Tuesday 1 December 2015

Equine Bone And Joint Support

By Marci Nielsen


Horses have always captured people's hearts. They are strong, swift, and beautiful in motion. Once free to run over grassy hills, these animals are now used for all sorts of things from pulling heavy loads to excelling at extreme sports. Equine bone and joint support supplements are designed to help keep horses sound and pain-free in spite of the demands placed upon their bodies.

Supplements may consist of single nutrients or basic vitamin and mineral formulas created to make up for deficiencies in forage. Horses that once ranged over miles of mixed vegetation are confined to stalls or kept in fields. They are fed hay which is usually a mono-crop of grass like timothy or alfalfa. At most, it will be a mix of just a few grasses.

Pastures may look like lawns, being seeded with lush grass and mowed frequently to give a well cared for look. Since weeds have a lot of nutrients that grass does not, and things like vitamin E and essential fatty acids are found in seeds, this short grass may be appetizing but nutritionally deficient. Many feeds formulated for horses contain added nutrients for this reason.

Horses that are ridden hard, asked for extra exertion (as in racing), or used for competitive sports are under unusual stress. Nutrients that are specifically for bones and joints include MSM, glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid. The first three are natural substances that provide what the animal needs to rebuild and repair its skeletal system, and the last is a component of joint fluid.

Equine athletes are in a class by themselves. Racing horses must train hard and compete harder. Jumpers also need constant training and are asked to perform in ways that require great effort and strength. Their legs and feet must lift their huge bodies over obstacles and withstand severe impact with the ground.

Often the entire weight, force, and shock is on one foot. A jumper pushes off with both hind feet, soars over the obstacle, and lands on one foot on the other side. This single foot carries the entire weight of a large animal, as well as the force of coming down from a height, and then must push that weight off as forward motion continues. It's amazing that these animals can do this, and they do it over and over.

Specialized formulas give the horse what it needs to recover from this kind of stress and to repair damaged tissues. Different products have been designed for all levels of physical performance. In other cases, horses may need more nutrition because of age alone. Arthritis can affect aging animals just like it does humans. Starting supplements early can help prevent or delay age-related problems in the skeletal system of your beloved equines.

Choosing a supplement with ingredients that nourish the bones, tendons, ligaments, and hooves of your horse is one way to keep it comfortable and extend its useful life. Whether you compete or just ride the trails, a happy and pain-free mount is key to enjoyment for you both.




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