Diagnosis Bone Spavin: My Experience with nuvallo move Snacks
When the vet looks at the x-ray, takes a deep breath, and says the word "bone spavin", your heart just sinks. That is exactly how I felt a few months ago. My gelding is my absolute horse of a lifetime, and lately, I had noticed that he just did not feel as "round" anymore.
In the mornings, when I brought him out of his stable, he seemed stiff. The first 10 to 15 minutes at a walk were a struggle; it took him ages to loosen up. He used to be ready to go straight away, but now every movement felt wooden at first. The diagnosis of bone spavin (bony growths in the hock joint) was a shock, but at least we finally knew what we were dealing with. The vet calmly explained that we needed to adjust his management: plenty of movement, long warm-up phases, and the right nutritional support for his joints.
The daily battle at the feed bowl
Full of motivation, I bought the most expensive powders the market had to offer. MSM, glucosamine, devil's claw – all in tubs and buckets that promised the world. But I had not reckoned with my horse.
He is an absolute gourmet – or rather, a fussy eater. Simply adding the powder to his hard feed? Not a chance. He carefully picked out the oats and left the powder at the bottom of the bowl. So, I started trying to trick him. I made mash, hollowed out apples, and tried to hide the powder inside them. Sometimes it worked, sometimes he just left the mash and gave me a look that said: "You can eat that rubbish yourself."
It was frustrating. I knew he desperately needed these nutrients to maintain his mobility, but what good is the best supplement if it ends up in the bin instead of the horse? The daily stress of whether he would eat it or not really takes its toll on your nerves.
The discovery: nuvallo move
While looking for an alternative that I would not have to painstakingly sneak into his feed, a recommendation led me to nuvallo move Snacks. The concept sounded almost too good to be true: a functional joint snack that contains all the essential active ingredients but tastes like a reward. No clouds of powder, no mixing, no sorting out.
I was sceptical, but curious. What particularly appealed to me was the basis free from wheat and corn, made of linseed cake and rice bran, as I pay close attention to stomach-friendly feeding. So, I ordered a pack.
Why "Snack" makes all the difference
When the parcel arrived, I did the ultimate test. I took one of the snacks (they have a pleasant, natural smell, not a chemical one) and offered it to him. He had a quick sniff – and ate it straight away with enthusiasm. I could have jumped for joy!
The dosage is incredibly simple: for his weight of approx. 500 kg, he gets 6 snacks daily. That is about 30 grams. These 6 snacks pack the full load of nutrients that I previously tried so hard to feed him as a powder:
- 1,500 mg glucosamine
- 2,550 mg collagen
- 2,250 mg MSM
- 150 mg hyaluronic acid
I simply feed them to him directly from my hand – usually after grooming or as a reward after work. He looks forward to it, and I finally have the peace of mind that the active ingredients are genuinely making their way into his system. Since nuvallo is free from wheat, corn, and added sugar, I do not feel guilty about it either.
Our results after 12 weeks
The manufacturer recommends feeding the snacks consistently for at least 8 to 12 weeks, as the nutrient levels in the body need time to build up. For the first two weeks, I doubled the dose to give him an optimal boost (this is called a "loading dose"), and after that, we switched to the normal ration.
Now, after a good three months, I obviously cannot claim that the bone spavin has magically disappeared – that would be disingenuous and medically impossible. But my own subjective observation makes me very happy:
The warm-up phase has noticeably shortened. Where we previously needed 20 minutes before he was moving rhythmically, I now feel that he loosens up much more quickly. He does not seem as "rusty" in the mornings and steps into his work with much more enthusiasm again. His whole gait appears more supple and content to me. Even in his general handling, he is back to his old self because he is visibly more comfortable in his own skin.
Another bonus for competition riders: nuvallo move Snacks are ADMR-compliant. So, if we do decide to enter a small competition again, I do not have to worry about a withdrawal period, as they are safe for competition.
My conclusion
For anyone who has a horse with joint issues like bone spavin and is tired of the daily battle with powders, nuvallo move Snacks are a real game-changer. It makes the daily stable routine so much easier, and seeing my horse take his "medicine" willingly and happily is priceless. We are definitely sticking with them, because mobility is quality of life – for him and for me.