| Archive for It's About The Horse The Free Forum for those Doing Parelli - and a whole lot More! "Anything forced and misunderstood can never be beautiful." Xenophon (430-355 B.C.), |
| SonnyWimps |
Joint Supplements? Suggestions?Hey everyoneI've been debating this for a while now and I talked to my barn owner last week and she thought it was a great idea to put Sonny on a joint supplement. He doesn't have arthritis now, but he's cow built (large body, short legs) and I think that when he gets older he will have some arthritic problems and thought that putting him on a supplement now may help him later. Anyone have any good supplements that you'd recommend? I've been thinking of the Majesty Flex treats but I want to know my different options. I need something that he can eat without grain. He's an extremely easy keeper and gets no grain at all. Also something easy to give would be nice. Any suggestions? |
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| becky b |
My 27 year old arthritic mare gets Fluid Flex liquid over her senior feed, daily. Then once a month I give her a shot of 10 cc of Acetyl D-Glucosamine which is generic Adequan. I am not familiar with the types that come in a treat. My mare is an extreme case, about 3 years ago she could not even walk the length of the barn. She is out in a pasture now with two other horses, I see her trot pretty regular and on really good days I have seen her canter for a few seconds to the barn at feeding time. | ||
| SonnyWimps |
yeah well I can't use anything that I can put over grain or mix into cause my horse doesn't need grain and I think he'd founder on grain 
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| becky b |
I'll read the label on the Fluid Flex and compare it to some of the other products like the treat kind that you need and see if I see something comparable if no one else comes up with anything. What ever it is in the Fluid Flex works really well. My vet recommended it several years ago when my 30 something mare got stiff, and she lived to be 37 and could still get around pretty good. | ||
| SonnyWimps |
yeah I might see what other ways I could use the liquid...I jsut don't want to give my horse grain..he's too fat for it and I'm not a fan of it myself | ||
| oldmac_donald |
Don't you guys have like hay pellets over there? We use chaff (chopped hay). Use that, great for hiding supps. You could use sugarbeet, laminitis-safe pellets, crust of bread.
I use Technyflex (mussel powder). It stinks like ... mussels... so into sugar beet it goes. I have hidden bute in a crust with a dob of peanut butter before. Better then horse turning it's nose up and you wasting money on supps it won't eat. |
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| Leah |
Personally I would not spend my money on a problem I did not have.
If my horse needed a supplement I would use Adequan IM not a feed through. |
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| SonnyWimps |
why take vitamins then if someone doesn't have a deficiency?
I'm going to give him a joint supplement. He will have it when he's older I am pretty sure of that. People do it for dogs and such....my friend does it for her Great Dane since he's a large dog. There is nothing wrong with giving it to them even if they don't have a problem |
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| jokersmama |
You could bake your own treats with whatever supplement you decide on, or just buy the majesty's flex cookies (easier  ). Pretty sure those are the only ones that don't need to be mixed into some other feed. I fed those to my 22 yr old gelding but he got to where he wouldn't eat them so I had to hide them in his food anyway. He doesn't need any joint supplements now though, his joint stiffness was from his hooves 
Are your horses joints making noise? Is he stiff? How old is he? |
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| Leah |
Well good for you! I gave you a suggestion. Adequan. I would also offer this suggestion. Please do some research on whether it is safe to give IR horse glucosamine. Now I realize you did not say your horse was IR-BUT this is one example of when certain 'supplements' are not 'ok even if they don't have a problem.' If you are so knowledgeable in joint supplements and the long term impact on health, why are you asking which one to use? |
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| karmikacres |
We have had far better results with balanced nutrition than any supplement.
Mike |
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| Leah |
exactly. Yes there are times when additional products are needed but there must be a reason. I can't help but wonder if some of these supplements are predisposing horses to metabolic issues. The metabolism of the horse is NOT like that of a dog-they can't be treated the same. |
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| calatar |
I was going to post something funny but thought better of it. |
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| Clarissa |
some people just have too much money to burn 
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| SonnyWimps |
Not meaning offense to this but I believe what my barn owner thinks more than you Clarissa. She has proven more truthful than you and not as rude. I didn't say "should I give my horse a joint supplement" I asked which joint supplement you use. There iis nothing wrong with giving it to a horse to help him (a) if he does (b) he might or probably will get it in the future Just because I want to put him on a joint supplement doesn't mean I have "too much money to burn". I think from now on I'm sticking just to the forum I made and to the SC forum...I guess my friend was right about this forum. So won't be logging back in |
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| oldmac_donald |
Sounds like a good case of sour gripes - hope you get a decent whine out of it!
*runs around screaming "I made a forum! I made a forum!"* Would you like a big pat on the back for it? Now, seeing as you've had your "Parthian shot" at us all, here's mine to you... "Can't. Won't. Don't. Yeah But..." I believe you have used them all. And yes, I checked
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| oldmac_donald |
Oh, and BY THE WAY...
The OP openly admits to giving her horse "a small handful of grain" and "lots of cookies" on her blog. So all that " I WON'T/CAN'T give my horse ANY grain because it's, like, EBIL," is total, complete BS. You can hide most supps in "a handful of grain". Where is my... oh right, here we are.... 
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| carefreegirl |
When I used a joint supplement I used Joint Combo, I am now of the opinion that a balanced diet and a healthy weight is a better choice, so I am saving my money, and trying to reach the goals of a balanced healthy diet, and helping my boy lose weight (which is difficult right now as we are in different states for a while).
I can see using a supplement in a high risk horse, or one that already has a condition, but otherwise I think I will stay away from joint supps personally. Sorry to see you go Sonywimps, but maybe it is for the best as it seems that you tend to take some of the posts offensively, even if the author did not intend the post to be that way. Good luck to you and Sonny. 
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| jwilhite |
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| Candy |
Re: Joint Supplements? Suggestions?
I have been using this since late August on our Appy/Mustange rescue some had used as a bucking horse... she was having a terrible time walking - obviously lots of front leg/knee pain - we could her her knees crack - last spring when she did run... which was rare, she was stiff legged now she is gradually doing better - actually saw her trot the other day costs less than Glucosamine etc - it is a combo of various minerals in a certain ratio The Dr. That talked to me is available for lots of info & has her phone number on the website I don't swear by it as we are just testing now but worth a try - as far a preventative... read the testemonials? http://www.equinelegmagic.net/aboutus.htm the negative is that the stuff looks like coarse salt but has no taste (I tried it) so this mare is too fat & only on Bermuda - no grain - she hated it & I tried everything - The Dr claims a little oats/per day will not make her fat so finally I mix it with a little handful of Purina senior & water & a handful of oats - & she will finally take it... I might add my horses are not in barns or stalls - we free feed & they walk the 3+ acres from feed spot to feed spot all day - it's like an equine food mall - so they are in as natural situation as possible - I see no weight gain in 2 months & because she has less pain, she is moving more http://www.equinelegmagic.net/aboutus.htm good luck |
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| Julie |
My answer would be to get him to lose weight which will do more long term good for his joints than anything else! | ||
| Horse Gypsy |
I have been using Smart Flex Repair on my horse that is injured-- and I think it really helped-- I would use their products again. Adequan is really expensive-- but it does work-- but I would wait for actual stiffness or lameness before using it. | ||
| PasoBaby_CarolU |
We probably don't need to continue this thread. SonnyWimps has not been back to the board since then end of July. | ||
| joti26 |
Sorry but couldn't resist! My first thought GOOD GRIEF!
Second, why on earth would someone add something they don't need none of these things are cheap as I am finding out. In addition through my research it is a mine field, you can add something and then take away something else as a result, yes getting the balance right and looking after a healthy gut far better I would have thought. Del is back to basics now speedtbeet and his joint supplement and before I add anything else I am getting his grass and hay tested. Thirdly, thanks folks because Del does need a joint supplement so some very useful information and yes very suspicious of adding glucosamine in view of his laminitis. Oh and you meanies how could you 
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| oldmac_donald |
Erm? I love Speedibeet! Awesome stuff. I have my girl on technyflex, but am switching to MSM and glucosamine. She needs it, stifle issues. I have all her supplements and feeds calculated so that she gets everything she needs (to the best of our abilities) and am very happy with the results. Joti, you may need a mineral supplement with Speedibeet as it has nothing in it. If the UKers can use FeedXL, I recommend it. It has just dropped all it's pricing and is having a huge special on at the moment. Well worth looking at. Oh, and I hear the very best joint supp in Australia is Shark Net. Big hoohah over an old Melbourne Cup winner whose joint supps from the US were banned, and he was crippled without it. He's now on Shark Net, so must be good stuff. I've had excellent results using devil's claw and MSM on a horse with a ringbone flare-up - sound in a month, and still sound I hear. |
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| joti26 |
Oldmac. I have heard great things about Shark although dunno if I can get it over here I will have a look. I didn't mention he was on seaweed and linseed as well so should be getting the minerals he needs. He has a lick too.
I am getting the grass tested before I contemplate adding anything else. I am being guided by these lovely people at the new Holistic Horse Centre which has opened near me. I have had a look at the FeedXL site but not available in the UK yet although have registered my interest, what a great idea, thanks. He is getting MSM now but steered away from the Devils claw as I didn't want to take any chances on the ulcer thing, Boswellia is supposed to be less irritating. He has only been on the new herbs and stuff just over a week so early days yet he seems pretty good at the moment but has always been like that, think he's ok and then a couple of days later bad again so no yehas yet! Candy do you know what ingredients are in the ELM? Couldn't find any information on the website I wouldn't want to try anything if I didn't know what was in it. |
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| Candy |
ELM has
Ca+ Carb, Ca+ Phos. Mag K+ Sulfate, Magnesium Oxidide Mag Sulfate Manganese Sulfate Sodium Selrnite, Ca+ lodate Cobalt Sulfate, K+ Chloride, L-isine, DL-Methionine, Ethylenediamine Vit A Vit E , Vit D-3 Thiamine Mononitrate, Niacin d-Calcium Panthothenate, Vit B-12, Folic Acis Choline Chloride, Mineral Oil apparently it is the ratio of the combo of stuff that works my girl is so much better & as I understand it , it is not an 'asprin' but actually makes permanent changes at the cellular level. Still no more expensive than Glucosamine/MSM as far as feed... again mine are as natual as possible... free choice minerals from ABC, diatamacious Earth for sand & worms, ACV in their water (when I am not out) & Bermuda hay - most people who come here comment on how happy & content my horses look Dr Kelley's phone number is on the site & she is more than willing to talk about the stuff http://www.equinelegmagic.net/products.htm re: dogs she sent a free 2 mo sample to me for my old wolf/husky mix... it didn't seem to do any different than glucosamine but it did help & when I have more $$$ I'll order for him as I feel more confident about the purity than glucosamine etc it is a different combo of minerals than for horses & I am now out |
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| PasoBaby_CarolU |
I was trying to find it, and unable to, but The Horse recently published a study of healthy performance horses on joint supplements. (and no, I don't remember what they were given) The horses on the supplements had fewer injuries then those not on the supplements, so there is some argument for putting healthy performance horses on them.
I still have to agree though that you are probably money ahead to exercise your horse, or pay someone to exercise it for you, then spend money on unneeded supplements IF your horse has a weight problem. A joint supplement may help the joints, but it won't help all the other systems impacted by being overweight. |
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| Candy |
I totally agree about exercise... in our situation she hurts too badly to exercise much ... but we're getting there this raises another question for me which I'll start another thread about... if a horse has been starved do you think they may tend to hold onto what weight they have |
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| joti26 |
This has been my problem with Del too, until I started giving him the Boswellia etc he was very reluctant to move so a bit of a dilema regarding excersise now he seems to be feeling better he is moving a lot more and getting him fitter is now a possibility. | ||
| Julie |
joti - Benevit from feedmark - 50% extra free and free delivery - mine glow on it. Bosewellia fro pegasus equine - tey ebay. Glucosamine HCL own brand from Mile end equine - fab stuff and very cheap to feed. |