When people look for a product to help an ailment, it is helpful to look beyond this, to the cause of the problem. Your efforts to find suitable joint supplements for horses may not give you the result you desire.
Looking beyond means looking to see what is the cause of the joint problem in the first place. Most joint problems in horses involve stiffness, but that is still just an expression of the problem, a symptom of the inner disease. To simply treat the stiffness will not help the inner disease.
The causes of any ailment in any animal, including us, include:
- poor or faulty nutrition
- injury
- unsuitable living conditions for the species
- genetic predisposition
- previous medical treatment
Let’s examine each one in turn.
1 Poor or faulty nutrition is high in horses as few have access to natural grazing in uncontaminated pastures rich in herbs and other beneficial plants. Horses have evolved to know what they need and, given the chance, will hone in on the plant that will give them the support they need.
Modern horses are kept in small yards, usually fed hay, grain and supplements as we deem fit. This is a far cry from their natural instincts. Most hay and grain are grown with pesticides and synthetic fertilisers, making the end product toxic. Supplements are normally of synthetic origin and can cause untold (and unrecognised) harm when used long term.
2 Injury to horses is common, whether it is because they have hurt themselves in the yard or because they have hurt themselves in our service. An anxious horse can easily hurt themselves in any situation. The key here is to deal naturally with the anxiety.
Sadly, many riders overexert their horses, demand too much of them especially at too early a stage or age. Then an injury can result.
3 Most horses are kept in unsuitable conditions for their species. They are often on their own (even though they are a herd animal), confined in small yards or stables. Horses are happiest in large pasture paddocks with mixed grasses and herbs, with other horses. A herd member is much more content than an isolated horse. Unsuitable living conditions always causes stress and anxiety.
4 The genetic inheritance cannot be overlooked as so many ‘back yard’ breeders are common today. However, I believe this problem to be a lot less important than the above three.
5 Medical procedures, including vaccines, suppress the immune system, making it more difficult for anyone to resist infections and chronic disease. Many contain harmful substances, such as mercury, which compound the effect. Chronic disease are a common sequence.
If the nutrition is unsuitable for the species, even though humans currently feel it is ‘the best’, do you really feel that a joint supplement for horses will be the answer? If injury is the cause of the problem, can any horse joint supplement really help? If the living conditions are unsuitable, how can even the best joint supplements for horses do the job?
All these causes need to be addressed before you go looking for supplements. If the cause remains, you will never be rid of the effect.
Homeopathic treatment always looks for the cause. A good homeopath for horses will assess the living conditions and nutrition to see if you can improve these, before prescribing any treatment. An injury will always be treated differently from a genetic disposition, just as it should be.
Homeopathy is a natural, safe, effective health care discipline which enhances the body’s immune system. It is amazingly cost effective. Horses love taking the treatment, so no coercion or subterfuge is necessary.
Instead of seeking out joint supplements for horses, look for the cause of the problem. Open you mind to the possibilities, however unwelcome they may be. You’ll get better results, for less cash outlay and a happier horse. Everyone can win.
