When getting up is a struggle: Support for tired joints

Do you know that moment in the morning at the yard when your heart skips a beat? You walk down the stable aisle, look into the stable, and your horse is still lying flat out. Not a bad sign in itself – deep sleep means they feel safe. But then comes the moment they try to get up.

With my gelding, it has often been quite a physical effort in recent months. He had to sort himself out first, gained momentum once, then a second time, before finally heaving himself to his feet with a deep groan. And those first steps afterwards? Stiff, tight, and somehow unlevel. It simply hurts to watch your own partner lose their joy of movement and seemingly grow 'old', even though their mind is still wide awake.

The struggle with the feed bucket

Of course, I didn't just stand by and do nothing. I researched, asked vets, and scoured forums. The recommendation was usually clear: feed joint building blocks like glucosamine, MSM, or collagen. Full of motivation, I bought various tubs and buckets.

But then the reality of the stable aisle hit.

Most joint supplements are powders. And my horse is a master at ignoring powder. I stirred it into his mash – he turned his nose up. I tried hiding it in a hollowed-out apple – he bit into the apple and spat out the powder. At the end of the day, the feed bucket usually looked like this: the hard feed was gone, but a fine, untouched layer of expensive joint powder stuck to the bottom. Or even worse: he simply blew the dry powder out, leaving everything covered in dust.

It was so frustrating. I knew what could help him, but I simply couldn't get it into the horse. And what isn't eaten can't work.

The turning point: nuvallo move Snacks

Then a friend at the yard brought nuvallo move Snacks to my attention. 'Try these,' she said, 'it's not a powder, they are functional joint snacks.'

To be honest, I was sceptical. But the concept sounded exactly like the solution to my problem: a supplement that doesn't look like medicine, but tastes like a reward. The base consists of linseed cake, rice bran, and linseed – making it absolutely free from wheat and corn and gentle on the stomach. No fillers like wheat or corn, no added sugar. That was important to me, as we have to keep an eye on his figure too.

Why I am sticking with the 'snack' format

The difference is massive. Instead of weighing and mixing, I now simply reach into the bag. The dosage is incredibly easy: for his weight of just under 550 kg, he gets 6 snacks a day. That is about 30 grams. In the first two weeks, I doubled the dose to replenish his reserves – and he ate that without a grumble, too.

The brilliant thing is the composition in every snack. This way, he takes in a substantial amount of active ingredients every day:

• Glucosamine (1,500 mg) and collagen (2,550 mg) for cartilage and stability.
• MSM (2,250 mg), which is organic sulphur, for tendons and ligaments.
• Hyaluronic acid (150 mg) for joint fluid.

And the best part? I feed them to him directly from my hand, usually after grooming or as a greeting. He chews them with relish, licks his lips, and I know with 100% certainty that the active ingredients have ended up right where they are supposed to. Not a single crumb is left behind in the feed bucket.

My verdict after 8 weeks

I have now been consistently feeding the nuvallo move Snacks every day for a good two months. Of course, you cannot expect miracles overnight – joints need time (you should allow for at least 8 to 12 weeks). But my subjective observations make me truly happy.

I have the feeling that he comes out of his stable much better in the mornings. Getting up no longer seems as much of a struggle as it did a few weeks ago. Even during the first trot on the lunge, he looks more supple and less 'wooden'. He simply enjoys moving again. It is lovely to see that he is more himself again and that we can enjoy our hacks without him needing the first 20 minutes just to loosen up.

For me, it is also important that the product is ADMR-compliant. Even if we no longer compete in big shows, it gives me peace of mind regarding the ingredients.

So, if you also have a candidate at the yard who takes a while to get going in the mornings or struggles to get up – and who turns their nose up at powder – I can highly recommend the nuvallo move Snacks. It saves your sanity and brings back quality of life.