Many owners may find their veteran horses feel slightly ‘stiffer’ in their joints when being ridden. This may ease as they warm up into work or may be more severe and have an impact on their general gait and comfort. If your horse is showing the first stages of joint stiffness, it is always preferable to talk to your vet to develop a plan of action. However, there are other ways you can support their health, alongside standard medication and procedures.

Many owners will look towards feeding a joint supplement. The key ingredients to look out for are glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid. If you check the packaging, then you will get a table of ingredients where you can check the levels, per day, in milligrams. These supplements come in powder or liquid form and can be added to feed to support joint health and integrity.

Devil’s claw has long been used to support painful joint conditions and is available in liquid and powder form. It is important to note that devil’s claw is now an FEI prohibited substance, so can’t be fed to some competition horses. There is comprehensive information available on the FEI website regarding prohibited ingredients. Always seek guidance if you are at all unsure. http://fei.org/fei/cleansport/ad-h/prohibited-list

Oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids can also be fed to support stiff joints and maintain mobility. There are a range of oils available to feed, some are pure and some blend a few different types of oil together. Prices vary as do suggested feeding amounts and the amount of ‘good stuff’ each type of oil contains.

All supplements need to be introduced slowly into the diet and will need to be fed regularly over a period of time to get the maximum results. As with any health and feeding issue, it is important to keep a record of what is fed and when, but also discuss your plans with your vet or other equine care professional.