The Importance Of Equine Joint Supplements

For humans as well as equines, a balanced nutritional diet goes a long way toward preventing disease, lameness, and arthritic conditions. Proper choice in hay and pasture can keep your horse in top shape for years. However, certain conditions may require the use of joint supplements for horses. Some of these conditions might be an older horse, a horse that has suffered an injury, a horse with a heavy workload, or a highly athletic show horse. In these situations, choosing the right joint supplements for horses is very important.

If you are subjecting your horse to a heavy or athletic work routine, Glucosamine products are good horse joint supplements to have on hand. Glucosamine equine joint supplements are derived from a substance called chitin, which comes primarily from ground shrimp and crab shells. Of all the joint supplements on the market Glucosamine is probably the one that is most researched. Its primary function is to help keep the horse's joints and cartilage lubricated and aid in the proper formation of the joint tissue. As the equine ages, or as its body is subjected to consistent rigorous riding, it may not produce the sufficient amounts of Glucosamine on its own, which can result in cartilage that loses its shock absorption ability within the horse's joints. The joints may then become stiff and painful. This can lead to limited range of motion and in severe cases lameness and even deformation. If you want to enjoy a long riding or working relationship with your horse, you may want to consider adding a joint enhancing or healing supplement to the horse's diet to allow them the best chance of keeping healthy through the rigors of working Talk to other horse owners about what supplements for horses they use and whether they would recommend them. Shop around. Read ingredients. Educate yourself and then make the best choice for your equine partner.

Your local vet is another excellent source of information for the latest joint supplements for horses. If your horse is experiencing a nutritional need outside of good forage, please schedule a visit and get your vet's input on what they feel would be the right equine joint supplements for your own horse. Proper supplement care and a balanced nutritional diet will keep both you and your horse enjoying your rides for many years to come.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faith_Kaltenbach

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Article Submitted On: December 27, 2010

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