People and horses have a long association throughout history. These magnificent animals, blessed with beauty and speed, have always captured our imagination. They pull ours loads, carry us where we want to go, thrill us with dazzling speed on the racetracks of the world, and carry us to fame and glory in competition. We can help them by providing equine bone and joint support nutrition when needed.
Many horse owners are familiar with equine supplements designed to provide nutrients missing from the horses' regular diet. Instead of ranging freely over miles of country with mixed vegetation, horses today are confined in stalls or fenced pastures. Hay is often a mono-crop, being largely timothy or another grass.
Pastures may look like lawns, being seeded with lush grass and mowed frequently to give a well cared for look. Since weeds have a lot of nutrients that grass does not, and things like vitamin E and essential fatty acids are found in seeds, this short grass may be appetizing but nutritionally deficient. Many feeds formulated for horses contain added nutrients for this reason.
Horses put to work are under additional stress. This is where nutrients targeted to keeping bones strong and joints flexible come in. Some of the most familiar nutrients are glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid. All of these are natural substances that provide the building blocks for bone, cartilage, and joint fluid.
There are other nutritional substances that have been proven by research and use to help off-set the unusual amount of stress equine athletes are under. Consider the jumper, for example. It thrusts off to gain height needed to clear an obstacle. The hind legs must pack a lot of power into lifting that massive body from the ground and giving it the momentum to soar over a jump that may be both wide and tall.
Then there is the landing. The entire weight of the animal - plus the rider - lands on one foot and then is pushed off as the rest of the body moves forward to clear the jump and regain balance. This action is done over and over during training and competition. No wonder the many bones of the legs and feet are subject to pain and perhaps career-ending lameness.
To help prevent damage and perhaps career-ending lameness, owners and trainers can provide the extra nutrients these athletes need. Specialized formulas are designed to handle daily wear and tear on tissues and keep bones and joints healthy. Some formulas help horses under other stresses, like aging. Arthritis develops in older horses just as it does in humans, but we know now that nutrition can help prevent or delay its development.
Aging is another form of stress that requires extra nutrition. There are all sorts of formulas designed to make your horse more comfortable and keep him sound and healthy longer. Manufacturers of specialized formulas are able to help owners choose the perfect supplement for the level of activity of each horse. Trainers all have their favorite products, too, so look for professional endorsements.
Many horse owners are familiar with equine supplements designed to provide nutrients missing from the horses' regular diet. Instead of ranging freely over miles of country with mixed vegetation, horses today are confined in stalls or fenced pastures. Hay is often a mono-crop, being largely timothy or another grass.
Pastures may look like lawns, being seeded with lush grass and mowed frequently to give a well cared for look. Since weeds have a lot of nutrients that grass does not, and things like vitamin E and essential fatty acids are found in seeds, this short grass may be appetizing but nutritionally deficient. Many feeds formulated for horses contain added nutrients for this reason.
Horses put to work are under additional stress. This is where nutrients targeted to keeping bones strong and joints flexible come in. Some of the most familiar nutrients are glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, and hyaluronic acid. All of these are natural substances that provide the building blocks for bone, cartilage, and joint fluid.
There are other nutritional substances that have been proven by research and use to help off-set the unusual amount of stress equine athletes are under. Consider the jumper, for example. It thrusts off to gain height needed to clear an obstacle. The hind legs must pack a lot of power into lifting that massive body from the ground and giving it the momentum to soar over a jump that may be both wide and tall.
Then there is the landing. The entire weight of the animal - plus the rider - lands on one foot and then is pushed off as the rest of the body moves forward to clear the jump and regain balance. This action is done over and over during training and competition. No wonder the many bones of the legs and feet are subject to pain and perhaps career-ending lameness.
To help prevent damage and perhaps career-ending lameness, owners and trainers can provide the extra nutrients these athletes need. Specialized formulas are designed to handle daily wear and tear on tissues and keep bones and joints healthy. Some formulas help horses under other stresses, like aging. Arthritis develops in older horses just as it does in humans, but we know now that nutrition can help prevent or delay its development.
Aging is another form of stress that requires extra nutrition. There are all sorts of formulas designed to make your horse more comfortable and keep him sound and healthy longer. Manufacturers of specialized formulas are able to help owners choose the perfect supplement for the level of activity of each horse. Trainers all have their favorite products, too, so look for professional endorsements.
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