Building up your senior horse: More zest for life for your veteran

There is that one moment we all dread a little as horse owners. The moment you look at your horse and suddenly realise: he has grown old. The grey hairs around the muzzle are multiplying, the back might be dipping a little, and that former fire in the eyes gives way to a certain, quiet tiredness.

My "big boy" is now over 20. He carried me faithfully through competitions, forgave my beginner mistakes, and was always my rock. But in recent months, I have simply noticed the ravages of time taking their toll. Particularly on cold, wet days, he seems stiff in the mornings, takes longer to warm up, and often stands somewhat listlessly in the paddock while the younger ones play. As an owner, it breaks my heart to watch helplessly. You just want to give him a lovely, dignified retirement and really build him back up again.

The daily battle at the feed trough

Of course, I immediately looked into how I could best support his joints and tendons in old age. The market is full of powders and liquids. Highly motivated, I ordered various tubs – and failed spectacularly.

You probably know the feeling: you buy the most expensive joint powder, hopefully mix it into the feed, and what does the horse do? One big blow into the trough, leaving you standing in a cloud of dust, and then he meticulously eats around the powder. I tried everything. I hid it in his mash (which he then completely refused), I tried to smuggle it into hollowed-out apples – no chance. My senior may be old, but he isn't stupid. And what use are the best ingredients if they stay stuck to the bottom of the trough instead of ending up in the horse? None. It was simply frustrating and expensive.

The discovery: Finally, no more powder stress

While searching for an alternative that my fussy pensioner would actually eat, I came across the nuvallo move Snacks. The name made me sit up and take notice: Snacks? No pellets, no powder, no sticky syrup?

The concept sounded almost too simple to be true. They are functional joint snacks that you can feed just like a normal snack. Since my senior has a sensitive stomach, I was initially sceptical, but a glance at the ingredients list reassured me: the base consists of linseed cake and rice bran (in that order). Free from wheat and maize, no added sugar, and no cheap fillers. This is extremely important, especially for older horses who often have digestive issues.

Why the "snack" advantage changes everything

I ordered the nuvallo move Snacks and did the ultimate test. I offered him the snack – and he took it, chewed happily, and immediately looked for more. I could have cried with relief!

The dosage is incredibly easy: a large horse weighing approx. 500 kg simply gets 6 snacks daily. That is about 30 grams. Since we are just starting out and he is already showing clear signs of ageing, I am currently giving him double the amount for the first three weeks to replenish his reserves. After that, we will go down to the normal maintenance dose.

These little snacks are packed with concentrated power for the musculoskeletal system:

• Glucosamine (1,500 mg): The classic for the cartilage.
• Collagen (2,550 mg): Important for the elasticity of the tendons and ligaments.
• MSM (2,250 mg): Organic sulphur for regeneration.
• Hyaluronic acid (150 mg): Practically the "lubricant" for the joints.

And the best part: I no longer have to weigh anything out, dampen anything, or scrape leftovers out of the trough. I simply give them to him out of my hand after grooming. He looks forward to it, and I know for certain that the active ingredients are actually ending up in the horse.

The result: A new lease of life?

I have now been feeding the nuvallo move Snacks consistently for about eight weeks. They do say you have to give such supplements at least 8 to 12 weeks, but I noticed a difference after a good six weeks.

It's the little things. When I fetch him from the paddock in the morning, he comes to meet me again – he no longer seems so "rusty". His movements seem more fluid, and when riding (we only do light work now) I feel he relaxes more quickly and swings more loosely through his back.

Last week was the loveliest moment: he galloped across the field with his field mate, bucked, and threw his tail in the air. I haven't seen so much zest for life in him for a long time. Of course, the snacks won't turn my 22-year-old back into a youngster; I don't expect that at all. But I definitely get the impression that he feels more comfortable in his own skin again and has fewer problems getting up and getting going.

Conclusion

If you also have a senior in the stable that you would like to build back up a bit, I cannot recommend the nuvallo move Snacks highly enough. It takes the stress out of feeding and gives you the good feeling of supporting your old friend in the best possible way – entirely without the battle at the feed trough. For us, they are now a firm part of our daily routine.