Science Supplements FlexAbility Plus Horse Joint Supplement - 1.7 Kg

• Brand: Science Supplements
• FlexAbility Plus Horse Joint Supplement 
• Size: 1.7 Kg
• The most comprehensive joint supplement available in the UK
• Unique combination and optimum levels of scientifically proven ingredients
• Glucosamine HCl, Chondroitin Sulphate, MSM, Hyaluronic Acid (HA), DHA, EPA (Omega 3), Vitamin C
• For all horses, young and old
• Results can be seen in as little as 14 days
• 1.7kg tub gives approximately one month supply

A high specification supplement that provides declared levels of key nutrients involved in cartilage synthesis and support using a unique combination and optimal levels of scientifically proven ingredients, including glucosamine, low molecular weight chondroitin, MSM, omega 3 fatty acids DHA & EPA, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Vitamin C. Low dust, highly palatable and manufactured under the strictest conditions in our approved and certified UFAS and BETA NOPS approved manufacturing facility.

Why? Wear and tear on the skeletal system particularly the joints occurs both as the result of exercise training and simply as part of the ageing process. A key factor in maintaining joint health and function is an adequate supply of the nutritional building blocks needed to support cartilage turnover and joint lubrication. FlexAbility+ PLUS helps to promote and maintain normal mobility and joint function, is suitable for all horses and ponies and provides nutrient support for joints against the rigours of training and competition. It can also help to maintain normal mobility and joint function in older animals

When? Suitable for all horses and ponies to provide nutrient support for joints against the rigours of training and competition, can help to maintain normal mobility and joint function in older animals and for use in young animals to support normal joint health and mobility.

How? Simply add to feed, ideally split between meals. Feed at loading rate for 14 days then reduce to the maintenance rate. Effects can be seen in as little as 7 days, but normally by 10-14 days. What to expect: freer movement, longer stride, less stiffness, increased rolling, more athleticism

How to accurately evaluate and compare joint supplements

It seems that the graph that we recently posted showing a comparison of CONTENT of different ingredients in joint supplements has caused a bit of a stir!

Not surprising really. The reason it has caused a stir is because some companies choose to market on PERCENTAGE or CONCENTRATION of active ingredients rather than on CONTENT.

Here is a clear explanation of what these terms mean and why PERCENTAGE can be very misleading and why CONTENT (the actual amount your horse gets) is the only accurate way to compare.

PERCENTAGE is the amount of an ingredient in a supplement in grams per gram x 100 (or it could be mg per mg or kg per kg and so on). So if there is 20g of an active ingredient in 100g of supplement that is 20%. It's also the same as CONCENTRATION in this case. You will also often see on labels the amount of an ingredient in a supplement expressed as g/kg or mg/kg or IU/kg - this is a CONCENTRATION (but could be converted to a %). For example, in the case of pure glucosamine in a supplement with nothing else, then the PERCENTAGE or CONCENTRATION will be 100%.

This DOES NOT tell you how much your horse will get of the active ingredient. For that you need to know the FEEDING RATE (amount of supplement fed per day). For example:

If a supplement claims to contain 10g of Glucosamine in a 20g FEEDING RATE:

The PERCENTAGE of Glucosamine in the product is 50% (10g out of a total of 20g)

The CONTENT of Glucosamine is 10g at a FEEDING RATE of 20g (20g = total amount fed to horse, 10g being the actual amount of Glucosamine your horse will get)

The CONCENTRATION of Glucosamine is 50g/100g or 500g/kg

So why is the FEEDING RATE so important? The rate at which the manufacturer is advising you to feed determines the CONTENT (actual amount) of each active ingredient that your horse will receive. So on paper a supplement might claim to have 'no fillers' and provide 100% Glucosamine. However, when you look at the feeding rate and it tells you to feed a 10g scoop, your horse will only get 10g of glucosamine. Another manufacturer might have a combination of beneficial ingredients and provide as part of the formulation 50% worth of Glucosamine. When you then look at the feeding rate it tells you to feed 3 x 10g scoops (30g). In this example your horse will get 15g of Glucosamine; 5g more than the first supplement.

BOTTOM LINE - PERCENTAGE or CONCENTRATION on their own are meaningless and misleading! CONTENT is the most important as this is what your horse ACTUALLY GETS.