Does anyone have suggestions for a quality broad based support supplement? Looking for something reasonably priced with high quality joint support for a middle aged thoroughbred? Thanks in advance
Most of the all-around supplements with good joint support aren’t what I’d call reasonably priced: Platinum Performance CJ, SmartCombo Ultra or Ultimate, Reitsport HA-100.
That’s the gospel, lol.
If it’s going to work, you almost need a second job to pay for it - regardless what “it” is:)
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The best, all-around “supplement” is a well crafted feeding program that permits sensible exercise by a reasonably skilled horsemen/women.
Put another way, the best “supplement” isn’t a “supplement” at all. It’s good, old fashioned husbandry and horsemanship.
G.
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I’d say this - with the caveat that a good feeding program is one that is going to provide the minerals and vitamins required in something approaching correct ratios, and therefore likely includes some degree of “supplement” whether in the form of a fortified feed that complements your forage, or a vit/min supplement that is designed to balance in the case of a forage-based diet.
My approach: roughage, roughage, roughage. Keep fibre and saliva moving through the digestive tract as much as possible. Test hay (or in my case use compiled data in local ag office) and supplement vits/mins as needed. I use a custom mix (cheaper and more targeted). Feed the vits on either soaked hay cubes (more roughage!) or molasses free beet pulp - good for those who need more weight.
When it comes to joints: movement. As much turnout as possible and as much movement in turnout as possible. Even in smaller paddocks: feed hay in bags and set 'em up around the paddock so they move about.
If the joint actually has an issue, there’s very very little evidence that feed through supplementation does anything. Adjust the lifestyle to promote better joint health and/or joint injections are what will provide results.
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I will be sure to relay posts numbers 4 & 5 to my horse with the fractured sacrum, that he Re-fractured again during a hail storm last year.
And that’s a veterinarian diagnosis for the record.
he is miraculously enjoying quality of life thanks to a great chiropractor/acupuncturist AND a joint supplement.
Also for the record, there isn’t a vet around that would even consider any sort of injections for this horse, so a credible and expensive oral supplement is what he receives.
Everything in this life is not always so black and white that merely a good diet and ample turnout are the answer.
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I’ll only speak for post 5 (:)) but nowhere in it is there the suggestion that good diet and turnout are the answer to medical emergencies such as a sacrum fracture. Also, just for the record, I do supplement. Not a joint-specific supplement, but I “supplement” my horses’ diets by adding vit/min not provided by their forage, and I add extra calories via higher-fat additives a la flax or hemp, or feeding supps with higher calorie things like BP.
It is really, truly excellent to hear your horse has bounced back from that (twice!!) and that you have the care routine he needs down pat. I don’t take that as somehow contradictory to my post. Personally, I still won’t recommend oral joint supplements because there are no studies that demonstrate their efficacy (that I have seen, would be happy to be disabused of this notion!). But I also wouldn’t presume to tell you to take your horse off a supplement when clearly your routine is working for your horse. It doesn’t matter if I, a random person on the internet, believes that the supplement is responsible for your horse’s recovery or not.
So yeah, it’s not about everything being black and white, or “all supplements bad,” or discounting anyone’s routine that is working for them. If someone asks me for advice on a good “overall” supplement that includes joint health, my response is going to be: balanced diet based on tested hay and lots of movement.
If someone tells me that they brought a horse back from a sacrum fracture to comfort and good quality of life and that the horse is on a joint supplement as part of their care, my response is going to be: “holy hell, congratulations and your horse is lucky to have you!”
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I answered the question as asked. If you had asked the question regarding fractures I might have had a different answer.
G.
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For the Reit-Sport, I notice it lists Biotin as an inactive ingredient. What does “inactive” mean, in this context?
What do you mean by “broad based support”? Joint support supplements are everywhere, most of them useless. Hyaluronic supplements with high molecular weight are ones to look for, and this might require calling the company to ask. Lubrisyn is one that is high enough.
As for the rest of “broad based support”, that should come from the diet, unless you are referring to something specific, such as allergy support, respiratory support, etc.
I think if they get good quality grain and hay, most horses don’t need supplements. But for the horses that need something extra, whether joint, coat, hoof, supplements do help.
the reason I say this because if your horse just needs a joint supplement just give him a joint supplement. I particularly like Equithrive. Not only because my horse eats it, they have actual studies that show it works and does what it says. That is huge because there are many supplements that don’t have this and may be doing nothing for the animal. Equithrive is pricey, but it’s worth the money and 1 8lb bucket will last you all year. Look up Equithrive, the studies and data behind it.
if you are looking for an all in one, I use Platinum Performance, again pricey, but my horse actually eats it ( first step to helping ) and I’ve seen much improvement. Also, PP, comes with a colic program too. I give the Equithrive and the PP for my horses.
Hi OP, I also use Equithrive and Lubrysin - my pony likes them. He won’t touch Platinum products. He is on a very well managed nutritional program with turn out, but he’s a little older and I’m happy to do some additional things for him. Hope this is helpful somehow to you.
Mine get Platinum or Equine Omega Complete. In winter I add Alfalox to their grain due to the hay quality where I live. Now the grass is coming in so there’s lots and lots of grass.
Adequan in lieu of joint supplements for me. Horsetech High Point Grass, plus an Omega 3 supplement (Horseshine is my fav)
Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I will look into them
As an FYI, Adequan literature doesn’t say it has been reviewed in PPID/IR horses. I did not realize that. My horse is both, so we did our own research of n=1. We pulled a blood sample, gave the Adequan, and pulled a sample the following day. His insulin went up 10 points! I will not give it to him again.
