Last Updated: 05/05/2025
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: 45 minutes - long 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.
Joint supplements are used to:
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.
MSM is used in joint supplements because it contains sulphur which is used to make collagen. Glucosamine requires sulphur to be metabolised into a glycosaminoglycan - an essential building block of joint cartilage. The sulphur containing amino acid, cysteine, is abundant in the proteins that form joints, ligaments, tendons and hooves.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in contrast to Omega 6 which promotes inflammation. Omega fatty acids form part of the membrane of every cell in the body and, because horses can't manufacture them in their bodies, they must get them from their diet. Pasture is much higher in Omega 3 fatty acids than omega 6 fatty acids whereas cereal grains are the opposite. It makes sense to provide horses with sufficient levels of omega 3 fatty acids in their diet to keep the omega 3:6 ratio as close to that in pasture as possible. The richest plant based source of omega 3 fatty acids is flaxseed (linseed) oil and it contains approximately 3 times as much omega 3 as omega 6.
Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in joint fluid and is one of the molecules that "lubricates" joints so they can move without friction. Research has shown that the levels of hyaluronic acid decrease in injured joints leading to increased friction and damage to cartilage. Supplementation with hyaluronic acid, therefore, helps reduce inflammation and protect cartilage, particularly in injured joints.
Turmeric has been used in herbal medicine for many years and one of its active constituents, curcumin, is a proven anti-inflammatory. A small number of studies in horses have shown that Turmeric decreases inflammatory mediators in horses and improves mobility in horses with osteoarthritis.
Rosehips are also used extensively in herbal medicine for a variety of health conditions. Studies have shown that a particular substance in rose hips called a galactolipid stops white blood cells from congregating in inflamed joints which reduces inflammation and protects cartilage. Rosehips are also rich in Vitamin C - a powerful antioxidant.
Collagen is essential for the formation of the connective tissue which supports joints and cartilage which covers the ends of bones within joints. Hydrolysed collagen is collagen that has been broken down into smaller pieces that are able to be absorbed from the digestive tract. Research has shown that supplementing the diet of horses suffering from arthritis with hydrolysed collagen peptides significantly decreased pain and increased mobility.
Four factors to consider when choosing a joint supplement for your horse:
Results:
Our Pet Circle Vet Squad comprises 30 vets with over 120 years of collective, independent veterinary expertise. 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.
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
Hygain Flexion contains Glucosamine to stimulate collagen synthesis in growing joints and MSM which supplies the sulphur molecule necessary for this process. Proline and lysine - amino acids which are necessary to maintain the structure of collagen - are added to ensure the building blocks of collagen are supplied to support the formation of strong joints. The copper and zinc in this formula are chelated (bound to an amino acid) to ensure optimum bioavailability.
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 wasnât there! I have started to see an improvement in his joints as he gets very stiff but this stuff has helped a lot!"
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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.
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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