Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is a twice-a-month web segment that is designed to add to the education of footcare professionals when it comes to effectively feeding the hoof. The goal of this web-exclusive feature is to zero in on specific areas of hoof nutrition and avoid broad-based articles that simply look at the overall equine feeding situation.
Below you will find Part 1 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.
Q: Could nutrition be involved with the joint concerns I’m having with my barrel horse?
By Emily Dickson
A: Performance horses are prone to joint disease because of their normal activity. While some of this may be inevitable, especially as the joints’ regenerative ability decreases with age, various therapies and technologies can help promote equine joint health.
First and foremost, asking your horse to perform a variety of different exercises at various intensity levels and on different surfaces can help keep your horse moving. This can help balance the load on the horse’s joints, as well as the inflammation cycle that is associated with training.
Do not underestimate the power of nutrition. While it is human nature to always seek new information, research offers convincing evidence that high-quality joint supplements can help protect and restore joints throughout a horse’s life. Joint supplements that are designed to provide key joint nutrients can help support and maximize your horse’s joint health and long-term performance.
Emily Dickson is the lifestyle marketing manager for Alltech, with company headquarters based in Nicholasville, Ky.
Click here to read part 2 of the Nov. 18, 2021, installment of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence: How important are trace minerals for improving hoof quality? Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.