Whether your horse already suffers from joint pain or you wish to maintain their bone health and prevent future problems, glucosamine is a popular supplement that can be very effective. We explore what’s behind its effectiveness and why glucosamine for horses may be a good choice.

What Is Glucosamine?

Glucosamine is made in the bodies of all animals and humans. A sugar compound, glucosamine is responsible for providing the basic building material for joints and other connective tissue. This compound has shown to be an effective pain reliever and is also suspected to help the cartilage to heal.

How Does Glucosamine for Horses Protect Their Joints?

Glucosamine protects the joints of horses in a number of ways. It lubricates the joints for easier and freer movement. Glucosamine also hydrates the joints, allowing them to be better cushions during exercise. This lubrication and hydration can eliminate pain and heat.

In providing basic building material, glucosamine helps create cartilage around a joint’s protective tissues. This both helps maintain joint condition and slows the rate of cartilage breakdown over time.

It may also be that glucosamine helps to promote the production of collagen in the knees, although the study which revealed this was conducted on human subjects.

Other Benefits

Glucosamine supplies your horse’s joints with lubrication and hydration, but does it work to soothe and heal ulcers? Yes, and it relieves stress and supports hoof health as well. This compound is also easily absorbed by horses because their bodies already recognize it as a natural substance.

Types of Glucosamine

Glucosamine is available in 3 types: glucosamine sulfate, N-acetyl-glucosamine, and glucosamine hydrochloride (HCI). Of the three, glucosamine HCI offers the highest glucosamine content and is the type most often associated with equine supplementation for joint health.

Glucosamine for Horses Dosage

Studies have shown an effective dose to be in the 6,000 to 10,000 mg range where supplementing to slow cartilage breakdown is the goal. Your veterinarian may recommend administering higher doses during the beginning of treatment to speed healing.

In order to see benefits in your horse, everyday supplementation is ideal. Adding glucosamine HCI in powdered form will allow for easy mixing and consumption; most horses will not notice any difference in taste.

Glucosamine can be a wonderful way to ease joint pain in your horse or help them maintain the health of their joints. Even so, it’s always a good idea to consult with your veterinarian before giving your horse glucosamine or any other natural supplement.

All-Natural Equine Supplements

Glucosamine can reduce painful inflammation that can interfere with your horse’s quality of life, and the right supplement can make all the difference. Equi-Herbs is dedicated to improving horse health with all-natural formulations. We travel the world to source only the highest-quality ingredients for our products.

To learn more about our performance, aid and metabolic series, or individual products like glucosamine HCI, we invite you to look through our website or call 1-800-786-0708 to place your order.