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.

Herbs are nature's keys to successful treatment. Rather than suppressing the inflammatory response, herbal supplements can keep it within the limits necessary for healing. Inflammation involves increased circulation, which is necessary for soft tissue repair. However, too strong a response causes swelling and tenderness. There are many herbs that promote healing rather than merely suppress symptoms. Although the way herbal preparations work is not always clear to science, their effects have been well documented.

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.

Ginger, boswellia, and tumeric are popular human remedies that have been incorporated into horse supplements with great success. An equal amount of all three of these anti-inflammatory herbs (they also help digestion, relieve pain, and promote tissue repair), can be mixed into feed. One or two tablespoons daily is an effective dose.

The use of these and other herbs helps with pain, swelling, and loss of flexibility. As human athletes know, small aches and pains take the pleasure out of exercise. Favoring one sore joint or muscle may also put undue stress on others, compounding the problem. Exercise is often the best remedy, as it boost circulation, tones muscles, and strengthens bone. When vitamin and mineral-rich plants (which we call herbs) are added to the diet, it makes free movement possible again.

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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