Don't Neglect your Horse’s Joint Health

Until a number of years ago, alternative approaches to equine health were not very prominent. Now, equine chiropractic, acupuncture, and supplementation play a central role in maintaining the health of horses across the nation. Many veterinarians believe that combining traditional western medicine with these complementary approaches offers a more comprehensive approach to equine joint health.

Joint Health is Essential

Horses are very large creatures that spend almost all of their time standing, walking, or running. As you can imagine, it's important for horses to have healthy joints. Like any creature, the aging process contributes to the wear of bone, cartilage, and other joint-supporting tissue. Aside from regular exercise and a healthy diet, there are other ways to support and maintain your horse's joint health.

Supplementation

A number of joint-health supplement ingredients have been studied for supporting and maintaining joint health. Glucosamine and chondroitin are well established as components of joint health throughout the equine community. These ingredients have been studied for supporting cartilage, joint comfort, flexibility, and mobility.

There are a number of nutraceuticals available for horses, and choosing one can be difficult. Look for a comprehensive formula containing well-studied joint-support ingredients (e.g., cetyl myristoleate).

Other Complementary Approaches

As mentioned, there are other approaches and therapies available for horses. Massage, physical therapy, and chiropractic resources are all widely available these days. Often, the best joint-health regimens combine several of these complementary approaches.

That said, many people find supplementation an easier route in terms of expense, availability, and administering. Whatever you choose, be sure to observe your horse's health and behavior to gauge how well the approach is working.