Joints
Joints, degenerative joint conditions
The question we must ask ourselves is, how do such degenerative conditions occur?
There are many possibilities, ranging from genetic to bad confirmation, inappropriate work and stress. There is also the possibility of inappropriate nutrition and / or irregular feeding etc.
We are of the opinion that these are the main causes and they assist in the creation of other causes.
When a healthy foal is born, it has a fully functional locomotive apparatus, i.e. it can move perfectly well, without restriction or constraint. Genetics then take care of the structure and nutrition (provided by the mare) is the building block for filling in and stabilising!!!
Mares are fantastic at protecting their young and giving them everything they need to survive and develop properly.
With inadequate forage (or concentrates) and a poor supply of vitamins and minerals, the mare goes as far as to draw the necessary nutrition from her own body to pass onto the foal.
So, the story of the joints starts during gestation and begins its long journey to adult horse from where healthy joints are created and are then maintained through regenerative processes.
This can only be achieved with a balanced diet.
Protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium are important building blocks for the horse. Micronutrients (vitamins, trace elements) have a regulatory function relative to these building blocks.
This will only happen if the micronutrients are supplied in a proper and balanced manner.
If we look at currently available “joint supplements”, we find that the more complex products contain vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, iron, copper, zinc and manganese etc.
These ingredients are responsible for activating body own production of regenerative substances. Under normal circumstances, the body is able to regenerate / heal itself when on a balanced diet. Chrondroitin sulphate and glucosamine sulphate are often included in “joint supplements”. However, use of these banned substances in horses is forbidden by European law. This is a pity, as both of these substances provide good nutrition for the joints.
On a balanced diet the horse is able to synthesise chondroitin and glucosamine itself, with the use of manganese. Proteoglycansynthesis is assisted by manganese and other micronutrients.
Deficiencies interrupt synthesis and regenerative processes cease to function properly causing joint problems. This is why it is important to feed a balanced diet from day one.
In acute cases where preventative measures are simply not enough, the solution is to be found in the use of Green shell Mussels which we use in FTS Joint & Tendon.