Horse Joint Supplements: A Practical Guide for Owners

A horse joint supplement is a complementary feed that provides nutrients involved in normal joint function, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM and hyaluronic acid. This guide explains what those ingredients are, how to compare one product with another, how to feed a joint supplement properly, and when a joint question is really a question for your vet.

How a horse's joints work

The joints that do most of the work in movement, such as the fetlocks, knees and hocks, are synovial joints. The ends of the bones are covered in smooth articular cartilage, and the joint is enclosed in a capsule filled with synovial fluid, which lubricates the surfaces as the joint moves. Ligaments and tendons hold the whole structure together.

Age, workload, conformation, hoof balance, ground conditions and bodyweight all affect how much load a horse's joints carry. A supplement is one part of looking after them, alongside regular farriery, sensible exercise, a healthy bodyweight and a balanced diet.

What goes into a horse joint supplement

Most joint supplements combine several of these ingredients:

• Glucosamine is an amino sugar and a building block of the molecules that help cartilage hold water.
• Chondroitin sulphate is one of those molecules, found naturally in cartilage.
• MSM (methylsulphonylmethane) is an organic source of sulphur, an element found in connective tissue.
• Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of synovial fluid and cartilage.
• Vitamin C is involved in normal collagen formation. Horses make some vitamin C themselves, and it is often added to joint formulas as well.
• Boswellia is a resin extract from the Boswellia serrata tree, used in many equine supplements.

Research into joint supplements in horses is still developing, and results vary between studies and products. That is a good reason to choose a product that tells you exactly how much of each ingredient is in a daily serving, so you know what you are feeding.

How to compare joint supplements

• Amounts per serving. Look for each key ingredient listed in milligrams per daily serving, not just a list of ingredient names.
• Feeding rate by bodyweight. A 600 kg horse needs more than a 350 kg pony, so a good label gives a clear amount for each weight band.
• How long a pack lasts. Divide the pack weight by the daily amount for your horse to work out the real cost per day.
• The full label. Composition, additives and analytical constituents should be published, so you can check a product against the rest of your horse's diet.
• Sensible wording. In the UK, a complementary feed can be described as supporting normal function. A feed that claims to treat, cure or prevent arthritis or lameness is making a medicinal claim, which feeds are not allowed to make.
• Competition rules. If you compete under FEI or national federation rules, check every product against the relevant prohibited substances list and ask the manufacturer before you feed it.

How to feed a joint supplement

Feed it every day, at the rate for your horse's bodyweight, mixed into the usual hard feed. Joint supplements are designed for consistent daily feeding rather than the occasional scoop, so pick a routine you can keep to and give the same amount at the same time each day.

Check your horse's weight with a weighbridge or weigh tape rather than guessing, so you use the right feeding band. If your horse is fussy about changes to its feed, introduce the supplement gradually over a few days.

Which horses are joint supplements fed to?

Owners commonly feed a joint supplement to horses in regular work, to older horses, and to horses whose routine asks more of their joints, such as frequent travel or work on firm ground. A supplement provides nutritional support for normal joint function as part of a balanced diet. It does not replace veterinary assessment, good farriery or a sensible exercise plan.

When to speak to your vet

Call your vet if your horse is lame, has heat or swelling around a joint, is stiff in a way that does not ease with gentle exercise, or changes the way it moves. These are signs that need examining, not supplementing. Always tell your vet which supplements you feed, especially if your horse is on medication.

HerdLab Joint Support

HerdLab Joint Support is our daily horse joint supplement. Each 30 g scoop provides 11,111 mg glucosamine, 11,111 mg MSM, 4,444 mg chondroitin sulphate, 2,000 mg vitamin C, 1,026 mg Boswellia serrata extract and 222 mg hyaluronic acid. It is fed by bodyweight at low, medium or high support, from 6 g a day (low support, up to 300 kg) to 44 g a day (high support, over 600 kg). The product page has the full feeding guide and label, or you can browse the full HerdLab range.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I feed a joint supplement for?

Joint supplements are designed to be fed daily as part of the normal diet rather than as a short course. Follow the feeding directions on the product you choose.

Can I feed a joint supplement alongside other supplements?

Usually, yes. Check the labels for overlapping ingredients, and ask your vet or a qualified equine nutritionist if your horse is on several products or any medication.

Is a joint supplement a treatment for arthritis?

No. A joint supplement is a complementary feed that provides nutritional support for normal joint function. If you think your horse has arthritis or any other joint problem, speak to your vet.