joint supplements

[annashulltz]

Hi Everyone!

I’ve been looking into joint supplements for my guy. He is 15 years old and moves well, but he’ll a little stiff and trippy when warming up occasionally. My vet recommended I try some joint supplements. I have tried some in the past, but they never seemed to have helped. Has anyone tried Jeremy’s Joint Jolt or AniMed products? What products have you seen improvements with? What are your go to products that you trust and are effective for your horse? What about Equithrive or CortaFlex? What improvements have you seen? Sorry for the typos, my iphone is such a pain

[jhg140]

SmartPak has a feature where you can compare the levels of active ingredients in all of their available supplements, plus the cost per day, so you can get a feel for what you’re spending your money on.

Personally, I have been very happy with their in-house joint supplement - I used the SmartFlex III on my previous horse, who had arthritic changes in one joint and usually came out pretty stiff, almost lame behind. After a month on that, he was a changed horse, and we scrapped our plans to start him on Adequan. I currently use the SmartFlex II on my jumper, who has no soundness issues (knock on wood), and I have no reason to be unhappy with it.

[mfglickman]

I have no idea if they work, really, but I do have our late teens pony mare on SmartCombo Senior Ultra pellets that include joint, hoof, digestive, and skin supplements. She’s also on Previcox. I love the way her coat and hooves are with the SP, not sure if her movement is improved by the supplement in conjunction with Previcox or if it’s all the Previcox.

[beau159]

@jhg140

SmartPak has a feature where you can compare the levels of active ingredients in all of their available supplements, plus the cost per day, so you can get a feel for what you’re spending your money on.

Personally, I have been very happy with their in-house joint supplement - I used the SmartFlex III on my previous horse, who had arthritic changes in one joint and usually came out pretty stiff, almost lame behind. After a month on that, he was a changed horse, and we scrapped our plans to start him on Adequan. I currently use the SmartFlex II on my jumper, who has no soundness issues (knock on wood), and I have no reason to be unhappy with it.

In my opinion, the most bang-for-your-buck in terms of joint supplements would be something like Adequan or Pentosan (injectable into the muscle). If I had to choose between a feed-through or an injectable, I would do an injectable.

I like both Platinum Performance CJ or else T.H.E. Muscle Mass with joint support.

@mfglickman

I have no idea if they work, really, but I do have our late teens pony mare on SmartCombo Senior Ultra pellets that include joint, hoof, digestive, and skin supplements. She’s also on Previcox. I love the way her coat and hooves are with the SP, not sure if her movement is improved by the supplement in conjunction with Previcox or if it’s all the Previcox.

I wouldn’t think the previcox has anything to do with a horse’s coat. It’s a non-steriodal anti-inflamatory … kinda like Celebrex for humans. It’s a pain reliever.

[RMSSport]

I think most of the joint supplements are a total rip off. But the pure MSM works and has some bonafide research backing it up (not the usual “study” of 5 horses performed by the manufacturer) it also works in people! It’s super cheap as well

[bear_necessities]

I personally really like using CortaFlex (with 100 mg HA) for a daily supplement in conjunction with IV Legend. Giving it IV helps fill in the “nooks and crannies” and helps their body overall, at least that’s how I see it.

I never felt the need to give monthly, my older show horse received it 2-3 times a year. If he wasn’t creaky, I wasn’t going to inject his body with more, IMO. That works for some horses, doesn’t for others.

[SendenHorse]

Once you price things out, Adequan is cheaper than most and proven to be effective.

My horse got really spooky on MSM, so just because it’s not a medicine doesn’t make it “safe”.

I dislike feeling a bunch of powders and fillers to my horse (though my horse is on three things-but not for joints- carefully chosen!)

[Tee]

I use MSM and have used AniFlex GL in the past (only off of it now since he’s recovering from an injury and on Smart Rehab). I liked the AF GL, and you sure can’t beat the price.

[lmlacross]

I do use MSM, mostly to deal with inflammation related to stocking up when mare is stalled due to weather. Other than that, though, I think injectables are the better route to go.

[RedHorses]

Way back when I asked my vet about a joint supplement for the horse who had a bone chip in his hock he told me: pick one. If you don’t see a change in two weeks that one doesn’t work for your horse. Pick a different one.

I was surprised, but that advice has served me well. I started that horse on one joint supplement and noticed a difference on the fourth day - yes, really!

My current horse went from a 10-12min walk warm up to a 5-6min walk warm up (as in walked until ready to trot) on the supplement I chose for him.

I will add one piece to my vet’s advice - buy something that is readily available to you, either carried reliably by your local tack shop or from a reliable mail order business. When you find something that works the last thing you want to do is have trouble getting it.

Good luck!

[tbchick84]

My horse is 15 too and I just added a supplement for the same reason. I’m trying Smartflex Restore and seeing it that has any affect. I love Cosequin ASU, but it only comes in a fine powder and I need a pellet.

[HunterMarc]

I have not used any that you have mentioned. My old mare who is now 21 (sold her last spring) I bought her when she was 8. I had her on a joint supplement from day 1 as a preventative, not because she was stiff or previous injuries. Every horse is different but this I believe helped her go as healthy, sound and long as she did being a jumper and is to this day. I started her off on Fluid Action by Finish line for about 5 years or so, then I switched over to SmartPaks SmartFlex II Support for a few years. When she was in her later teens I had her on Cosequin w/ MSM for a few months and switched her over to SmartFlex Senior.

When I switched from Fluid Action to Smart Pak, it was mostly because I liked the ingredients better and was comparable in price. No real reason that I switched to Cosequin, mostly a trial and then went to a senior form of SmartPak. Again never had issues but felt it was the best thing I did for maintenance keeping her joints healthy.

I now have a 8 year old gelding who I have had for 1 year. I recently put him on Smart Flex II Support and will continue, hoping I have the same results and outcome when he is older.

I understand it can be costly to do so. Just make sure you do your research that whatever you use has enough MSM, Glucosamine etc as if there is not enough, it wont be effective and will be a waste of money. SmartPak has a graph you can use to compare ingredients to other supplements.

Sometimes a talk with your vet may be a good option too depending on your horses needs, and what you would be doing with your horse. Discussing current issues, age etc.

[hunterjumper98]

I use SmartFlex Senior Herb-Free Pellets for my 15-year-old gelding. I believe it does make a difference in his comfort level and movement. He seems to work out of any winter stiffness much quicker and moves better than he has in years. I tried Cosequin for a while, but I didn’t feel that it made much of a difference, which was quite disappointing since I paid a good bit of money for it. It really depends on your horse as to what will work best for them. Your horse may or may not do better on an oral supplement.

For what it’s worth, SmartPak has a great variety of joint supplements to choose from, and they even have the capability to compare them side by side. Their brand of supplements is pretty great as a whole. I haven’t found one of their supplements that haven’t benefitted my horses. I’ve used their joint supplements, electrolytes, and hoof supplements, and all of my horses eagerly ate them up. I have also heard great things about Aniflex, but I have not personally tried it.

[leheath]

Recovery EQ is what I would use. Demonstrably effective on relieving stiffness and discomfort from shoulder arthritis in our 26 yo percheron/TB - it was very obvious when the BO accidentally forgot to feed it for a bit (without us knowing), especially in her comfort level going down hills (weight on shoulders). Eventually it became ineffective (after several years) and we switched to previcox, which has allowed her to continue trail riding for several more years (and still going).

[GoodTimes]

I wrote a paper on joint supplements a few years ago. You’re money is much better spent on injectables. When glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate are taken orally only about 5% of it makes it to the joint. With IM products like Adequan that number increases, and finally the most effective is joint injections (but then you run a higher risk of infection).

If you insist on going with an oral joint supplement do your research and determine how much of each ingredient is in a dose, and how much you need to feed to meet an effective threshold.

You also shouldn’t believe any anecdotal evidence that says that results were immediate. The supplements don’t “lubricate” the joints, they provide the building blocks for cartilage and synovial fluid. There has also never been any proof that any of this stuff can reverse the damage.

[HunterMarc]

@GoodTimes

I wrote a paper on joint supplements a few years ago. You’re money is much better spent on injectables. When glucosamine, hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate are taken orally only about 5% of it makes it to the joint. With IM products like Adequan that number increases, and finally the most effective is joint injections (but then you run a higher risk of infection).

If you insist on going with an oral joint supplement do your research and determine how much of each ingredient is in a dose, and how much you need to feed to meet an effective threshold.

You also shouldn’t believe any anecdotal evidence that says that results were immediate. The supplements don’t “lubricate” the joints, they provide the building blocks for cartilage and synovial fluid. There has also never been any proof that any of this stuff can reverse the damage.

Agree! I still feed a supplement though.