With so many Horse Joint Supplements on the market, it can be genuinely confusing to know which ones matter most for your individual horse. Rather than treating every ingredient as interchangeable, it helps to understand what each one specifically contributes to your horse's joint wellbeing.
Glucosamine is generally considered the foundation of most Horse Joint Supplements. It is an amino sugar used to build tendons, ligaments, cartilage and synovial fluid (joint oil). It stimulates production of GAG’s (glucosaminoglycans) in synovial fluid to enhance lubrication. In addition to being a lubricant this fluid acts as a shock absorber cushioning the joint during exercise. Synovial fluid tends to become thinner with old age and wear and tear and thus loses some of its lubricating properties. Glucosamine is a soluble natural product obtained from crustacean shells. After being consumed it is absorbed through the wall of the intestine into the body. It is then attracted to the joint cells where it provides the raw material to build up synovial fluid. Joint Right Supreme contains Glucosamine HCL which is the purest available form of glucosamine.
Chondroitin sulphate is most valuable partner to Glucosamine rather than being a standalone ingredient. No quality joint supplement should be without it. Combined, the two are thought to work in synergy offering additional support to cartilage elasticity and helping protect existing cartilage from breakdown. For horses with more established Joint problems, or those in harder work then the combination of Glucosamine and Chondroitin together help maintain a healthy cartilage coating.
MSM brings a different angle. Rather than directly rebuilding cartilage, its strength lies in supporting connective tissue generally and is often associated with helping reduce Joint stiffness. For horses that seem generally "tight" or who take time to loosen up, MSM can be a particularly useful inclusion, and it is commonly fed alongside glucosamine and chondroitin rather than instead of them.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the most important glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s) playing a crucial role in the cushioning and lubrication of joints by increasing the viscosity of synovial fluid. It has been used for many years in injectable form, but is now also available as an oral supplement .Older horses, or those with more advanced wear often benefit from HA's role in supporting synovial fluid quality, since thinner or less viscous fluid can mean less effective cushioning during movement.
For most horse owners, the most practical approach is a Horse Joint Supplement that combines all four ingredients at optimum levels to make a difference. This is exactly the thinking behind Horse Joint Right Supreme, which has been formulated to deliver Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Hyaluronic Acid and MSM together in a single, easy to feed product. The Reviews speak for themselves!
If your horse is older, competing regularly, recovering from a previous Joint problem or has Joint Problems, a full combination Horse Joint Supplement is generally the more sensible starting point. For very young, lightly worked horses, some owners choose to start with a Horse Joint Supplemen as a preventative measure.
For more information about Scientific Nutritional Products and their wide range of equine supplements available visit their website www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk or to speak to a member of the team Tel: freephone 0800 032 7774
