OCD (chips) in young horses: focusing on nutritional support

There is that one moment that every young horse owner probably dreads. The vet stands in front of the X-ray, frowns, and points to a small, bright shadow in the joint space. The diagnosis: osteochondritis dissecans, or OCD for short – or in stable jargon simply "chips".

That is exactly what happened to me some time ago. My young horse, right in the middle of a growth phase and full of energy, was given this diagnosis. Naturally, you immediately worry about their future as a riding horse. Will he stay sound? Will he need surgery? Or can we support him conservatively? The vet explained to me that alongside proper management and tailored exercise, supplying the right nutrients during growth and for cartilage regeneration is absolutely essential. The joints need building blocks to develop stability.

The daily battle at the feed bowl

Full of drive, I bought various powders and liquid supplements that were recommended to me. But this is where the real drama began. Anyone who has ever tried to sneak a bitter powder into the feed of a sceptical young horse that is only just learning to eat hard feed properly, knows exactly what I am talking about.

It was the same game every day: I mixed the joint powder into the mash or hid it under grated carrots. The result? My horse would blow hard once into the bowl (sending half the expensive powder flying into my face), carefully sort out the carrots, and completely ignore the rest, powder included. Often, the crucial supplement simply stuck to the bottom of the bowl as an unappetising mush. It was frustrating. I knew he desperately needed these nutrients for his joints, but if they do not actually end up inside the horse, even the best supplement is useless.

The discovery: nuvallo move Snacks

Searching for a solution that would not end in a battle of nerves every evening, I came across nuvallo move Snacks. The concept sounded almost too good to be true: a functional joint snack that looks and smells like a standard snack, but is packed with the active ingredients I originally intended to feed as a powder.

At first, I was sceptical about whether such a small snack could really contain enough, but a glance at the ingredients convinced me. The base consists of linseed cake, rice bran, and linseed – free from wheat and corn. This is important to me, as I do not want to put any strain on my youngster's already sensitive stomach.

Why I will never feed powder again

The biggest advantage is quite simply the ease of use. The daily dose is about 6 snacks (for a 500-kg horse). I simply give them to him directly from my hand – usually before or after grooming. He loves them! No sorting, no blowing, no mixing of mash just to get the powder eaten.

But what reassures me the most is the composition of active ingredients per daily ration:

• Glucosamine (1,500 mg) and collagen (2,550 mg) as building blocks for the cartilage.
• MSM (2,250 mg), the organic sulphur that is so important for tendons and ligaments.
• Hyaluronic acid (150 mg) for the joint fluid.

Especially with a young horse diagnosed with a chip or going through a major growth spurt, I want to make sure that these nutrients are actually getting into their system. With nuvallo move Snacks, I know: he has eaten his 6 pieces, so he has his nutrients on board. Since my horse is still a little lighter than a fully grown warmblood, I slightly adjusted the dose at first, but during acute growth phases I sometimes give him the full ration, as the manufacturer states that you can double the amount in the first few weeks if needed.

My observations after 12 weeks

I have now been feeding nuvallo move Snacks consistently every day for a good three months. Of course, I cannot look inside the joint and claim the chip has magically disappeared – that would be disingenuous. But my subjective impression is incredibly positive.

I feel that he has become much more supple in his movements. Especially during growth phases, he often used to seem a bit stilted or "unlevel". Since we started feeding the snacks, he seems more mobile and shows much more joy in moving freely out in the field. He steps confidently and seems more stable in himself. His coat is also beautifully shiny, which is certainly down to the high-quality fatty acids from the linseed cake.

For me, it is a huge boost in quality of life – for both of us. I no longer have to worry about whether he is eating his supplements, and he looks forward every day to his "reward", which is actually his daily joint support.

Conclusion

If you have a young horse – whether they have been diagnosed with a chip or you simply want to support their growth – I cannot recommend nuvallo move Snacks highly enough. They completely solve the acceptance problem and deliver exactly the combination of nutrients we want for their joints.

Prevention is better than cure, and with these snacks, I find it incredibly easy to consistently do something good for my horse's musculoskeletal system. Try them out, your horse will thank you (with an appreciative crunch)!