Horse stepping short behind: My experience with nutritional support

Hi everyone,

Do you know that moment in the saddle when your gut feeling suddenly kicks in and says, 'Something isn't right here'? That is exactly how I felt a few months ago. My gelding wasn't exactly lame, but he was just stepping short behind. He lacked that swinging forward movement I usually know from him. Instead of stepping energetically under his centre of gravity, he seemed somehow restricted and tense in his hindquarters.

Of course, my heart sank at first. You immediately imagine the worst-case scenarios. Is it the stifle? The back? Or 'just' a phase? After a check by the vet and the osteopath, it was clear: there is no acute injury, but he definitely needs support for his musculoskeletal system to become more supple again. He is no spring chicken anymore, and the training demands a lot of him.

The daily battle at the feed trough

The experts agreed: he needs nutrients. Glucosamine, MSM, collagen – the whole spectrum. Highly motivated, I bought expensive tubs of white powder and strong-smelling liquids. And then began the drama that many of you are probably familiar with.

My horse is an absolute gourmet – or let's be honest: a fussy sorter. I mixed the powder into his mash, hid it in sliced apples, and even tried to disguise it with banana. The result? He neatly ate around the spiked bits. In the end, the expensive powder lay as a dusty residue at the bottom of the trough, or he simply blew it right back at me. It was enough to make you tear your hair out! What use is the best active ingredient if it doesn't end up inside the horse?

The discovery: nuvallo move Snacks

Searching for a solution that wouldn't 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 containing all the important nutrients, but fed like a reward.

I was sceptical, but curious. What instantly appealed to me was the base of the snacks. They consist of linseed cake, rice bran, and linseed – making them absolutely stomach-friendly and, above all, free from wheat and maize. No wheat, no maize, and no added sugar. That is important to me, as I am very careful to avoid unnecessary ballast in his feed.

Why I love the 'snack format'

When the packet arrived, I did the ultimate test. Instead of scales and a spoon, I simply took 6 nuvallo move Snacks out of the bag (that is the daily dose for my approx. 500 kg horse).

I offered the snacks to him on the flat of my hand – and he inhaled them! No sorting, no sceptical sniffing. He thought he was getting a reward, but he had just taken in his full portion of glucosamine (1,500 mg), collagen (2,550 mg), MSM, and hyaluronic acid.

For me, that is a huge relief. I no longer have to mix anything or hope that he finishes everything in his trough. I just give him the snacks directly from my hand, either before or after riding. Since we were just going through a more intensive phase, I doubled the dose for the first three weeks to replenish his reserves, and then went down to the normal maintenance dose of 6 snacks.

The result: finally swinging from behind again

I have now been feeding nuvallo move Snacks consistently for a good eight weeks. Of course, this kind of nutritional support is not a magic cure that works overnight – it is said that you should stick with it for at least 8 to 12 weeks. But I have to say: I am thrilled with what I have observed.

After just five weeks or so, I had the feeling that something was changing. The loosening-up phase, which used to be quite sluggish and during which he would stiffen up behind, became significantly shorter. Overall, he seems more content and is more willing to work again.

But most importantly: the short stepping is a thing of the past. I have the impression that he is stepping under more confidently and dynamically again. He appears more supple in the transitions and simply more relaxed in his entire sequence of movement. It feels as if his joints are 'better oiled'.

Another bonus for all the competition riders among you: nuvallo move Snacks are ADMR-compliant. This means I can give him the best possible support without having to worry about withdrawal periods or doping traps.

My conclusion

If your horse also tends to step short behind, feels stiff, or if you simply want to do something preventive for their tendons and joints, I can highly recommend nuvallo move Snacks. It saves time and nerves, and above all, the active ingredients safely reach where they need to go: into the horse.

For us, reaching into the nuvallo bag has firmly become part of our yard routine. He looks forward to his 'snack', and I am delighted to have a horse that moves with joy again.

Have you had similar experiences? Let me know!

Best, Anna