Hope in a Tub?

A few of you asked in the comments section of my last post about the joint supplement I am giving My Boy. As some of you might remember, My Boy was a little off this past year and I had a chiropractor out to do an assessment and work up on him. Last spring, my veterinarian recommended a joint supplement by the name Platinum Performance, specifically the Ortho-Chon line. She stressed that the key three combination of ingredients for an effective joint supplement were glucosamine, MSM, and chondroiton. I felt this was a brand that I could trust because she recommended it, it but it was also a bit pricey and seemed to only be available via the Internet. I discovered this by mistake, as I called a local farmer's Co-Op asking for this Platinum Performance. They said they had it and put a tub on hold for me. However, when I went to pick it up, it was actually Platform joint supplement made by Farnam and they did not carry the other brand. The Platform contained the key ingredients and was affordable, so I went ahead and purchased it, trying it for a few months. I did not notice a strikingly huge difference in my horse's movement. I also knew that there were other supplements out there with higher dosages of these ingredients (of course, the higher the doses, the higher their cost.)

The next supplement I tried was a brand called Horse Guard, located in Oregon. They make a variety of supplemental products. I tried their joint supplement Chondroitin Plus. I liked the quantities of ingredients and I do think I noticed a marked improvement in my horse's comfort and range of motion. However, the 7 lb tub I purchased, which was nearly $80 and I thought was to last for 64 days, ran out after about a month (I think I misinterpreted some signage at the Co-Op on the breakdown of price per dosage.)

The next time I needed joint supplement, they were out of the Chondroitin Plus, so I tried a different one also made by Horse Guard, called Trifecta. This one contains probiotics, a hoof supplement, antioxidants, and all the key joint supplements. It too is a little pricey and I realized at some point that I am only feeding a half dose. I continued on the half dose, realizing that this will make it last longer, but most likely weaken it's effectiveness. Also, I already feed my horse a separate, more thorough supplement (My Boy thinks it is grain, but it is not a grain based supplement.) Therefore, I do not want to over supplement him (although my mother, who also used Trifecta for a while, was told that the vitamins in the Trifecta would not lead to over-dosing with other supplemental grains being fed. Still, I worry.)

I have heard from family members, via personal experience, that both humans (and canines!) with knee and joint problems have found glucosamine to be effective. However, I know that these supplements are not regulated, particularly for equines. I also know that supplements that sell well probably do so because they are found to be effective and show visible benefits. Or, perhaps the owners using them, like myself, are just full of hope?

I want to offer my teen-aged arthritic ex-reining horse the best comfort and range of motion that I can, for a price that fits my horse budget. I would appreciate any feedback that you may have on your experience with joint supplements. Do you think they work? Are there any particular brands or formulations that you have had success with? I will add that joint/hock injections or supplements that require a shot are not an option for my horse, due to his terror of needles. I need something that I can toss into the bucket with his regular daily supplement.