2001, Issue #3

  from your Pioneer Sales Representative:  Kingston Feed & Farm

Recovering from Injuries

In this issue the feed focus is on the Kentucky Equine Research, specifically KER Phase 2, and the two nutraceuticals glucosamine and MSM.

Phase 2 is designed for broodmares and yearlings (not foals). However as we continue to explore our understanding of nutrition, we took the liberty of trying it out in other situations. We began with the premise or supposition that both older horses and horses recovering from injury have similar requirements to developing horses in terms of support for cellular development in both bone and muscle. We moved our test horses off  the senior feed and performance feeds that they had been on and put them on KER Phase 2 because of its superior formulation for growth and development.

The results have been excellent. The mid-twenties horses are not only maintaining their condition but are actually doing better. The busted up ex-racehorse is developing muscles in places that he hadn’t remembered he had without crippling himself in the process. All the horses on this feed have a higher energy level, yet remain very relaxed. Not at all like those horses having energy pumped into them with a “high octane” feed. And of course the broodmares have been having healthy, well-growing foals for several years now.

These same older/recovering horses also often need other support. Two often spoken of with respect to joint disease are glucosamine and MSM. Both can be obtained in either a pure form or in combination with a variety of other products. We usually recommend that after consultation with a vet, you begin with the pure forms in order to ensure that it works for your specific situation as the combination forms are a great deal more expensive and there doesn’t seem much point in paying for something that may not actually work for you. We carry Pureform Glucosamine and Pureform MSM as well as combinations made by Pureform.

Glucosamine relieves symptoms of osteoarthritis because it decreases pain by replenishing synovial fluid, reduces friction, and aids in rebuilding cartilage, as well as manufacturing mucin in the digestive tract. It comes in two forms, the hydrochloride and the sulphate. Naturally the more expensive is considered to be the most effective, in other words, the hydrochloride (HCl) gives better value for your dollar.

MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane) occurs in the body naturally, but decreases with age and stress, causing fatigue, decreased performance and decreased immune response. MSM is considered to reduce allergic reactions that cause skin and respiratory problems, relieves cramps and muscle spasms, softens scar tissue, controls blood sugar, and relieves symptoms of arthritic conditions.

Do they work? For some horses yes, for some no. The research has not yet clearly established an appropriate dosage for either product, so it is entirely possible that it has failed for some horses because the dosage used was insufficient. All I can say is that the busted-up ex-racehorse is quite happy to get his daily dose of MSM as there is a noticeable difference. The glucosamine has made an appreciable difference for one mid-twenties mare, even though she is absolutely sound and would pass any vet check with flying colours. There are owners by the dozen who use glucosamine preventatively on their performance horses and swear they can feel a difference.

Kasia Miedzinska, PhD

Certified Equine Nutritionist