Your recommendations re Cortaflex etc?

frannieuk

frannieuk

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I have always previously used Cortaflex on my 9yo mare, who is very short coupled and upright and has a tendency to stiffness behind. She hasn't been on Cortaflex for a few months and I want to re-introduce it.

However, reading H&H I saw an ad for ExtraFlex, which seems to have a higher level of glucosamine - anyone use this and how do you rate it compared to Cortaflex?

Or do you use a different product entirely, and if so what?!
Thanks in advance
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I have used extraflex on my 21 year old pony and he was great on it. It smells and tastes great and he loved it with or without feed. I changed him to NAF superflex 2 months ago as it was cheaper, and he is never stiff, but its harder to get him to eat the superflex as it smells a little odd.
 
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Is superflex cheaper than cortaflex? just wondering as I am about to run out of my 4 month tub of Cortaflex (53 quid)?

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I'm looking at an ad that says a 4.8kg tub (160 days) is £83.99, although this is an offer, so probably works out more expensive than Cortaflex normally.

Helenabbey - Just looked at an ad and it says that the Superflex also has more glucosamine than Cortaflex - I'm so confused as to what to buy
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Mine has bit of a stiff shoulder and was noticeably 'short' on it last year. Last night we collected our trophy for winning this seasons local winter open jumping league, so I cant speak highly enough of Extraflex and Superflex!
 
I tried to economise and stopped Cortaflex a few years ago. I tried the VetVits one which was new on the market at that time but eventually had to concede that the Equine America product was much better for my cob.

Have moved up to Cortavet since then!
 
I have my eventing boy on superflex. Initially i put him on soluble superflex but have now changed to five star superflex and there is definitely a difference. His joints are clicking less and he is not stiff when he comes out of his stable in the morning.
 
Cortaflex will have lower levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin, because it is a different kind of joint supplement that doesn't rely on these ingredients because of the low absorption.

Their website gives the following information:

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Many other joint supplements on the market today still rely on Glucosamine, Chondroitin or a combination of the two. Equine America has always maintained that the problem with Chondroitin and Glucosamine is that these molecules are too large to be absorbed efficiently.

Cortaflex does not rely on the larger Chondroitin and Glucosamine molecules. Cortaflex is a unique formulation of the smaller key active isolates of Chondroitin and Glucosamine.  These smaller molecules are absorbed in higher concentrations and stimulate the body's own production of Chondroitin and Glucosamine, resulting in a fast, highly effective product.

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Personally I have found Cortaflex much more effective than Superflex/Mobifor in helping my horse with her arthritic stiffness. Some people claim the opposite though so it's really a question of making your own trial and observations.
 
well i used cortaflex on bloss and it had no effect what so ever (she has mild arthritis in her hocks and gets very stiff).

So i put her on instant linseed by simple systems - £30 for 15kg - a 3 month supply. She was a totally differnt horse, shes really supple behind, lively and has an amazing coat too!!
 
Re: Cortaflex - what do people think of the use of protein derived from mammalian sources in the ingredients?

Personally I switched to Superflex after discovering this as they advised the protein source was from the by products of the shellfish industry. Not noticed any difference in him since the change.
 
There is a relatively new product from Sweden called Biosynov which a lot of the top names in eventing are swearing by. The sort they start one horse on then move the whole yard onto because the results ahve been so good.

Friend of mine is now the UK rep for it due to being so impressed with it.


Where we live it is very hilly and often shows up stiffness in horses much quicker than in flat areas as they are reluctant to go down hills at “normal” speed etc. Having fed this to 2 older competition horses the difference has been amazing (both formerly on Cortaflex) They are really striding out, full of life again and unstoppable out hunting whereas before both were sort of lame in all 4 legs feeling due to stiffness. Dressage trainer has also noticed such a difference in one that she’s started feeding it to all her horses!

First heard about it through an event rider Dag Albert who is Swedish and feeds all his horses on it. He swears by it and recommended it to Andrew Hoy who had something that was just feeling his feet/joints a bit running on the harder ground and never being quite right/happy when running. He was so impressed that his whole yard is now on it and it sort of goes on from there.

Basically glucosamine which is in all joint supplements prevents further damage being done so really is only effective at maintaining what you’ve got or if fed from a v young age reducing the incidence of joint damage. For any horse that has worked be it hard competition or hacking/hunting and now suffering the consequences or is out there working there will be wear and tear to the joints and ideally you want to improve that not just maintain whats already done a la simply glucosamine.

This is where BioSynov is different, unlike the Cortaflex/glucosamine supplements which are meant to be fed as a preventative, this also improves the joints. It contains mild anti-inflammatory ingredients, a large number of antioxidants to aid healing and also something that increases natural joint lubrication. It basically treats what damage is there hopefully improving it and then prevents further damage too….

Apparently effects are noticible within 10 days and after the first box (30 days) looking back you can usually see the dramatic improvement.

It is called Biosynov by biofarmab a Swedish company and there are 2 reps in the country. I have details for one who will do 1 box (30 day supply – it comes ready done in sachets like say bute – although larger and v yellow!) at £32.95 and then depending on how many you want there are discounts available. Think most people seem to buy a 6 month supply at v good price.
 
I'd be interested in the reps contact details if possible please.
Just googled it and everything is in swedish! Do you have a data sheet available?
 
I don't but I'll PM you the number of the person and i'm sure she will! I know what you mean about Swedish!!
 
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Re: Cortaflex - what do people think of the use of protein derived from mammalian sources in the ingredients?

Personally I switched to Superflex after discovering this as they advised the protein source was from the by products of the shellfish industry. Not noticed any difference in him since the change.

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Yet so many people swear by pernamax (sp).

You cant have it both ways.
 
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I've found Newmarket joint supplement to be really good.

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My friend has just put her oldie on this as her vet told her its the only product that has been proved to work under trials. It doesn't work out that expensive (compared to some) - £120 for 2.5 kg, lasts for about 6 months.
 
I am sure this is going to be controversial - but is there any scientific evidence that Cortaflex and similar brands work at all? My friend is a vet and after looking at the packages, the information at the stands at Burghley and speaking to the people on the stalls she was unconvinced that they have any benefit - other than anecdotal evidence.
Does anyone have any scientific proof? I have a horse with navicular and would do anything to help her - but doing something on the basis that "it might work so you might as well try" would mean she would be 6ft under magnetic rugs and on so many supplements she exploded.....
Thanks for any info!
 
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I have a horse with navicular and would do anything to help her - but doing something on the basis that "it might work so you might as well try" would mean she would be 6ft under magnetic rugs and on so many supplements she exploded.....

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The only evidence I can offer is based on what I see in my horse who had navicular. And these are the things that worked:

1. Barefoot podiatry
2. Pernamax Equine
3. Cortaflex

These are the things I tried before I found the above, that didn't work:

1. Box rest
2. Global Herbs Tendoneaze
3. Natural Balance Shoeing
4. Magnetic boots
5. Superflex/Mobifor

Hope this helps you narrow down the options!!!
 
Not tried it with navicular. The chestnut cob in my sig was 17 years old last year, had retired from top level showing for 4 years. For various reasons we brought him back into showing last year and he was sound, but a little bit bone shakery. Put him on Cortaflex and the difference in the ride was noticeable within 3 days. I am not one for potions for the sake of it, but it made an immense difference to his way of going. By the end of the season (at the age of 17 years old as I have already said) he was second at the RIHS and qualified for HOYS.
 
I think, like every supplement, it totally depends on the horse. Some things work for some but not for others.

Personally, I tried Cortaflex on mine and saw no improvement. Mine have been on NAF 5* Superflex for about a year now and wow. Totally different horses. Fabulous stuff!

I know people on Extraflex and they think its great. I think its a bit more pricey than the NAF kind though so Im sticking with it!
 
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