Horse Joint Health
Hyaluronic Acid and MSM in Horse Joint Supplements: Fireside Chat Video
Apr
Learn about HA, MSM, and horse joint supplements
Horse joint supplements may help support your horse’s defense against the normal joint wear-and-tear that happens with age, activity, and breed. Horse joint supplements may fill gaps that cannot be provided with good horse care management, exercise best practices, and nutrition.
However, it’s important to highlight that not all horse joint supplements are the same. There are literally hundreds of horse joint supplements to choose from – making it very challenging to know if you’re making the right choice for your horse.
Ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and MSM are frequently used in horse joint supplements. In this blog we highlight our Fireside Chat Video about HA and MSM and discuss the importance of understanding the ingredients in your horse joint supplements.
We want you to know the facts on horse joint supplement ingredients like HA, MSM, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and more.
Watch the Fireside Chat Video about HA and MSM and read the rest of this blog to learn about:
- 5 key ingredients in horse joint supplements
- Why your horse may benefit from horse joint supplements
- The NASC and horse supplements
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is an integral component of joint cartilage and joint fluid (glycosaminoglycan). This joint fluid is distributed through connective tissues and may support both lubrication and shock absorption while blocking inflammatory reactions.
Read more about the science and research behind using HA in horse joint supplements.
What is MSM?
MSM is a non-metallic, organic sulfur-bearing compound that may support healthy joint function. This joint supplement ingredient acts as a vasodilator and cellular transporter, helping enhance the delivery of components throughout your horse’s body.
Read more about the science and research behind using MSM in horse joint supplements.
5 Key Ingredients to Look for in Horse Joint Supplements
The 5 key ingredients to look for in horse joint supplements are:
- Glucosamine: is the most widely researched joint supplement ingredient. Glucosamine is a fundamental building block for articular cartilage. Glucosamine may act in preventing cartilage break down and in supporting new cartilage growth. Watch our Fireside Chat Video about Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
- Hyaluronic Acid (HA): is an integral component of joint cartilage and the joint fluid that is distributed throughout connective tissues. HA may provide joint lubrication, shock absorption, and block inflammatory reactions.
- Chondroitin Sulfate: works with glucosamine. Together these ingredients may support healthy joints by promoting the growth of new cartilage and limiting cartilage break down. Chondroitin sulfate is an important ingredient in supporting your horse’s ability to produce HA and proteoglycans. Learn more about this ingredient in our Fireside Chat Video about Glucosamine and Chondroitin.
- MSM: is a source of organic sulfur that may support healthy joint function. Watch our HA and MSM Fireside Chat Video to learn more about MSM in horse joint supplements.
- Collagen Type II: represents 95% of the collagen found in articular cartilage tissue. Collagen is a primary structural protein in connective tissues including tendons, ligaments, bone cartilage, and skin. Collagen Type II may provide strength, resiliency, lubrication, and stimulate the growth of articular cartilage.
Always discuss any horse supplements and changes to your horse’s diet with your veterinarian.
Why Horse Joint Supplements May Benefit Your Horse
Horse joint supplements may benefit your horse by supporting your horse’s defense against the normal degenerative process in their joints. The normal everyday impacts of trotting, walking, and jumping combined with circles, lateral moves, slide stops, and pivots may put your horse at high-risk of developing joint-related problems.
The most optimal diet, exercise plan, and horse care management strategy may not give your horse everything they need. Horse joint supplements may fill the gaps that exercise, nutrition, horse care management, and genetics cannot fill.
One way to support your horse’s joint health is to start them on an NASC-approved joint supplement from a young age. Doing so may slow the impacts of joint stress and feed your horse’s joints the nutritional support they cannot get from forage.
It’s important to emphasize that horse joint supplements are not a cure-all or magic. You need to make sure you’re feeding your horse properly, giving your horse the right types of exercise and rest, and optimizing horse care management (coat, hoof, skin, digestive health and mood support and turnout).
Watch our HA and MSM Fireside Chat Video to learn more about how horse joint supplements may support joint health.
The NASC and Horse Supplements
The members of the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) are global manufacturers of animal health supplements. These global manufacturers work together to ensure high quality ingredients are used in horse, cat, dog, and other companion animal supplements.
The NASC was founded in 2002, with Grand Meadows being the only horse manufacturer involved at its inception. The NASC gives animal owners assurances that the supplements they are buying and using are safe, tested, and effective.
Always look for horse supplements (and other animal supplements) with the NASC seal. The NASC seal tells you the supplements are of the highest quality, the manufacturer is regularly audited, and the supplements are safe for your horse.
We want you to know what we know about horse joint supplements. Watch our Fireside Chat Video about MSM and HA and browse the rest of our video playlist for more Fireside Chat Videos about your horse, horse health, and horse supplements.
As always, the Grand Meadows team is available to answer your questions about horse supplements and the ingredients we use. Contact us with your questions and feedback.
