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Equine joint supplement choice
Integral to the training regime of any horse is the maintenance of that horse’s health and fitness. One of
the cornerstones of that objective is to ensure the horse remains sound.
High level competition and the wear and tear associated with aging, can negatively affect a horse’s joint
health, over time. Occasionally, serious joint injury, such as a joint infection, or severe osteochondrosis
(OCD) results in rapid deterioration of joint health. Joint problems can manifest as stiffness, reduced
performance, shortened stride or swelling and overt lameness.
Joints are strong, mobile areas of the skeleton, where two bones meet. The ends of each bone are covered
with articular (joint) cartilage and the joint space is filled with synovial (joint) fluid. The cartilage acts as a
cushion or shock absorber, while the synovial fluid acts as a lubricant. Cartilage is created by
chondrocytes, and composed of water bound to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and strong collagen
connective tissue. The joint is surrounded by a tough fibrous tissue capsule (joint capsule) which isolates
and holds the joint structure together. While cartilage is very resilient and tough, if damaged it cannot repair
quickly. This is why joints are particularly prone to degeneration, when the repair required is outpaced by
the damage accruing in the joint. The process of joint degeneration, leads to inflammation, which furthers
degeneration and a cycle of deterioration ensues.
As joint health is so important to sport horses, and lameness is a major contributor to poor performance, it
is not surprising that there are many experts, devoted to investigating, diagnosing, treating, improving and
preventing joint injury.
The difficulty for the horse owner is deciding what, if any interventions are appropriate for their horse.
Clinical or prolonged lameness in your horse should be investigated for underlying causes by a veterinary
surgeon. Expensive and cutting edge techniques such as joint injections, biological anti-inflammatories and
stem cell therapy can be offered by your veterinary surgeon after extensive investigations. Often however,
horses come to rely on anti-inflammatory treatments to disguise the pain of joint problems, enabling the
horse to continue in work. These anti-inflammatories however, do not redress the joint degeneration
occurring.
Over the counter joint supplements are increasing in popularity, as an adjunct to veterinary therapeutics, as
owner intervention, or as a preventative in young competing horses. The choice in this area of
supplementation is vast, and owners do well to educate themselves on the various products offered and
their composition.
Typically, joint supplements contain a number of ingredients such as: glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate,
hyaluronic acid, MSM, Vitamin C or Omega 3. Further information on the function of these molecules is
given below.
GLUCOSAMINE
Glucosamine is a precursor to the disaccharide unit bound to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These
disaccharide molecules are part of the core structure of cartilage and their absence limits the rate at which
cartilage can be made by the body. Glucosamine absorption from the intestine is believed to be good in
Foran Equine Products Ltd., 2 Cherry Orchard Ind. Estate, Dublin 10, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 626 8058 •
www.forans.com •
Email: [email protected]
horses.
CHONDROITIN SULPHATE
Chondroitin Sulphate is the primary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) found in joint cartilage. It is the central
molecule giving structure go cartilage and contributing to cartilage’s cushioning function. Chondroitin
sulphate, is derived from shark or bovine cartilage, and may be listed as “marine collagen” or “fish bone
meal” in the composition section of a joint supplement.
HYALURONIC ACID
Hyaluronic acid (HA) or hyaluronate, is a large molecule composed of a string of glucosamine molecules
bound together, which attract and bind water. Hyaluronic acid is present in joint cartilage and is particularly
concentrated synovial (joint) fluid, where it functions to lubricate the joint.
MSM
MSM is a source of sulphur, used in disulphide bonds. Disulphide bonds cross link collagen strands, adding
strength to cartilage. Sulphur is also required for the body’s production of chondroitin sulphate.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is essential to collagen and cartilage formation, it is also an antioxidant which functions to
inactivate free radicals
Omega 3
Omega 3 is an essential fatty acids (EFAs), found in fish oil, linseed oil and Karron oil. The Omega 3 EFAs,
are generally valued for their anti-inflammatory effects when taken in the diet. Human studies have shown
an improvement in arthritis when Omega 3 supplements were taken.
When choosing a joint supplement, knowing your horse, doing your research and maintaining a healthy
scepticism on product claims, will serve you very well. Take time to compare the ingredients of each
product, the concentration included and the recommended daily allowance. Investigate the claims made in
relation to the ingredients listed on the product.
With careful management of training, competition, treatment and diet horses with impaired joints can
continue to perform and compete successfully.
Foran Equine Products Ltd., 2 Cherry Orchard Ind. Estate, Dublin 10, Ireland
Tel: +353 (0)1 626 8058 •
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www.forans.com •
Email: [email protected]