My off the track mare is getting a little stiff and I had her x-rayed...the vet said she showed arthritis in her hock. He wanted to inject her, but I'm so hesitant as my friend's horse died from infection after being injected in the joint. She's not lame, no one can see any lameness, but her first few trot steps are stiff, then she works out almost immediately. (She could be really stoic though as the vet implied advanced arthritis.) In fact, she's always complemented as a beautiful mover. So I'm a bit at a crossroads as I feel it's too early to inject but what do I do in the meantime.

Has anyone here injected and did you see results? Has anyone tried Adequan or Legend? Or has anyone found benefits in supplementing? My friend swears by recovery Eq Ha as the riding team she was on in college used it on all their show horses. My other friend said supplements are completely a waste as they just blow away (powder) or go right through the digestive system. Advice or suggestions?

I've had success using MidaPlex Gold and Blue. They have msm and hylauronic acid. My friend swear by recovery EQHA. I understand your reluctance to inject into a joint. Anytime you do, you run the risk of introducing an infection. But it's done so frequently nowadays and the formulas are better with hylauronic acid in them as well as steroid. Some vets even add an antibiotic to reduce the risk of infection. I expect I will have to inject my horse eventually and when I do I plan to ask the vet about adding an antibiotic.

I use IV Legend for my older (coming 21) gelding when we are working hard.

Do you find a difference using Legend? My neice has an aging horse that they're trying to decide whether to inject or not. How often do you use it and what's the cost approximately per year? Anything to keep in mind when using Legend?

The thing I hate most about the top-rated or "best" supplements is that they're powder. I find more waste in powder supplements as they sit at the bottom of hte bucket and just need to be rinsed out. And I was paying $85/month for a fancy joint supplement when it was at least half wasted at the bottom of the bin or blown away or traces still in the baggies. Anyone have recommendations for good PELLETED supplements?

Finish Line makes a product called Fluid Action HA, that can be purchased in liquid form. We use it on some of the older horses and the horses with joint problems, and have had really good luck with it in some of the ones with arthritis. Also most of the horses who show/ jump regularly are on a powdered MSN/ glucosimine suppliment. To make sure that it gets eaten instead of left in the bucket, all the horses get Beet Pulp that has been soaked in water with thier grain, it makes the powdered suppliments damp so they don't blow away, and it also helps with hydration.

Working at the track you see just about every single horse have joint injections! I would wait as long as you can before starting to inject. It is just so easy for the vet and quick cash, that they always suggest it. But.... you have to keep injecting the joint, you can't just do it one time and that be it. It will start off to be once every couple months, then before you know it, its once every couple weeks. It damages the joint!! I know for a fact, we had two geldings with chips in the knees that were getting injections every couple weeks to once a month. Once we took them off the injections, fluid started building up, then it turned really hard and formed star tissue and calicifications. Its ugly and hurts the horse in the long run. If you are going to do injections, get the acid verison for it seems to last longer and is a bit better.

It sounds as if your horse isn't that bad at all. I have a gelding who used to get stiff in the back end the first couple steps out of his stall and since I moved him to a 12X24 outside pen, where he can move around more, his stiffness is gone. Seems as if your horse might need to move around a bit more.

I like the suggestion by Silversprite about the Glucosimine. I also use it on my gelding that has a tendon injury and it takes away inflamation, reduces sanovial fluid, and relieves pain. You can get it in the pure powder form from www.valleysupply.com for $25! I have noticed a difference with my guy. I mix it in with his beet pulp, that way I know he is getting all of it and it wont blow away for the beet pulp is always mixed with water.

MSM all the way! To avoid it blowing away, or getting sifted to the bottom, if you don't feed beet pulp, thry mixing iit in a bit of oil, mollasses, honey, whatever, then mixing it in. There are some liquid varieties out there as well. Not sure about where you are, but I'll assume you live in the US somewhere, and I am in Canada, so the market would be very different up here.

Have an semi -retired jumper and just started a legend injection to see if it helps his rear leg..
Next day wasn't as stiff.. which he usually is due to boarding and no pasture I think.. Oh riverfly wish I was back in the open spaces.. soon..

Lady Jane,

Are your horses hocks fusing? If this is the case and it is the small hock joints fusing (Not the large hock joint), the best thing to do is give a little bute and ride to help them fuse faster. The bute will help with the dicomfort and the work will cause them to fuse quicker. As far as injections go in those small hock joints, a small amount of steriod (or combo of steroid and legend or another similar product) is injected in each hock on the inside and outside of each for a total of 4 injections. As long as this is done sterile and properly you should not have a problem and it helps fuse them faster. I have seen dozens of these done and assisted in the process and never seen one go bad. Even had my older horse done when the time came.

As far as oral vs. injectable supplements. I would have to go with the combo of IM Adaquin, & IV Legend. It's the best.

Oral supplements are not proven on their effectiveness in the horse. There is questions as to how well it is absorbed by the horse.

I have found that when you price out how much you spend on oral and how much the injectable is. It is cheaper and easier to do the injectable.

If you do chose to use oral it needs to have these ingredients in them to work properly. Glucosimine, Chondrotin, and Maganese for absorbtion.
MSM is more for muscle health than joint health.

Joint injections have a few risks, including:
Infection. any time you insert a needle there is the potential to introduce bacteria, which can lead to infection.
Masking pain, injecting corticosteroids into a damaged joint can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain, but then the joint is more at risk for re-injury when the horse returns to work.
Broken needle. In very rare instances, a needle can break.
Joint Degeneration. There is a long-term risk of corticosteroids causing cartilage breakdown. This depends on the horse.
Laminitis. Corticosteroids are very useful in treating joint disease, but some vets think that in certain instances steroids, especially triamcinolone, can contribute to the onset of laminitis.
The overall result is going to vary with the severity of the problem and what is being expected of the horse. Each individual responds differently to the various treatments, so it´s necessary to create a program for each horse.

Now, the success with joint injections has many variables because the owners have different goals: One owner may be happy if a horse can walk comfortably, while another will rate success by how an athlete can perform.

So, what is it what you want from your horse? ..... that way you will know what treatment you should follow..

I'm using Newmarket Joint Supplement: click here for info

I have to say its not too expensive (less than $1/day) and it seems to be working. My vet says its the best on the market and is well tested and pure. I know a lot of the top TB and Jumper trainers are using it. Its imported from the UK.

I use MSM (does help well with joint problems) and glucosamine pellets for bone/joint/stiffness. We have had several OTTB's and one mare comes to mind. She was 16yr old beautiful chestnut with 4 perfect socks, perfect star and blaze. Her joints (which POPPED constantly) were so shot she could not canter loose in the pasture. After only a few days of being on MSM I could tell quite a difference, She had arthritis. The best results I have from this type of problem is to supplement also, with a certian amount of about every mineral/vitamin you can get in one product. We use raw minerals from Youngevity Dr Wallach Minerals

Our friend's dog was diagnosed with advanced arthritis (not sure how old, in his teens) and could no longer hop onto the owner's bed at night. After two weeks of supplementing him with MSM his little doggy joints had quit popping and he could jump in the bed once again! Happy dog days lol