Do Young Horses Need Joint Supplements?

Many horse owners struggle with when to start feeding jointcare supplements - and the answer is different for everyone. However, recent research has cemented the idea that with supplements, it really is the sooner the better! Even with young horses that have had no injuries or any signs of joint issues, it is better to supplement before any permanent damage is done.

What are chondro-protectants?

Chondro-protective ingredients are compounds or chemicals that help to delay degenerative characteristics in joints, for example symptoms of arthritis. Some of the most common chondro-protectants in equine supplements are chondroitin, hyaluronic acid and glucosamine - and they all help protect the joint in different ways. Chondroitin is shock-absorbing and helps to maintain joint elasticity, hyaluronic acid gives joint fluid its viscosity and glucosamine reduces cartilage degradation.

Protecting joints in horses from issues such as osteoarthritis can often mean prophylactic supplementation of these three ingredients - feeding a supplement before there are any visible or clinical changes to a joint. Diagnosis for degenerative joint diseases can be difficult, as most of the time, by the time there are symptoms, the joint is already damaged or dysfunctional. However, a paper from earlier this year has identified some of the biomarkers that can make diagnosis easier and earlier (Castanheira et al, 2021).

Research into arthritis biomarkers

By analysing synovial fluid (joint fluid) and looking at small companion molecules to DNA called small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), the study found that when sncRNAs are present at a lower concentration than normal, this can be a sign of osteoarthritis (Castanheira et al, 2021). The scientists concluded that, with more research and development, the sncRNAs could act as an early diagnosis tool for osteoarthritis! SncRNAs can also act as markers for inflammation.

The study also found some interesting results about chondro-protective ingredients and their interactions with sncRNAs - hyaluronic acid has been found to upregulate specific sncRNAs that are involved with osteoarthritis, increasing their concentration in synovial fluid. This shows that supplementing hyaluronic acid can help to protect joints from osteoarthritis, and help to delay onset. Prophylactic administration of chondroitin and glucosamine was also shown to have an impact in delaying osteoarthritis. These valuable insights into synovial fluid biomarkers will help to guide research on osteoarthritis treatments and therapies, as well as giving us as horse owners an idea as to how important prophylactic supplementation is.

What can we learn from this?

• Prophylactic administration of chondro-protectants is not just for old horses - it is also for young horses, elite horses, leisure horses and everything in between.
• Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, chondroitin and glucosamine can benefit every horse, even those without visible joint issues.
• By the time horses show symptoms of osteoarthritis or joint disease, there is damage and degradation already. This is why feeding supplements prophylactically is so important.
• Many horse owners and horses will benefit from understanding the importance of chondro-protectants in a horse's diet.

Ultimately, the answer 'Do young horses need joint supplements?' is yes - to protect their joints and delay the onset of degenerative joint diseases.

Citations:

Castanheira, C., P. Balaskas, C. Falls, Y Ashraf-Kharaz, P. Clegg, K. Burke, Y. Fang, P. Dyer, T. J. M. Welting, and M. J. Peffers. 2021. Equine synovial fluid small non-coding RNA signatures in early osteoarthritis. BMC Vetinary Research 17(1):26.