Leisure horses need joint protection too: my experience
Hand on heart: when we think about joint problems in horses, we often immediately picture high-performance athletes. The showjumper flying over advanced courses every weekend, or the dressage horse performing movements in maximum collection. But what about our leisure partners?
For a long time, I thought: "Oh, my big lad 'only' goes out hacking and does a bit of schooling; he doesn't need anything like that." That was a misconception. Because our leisure horses achieve great things too. Hard ground in summer, deep going in autumn, climbing up and down hills on a hack – all of this challenges tendons and joints. I want my horse to stay fit well into old age so we can continue to enjoy our rides through the woods. That is exactly why I decided to take the topic of joint support seriously.
The daily battle with powders
The good intention was there, but the execution was a disaster. Who hasn't been there? You buy expensive joint powder, full of hope. And then you're standing in the yard, mixing up messy concoctions.
My gelding is an absolute truffle pig. The moment he realises I'm trying to slip him something, he becomes suspicious. I've tried everything: stirring the powder into his mash (which takes up a huge amount of time every day), hiding it in sliced apples, or trying to bind it to his oats with oil. The result was always the same: he meticulously sifted it out. In the end, the expensive powder was left as a dusty residue at the bottom of the manger, and he happily ate around it.
It was frustrating. I knew the active ingredients would do him good, but what use is the best supplement if it doesn't end up in the horse?
The discovery: nuvallo move Snacks
Searching for an alternative that wouldn't be left in the manger, I came across the nuvallo move Snacks. The name made me curious: Snacks? No powder, no liquid?
The concept sounded almost too good to be true. A functional joint snack containing high-quality active ingredients, but fed just like a regular snack. I took a close look at the ingredients, because I am fussy about what goes into my horse.
The base consists of linseed cake, rice bran and linseed – so it is completely free from wheat and corn, and gentle on the stomach. That is important to me, as many "healthy" rewards are often full of fillers. But these contain the real "power ingredients":
- Glucosamine & collagen: Important for cartilage and stability.
- MSM: Organic sulphur for tendons and ligaments.
- Hyaluronic acid: Essentially the "lubricant" for the joints.
The test: does it taste good or not?
When the tub arrived, I was excited. The dosage is incredibly simple: for a horse weighing approx. 500 kg, you simply give 6 snacks daily. No weighing, no searching for a measuring scoop.
The decisive moment: I offered him the first snack on the flat of my hand. He had a quick sniff – and it was gone. He chewed happily and immediately looked for more. I was relieved! For him, it is a reward after grooming or before riding; for me, it is the certainty that he is taking in 100% of his joint support.
As we didn't have any acute problems, but I wanted to provide preventive support, I started straight away with the normal dose (for acute issues, you could feed double the amount for the first 2–3 weeks).
My conclusion after 12 weeks
I have now been consistently feeding the nuvallo move Snacks for a good three months. nuvallo states that you should feed them for at least 8–12 weeks to notice any effects, as the levels of nutrients in the body first need to build up.
What has changed? Of course, I can't look inside his joints, and I certainly won't promise any miracle cures here. But my subjective observation is clearly positive. Especially now, when it is sometimes still a bit damp and chilly in the mornings, I feel that he loosens up much faster. In the past, he needed a longer warm-up phase in walk before he was truly in a rhythm. Now, he seems more supple and eager to move right from the first stride. He simply moves in a more "rounded" way and seems happier in his movement.
Even though we don't compete at big shows (although the snacks are ADMR-compliant and therefore safe for competition), this feeling of looseness is worth every penny to me.
Why I'm sticking with them
For me, the nuvallo move Snacks have become a gamechanger in everyday yard life.
- No more stress: I don't have to mix or hide anything. He absolutely loves eating them out of my hand.
- Top ingredients: I rarely find the combination of glucosamine, collagen, MSM and hyaluronic acid in such a high dosage (approx. 30 g of snacks per day) in this form in other products.
- Visible well-being: My horse seems fit, motivated and loose.
If you want to do something good for your leisure horse and – just like me – are tired of leftover powder in the manger, I can highly recommend nuvallo move. After all, prevention is always better than having to treat problems later.