Hock inflammation: How we maintained mobility

Every horse owner knows that heart-sinking moment. The vet packs away the ultrasound machine, looks at you, and delivers the diagnosis: hock inflammation. In that instant, a thousand thoughts race through your mind. Will he be able to handle a full workload again? Will he stay stiff? And above all: how can I help him feel comfortable again?

That is exactly where I stood a few months ago with my gelding. The acute phase was naturally treated by the vet, but they gave me some clear homework: "Make sure you feed high-quality joint nutrients – glucosamine, MSM, the full package. We need to support the cartilage and ligaments in the long term now." Sounds easy, right? Well, anyone who knows my horse knows that is easier said than done.

The daily battle with powder

I am sure many of you know the "supplement drama". Full of enthusiasm, I bought these expensive tubs of joint powder. High doses, smells a bit, but it is supposed to help. Day 1: I mix the powder into his favourite mash. He sniffs it, turns his nose up, and walks away. Day 2: I try to hide the powder inside a hollowed-out apple. He eats the apple but spits the powdery core right back out. Day 3: I simply stir it into his hard feed. The result? He meticulously sorts out every single oat, and in the end, the expensive white powder is left sticking to the bottom of the manger as a lonely, dusty layer.

It was enough to make you despair. I knew he urgently needed these substances for his regeneration and to stay mobile, but what use is the best supplement if it does not actually end up in the horse? I was throwing money out the window and felt guilty every day because I could not guarantee the dosage.

The discovery: nuvallo move Snacks

After pouring my heart out to a friend at the yard, she pressed a bag into my hand. "Try this. These are nuvallo move Snacks. No bars, no powder, just functional snacks."

I was sceptical. Why would he eat this when he refuses everything else? But curiosity won. I took one of the snacks and held it out to my gelding. He had a quick sniff – and took it from my hand, carefully but eagerly. He chewed it with relish and immediately looked for more. I could hardly believe it. I had finally found a way to get the essential nutrients into my horse, without any tricks or hidden catches.

Why I stuck with the snack concept

The brilliant thing about the nuvallo move Snacks is their simplicity. I no longer have to weigh anything out or mix it in. For my horse (approx. 550 kg), I simply feed 6 snacks a day directly from my hand – usually after grooming or as a reward after work. Because we had just been through a difficult phase, I doubled the dose for the first three weeks to give him the best possible start, and then switched to the normal maintenance dose.

But what really won me over are the active ingredients. Packed into these 6 snacks are a full 1,500 mg of glucosamine, 2,550 mg of collagen, and 2,250 mg of MSM, alongside hyaluronic acid. This is exactly the combination you want for supporting tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. And the best part: the base consists of linseed cake, rice bran, and linseed. As my horse has a sensitive stomach, it is worth its weight in gold to me that the snacks are entirely free from wheat and corn, with no unnecessary fillers.

Our result: back to enjoying movement

I have now been feeding the nuvallo move Snacks consistently for about three months. Naturally, hock inflammation is not something that disappears overnight, and the nuvallo move Snacks are not a magic cure that waves illnesses away. However, my personal observation is entirely positive.

After just 5 to 6 weeks, I felt he was stepping out of his stable in the mornings with noticeably less stiffness. We used to need an endlessly long walk phase before he moved fluidly. Today, he feels supple and loose much faster. What makes me happiest of all is that he has rediscovered his joy of movement. He is happily bucking around in the field again and is much more willing to work when ridden. He simply seems more comfortable in his own body.

Since we are planning to return to competing in the future, it is also reassuring to know that the snacks are ADMR-compliant, making them safe for competition. I do not have to worry about withdrawal periods.

My conclusion

If you are standing desperately in front of the feed manger, just like I was, and your horse is refusing their powder, I can highly recommend the nuvallo move Snacks to you. It takes so much stress out of the daily yard routine when you know the nutrients are actually in the horse – and they even enjoyed the taste. For us, they have become a firm part of our daily routine to maintain his mobility in the long term.