Spring Turnout & Romping: Joint Protection at the Start of the Grazing Season

The days are finally getting longer again, the birds are singing, and the scent of fresh grass is in the air. For us riders, the start of the grazing season is often the best time of the year. But hand on heart: when you see your horse being turned out into the large field for the first time after a long winter, do you sometimes get your heart in your mouth, too?

I know the feeling all too well. My gelding is usually calmness personified, but during the first spring turnout, he turns into a bucking wild horse. There are sharp turns, sudden stops from a full canter, and leaps of joy that are more reminiscent of the Spanish Riding School than our relaxed evening rides. As wonderful as it is to watch this zest for life, as an owner, I always have the thought in the back of my mind: "I hope his tendons and joints can handle this." These cold starts and uncontrolled movements on ground that is often still deep are a real stress test for the musculoskeletal system.

The eternal battle with the feed bowl

To prepare him as best as possible, I naturally wanted to support his joints in good time. I know how important nutrients like glucosamine or MSM are, especially in phases like this. But the reality at the yard has unfortunately looked quite different until now.

Over the last few years, I have tried just about every powder and joint liquid on the market. The result was always the same frustrating scenario: I carefully mix the expensive powder into his mash, my horse gives it a quick sniff, turns up his nose, and meticulously sorts his food. Or even worse: the powder sifts down to the bottom of the bucket, the mix is eaten, and the actually important active ingredients remain stuck to the bottom as a dusty residue. I've even tried hiding tablets inside hollowed-out apples – he ate the apple and unerringly spat the tablet back out. There is simply no point in buying the best supplement if it doesn't end up inside the horse.

The discovery: nuvallo move Snacks

About two months ago, when I started writing the spring training programme, I came across nuvallo move Snacks. I was initially sceptical because "snack" always sounded like a sugary reward cube to me. But the case is different here.

nuvallo move Snacks are functional joint snacks. The concept appealed to me immediately: no measuring scoops, no mixing, no hiding games in the feed. The snacks are based on linseed cake, rice bran, and linseeds – in exactly that order. I think this is fantastic, as I pay close attention to my horse's stomach and completely avoid wheat, corn, and added sugar.

Why I will never feed powder again

The application is almost ridiculously simple. For my 550-kg horse, I give 6 snacks daily. That's about 30 grams. I simply give them to him by hand before grooming or directly after riding.

The brilliant thing is the acceptance. He loves these things! He chews them with enthusiasm, as if they were the most delicious reward in the world. And yet, with every snack, he is taking in a concentrated dose of active ingredients:

• Glucosamine & collagen: The classics for cartilage and structure.
• MSM: Organic sulphur, which I find especially important for the tendons.
• Hyaluronic acid: Practically the "oil" for the joints.

Another plus point that was important to me: as we want to ride in one or two small competitions in the summer, the product had to be safe. The nuvallo move Snacks are ADMR-compliant, so I don't have to worry about withdrawal periods.

Our result: Supple into spring

I have been feeding the nuvallo move Snacks for a good 8 weeks now, so I started them in good time before turnout. They say that you should give such nutrients consistently for at least 8 to 12 weeks, but I already had a very good feeling after about 6 weeks.

In the past, he often needed a long warm-up phase in walk before he was truly in a rhythm. Since we started feeding the snacks, my subjective impression is that he is "there" much quicker in the mornings. He seems more supple in the turns and steps under his centre of gravity with more enthusiasm.

When he was finally turned out into the field last week and did his obligatory bucks, I was still standing by the fence with a slightly elevated heart rate, but I had a much clearer conscience. I feel that I have prepared his joints and ligaments as best as possible for this stress. He simply moves more fluidly and seems more content in himself.

My verdict

If, just like me, you are tired of scraping expensive powder off the bottom of the feed bowl, then nuvallo move Snacks are a real game-changer. They make joint support uncomplicated and stress-free – for me and my horse. We are ready for the summer, and my big boy can enjoy romping in the field to the fullest once again.