How To Tell When A Horse Is Having Joint Problems

If you’ve ever stopped to really watch a horse run and jump, you soon realize that their actions are a beautiful symphony of movement. Every muscle and joint in a horse’s body work together to create a magnificent gait or to foster prowess in jumping. If a formerly active horse begins to have problems with movement, is slowing down, or if audible clicking is heard, the horse could be having joint issues.

A horse cannot say which joints are bothering them or beginning to give them trouble. In some cases, owners or trainers see visible joint swelling, feel heat in the joint area or notice that the horse has begun to limp. If a horse balks when he’s asked to do something that he formerly did easily, that can be another symptom of painful joints.

What Ingredients Help With Joint Pain?

You may find yourself considering giving your horse dietary supplements. You may also wonder how to find the best horse joint supplement. Key ingredients to look for in horse joint supplements that help battle joint pain include Chondroitin and Glucosamine, along with ingredients known as MSM and hyaluronic acid.

MSM is also called methylsulfonyl-methane. It’s a form of sulfur that is easily digested and easily used in the horse’s body to help promote their body’s natural ability to produce Glucosamine and Chondroitin, both ingredients that help lubricate joints and make movement more comfortable. Hyaluronic acid helps create their body’s naturally occurring lubricants necessary for joint comfort.

Your Horse Is Not Exhibiting Bad Behavior

An important thing to realize is that if a horse hesitates to do something you’ve asked them to do, chances are they’re having an issue that is preventing them from doing it. Most horses naturally want to please their handlers and trainers and wish to follow instructions. If they don’t, it can mean that they’re having a medical issue that no one is aware of yet.

A horse won’t always make it completely clear that he’s having a medical issue. Limping or obvious swelling in joints are noticeable factors. Many times when a joint problem is just beginning to surface, symptoms are not appearing yet. Sensitive owners and trainers become aware of subtle changes in horse’s patterns of behavior and try to find a medical reason, if no other reasons for the behavior are found.

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