hospital, my cushings horse was given steroid injections into the hocks. I asked if this could spark laminitis and was told very firmly that it was most unusual as the steroid was put into the joint capsule and would not enter the blood stream. He was kept happy and sound for quite a while until he got a bit trippy, and I retired him.

You'll get lots of different answers, I'm sure! So work for some, not for others.

In my case, my TBxID had a really knack'd right hind, especially hock and very odd action with it ... used to keep it ok with steroid injections and exercise, but then he was diagnosed at 17-ish with Cushings, so that was the end of using steroids.

Friend of Y/O had had great success with Vetroflex in conjunction with Vetrofen so I decided to give it a try. It was really noticeable from about 6 months in that his range of movement and flexion was markedly improved. He seemed much more comfortable in his work and I didn't end up sitting to the left so much, when he tried to move me off his right quarter!

I hope you find something that works for your boy

 

[Mrs B]

Interesting indeed

My vet also contacted one of the equine hospitals (don't know which one) and having discussed the issue with one of their vets said that she wouldn't be happy to carry on with injections as the laminitis risk would be raised ...

I'm wary of steroids at the best of times unless absolutely necessary and went with her advice. Glad it worked for your boy, though!

that's really interesting! I use a very well respected equine hospital, my cushings horse was given steroid injections into the hocks. I asked if this could spark laminitis and was told very firmly that it was most unusual as the steroid was put into the joint capsule and would not enter the blood stream. He was kept happy and sound for quite a while until he got a bit trippy, and I retired him.

 

[Llee94]

Anything with a high content of HA is good according to my vet.

 

[Bluesparks]

Thanks I'll ask my vet tomorrow what she recommends too

 

[only_me]

Tumeric is good for their joints, we feed it at the yard. It's not specific though, tends to be a scoop of tumeric, dash of pepper and a dollop of oil
I can't deal with the fanatics on Facebook though. Wouldn't advise you to read the page either, it's pretty nuts lol.

I've just started horse on arthriaid, which looks good on ingredients and is very similar to a lot of other joint supplements, but the reason I chose it was because it works out a lot cheaper than the other more popular ones.
Naf joints is also good

 

[Flora]

Im using Arthriaid Ha. I started her off on the ordinary Arthriaid and found it seemed to help her. She actually double barrelled my youngster last week which she never done before as she was always stiff in her hocks. I started her on the extra strength one last week, so hoping I still see results.
There are just so many supplements with so many different opinions, its just trial and error to find the one that suits. Good luck

 

[soulfull]

I would try one of the mid price ranger ones first. Personally I use equiflex by vet vits
or turmeric with the correct oil and fresh ground pepper.. there must be something in its effectiveness for it to be banned by FEI.

But speak to vet first as sometimes the condition needs to avoid supplements until it settles down

 

[oldie48]

Three Counties Equine Hospital, message me if you'd like the name of the vet but he's very experienced and is now a partner I believe. My horse had had cushings for a while but never had laminitis. He had both hocks injected on 2 or 3 occasions with very good results. I was initially very concerned because I'd done some internet research and found mixed messages regarding the use of steroid injections with cushingoid horses but frankly, I trust my vet (wouldn't use him if I didn't). this was about three to four years ago.

Interesting indeed

My vet also contacted one of the equine hospitals (don't know which one) and having discussed the issue with one of their vets said that she wouldn't be happy to carry on with injections as the laminitis risk would be raised ...

I'm wary of steroids at the best of times unless absolutely necessary and went with her advice. Glad it worked for your boy, though!

 

[only_me]

I would try one of the mid price ranger ones first. Personally I use equiflex by vet vits
or turmeric with the correct oil and fresh ground pepper.. there must be something in its effectiveness for it to be banned by FEI.

I didn't think tumeric was a banned substance - I looked on the fei lists but couldn't see it listed. Can you post the link where it says it's banned?

 

[minimex2]

Ive actually done a lot of research into joint supplements for cost vs per scoop. (some you need quite a few scoops to get the 10/10/4 daily requirement.

Ive found the best (getting the 10/10/4 ration) and cheapest per scoop to be Aviform Suppleze gold. This one also contains chlondroitin which is the most expensive part and is meant to make the glucosamine for efficient.

 

[sidsmum]

I use turmeric and equiflex.
The horse I had until recently had arthritis and I upped his supplement to Maxaflex which has a high content of HA and also green lipped mussel along with the other normal joint stuff! Though whether they actually help I'm not sure.

When I asked my vet he said that there is no evidence that they work but there is so much anecdotal evidence that in his opinion it is worth trying if you can afford it.

Also, I think in Dylan's case, arthritis is a degenerative disease and cannot be cured and I think he was probably too far gone, although he had been on equiflex for ten years he had also done a lot of dressage with his previous home and was a high trotting welshie each of which would have an effect on wear and tear of joints.

He had the steroid injections - I think he had three maybe four and the vet said at the last one that the risk of laminitis was too high combined with the lessening of its effectiveness. Between the last two injections there was only a space of three months.

They definitely helped though and I would use them again.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I have a 13 year old tb who's got a fair amount of wear and tear, probably some arthritic changes and lumps
and bumps but most significantly and recently a huge splint that appeared in October and just won't settle, he's not on any supplements at the moment just chaff and beet and haylage and looks very well, the vet is coming out tomorrow to re asses the splint that she xrayed in October and see where we go next, just wondering if a good joint supplement could help and which ones people have used with some success please? Thank you

I save all the previous members useful post here for future generations to read so it is feedback from H&H members just copied and pasted, I do not change anything.

For me Flexi Joint worked as it made my mare from stiff and lame to sound, but read for yourself > http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/a.html

I did read and buy Tumeric as per suggestions here , but sold it when I saw the time consumed mixing it up, I have to much to do to spend time doind this every day. So sold it at a equestrian car boot.

 

[kal40]

Coincidently, I have been having problems with my cob for a few weeks. He spent the day at the vets last week to check out what we though might be a very early splint. Turns out he has a splint but also side bones. The specialist farrier has seen the x-rays so we are going to change his shoes and I have put him (on the advice of the vet) on Synequin. Very expensive! The cob will eat anything but he turned his lovely nose up at dinner last night. Very early days but this is supposed to be good stuff.

 

[Return_of_ducky]

I have tired a good few of the joint supplements on the market - I have to say the one I have noticed a difference on is Hack Up Bespoke. I use the joint supplement and the AI supplement for my veteran horse. I took him off hack up for month after being unsure if it was doing anything and tired Athriaid HA. During this period my instructor and I noticed he was a lot stiffer and considered steroid injections, however I put him back on and within two weeks he was mover much better and far happier! That was back in September and he is still going very well, qualifying for veteran regional dressage too! Based on this, I am a Hack Up convert. I find the service is great, fast and the product is good value for money compared to other supplements in this market. I use the joint supplement and the AI separately as Alex recommended.

I also use magnetic stable boots in the winter to help with the cold and standing in for longer periods, along with hock boots before riding too. I also keep my horse mobile too with regular work as I really think this helps veterans keep young!

 

[Sarah04]

Hi my 17 year old pony also has cushings, ems and arthritis in his hocks he's on spillers lite balancer (did put him on the senior one that is a lot more expensive as it is suppose to help the joints but didn't notice a difference so he's back on the lite balancer) he also get a handful of happy hoof and i've just started a new supplement called equi liquid gold- its liquid turmeric, linseed oil, aloe vera and coconut oil all ready made up to put in to the feed . My pony seems to like it, only been on it 5 days but already seems perkier and not a stiff in the stable. The web site is EquiNutritive and they have a page on face book if you sign up for the news letter you get 20% off first order.

 

[pennandh]

Mr H is on Premierflex HA (which you get direct from the manufacturers at Equine Answers), and that's been marvellous - we've been using it for years and never had any reason to change to anything else.

I know several people on our yard switched over to it based on how well he seems on it, and they've all been very positive about the results they've seen. The same company also do a few other variations aimed at specific requirements, and are very open about what's in which product; so you can easily have a look around their website and find the most appropriate supplement.