Last Updated: 06/11/2025

Best Horse Joint Supplements 2024 [Vet Reviewed]

Searching for the best joint supplement for your horse? Look no further - read through our Vet-recommendations for the most suitable product for your horse.

Author: Dr Maree Monaghan BVSc (Hons)

Reading Time: 6 minutes - short read

Due to their large size and long and often physically demanding lives, horses put a lot of stress and strain on their joints. It's not surprising that joint supplements are one of the most common health support products that owners add to their horses' feeds. There is a huge range of joint supplements available containing a variety of different ingredients and choosing the right one is not an easy task.

Why is choosing the right joint supplement important?

Joint supplements are used to:

Reduce inflammation
Increase the production of collagen and other essential proteins in joints
Improve the composition of joint fluid
Slow down the enzymes that break down cartilage

An effective joint supplement should contain ingredients that have been scientifically proven to produce these effects in horses' joints. The downside of this is that the length of time taken and the huge cost of testing joint supplements in horses means that there are very few studies done in this area.

Some products contain substances that have been shown beneficial effects in other species but have not been tested in horses. Even more concerning are joint supplements that do not contain high enough concentrations of active ingredients, thus making them virtually useless.

So how do you know which active ingredients have been tested in horses and which ones have been shown to be effective? Here's a summary of some common joint supplement ingredients and how they work.

Glucosamine is vital for the production of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate which are components of joint fluid and cartilage. It accumulates in inflamed joints where it reduces inflammation and protects cartilage. There is scientific evidence to support the use of glucosamine and it is a very safe substance for long term use. The recommended dose rate is 10g per 500 kg.

How we review our products
Best Overall : CEN Gold
Best for Young Horses: 4CYTE
Best for Senior Horses: Ker Glucos-A-Flex
Best for Fussy Horses: Kelato Nutriflex
Best Plant Based Supplement: Rose Hip Vital Equine
Best Liquid Formula: Ker Synovate HA
Best MSM Supplement: EAC Animal Care In-fusion Ultra Pure MSM
What to look for

How We Review Our Products

Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.

Top Recommended Horse Joint Supplements in Australia [Vet Reviewed]

Best Overall : CEN Gold

Cen Gold Joint Supplement for Horses

Pros

Unique blend of four natural ingredients
Supports joint and bone health, strengthens the immune system and decreases inflammation
Made in Australia

Cons

Turmeric may have the potential to increase clotting time so use with caution in horses with bleeding disorders

CEN Gold contains organic Turmeric, Rosehip, Hydrolysed collagen peptides and stabilised Linseed Meal. Turmeric, Rosehip and Linseed provide relief from the pain of arthritic joints through their anti-inflammatory effects. Rosehip is also rich in antioxidants which support the immune system and strengthen blood vessel walls. Hydrolysed collagen keeps ageing bones and cartilage strong and increases joint flexibility.

What our customers say: "I've used this for years and always does my horses well . Also bring a nice coat out on them, i used it with CF-50 & CEN oil . No other supplements in my basic diet they have and they look a million bucks !

What our vets say: "This fantastic joint supplement by CEN combines high quality, all-natural ingredients like turmeric, rosehip, hydrolysed collagen peptides, and linseed meal to help support joint health and mobility. CEN Gold's formula is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols, which work to reduce pain and inflammation as well as help maintain the strength and integrity of the joints. Apart from joint health, this product because of its anti-inflammatory properties can also work wonders for skin and coat health, keeping your horses not just feeling their best, but also looking their best." " - Dr. Antonella

Best for Young Horses: 4CYTE

4CYTE Equine Granules Joint Health Support Granules

Pros

Suitable for horses of all ages and stages of life
Palatable for fussy horses
Safe for long-term use
Maintain healthy joints in high-performance horses.
Reduce inflammation associated with mild to moderate osteoarthritis in horses at any life stage.

Cons

Not recommended for horses with an allergy to seafood

4CYTE Reduce inflammation associated with mild to moderate osteoarthritis in horses at any life stage. It can boost the body’s ability to meet performance and recuperation demands in juvenile and young performance horses.

What our customers say: 4cyte cleared up mild lameness due to the beginnings of arthritic change in my dressage warmblood. Lowest price and fast delivery here too!

Best for Senior Horses: Ker Glucos-A-Flex

Ker Targeted Nutrition Equivit Glucos A Flex Joint Supplement

Pros

Unique blend of glucosamine hydrochloride, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants.
Palatable low dose formula
Multiple benefits including cartilage and bone health, maintenance of elastic connective tissue, support of skin and mucous membranes and coat and hoof integrity.

Cons

Safety in pregnant and lactating horses has not been tested
May cause imbalances in manganese, zinc, copper and calcium

KER Glucos-A-Flex is ideal for aged horses due to its unique combination of ingredients that address not only bone, cartilage and connective tissue issues but also support healthy hooves, skin and haircoat. This low dose formula is highly palatable which ensures your senior horse will happily accept this joint supplement when added to a daily hard feed.

What our customers say: My horse is a very picky eater and he ate this as if it wasn't in here! I have started to see an improvement in his joints as he gets very stiff but this stuff has helped a lot!"

Best for Fussy Horses: Kelato Nutriflex

Kelato Nutriflex Joint Supplement

Pros

Low dose, palatable, butterscotch and pineapple flavoured powder
Supports ligaments, tendons and bones as well as joints
Contains a highly concentrated and bioavailable source of glucosamine
Made in Australia

Cons

One of the the more expensive joint supplements

Kelato Nutriflex contains glucosamine hydrochloride, a building block of healthy cartilage and zinc, copper, manganese and boron to support bones, cartilage and connective tissue. It also contains methionine which is not made in the horse's body. This amino acid is essential for strong ligaments, tendons and cartilage and must be supplied in the diet. Proline, another amino acid, is required for the formation of collagen and is often lacking in horses' diets. The third amino acid, phenylalanine, is believed to play a role in pain relief.

Best Plant Based Supplement: Rose Hip Vital Equine

Rose Hip Vital Equine Joint & Immune Support Powder

Pros

Contains a single, plant based ingredient - Rose Hip
Scientifically proven to reduce inflammation and pain in damaged joints
High in Vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant

Cons

Moderately expensive

Rose Hip Vital is unique amongst horse joint supplements due to its single, plant derived active ingredient. There is a wealth of scientific data to support the benefits of Rose Hips to reduce inflammation as well as being a rich source of Vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant.

What our customers say: "Great product to reduce inflammation and the associated health issues. Ordered on a Saturday afternoon. Product arrived Sunday at noon! Wow."

What our vets say: "Rose hip vital is a natural, plant based supplement providing a rich source of vitamin C. Vitamin C protects your horse against free radicals, is non-swabbable and can assist with immunity, inflammation, performance, coat and hoof health" - Dr. Josepha

Best Liquid Formula: Ker Synovate HA

Ker Targeted Nutrition Equivit Synovate Sodium Hyaluronate

Pros

Low dose, palatable liquid
Can be used in conjunction with other joint supplements
Can be mixed in feed or syringed directly into the mouth

Cons

Single ingredient
Moderately expensive

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in connective tissue throughout the body which maintains the elasticity of cartilage and the viscosity of joint fluid. KER Synovate HA is a highly bioavailable source of hyaluronic acid which supports cartilage health and joint lubrication, particularly in inflamed joints.

Best MSM Supplement: EAC Animal Care In-fusion Ultra Pure MSM

EAC Animal Care In-Fusion SMS Horse Joint Supplement

Pros

Low dose source of Sulphur
Inexpensive
Multiple benefits - supports joint, muscle, nerve, skin, haircoat and hoof health.

Cons

Limited research to support efficacy
Single ingredient

MSM is a source of sulphur which, due to drying and processing of feed, may be lacking in some horse's diets. Sulphur is essential for the formation of all connective tissue including cartilage and also for the production of glutathione - one of the body's best antioxidants. EAC Animal Care In-fusion MSM is an ultra pure, bioavailable form of sulphur. Unfortunately, there is no scientific data that determines the correct dose rate of MSM for horses, although it is commonly recommended to use 20g per day for a 500kg horse.

What to look for in horse joint supplements

The most appropriate active ingredients

There are a number of active ingredients included in horse joint supplements and they all act in different ways so it's important to ensure that the joint supplement you choose is going to do the job you want it to do. Hyaluronic acid is a good choice for injured joints where the main aim is to reduce inflammation and protect cartilage. Glucosamine has a scientifically backed dose rate, is very safe and can be used long term.

The correct concentration of active ingredients in the correct form

The best way to ensure you are buying a good quality joint supplement that is going to benefit your horse is to choose one made by a reputable company that conducts scientific research on their products. These companies will have the active ingredients and their concentrations clearly printed on the labels of their products.

Ease of administration

There's no point in putting a joint supplement in a horse's feed if they are not going to eat it. If you have a horse that is very particular about what it will eat, look for a palatable powdered supplement or a tasteless liquid.

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History

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Thurs Feb 4 2024

Written by Dr Maree Monaghan BVSc (Hons)

View less history

About the Author

Dr Maree Monaghan BVSc (Hons)

Veterinarian

Dr. Maree graduated from the University of Queensland in 1990 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and has worked in a wide variety of practices around Australia and in Papua New Guinea. She has cared for all creatures great and small and has a particular interest in senior pets and horse nutrition

Why is choosing the right joint supplement important?

Joint supplements are used to:

Reduce inflammation
Increase the production of collagen and other essential proteins in joints
Improve the composition of joint fluid
Slow down the enzymes that break down cartilage

So how do you know which active ingredients have been tested in horses and which ones have been shown to be effective? Here's a summary of some common joint supplement ingredients and how they work.

Best Horse Joint Supplements 2024 [Vet Reviewed]

Why is choosing the right joint supplement important?

In this article

How We Review Our Products

Top Recommended Horse Joint Supplements in Australia [Vet Reviewed]