Icelandic Horses & Tölt: Special Protection for Gaited Horses
As Icelandic horse owners, we all know: an "Icey" is not just a small horse. They are four-legged personalities, weatherproof, robust, and have that one magical gait we love them for – the tölt. Nothing beats the feeling of gliding through the forest in tölt without being shaken around. It is almost like sitting on a sofa while the landscape passes you by.
But as effortless as the tölt may seem for us in the saddle, it is a peak performance for our horses' musculoskeletal system. The high frequency of the leg movements and the constant load-bearing on the hindquarters place enormous demands on tendons, ligaments, and joints. Add to that the typical trait of our Icelandics: they are incredibly stoic. An Icey often only shows pain when there is absolutely no other way. That is exactly what has been worrying me more and more lately. My gelding is fit, but I constantly asked myself: am I doing enough to support his joints long-term under this specific strain?
The daily battle at the feed trough
Of course, I tried to take preventive measures. I have tested my way through countless tubs and buckets of joint powders and liquids. The result, however, was mostly frustrating. Since our Icelandic horses are kept in an open stable, individual feeding is already a logistical challenge.
I stirred powder into his mash – he sniffed it suspiciously and left it. I tried to smuggle it into his balancer – in the end, the trough was empty, but the white powder lay neatly sorted out at the bottom. It is incredibly frustrating when you buy expensive supplements that are supposed to help, but simply do not end up in the horse. Then there is the guilty conscience: if he doesn't eat it, it cannot work. And coming at him with an oral syringe every day? I didn't want to put our relationship through that.
The discovery: nuvallo move
In my search for a stress-free solution, I then came across nuvallo move. I was honestly sceptical, as the market is full of promising products. But what immediately appealed to me here: it is not a powder, but a functional joint snack.
The concept sounded almost too good to be true. No more lugging buckets around, no more mixing mash just to hide the powder. Simply a snack that contains high-quality joint nutrients. Since I have to pay extreme attention to my Icelandic horse's metabolism (keyword: laminitis risk and good-doer), I took a close look at the ingredients.
Why the "snack" advantage is the gamechanger for us
nuvallo move Snacks are based on linseed cake, rice bran, and linseed. That is music to my ears, because they are free from wheat, maize, and added sugar. Especially for our good-doer gaited horses, a basis free from wheat and maize, which is gentle on the stomach, is absolutely essential.
Feeding is now so simple that I ask myself why I made it so hard for myself before. My gelding weighs just under 400 kg, so he gets about 5 to 6 of these snacks daily. And the best part: he loves them! I can give them to him directly after riding as a reward, or simply as a greeting in the paddock.
Yet, these unassuming snacks are packed with full power:
- Glucosamine and collagen for cartilage and structure.
- MSM (organic sulphur) for regeneration.
- Hyaluronic acid for joint fluid.
It does not feel like "administering medicine", but rather like a nice ritual. He happily munches them away, and I know: the active ingredients are in the horse.
Our result: More supple through the tölt
I have been feeding the nuvallo move Snacks for a good eight weeks now. They do say that you have to give joint nutrients time – at least 8 to 12 weeks are recommended. But I have to say, my purely subjective impression is already very positive.
Especially in the first 2-3 weeks, I fed double the amount as recommended to replenish the reserves. We are now on the maintenance dose. What I notice: he seems less stiff in the mornings when coming out of his rest phase. But the most wonderful feeling is when riding. The tölt feels more supple, somehow more fluid. He offers me the gaits more happily and seems altogether "clearer in his rhythm" and more motivated.
It is, of course, no miracle cure that magically makes all problems disappear overnight. But I have the confident feeling that I am supporting him optimally. And since nuvallo move is ADMR-compliant, I do not have to worry if we spontaneously head to a small competition or an oval track clinic.
Conclusion
For me and my Icey, the nuvallo move Snacks are the perfect solution. I can finally ensure that he gets his daily joint support, without stress and without feed refusal. Especially for gaited horses, whose joints are particularly strained by tölt and flying pace, prevention is so important. So, if you are also tired of powder residue in the trough and want to do something good for your horse, I can highly recommend nuvallo move. It is simply a good feeling to know that he can move supplely and with joy for as long as possible.