Young, healthy, sound horse - when do I start joint supplements?

[BigMick]

My draft cross just turned 7. He is a healthy sound horse. Right now, he’s in work ~5 days/week consisting of dressage flat work (loading the hocks just a bit) and maybe 2 days of jumping (nothing higher than 2’9", maybe 20 jumps total each schooling). He started jumping consistently this Jan/Feb - I waited for him to grow up a bit.

I also fox hunt him so from October-April he’s doing more of that than ring work.

I’m really careful with him and try to avoid repetitive work (circle, circle, circle) as much as possible.

He’s really great, and I’ve never had a horse this young or sound - I’m used to older guys that are maintained with adequan, Legend, MSM, etc.

Should I be giving him anything now to keep him feeling great and those joints healthy?

[JB]

Personally, I wouldn’t use anything other than perhaps MSM during the working season. It’s a proven anti-inflammatory, so 10,000-20,000mg/day, depending on how big he is, is the most I’d do.

Everything else is likely just a waste of money.

Keep his feet well-balanced, his saddle fit and ridden work correct, warm up and cool down well, and that’s the best preventive medicine.

[DressageChic2]

well, i do, from babies upwards, i figure it can only either do nothing or help…and even a TINY bit of help is great. as soon as they start any work, so even a 2yo doing halter lessons, they get a joint supp.

but i think that many people will tell you they do nothing, me i dont mind wasting money to know i did everything i could.

[JB]

There’s definitely no harm, and if you have the money, go for it

The “problem” is you can’t ever know if feeding it does anything. If the horse develops some hock arthritis at age 12, did the join supplements fail to do as claimed (probably) or would the arthritis be worse than if he’d not been on anything (less likely)?

If he lives to be 35 and never took a lame step, is that because of the supps (unlikely) or despite them (most likely)?

Those are the things to consider, and it definitely won’t hurt to use something.

[BigMick]

@JB

Keep his feet well-balanced, his saddle fit and ridden work correct, warm up and cool down well, and that’s the best preventive medicine.

Excellent points! I have one of the best blacksmiths in the country, both saddles are seen by an excellent saddle fitter a few times a year (his body changes shape with the in/out of hunt season and due to overall muscle development/age), he gets regular massage work, carrot stretches, and tons of turnout (16 hours/day year round).

I’ll start the MSM. It’s relatively inexpensive and my vet highly recommends it.

[beau159]

I give my younger horse pentosan as “prevention”. Will it help? Who knows. But it makes me feel better.

And of course, have regular routine vet checks, chiro checks, farrier work, etc.

[Laurierace]

I vote never. If you get to the point where he needs something go with Injections of pentosan or adequan.

[luvmyhackney]

I feed MSM to everything as an anti-inflammatory.If anything more is needed I just give Adequan or Pentosan.
I start every ride with 20-30 minutes of walking to get everything moving before starting real work. Also, don’t let your horse get overweight, that taxes the joints and I personally think the trim job plays the most important role. A bad trim stresses all the wrong things.

[lorilu]

A friend is VERY familiar with the testing that went on when Cosequin was developed. She told me that, in dogs, those on cosequin showed less inflammation and quicker healing after “injury”. On that basis, I give it to both my sound as a dollar horses - as a hedge because they both work hard, on less than perfect footing -

[SuckerForHorses]

@JB

Personally, I wouldn’t use anything other than perhaps MSM during the working season. It’s a proven anti-inflammatory, so 10,000-20,000mg/day, depending on how big he is, is the most I’d do.

Everything else is likely just a waste of money.

Keep his feet well-balanced, his saddle fit and ridden work correct, warm up and cool down well, and that’s the best preventive medicine.

This, and as much turnout as you can to promote regular movement would also help.

[BigMick]

@SuckerForHorses

This, and as much turnout as you can to promote regular movement would also help.

He is out from 3:00pm to 8:00am, year-round. Yes, even in winter he’s on night turnout. (He has an incredible wardrobe of Rambo blankets, plenty of hay, and a nice run-in shed). So that’s 17 hours/day.

[candyappy]

Why pay for and give something he doesn’t need? Many horses have long productive lives and are worked hard for most of it and never need joint supplements to stay sound and working. Mine never have at least.

Does the vet feel he is a candidate due to conformation issues?

[Manni01]

@candyappy

Why pay for and give something he doesn’t need? Many horses have long productive lives and are worked hard for most of it and never need joint supplements to stay sound and working. Mine never have at least.

Does the vet feel he is a candidate due to conformation issues?

I agree, and I believe joints stay healthy if the horse moves around a lot and is not confined to a stall most of the time. But I do feed all my horses flaxseed… I think that is good for joints…

[BigMick]

@candyappy

Does the vet feel he is a candidate due to conformation issues?

Nope, not at all. He’s fairly well put together. I had an extensive PPE done when I bought him - whistle clean joints.