Supplements for joints/flexibility/mobility

[pennybun]

My horse is 15 and not showing any particular stiffness/lameness but I am considering starting using a supplement before he does, if that makes sense? He's a thoroughbred (but nobody has ever told him), 16hh, worked lightly 5/6 days a week (light schooling, hacking, jumping maybe once a month). He is out all day and in at night and gets Winergy Equilibrium Condition which has really helped keep his weight on.

What do you feed for your horses' joints? There are so many to choose from

 

[gill84]

My 17 yr old Irish draught x was showing signs of stiffness and the farrier picked up on it. I've put her back on naf 5 star superflex liquid and I've noticed she's alot more flexible and loosens up quicker when I'm schooling. It's what she was on when I evented her and it worked for her so I was bit wary of trying something else. I used to work in an equine and pet store and tbh there all much a muchness when you study them just slight variations in price. There's herbal ones too but the money you spend getting into their system and it takes weeks you can have spent a fortune before you notice any improvements if any at all

 

[pennybun]

That's really helpful gill84, thanks. I was wondering how much difference there was between all of them, and that's what is so confusing!

 

[gill84]

Oh and there's no difference between feeding powder and liquid I just chose liquid (she was on powder last time) coz it was £4 cheaper than the powder but lasted the same amount of time. My mum uses one called equiflex it's often advertised in horsey magazines and they actually work the dosage out for you for you depending on what the horse is size etc and workload. Then they calculate what you'll use and send a new tub a few days before the previous one rubs out so you don't need to worry about reordering. She likes that one on her slightly arthritic in the neck thoroughbred and again shes definately looser but I stuck to what I knew worked on my mare

 

[White socks]

I really like cortaflex and have found it of benefit. I know it's 1 of the most expensive but the best I have tried.

 

[unbalanced]

My horse was on synequin which the vet put her on last autumn. She has bilateral spavins and also arthritis in one hind fetlock which she had a bone chip removed from last autumn (it had been in there a long time, maybe 15 years). Now she has been downgraded to pure glucosamine and when the insurance runs out I think I might change her to riaflex which a lot of people on here recommend as having the same ingredients (also same quantities) to synequin but a much better price.

I have tried the blue chip one (joint rlf?), superflex, cortaflex - quite a few of the ones you get in the feed store and to be honest I didn't see any results and I felt that I was throwing my money away. Cortaflex has similar ingredients to synequin although it is much much cheaper because the ingredients are there in much smaller quantities. I think my horse really needed something with a bit more kick.

 

[Tammytoo]

Suppleaze Gold by Aviform is good and not expensive.

 

[**Vanner**]

American equine make a starter joint supplement called Kentucky.

I've started mine on gold label as it is the only one i could find with all its glucosamine as sulphate!

 

[claireandnadia]

Premier flex plus by Equine answers. Works out at about £10 per month and it is good.

 

[sally2008]

I have my 24 year old on Equine Americas Glucosamine & MSM (£15.99 for a months supply) as he's been doing more of late. He has about the same mileage as the average space shuttle and was just starting to show signs of a little stiffness behind after more energetic work (he doesn't agree with the theory that he should be semi-retired now). Seems to be effective.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Oh and there's no difference between feeding powder and liquid I just chose liquid (she was on powder last time) coz it was £4 cheaper than the powder but lasted the same amount of time. My mum uses one called equiflex it's often advertised in horsey magazines and they actually work the dosage out for you for you depending on what the horse is size etc and workload. Then they calculate what you'll use and send a new tub a few days before the previous one rubs out so you don't need to worry about reordering. She likes that one on her slightly arthritic in the neck thoroughbred and again shes definately looser but I stuck to what I knew worked on my mare

Actually, I've noticed a difference with my 32 year old who I put on the liquid to start, was great felt sound, I thought I'd put him on the powder and there is a difference. I'm going to put him back on the liquid when it runs out, I only got a small one to try, I think I read somewhere that for oldies the liquid is better as they can absorb it easier, you both might me ok on the powder

 

[NOISYGIRL]

I really like cortaflex and have found it of benefit. I know it's 1 of the most expensive but the best I have tried.

My vet told me if I was going to use cortaflex to use the HA version

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Suppleaze Gold by Aviform is good and not expensive.

I was wondering about this make, thanks for that, I'm not sure wether to risk it as its powder as I've found Superflex liquid is good for mine

 

[Oberon]

I found simple micronised linseed great and I added turmeric (cheap and cheerful).

 

[Ella19]

Another for naf superflex. Use it on my 7yr pjs made with no problems but hunts hard in winter. Actually she does have a clicky fetlock which stops when on this. As a pony 1 large tub lasts her 180 ish days!

 

[Ella19]

7 yr old mare even! Pjs? Stupid phone!

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I really like cortaflex and have found it of benefit. I know it's 1 of the most expensive but the best I have tried.

I tried Cortiflex HA it helped a bit though my mare was still on bute

I spoke to David at Equimins about flexi joint now my mare is on it and not on bute.

other joint supplements helped but NOTHING like Equimins Flexi Joint . My mare went from very stiff to a youngster and doing sponsored rides at 22 . It works out cheaper than cortiflex you give less of it so more cost effective.

Here is the reply to a member on this forum who tried it. she p m me. And Equimins offer a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE which is more than any others do

Hi there,
A couple weeks ago you recommended equimins flexijoint to me for my arthritic mare.
Just wanted to say thanks!! It has made a massive difference. Way more so than the 2 sachets a day of danilon did! She started on the danilon when the devils relief she was on seemed to stop having much effect and tbh it hasn't really made much difference, she was still totally lame just in the field, and I have been debating THAT decision.
But!! She has been on the flexijoint about 2 weeks now and she's gone from trotting like a cripple to only just noticeably lame which is fine for her, she's retired and I just want her to be comfortable to potter round the field.

She travelled to her new home like a beaut and of course had a hooley round in the field so she's probably sore from that, but she looked ok doing it and didn't seem in pain. When she's settled I'm thinking of taking the danilon down to 1 a day and see if it makes any difference, I doubt it will and there's no point pumping her with stuff she doesn't need.

So... Sorry for the essay!! The short story is thanks tons for the recommendation! Xxxx

David from Equimins knows his stuff he is nutritionist. They make their supplements from scratch . He is so helpful unlike gold label they list all the ingredients.

 

[hippo-horse]

I feed global herbs flax oil, as a precautionary measure.I dont have any stiffness issues with my horse,but as she is a veteran I want to help her avoid them if I can. She does sound less "clicky" with this one. I think we have tried most of the supplements in the mid price range, and will be sticking with the flax oil untill she needs something more powerfull.