Supplements for stiff horses – discover 3 top joint supplements for horses that suffer from stiffness in our article below.
Stiffness in horses
Stiffness in horses is a common scenario and can be particularly prevalent for those in their later years. Arthritis and Osteoporosis can cause major stiffness in horses and can interfere heavily with the range of movement and flexibility. It is inevitable at some point in your horse’s life it will experience stiffness, even if this is a result of injury alone.
This can be a particularly frustrating situation for both you and your horse and in some cases can affect the quality of life. Luckily help is at hand and supplements have become far more available over the years to help combat difficulties such as stiffness and arthritis.
Joint Supplements
There are many types of joint supplements on the market that can help horses with stiffness. These supplements are not only good for joint problems but can really help your horse regain movement and loosen up stiff areas. It can be confusing to know which one is best to choose, and you may find yourself going through a trial and error process before settling on the most effective one.
Consideration of ingredients should be your first priority in any case. Do your research on what ingredients in supplements can be beneficial to relieve stiffness in your horse. When you’ve identified appropriate ingredients, be sure to check the level in which they are included in each product. This can vary greatly.
Cost is another point to consider, and you may find the more effective supplements come at a higher price. These may be those that particularly focus on one ingredient, that produces the particular substance at a higher rate. Supplements should provide guides for feeding based on the weight of the horse or pony, and include the scoop size. This can be worked out to the expense per day, should you be worried about the ongoing costs associated with feeding any supplement.
Top 3 Supplements for Horses for Stiff Horses
Let’s take a look at 3 of the very best supplements on the market to assist with stiffness in your horse and where you can purchase these from.
This article contains affiliate links, which means, should you choose to make a purchase following clicking on an external link we may earn a commission. With this in mind, we only recommend products we believe are of good value and are fit for purpose, from retailers we trust.
Newmarket Joint Supplement
Newmarket is a popular brand that customers come back to time and time again. The reviews speak for themselves as this product can be particularly powerful at assisting horses that suffer from stiffness and the pain often associated with joint issues by aiding in the production, and repair of cartilage, joint fluid, tendons, and ligaments. The supplement provides the horse with an extremely pure form of Glucosamine, which is great for those looking for a powerful ingredient that has been scientifically proven to work.
Ingredients in Newmarket
- Glucosamine HCL (99%+)
Pros of Newmarket
- High levels of bio-available Glucosamine at a scientifically correct dosage
- No unnecessary fillers or nasty bits
- Minimal ingredients (so you really understand what you are getting)
- A popular, well-known brand that customers love – for complete peace of mind
Cons of New Market
- Slightly more expensive than you would expect from a brand of this kind.
Cortaflex® HA Regular
Cortaflex is produced by the horse owner brand favourite, Equine America who are quite possibly leaders in the horse supplements field. The Cortaflex HA Regular supplement has a huge customer following and so far this product has sold over 2 million units worldwide! There is also a super strength version for those horse owners looking for a little more help. This is a supplement that is ideal for those horses suffering from stiffness thanks to its fantastic mix of ingredients and is sold at a very reasonable price that we consider, to be assessable to all.
Ingredients in Cortaflex® HA
- MSM
- Collagen
- Hyaluronic Acid
Pros of Cortaflex® HA
- Great for weight management – low in calories
- No unnecessary fillers and a great mix of proven ingredients
- Good value for money considering this is such a well-known brand
- Highly palatable (alfalfa-based)
Cons of Cortaflex® HA
- Many people believe these type of supplements are not any good if they do not contain Glucosamine however we believe MSM is just as powerful.
maxavita Maxaflex
Another joint supplement with great reviews for helping stiff horses is the maxavita MaxaFlex. The product is approved under the FEI as safe for use in competition horses, unlike Devils Claw, providing horse owners with peace of mind. The product is reasonably priced and should last around 30 days. For maximum effectiveness, MaxaFlex uses a variety of ingredients to aid joint mobility including Green lipped Mussel extract SuPerna.
Ingredients of maxavita MaxaFlex
- Green Lipped Mussel extract SuPerna
- Glucosamine
- MSM
- Hyaluronic Acid
Pros
- Safe for use in FEI competition
- Uses Green Lipped Mussel extract SuPerna
- Results are seen in 7-10 days
- Cost-effective
Cons
- Uses a variety of ingredients so may be difficult to know which one is making the most difference.
Conclusion
As you can see there is a good selection of supplements available to help horses with stiffness. Should you know which ingredient is most beneficial for your horse, you can choose a product that solely prioritises that particular type, such as the Newmarket Joint Supplement. However, if you are unsure, and you’d like a supplement that provides an all-around approach, you may choose Cortaflex. No matter what product you choose, it’s advisable to discuss the need for a joint supplement with a vet and consider reviews from other horse owners online.
