Navicular Syndrome (Podotrochlosis): Diagnosis and Support

There are days in the life of a horse owner that you would rather cross off the calendar. For me, it was the day my gelding suddenly stopped tracking soundly. At first, I thought he had just tweaked a leg in the field, but when the stumbling became more frequent and he was visibly uncomfortable, I called the vet. After flexion tests and X-rays, the word we all dread was spoken: navicular, technically known as podotrochlosis.

My heart sank. Every rider knows that problems in the navicular apparatus – the navicular bone, bursa, and deep digital flexor tendon – are often a lengthy and complex issue. The vet calmly explained that we would have to change our management: adjusted shoeing, optimised training, and, above all, targeted nutritional support for the affected structures.

The battle with the feed bucket

The diagnosis was one shock, implementing the feeding recommendation was another. I urgently needed to add glucosamine, MSM, and collagen to his feed to provide the structures with the best possible support. So, highly motivated, I bought various powders and liquids.

But my horse is – to put it mildly – a gourmet. Or rather, a suspicious detective. I tried everything: hiding the powder in his mash, stirring it into soaked hay cobs, and even trying to smuggle it into hollowed-out apples. The result was always the same: he carefully ate around the spiked feed or blew hard into the trough, leaving me standing in a cloud of dust. In the end, the expensive powder stuck to the bottom of the manger as a damp mush, and my horse looked at me reproachfully. It was exasperating – what use are the best active ingredients if they do not end up in the horse?

The discovery: nuvallo move Snacks

While looking for an alternative that would not end up in the bin, I came across nuvallo move Snacks. The name made me curious, but I was even more sceptical about the format. A functional joint snack?

I read through the ingredients and was positively surprised. No cheap fillers, no wheat, no corn, and above all, no added sugar. Instead, the snack is based on linseed cake, rice bran, and linseed – in exactly that order. This is brilliant for the stomach, which was important to me, as my big lad also reacts sensitively here when stressed.

But the most important thing was the active ingredients per daily ration (6 snacks):

• Glucosamine (1,500 mg) and collagen (2,550 mg) for cartilage and connective tissue.
• MSM (2,250 mg) for the tendons.
• Hyaluronic acid (150 mg) for the joint fluid.

This was exactly the blend my vet had recommended, just in a format that sounded very promising.

Why I am sticking with the 'snack' format

I ordered a pack to try. The moment of truth: I took a nuvallo move Snack out of the bag and offered it to my horse. He sniffed briefly – and ate it straight away. No sorting it out, no blowing, no suspicion. He thought he was getting a reward, while I was actually giving him his high-dose joint support.

Handling them is an absolute dream. I no longer have to weigh or mix anything. As we needed a sort of 'kickstart' in the first three weeks due to the acute diagnosis, I fed double the amount (so 12 a day). After that, we settled into the normal dose of 6 snacks for his weight (approx. 600 kg). It is so simple: I give them to him directly from my hand, usually after grooming or before work. The fact that the snacks are free from wheat and corn reassures me even more.

Our new feeling under saddle

Of course, navicular syndrome is a diagnosis that does not simply disappear. But the goal is to maintain mobility and allow the horse to move pain-free. I have been feeding the nuvallo move Snacks consistently for just under three months now.

What I am observing subjectively makes me very happy. In the first few weeks, I noticed little change, but after about 6 weeks I had the feeling that he 'warms up' much faster in the mornings. We used to need a very long walk phase before he stopped looking so stiff. Now, he trots towards me in the field and looks much suppler and more relaxed in his movements.

Under saddle, too, I have the impression that he is more motivated. He steps under his centre of gravity better and seems happier in his work. It is no miracle cure that undoes X-rays, but I see a horse that is enjoying movement once again. Since the snacks are also ADMR-compliant (competition safe, with no withdrawal period), I do not have to worry if we decide to enter a small competition again.

My verdict

If you, just like me, have a horse that turns his nose up at powder supplements, I can wholeheartedly recommend nuvallo move Snacks to you. They solve the biggest problem when it comes to supplementation: acceptance. I now know for sure that the vital nutrients like MSM and hyaluronic acid are actually getting into my horse. They have become a firm part of our daily stable routine – and my horse's contented chewing is the best proof for me that we have taken the right path.