Choosing Equine Inflammation Management Supplements

By Jessica Wilson


Most horse owners want to ride. An unsound horse becomes a pet rather than a partner in an exciting sport. Keeping your steed free of pain and restoring it to top condition after injury is made easier with the use of equine inflammation management supplements. There are many on the market, so you will need to choose ones that fit your needs most exactly.

Horsemen have had to practice pain management for centuries. Fortunately a lot of their knowledge has been passed down. New research has validated many claims made for old remedies. New understanding of the purpose of inflammation, for example, tells us that this natural bodily response can be too strong, but properly managed it speeds recovery. Combining both old and new knowledge gives horse owners a broad range of options.

The inflammatory response, which increases circulation, is key to tissue repair, so merely suppressing it as chemical painkillers may do is not the answer. Herbal supplements can keep the response within limits, so healing can proceed but tenderness and swelling are reduced. Although researchers don't understand all the ways that herbs work, their benefits can be clearly seen.

With research validating the claims of herbalists, supplement manufacturers have chosen many of the most effective herbs and studied their benefits for horses. Devil's Claw, a tall weed used by mountain folk to ease the pains of rheumatism, is sold in powder and pellet form. Fed daily, this herbal product eases muscle and joint pain and makes a horse more comfortable under saddle.

Other herbs that are generally found in products designed to maintain and restore soundness and free movement are ginger, tumeric, and boswellia. A folk remedy is made from equal parts of these three herbs, to be added to the feed by the tablespoon (1 or 2 a day). Each of these herbs are known to decrease swelling, ease pain, and reduce inflammation. In fact, research shows these herbs to be as effective as many over the counter and even prescription painkillers.

Even if a horse doesn't have soft swelling or a limp, a loss of flexibility is a sign of muscular discomfort and incipient arthritis or other disorders. As people know, aches and pains can take all the fun out of physical activity. Favoring one muscle or joint may put extra stress on another, making further injury probable. Since riding is the point, and exercise is good for almost everything that ails us, free movement is important. Exercise tones muscles, boosts circulation, and increases fitness. Vitamin and mineral-rich herbs can give the horse what it needs to stay healthy, strong, and active.

Supplements used as directed should be part of a comprehensive program of diet, exercise, and other therapies. Horse owners use acupressure, ultra-sound, massage, hot and cold poultices, and infra-red light to treat occasional and chronic disorders. Hyaluronic acid is sometimes injected into a 'dry' joint; this substance is natural and has none of the cartilage-destroying drawbacks of steroids. Chondroitin and glucosamine, natural building blocks of the proteins that make up cartilage, are valuable supplements to prevent and treat arthritis.

Find a good supplement and feed it daily. After a few months, switch to another product just to make sure your horse is getting what it needs to thrive. Check out topical herbals, too, like curcumin rubs for legs and joints. There are many products designed to keep you and your horse going strong.




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