I recently purchased a horse that is Clyde/Quarter Horse and all though she has never been diagnosed with EPSM, her previous owner did mention that she does get stiff after to many treat/sugars. She has never actually “tied-up”, and I want to keep her that way.
However, she is turning 12 years old this year and I feel it is a good thing to put her on a joint supplement. She currently isn’t on any grain (only hay) and does live outside 24/7. She is a very easy keeper. I do know if I was to put her on a grain, it would have to be very low in starches/carbs/sugars. I would probably put her on rice bran, for that instance. Maybe just a handful (once a day) I do know rice bran is high in the Omegas which do help horses with EPSM. Or what grain would you recommend?
Are there supplements that help with EPSM? Are there supplements that you would recommend for joint care for a horse that does possibly have EPSM?
I don’t think rice bran is something that you feed alone. Also it’s a high fat supplement for horses that have trouble keeping their weight. Is your horse getting skinny on just hay? Rice bran is not a joint supplement.
You could feed hay with a low NSC ration balancer or with a vitamin/mineral supplement in a simple mash of alfalfa cubes or beet pulp, both low NSC.
Whether feed through joint supplements have any effect is open to debate. There are other recent threads on this topic that might have good information.
YOu might want to get her tested for EPSM just to know whati’s going on. The owner might have been mistaken as to cause and effect.
If she does you also probably want to pay attention to the sugar levels in your hay. You need to get your hay tested to know that.
Of the commercial feeds you don’t have to special order Triple Crown Sr has the lowest NSC rate and is what I feed. If she’s an extremely easy keeper, then someone else can chime in about ration balancers. Vitamin E is probably something you want to supplement too if she’s not on any grain or is going to be just getting a ration balancer. With EPSM/PSSM the trick is a high fat/low carb diet and making sure she’s getting enough Vitamin E. Lush pastures are not good for these horses because of the sugar content; neither is confinement. Mine are out 24/7 on adequate but not lush pasture. Legume hay, like alfalfa is generally a better hay choice for these horses as well. There are tons of threads about feeding EPSM/PSSM horses, several websites and even a FB group, so lots or reasources to check out and see what might be best in your situation for your horse.
As to a feed through joint supplement, you’ll get all sorts or replies. I am not currently feeding one but have used MSM and I’m not sure it really did anything. Right now, my oldest is only 10.
Some thoughts from someone who has a horse with mild PSSM:
-MSM is very low cost and does help with overall inflammation. Aim for 10,000 or more mg/day.
-Be aware that rice bran is fairly high in non structural carbs (sugars), or NSCs. For some EPSM/PSSM horses, it can help with keeping weight on, but other fat options can work better for others (ex. flax).
-Since your horse is any easy keeper on hay, I would just be thinking about rounding out the diet with possible a vit/min supplement and perhaps additional Vitamin E (I use Natural E from San Juan Ranch). If you horse has muscle wasting, you might think about adding additional protein (ex. alfalfa) and/or amino acids (ex. Tri-Amino). My horse does well with the addition of “ALCAR” (acetyl-l-carnitine), but it does not make a difference for all horses.
-Be aware that spring grass may be too much for your horse (too much sugar). You may need to use a dry lot or muzzle or just reduce pasture time.
-Keeping my mare in regular exercise and warm enough (good, waterproof sheets and protection during really damp/wet cold weather) also makes a big difference in her management.
If her weight is fine, or a bit heavy, on just forage, then no feed/grain. She would however benefit from a good quality v/m supplement and, if necessary, a small bit of something to mix it with
I would probably put her on rice bran, for that instance. Maybe just a handful (once a day)
A handful is pretty useless PSSM horses need a higher fat diet, and that has to come from more than a handful of something that’s only about 40% fat.
I do know rice bran is high in the Omegas which do help horses with EPSM.
Omegas is generic - 3, 6, 9. 9 isn’t an essential one, so no need to worry about that.
6 is pro-inflammatory, and horses in general don’t need any more of that.
3 is anti-inflammatory, and all horses on all/mostly hay diets do benefit from more, as they aren’t getting it from fresh grass.
It is the fat in general that benefits PSSM horses, keeping 6 low and 3 high, as much as possible.
Or what grain would you recommend?
A ration balancer at the most, and depending on her weight, not even that.
Are there supplements that help with EPSM? Are there supplements that you would recommend for joint care for a horse that does possibly have EPSM?
Any info/recommendations would be great! Thanks!
PSSM horses need a reduced NSC diet (so treat as if IR), and an increased fat diet. Type 2 horses need a higher protein diet along with higher fat, though it seems their fat can be a bit lower than Type 1 horses.
Many PSSM horses benefit from extra Selenium ( always blood test first!!) and vitamin E, outside of what would normally be supplied. ALL horses on all/mostly hay diets need extra E, and PSSM horses might benefit from even a bit more.
To my knowledge there aren’t any restrictions for joint supplements for PSSM horses, so whatever works, works. I agree that MSM is a good, cheap place to start. Flax, for the Omega 3, some fat, is also beneficial with its anti-inflammatory O3.
PSSM horses need a higher fat diet, and that has to come from more than a handful of something that’s only about 40% fat.