I have owned my mare, Nadia’s Jewels (aka Nadia), since she was 8, and this year she turned 20. We have done mostly dressage in our time together and, while we never competed heavily, we showed through third level. We also spent a lot of time trail riding and doing cavalletti and small jumps as cross training, though we never competed over fences.

Senior Horse Management: Nadia at 20

Nadia, who is an Arabian/Dutch Warmblood cross, has always been a very sound horse with few physical problems until she lost her left eye to a stromal abscess in December 2022. A year later she got a stomal abscess in her right eye. After almost six months of intensive treatment, we managed to save it. After going through all this I decided to retire her from competition. Currently my friend half-leases her mostly for trail riding. I ride her once or twice a week and do flatwork to keep her in some level of condition so she can continue to carry herself correctly.

Nadia has not been officially diagnosed with osteoarthritis, but at her age I’m sure she has some. She still hasn’t shown signs of lameness or significant stiffness. The one thing I noticed since bringing her back from her eye injuries is she didn’t have as much pep to her step. Nadia has always been a very forward—one might say hot—horse, even in the Florida summers. But now her walk didn’t have the kind of energy it used to. I had to encourage her to go forward in the walk and trot, which is something I rarely had to do in previous years. Typically I spent a lot more time trying to slow her down.

Because of her age, late last year I considered putting her on a joint supplement just to help her along. When the product review request for Vitalize EQ Hyaluronex Joint came, I thought Nadia would be the perfect test subject.

Vitalize EQ Hyaluronex Joint Supplement: What It Contains and How It Works

The product brochure describes Vitalize EQ Hyaluronex Joint as “designed to support sustainable soundness using hyaluronic acid (HA) and antioxidants.” The active ingredients are MHB3 (a patented high-molecular-weight HA proven via research and clinical trials), astaxanthin, and hydroxytyrosol (the latter two help maintain normal oxidative balance and inflammatory response). Vitalize claims the horse’s body absorbs this product more effectively than it does dried HA (found in oral HA supplements), and that results could be seen in as few as 21 days. The suggested uses are for joint tissue lubrication, muscle recovery, and increased mobility. It comes in a liquid formulation sold in a gallon container or half-gallon container.

Feeding a Liquid Joint Supplement: Palatability and Dosage

The liquid formula was my first concern. Nadia is not a picky eater, but she never had a liquid supplement before so there was a question of if she would eat it. That question was quickly answered with a test run of a small dose on some of her feed. She cleaned it up no problem. We gave her the suggested loading dose of two pumps per day for a week and then the maintenance dose of one pump per day. For one horse on a maintenance dose, Hyaluronex is a good value because the gallon lasts a long time! (As of this writing she’s been on it about three months and the jug is about half full.)

Results After 3 Weeks on Vitalize EQ Hyaluronex

Next, I will admit to being skeptical about seeing results in 21 days. We’ve had veterinary sources say not to expect to see joint supplement results for six or more weeks, if the product works for the horse.

However, after about three weeks on Vitalize EQ Hyaluronex, I noticed Nadia walking in from the pasture with a bit more enthusiasm. Under saddle, from the time we moved away from the mounting block, I felt her walk had more energy and purpose. She felt more like the Nadia of a few years ago.

Three Months In: Changes in Movement and Energy

I haven’t noticed as much difference in her trot, but she’s always had a lovely trot with lots of suspension. My friend told me Nadia has been very forward on the trails, even wanting to canter instead of trot.

I know not all supplements work for all horses, but after using Vitalize EQ Hyaluronex, I would consider trying it on another horse. I feel like Vitalize EQ Hyaluronex could be a helpful addition to an overall management program to help horses move comfortably through their senior years.