I first came across Corta-Flx solution when it was reviewed by The Horse Journal, many years ago. In their (admittedly small) sample group, the horses they tried it on showed improvement in just three days. The publication later named it as Product of the Year. Corta-Flx is also one of the very few companies that has published independent research. Michigan State University performed a double-blind placebo study that proved Corta-Flx isolates improved joint mobility in horses with degenerative joint disease (you can read the results of the study at www.jointsupplementresearch.com)
I’ve always been on the fence about feed through joint support because they are not inexpensive and so many of them have NO science behind them. For many years I injected Chondroprotec (as an alternative to Adequan) twice a month to my aging field hunter. With my younger horse, I was reluctant to start him right away on an injectable product, mostly because I worry about the chance of causing a problem at an injection site to feed a joint supplement prophylactically. Yes, I know that most injections are fine, but I know too many people who have had their horses develop problems to take them for granted.
I decided to try Corta-Flx for four reasons: they conducted their own research, anecdotal reviews on the web are good, liquids are easy to mix into my horse’s grain, and it’s pretty inexpensive. I paid $79 for a gallon at Valley Vet and got a free quart as part of a promotion. I chose the version without HA as I feed that separately.
So, does it work? I think so. My horse is 12 and had 28 starts on the track before I got him. There are times when he has felt a bit stiff and after dosing with Corta-flx he doesn’t right now. Certainly it’s something that I think is worth the $$ to feed to a horse that I know has wear & tear to his joints.
It seems to be very palatable. My horse is not picky but it certainly hasn’t changed his appreciation of his feed. I mix it in with soaked beet pulp. I will continue to feed this. In fact, I’m going to try this with my aging dogs.
