Every horse owner wants to give their horse the best care possible, but finding the right joint health products to keep your horse feeling his best can be tricky. If you have a great relationship with your veterinarian, finding the best products for your horse just became a whole lot easier.
Leading U.S. 3-day event rider Liz Halliday-Sharp and her veterinarian, Dr. Laura Werner of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, are a great example of the success that comes when veterinarian and rider work collaboratively. Together, after considering all the products and services available, they have created individualized plans for each of Halliday-Sharp’s horses. The result? A comprehensive approach to each horses’ joint health where all concerns are addressed, and goals considered.
“Having a great relationship with your vet is so important to our equine athletes,” Halliday-Sharp said. “The results speak for themselves. I was the USEA (United States Eventing Association) Rider of the Year in 2020 with the most FEI wins in the world…my horses have never felt better.”
“It is a total team approach to get these horses to the top level that they need to perform at, at all times,” added Dr. Werner.
One of the most obvious benefits to working with your veterinarian to formulate your horse’s joint health strategy is that they may suggest equine joint health products and services that are new or new to you. They will also have the benefit of seeing the products they recommend at work in other horses in similar training programs, and can guide you towards products that are most likely to deliver the results you are looking for, saving you time and money. Your veterinarian will also be able to advise you on the correct usage and how frequently your horse should receive the product or treatment for optimum results.
When putting together a joint health strategy for your horse, there are a few factors to consider. One of the first questions you’ll want to ask yourself is whether or not you are trying to solve a joint health problem or soundness issue your horse is experiencing now or are you looking to create a proactive approach to your horse’s joint health to prevent future problems.
For example, Dr. Werner explains “We have used Polyglycan in Liz’s program leading up to many of these important competitions in the past year and a half. We like to be proactive in the approach to taking care of these athletes, so Polyglycan has provided great support for their joints as they are working and training hard.”
As Dr. Werner mentioned, the intensity of your horse’s exercise program as well as any event, shows or competitions you have planned, are also important factors when creating a joint health strategy for your horse. Discussing both your horse’s current training program and your future goals with your veterinarian can help you paint a more accurate picture of the type of joint health support your horse requires or may require down the road.
“It is important with any client to have effective communication. We like to help these horses out as much as we can proactively so they can perform their best during each competition. Polyglycan is a critical part of this proactive approach,” Dr. Werner added.
Whether your horse is a high-performance athlete or not, creating a plan of action with your veterinarian is one of the best things you can do for your horses’ health. When it comes to choosing a proactive routine, there are products—like Polyglycan—that span disciplines and needs, while others might be meant for a specific need. Veterinarians care about the animals in their programs, and their expertise combined with the rider’s intimate knowledge of his or her horse can yield a highly effective joint health strategy.
Want to learn more about the Polyglycan, the product Liz Halliday-Sharp and Dr. Werner use? Visit Polyglycan.com to see how Polyglycan might work for your veterinarian, horse and you!