Glucosamine For Horses
What Does Glucosamine Do for Horses?
Glucosamine is one of the most common ingredients in joint supplements for horses. Not only is it a precursor for chondroitin sulfate and other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) found in articular cartilage, research suggests its protective role in joints goes beyond supplying the basic building blocks for the production of new, healthy tissue. Scientists now believe glucosamine has the ability to block enzymes and mediators that lead to cartilage breakdown.
Not sure which supplement is right for your horse? We have compiled comparison charts so that you can compare active ingredient amounts in the Joint Supplement category.
Sources and Bioavailability of Glucosamine for Horses
Glucosamine can appear on the label as glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) or glucosamine sulfate (SO4). While the glucosamine HCl molecule ultimately provides 80% of its weight in glucosamine compared to the glucosamine SO4 module which provides 50-60% of its weight in glucosamine, both delivery systems have been shown to be absorbed orally and to have activity in equine joints (ie be bioavailable).
How Much Glucosamine to Feed a Horse
Levels of glucosamine in popular equine joint supplements for horses range from 1,200mg to 12,000mg. Studies that trace oral glucosamine through the body have demonstrated that it accumulates in articular cartilage with multiple daily servings, is detectable there for several days, and has a “tropism” for or is specifically attracted to articular cartilage.
Complementary Ingredients
Several studies show that glucosamine appears to work synergistically with both chondroitin sulfate and MSM in horse joint supplements.
Toxicity
The safety of glucosamine has specifically been evaluated in horses by administering a commercial product at 5 times the recommended serving size for one month and for three months with physical exams, blood work, and joint fluid tests showing no adverse events.
Your horse’s body has the ability to repair and rebuild after normal “wear and tear” from light activity, but the increasing demands of riding and training could cause more damage than it can keep up with. Joint supplements in this category are designed for horses in heavy work to help support your horse by providing a steady supply of the ingredients he needs to cope with the demands of his workload. This level of support is also worth considering for horses in lighter workloads that may benefit from additional support due to factors like age or previous joint issues.
Cosequin® is the #1 veterinarian recommended joint health supplement brand*. Cosequin ASU is veterinarian formulated with avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and boswellia serrata extract to provide joint health support for equine athletes regardless of discipline or performance level. When performance matters, choose Cosequin.
For the next level in joint support, consider Cosequin ASU® Plus!
- Joint Health Support for Horses: This supplement is formulated with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) to support joint health.
- Powered by ASU: The combination of ASU, glucosamine, and chondroitin found in Cosequin ASU have been shown to be more effective supporting joint health than either glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate alone in cell culture studies.
- High Quality Ingredients: Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, or ASU, is derived from avocados and soybeans. Studies using cartilage cells have shown that ASU inhibits the expression of several components involved in the process of cartilage breakdown in joints.
- Formulated for Your Horse: ASU complements the positive effects of the glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate in Cosequin ASU, providing broad spectrum joint support for the equine athlete.
- Backed by Science: Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences supplements are veterinarian formulated with high-quality ingredients to support your horse’s joint health, no matter their discipline or performance level.
For the next level in joint support, consider Cosequin ASU® Plus!
Normal aging and years of work can really take a toll on joints, causing stiffness and discomfort that can make a senior horse’s life more difficult. By providing your old friend with joint support designed to help keep him comfortable, you’re showing him how much you love him and appreciate the years you’ve shared.
Cosequin® is the #1 veterinarian recommended joint health supplement brand*. Cosequin ASU Plus is veterinarian formulated with avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), boswellia serrata extract, green tea extract and HA to provide joint health support for equine athletes regardless of discipline or performance level. When performance matters, choose Cosequin.
*Survey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements.
- Joint Health Support for Horses: This supplement is formulated with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), avocado/soybean unsaponifiables (ASU), green tea extract and hyaluronic acid to support joint health.
- Powered by ASU: The combination of ASU, glucosamine, and chondroitin found in Cosequin ASU have been shown to be more effective supporting joint health than either glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate alone in cell culture studies.
- High Quality Ingredients: Avocado/soybean unsaponifiables, or ASU, is derived from avocados and soybeans. Studies using cartilage cells have shown that ASU inhibits the expression of several components involved in the process of cartilage breakdown in joints.
- Formulated for Your Horse: The combination of ASU, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, with HA was shown to be more effective in reducing the expression of several factors involved in the breakdown of cartilage than ASU, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate or HA alone in cell culture studies.
- Backed by Science: Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences supplements are veterinarian formulated with high-quality ingredients to support your horse’s joint health, no matter their discipline or performance level.
*Survey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements.
Whether your horse is in heavy work, or you’re just looking to make sure they have comprehensive support, joint supplements in this category are a great way to help maintain joint health. They provide the ingredients needed to help joints, bones, tendons and ligaments cope with the demands from consistent exercise.
Your horse gives you his all, and he deserves the best care in return. SmartCombo Ultimate Pellets make it easy to give your horse an unparalleled level of joint, hoof, gastric, digestive, and coat support all-in-one, at a savings of over 25% compared to purchasing individually. SmartCombo Ultimate Pellets provide key ingredients for joint, tendon and ligament support, along with active ingredients from SmartHoof® Ultra for strong hooves, SmartGI™ Ultra for researched stomach and hindgut health ingredients, and SmartShine Ultra for a brilliant coat. This pelleted formula is ideal for horses in very heavy work, or anyone simply wanting to provide the very best multi-purpose support.
SmartFlex Senior Herb-Free Pellets are designed to provide well-rounded joint support for older horses. This herb-free version of SmartFlex Senior is ideal for older horses that compete.
For joint support, SmartFlex Senior Herb-Free Pellets provide 8,000 mg of glucosamine, 700 mg of chondroitin sulfate, 75 mg hyaluronic acid, and 12,000 mg of MSM. This formula also contains 500 mg of the amino acid phenylalanine to help address stiffness and discomfort associated with aging. And because senior horses benefit from extra antioxidants, this supplement also contains vitamin C and super oxide dismutase. Your horse will love these tasty pellets! For even more comprehensive senior support, consider our multi-purpose formula SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets.
For joint support, SmartFlex Senior Herb-Free Pellets provide 8,000 mg of glucosamine, 700 mg of chondroitin sulfate, 75 mg hyaluronic acid, and 12,000 mg of MSM. This formula also contains 500 mg of the amino acid phenylalanine to help address stiffness and discomfort associated with aging. And because senior horses benefit from extra antioxidants, this supplement also contains vitamin C and super oxide dismutase. Your horse will love these tasty pellets! For even more comprehensive senior support, consider our multi-purpose formula SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets.
Your horse’s body has the ability to repair and rebuild after normal “wear and tear” from light activity, but the increasing demands of riding could cause more damage than it can keep up with. Joint supplements in this category are designed for horses in intense work and provide the ingredients needed to help maintain joints and connective tissue health. Tendon and ligament ingredients as well as a comprehensive selection of antioxidants are included to help equine athletes continue to thrive. This level of support is also worth considering for horses that may need additional support due to age or joint issues.
Even light work can lead to wear and tear on your horse's joints; after all, researchers have found that even wild mustangs can develop joint issues. That's why providing your young horse, or horse in light work with basic joint support is a sound investment in your future together.
In healthy joints, the ends of the bones are coated with a thin layer of friction-reducing tissue known as articular cartilage. The articular cartilage contains synovial fluid, a thick liquid that serves two primary functions: (1) as a source of nutrients for the articular cartilage and (2) as a lubricant and shock absorber for the bones that form a joint. Joint discomfort can result when damage occurs to any joint tissue, whether it involves the bones, articular cartilages, or synovial membranes.
Research has shown that when used in combination, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, and manganese sulfate support cartilage structure and optimal joint function. Joint Armor’s complete formula provides your horse with the nutrients necessary to support both joint cartilage and synovial fluid. It includes high levels of both glucosamine and chondroitin, plus 100 mg of hyaluronic acid.
Even light work can lead to wear and tear on your horse's joints; after all, researchers have found that even wild mustangs can develop joint issues. That's why providing your young horse, or horse in light to moderate work with the fundamentals of joint health is a sound investment in your future together.
All-inclusive horse joint supplement. Flex+Max® offers comprehensive joint care featuring enhanced ingredient levels for guaranteed results—all in a horse joint supplement offering a highly palatable formula with no fillers. Flex+Max also offers “guaranteed levels of glucosamine and chondroitin,” which is important when you consider that levels of active ingredients in supplements can vary widely, impacting the results they’re able to deliver. Formulated with 10,000 mg of glucosamine, 1,200 mg of chondroitin sulfate, 5,000 mg of MSM & 150 mg of HA.
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Leg Up® Joint Senior Pellets provide joint support designed specifically for older horses in convenient pellets. This formula provides glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to support cartilage health. It also includes MSM, which is known for its ability to help horses with stiffness and discomfort associated with normal exercise and aging. A healthy response to inflammation is addressed with yucca and boswellia, while MSM and 2,000 mg of turmeric serve double duty as both antioxidants and normal inflammatory response support. Finally, because senior horses may benefit from additional vitamin C, this important antioxidant is included to help support joints and connective tissue as well as overall health and well being. This is an excellent choice if you’re looking for senior joint support at an outstanding value, all in a tasty pellet that your horse will love.
While every horse performs at a different level, they all deserve support to reach their peak performance. That’s why every horse from the elite competitor, to the treasured trail horse, and all horses in between, can benefit from our new research-supported multi-purpose supplement, SmartPerform Ultra.
Normal aging and years of work can really take a toll on joints and soft tissue, causing stiffness and discomfort that can make a senior horse’s life more difficult. By providing your old friend with joint, tendon, and ligament support designed to help keep him comfortable, you’re showing him how much you love him and appreciate the years you’ve shared.
Cosequin® is the #1 veterinarian recommended joint health supplement brand*. Cosequin Optimized with MSM is a tasty powder containing higher levels of active ingredients compared to the original researched formula, with the addition of high-quality MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). This supplement is a convenient way to provide MSM along with the scientifically researched ingredients in original Cosequin. When performance matters, choose Cosequin.
*Survey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements.
- Joint Health Support for Horses: This supplement is formulated with glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) to support joint health.
- Optimized Formula with MSM: This supplement is a convenient way to provide MSM along with the proven ingredients in the original Cosequin formula.
- Easy to Serve: Cosequin Optimized Equine Joint Health Supplements come in an easy to administer tasty powder.
- Formulated for Your Horse: The researched ingredients in Cosequin work together to help protect the cartilage in your horse’s joints by supporting healthy cartilage matrix as well as inhibiting certain enzymes that break down cartilage.
- Backed by Science: Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences supplements are veterinarian formulated with high-quality ingredients to support your horse’s joint health, no matter their discipline or performance level.
*Survey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements.
Cosequin® is the #1 veterinarian recommended joint health supplement brand*. The researched ingredients in Cosequin work together to help support cartilage in your horse’s joints by supporting a healthy cartilage matrix as well as inhibiting certain enzymes that break down cartilage. When performance matters, choose Cosequin.
*Survey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements.
- Joint Health Support for Horses: This supplement is formulated with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate to support joint health.
- Original Researched Formula: This supplement is the original researched formula containing proprietary ingredients, FCHG49?Glucosamine and TRH122?Chondroitin Sulfate, not available in other brands.
- Easy to Serve: Cosequin Original Equine Joint Health Supplements come in an easy to administer powder.
- Formulated for Your Horse: The researched ingredients in Cosequin work together to help protect the cartilage in your horse’s joints by supporting healthy cartilage matrix as well as inhibiting certain enzymes that break down cartilage.
- Backed by Science: Nutramax Laboratories Veterinary Sciences supplements are veterinarian formulated with high-quality ingredients to support your horse’s joint health, no matter their discipline or performance level.
*Survey conducted among equine veterinarians who recommended oral joint health supplements.
Every horse is unique and so are his needs, however many horses can benefit from support in several key areas, no matter their workload or discipline. Multi-purpose formulas target specific areas to give your horse a solid foundation for success all in one formula. From the elite equine athlete to the retired senior, there is a perfect combo for your best friend.
Supplements in this category are highly targeted to support normal recovery in horses. They provide active ingredient profiles to help give the body what it needs to support a healthy inflammatory response and encourage normal healing.
Every horse is unique and so are his needs, however many horses can benefit from support in several key areas, no matter their workload or discipline. Multi-purpose formulas target specific areas to give your horse a solid foundation for success all in one formula. From the elite equine athlete to the retired senior, there is a perfect combo for your best friend.
Equithrive® Complete Joint Pellets combine Equithrive® Original Joint with the added benefits of Equithrive® Essential Joint to create a comprehensive joint supplement perfect for horses dealing with aging, training, or competition. This formula contains a proprietary microencapsulated resveratrol product, Resverasyn®. This bioavailable form of resveratrol produces high circulating levels of resveratrol after oral administration for maximum effect in protecting against free radical damage. Equithrive® Complete has undergone extensive scientific testing at leading equine research institutions to study the effects of resveratrol and its relationship with healthy joint support.
Equithrive® Complete Joint Pellets also include high levels of ingredients that are key to connective tissue support, including glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid (HA). These ingredients support the normal formation and maintenance of cartilage and synovial fluid. This product also contains methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which aids Resveraysn in promoting a healthy inflammatory response in horses.
Equithrive® Complete Joint Pellets also include high levels of ingredients that are key to connective tissue support, including glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid (HA). These ingredients support the normal formation and maintenance of cartilage and synovial fluid. This product also contains methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which aids Resveraysn in promoting a healthy inflammatory response in horses.
Grand Flex Senior is a targeted senior joint supplement from the makers of Grand Flex! Formulated to help support overall joint health and to help manage stiffness and soreness in senior horses, Grand Flex Senior provides a synergistic blend of 7,500 mg of glucosamine, 50 mg of depolymerized chondroitin sulfate, 50 mg of HA, 10,000 mg of MSM, and type 11 collagen. A powerful mix of devil's claw, yucca, boswellia, omega 3 & 6 fatty acids combine to provide support for soreness and stiffness and Diamond V Yeast is included to support the digestive system. Grand Flex Senior also contains the correct blend of vitamins, amino acids, and minerals that are essential to make the joint support ingredients perform at their optimum level.
SmartCombo Senior Pellets provide support for joints, hooves, and skin & coat in one easy-to-feed supplement.
This multi-purpose formula contains glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, MSM, devil's claw, biotin, omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and more. Get your senior horse’s joint, hoof, and coat support all-in-one and save! Your horse will love these tasty pellets.
This multi-purpose formula contains glucosamine, hyaluronic acid, MSM, devil's claw, biotin, omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and more. Get your senior horse’s joint, hoof, and coat support all-in-one and save! Your horse will love these tasty pellets.
SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets make it easy to give your golden oldie the comprehensive support he deserves.
SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets provide high levels of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, MSM, biotin, omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, DVEquine™ Postbiotic, and more. Ideal for the competitive senior or any older horse who needs extra support to look and feel his best. Your horse will love these tasty pellets!
Order SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets in SmartPaks and you may be eligible for up to $15,000 of colic surgery reimbursement through our ColiCare program!
SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets provide high levels of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, MSM, biotin, omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, DVEquine™ Postbiotic, and more. Ideal for the competitive senior or any older horse who needs extra support to look and feel his best. Your horse will love these tasty pellets!
Order SmartCombo Senior Ultra Pellets in SmartPaks and you may be eligible for up to $15,000 of colic surgery reimbursement through our ColiCare program!
Four supplements in one product: joint, hoof, coat, and digestion. MVP 4-in-1 + H/A™ contains 7,000 mg glucosamine, 1,000 mg chondroitin, 3,000 mg MSM, 16 mg biotin, 3,000 mg yucca, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. This multi-purpose supplement is formulated to support healthy joints, strong hooves, shiny coat, and healthy digestion. All this, in an easy to feed pellet.