Murray State University

Efficacy of an Oral Joint Supplement in Exercising Horses

Presenter Information

Maggie Nawa, Murray State University

Institution

Murray State University

Abstract

The equine healthcare market is a multimillion-dollar industry. Supplements are intended to maintain or improve health and performance. Supplement selection is often driven by owner conjecture or consumer advertising instead of scientific evidence. Information made available by equine healthcare companies concerning supplement effectiveness is inconsistent, often due to marketing bias. This has led to conflicting views on the effectiveness of equine dietary supplements. Hyaluronic acid (HA), found the in synovial fluid of normal joints, is commonly found in joint supplements and has been used as an oral supplement in horses for over 10 years. However, it is often used in combination with other joint supplements, including glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulphonylmethane. There is little research on how HA alone affects joint health in horses. Hyaluronex® is an HA supplement used to support joint health as an alternative for joint injections. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an orally fed HA gel supplement on exercising horses. Twenty exercising horses were initially selected for the study. Three horses were dropped for reasons unrelated to the study, resulting in 8 treatment and 9 control horses. Treatment horses received Hyaluronex® for 35 days. Before and after supplementation, each horse had a flexion test performed by a licensed veterinarian, and a subset of horses was evaluated for stride length under saddle. A survey was also completed by riding instructors at 3 and 5 weeks of supplementation to assess changes in horses during exercise periods. Statistical analysis will be performed to assess changes as a result of HA supplementation. It is expected that HA supplemented horses will show a difference in flexion test scores and stride length, corroborated by instructor surveys after feeding. If shown, this type of supplement could potentially decrease costs associated with joint health care in horses.

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Efficacy of an Oral Joint Supplement in Exercising Horses

The equine healthcare market is a multimillion-dollar industry. Supplements are intended to maintain or improve health and performance. Supplement selection is often driven by owner conjecture or consumer advertising instead of scientific evidence. Information made available by equine healthcare companies concerning supplement effectiveness is inconsistent, often due to marketing bias. This has led to conflicting views on the effectiveness of equine dietary supplements. Hyaluronic acid (HA), found the in synovial fluid of normal joints, is commonly found in joint supplements and has been used as an oral supplement in horses for over 10 years. However, it is often used in combination with other joint supplements, including glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulphonylmethane. There is little research on how HA alone affects joint health in horses. Hyaluronex® is an HA supplement used to support joint health as an alternative for joint injections. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an orally fed HA gel supplement on exercising horses. Twenty exercising horses were initially selected for the study. Three horses were dropped for reasons unrelated to the study, resulting in 8 treatment and 9 control horses. Treatment horses received Hyaluronex® for 35 days. Before and after supplementation, each horse had a flexion test performed by a licensed veterinarian, and a subset of horses was evaluated for stride length under saddle. A survey was also completed by riding instructors at 3 and 5 weeks of supplementation to assess changes in horses during exercise periods. Statistical analysis will be performed to assess changes as a result of HA supplementation. It is expected that HA supplemented horses will show a difference in flexion test scores and stride length, corroborated by instructor surveys after feeding. If shown, this type of supplement could potentially decrease costs associated with joint health care in horses.