Maintaining suppleness and mobility in joints and associated soft tissues (tendons, ligaments, cartilage) and limiting arthritic and other degenerative changes, is the subject of increasing research aiming not just to improve the performances of competition horses, but also to benefit the many older horses and ponies enjoying less demanding lives with their owners.

Many horse owners just assume that problems arise due to 'wear and tear', however there are two distinct forms of arthritis, osteo (degenerative) and rheumatoid (inflammatory). Osteo arthritis can result from injury or wear and tear, rheumatoid arthritis perhaps following infection or other illness when the immune system may have been compromised.

Many joint care supplements available address just one of these problems, but Horslyx is being launched in a new Horslyx Mobility Lick formulation to help maintain healthy, supple movement and also aid the support of joint function compromised by both degenerative and inflammatory changes.

In addition to the well-proven and trusted high-specification Horslyx formulation, Horslyx Mobility Lick contains MSM, Glucosamine and Omega Oils.

MSM, a readily available source of sulphur, is crucially important for numerous functions within the body, including the formation of collagen, the connective tissue essential for the maintenance of healthy tendons, ligaments and joints. MSM also reduces inflammation, stimulates immune response and dilates blood vessels increasing blood flow.

Glucosamine, an amino sugar, is used to form tendons, ligaments, cartilage (collagen is the main protein) and joint fluids (synovial fluid). It aids production of glucosaminoglycans (GAGs) in synovial fluid, ensuring lubrication, shock absorption and elasticity.
GAGs are a family of natural body lubricants. Produced naturally in the bodies of most animals they are crucial to the formation of connective tissue and structural cartilage - of great importance to the ability of the limbs to bear the physical forces resulting from a high performance workload.

Omega oils 3 and 6 are essential fatty acids which cannot be synthesized by the body and therefore must be obtained from the diet, these play a useful role in reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system.

Unlike many joint care supplements, Horslyx Mobility Lick also contains a sophisticated immune support package in the form of anti-oxidants, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E and selenium.

Vitamin C is well known as a powerful anti-oxidant with properties that assist the breakdown and removal of toxic free radicals produced by the body during exercise. It also has a well-established nutrient role in the formation of collagen and acts in the efficiency of the other nutraceutical components. Vitamin E too is a powerful anti-oxidant, neutralising free radicals implicated in damaging otherwise healthy body tissues.

After Horslyx Mobility Lick trials, Bransby Home for Horses in Lincolnshire reported, "Following 3 weeks on Horslyx Mobility Lick, 28-year-old Dialus lost her coat for the first time in years and 36-year-old Jet was very happy to lie down in the field." In another trial, Betty, a 22-year-old ex-grade B showjumper who has been kept in regular work and fed another joint supplement consistently for 2 years, "showed a slight improvement after being fed Horslyx Mobility Lick for only three weeks."

Horslyx Mobility Lick will be launched at the Horse Of The Year Show and will be readily available at the end of September in 5kg tubs, priced at around £12.00 each.

Further information about Horslyx Mobility Lick can be found at www.horslyx.co.uk or by telephoning the Horslyx Helpline on 01697 332592

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