adovr_d87389c80da99bef8f38776d3f905184 Articles medical and health: Equine Bone And Joint Support

Equine Bone And Joint Support

By Marci Nielsen


People and horses have a long association throughout history. These magnificent animals, blessed with beauty and speed, have always captured our imagination. They pull ours loads, carry us where we want to go, thrill us with dazzling speed on the racetracks of the world, and carry us to fame and glory in competition. We can help them by providing equine bone and joint support nutrition when needed.

Many horse owners are familiar with equine supplements designed to provide nutrients missing from the horses' regular diet. Instead of ranging freely over miles of country with mixed vegetation, horses today are confined in stalls or fenced pastures. Hay is often a mono-crop, being largely timothy or another grass.

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 under heavy work are also under added stress. Their legs and feet carry enormous weight, withstand great force, and absorb a lot of shock. This may cause bones and joints to deteriorate. Targeted nutrition can help off-set this unnatural stress. Among the most familiar nutrients are hyaluronic acid (a component of joint fluid), MSM (sulfur, a naturally-occurring mineral essential for health and strong bones), and glucosamine and chondroitin, which are building blocks of cartilage.

There are other nutritional substances that have been proven by research and use to help off-set the unusual amount of stress equine athletes are under. Consider the jumper, for example. It thrusts off to gain height needed to clear an obstacle. The hind legs must pack a lot of power into lifting that massive body from the ground and giving it the momentum to soar over a jump that may be both wide and tall.

Then there is the landing. The entire weight of the animal - plus the rider - lands on one foot and then is pushed off as the rest of the body moves forward to clear the jump and regain balance. This action is done over and over during training and competition. No wonder the many bones of the legs and feet are subject to pain and perhaps career-ending lameness.

To help prevent damage and perhaps career-ending lameness, owners and trainers can provide the extra nutrients these athletes need. Specialized formulas are designed to handle daily wear and tear on tissues and keep bones and joints healthy. Some formulas help horses under other stresses, like aging. Arthritis develops in older horses just as it does in humans, but we know now that nutrition can help prevent or delay its development.

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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