What is everyone's favorite all around supplement and/or injectable for younger horses? I have a 6 year old gelding and currently he's running in the 1d with no supplement other than Purina Outlast. He looks good and feels good but thinking of adding a joint preventative.

I always recommend injectable over feed through. Adequan series 2-3x a year is a great benefit to young horses with little to no damage to the joints. 

I know I'm a bit naive but treating something that isn't a problem seems crazy to me.  

My 5 year old is on MVP Exceed 

I'd have to agree. I have a 12 year old 1D/2D gelding that has NEVER given me a reaon to inject and people push me all the time to get him looked at 'because of his age'. Once he takes an off step or doesnt WANT to enter an arena, is the day I'll have him checked.

I agree. But Adequan really isint used as a treatment. Its used to MAINTAIN the cartlidge in the joint. Doesnt work as well if there is always damage. So I use adequan as a way to prevent irreversable damage further down the road. 

I totally agree with you to, however, if your asking a horse to run barrels, that activity is asking a horse to do something FAR beyond what their body was designed to do. Horses were designed to graze all day and be happy with the occasional sprint away from a preditor or threat. Asking one to be ridden several times a week, training regime, barrel races where they are asked to make hard runs, carrying weight, etc , your going to have problems sooner or later. SOme feel that feed throughs ( average absorbtion of feed through joint ingredients is 3 to 6%) are enough to maintain what we ask them to do. I would rather use adequan, legend, pentosan when needed for 100% absorbtion. JMHO. Now joint injections are a different story. I do not believe you should do that just because.... but only after proof that its needed. 

And I dont disagree with you one bit. To each their own :)

I do feed MVP 6 Way, not only for the joints and other benefits it offers, but because I personally saw and felt a difference in my horse. Granted he was coming off of a bad case of Anaplasmosis and looked horrible. I had to do something to get his muscle mass back that he just wasnt gaining back after being treated. MVP helped him get back there and so he's stayed on it. Also agree with you on the injections!! 

I tried the 6 way and neither of my horses would touch it! I was excited to try it for the other benefits not just joints. 

What exactly is Anaplasmosis?

I know you said something about muscle mass. I haven’t heard of it before...just educating myself. Thanks.

I googled it and its pretty much the same as Lyme disease..

Correct. It is basically Lyme's and to be honest, I cant remember why they are different. They are also treated the same with Doxy or Tetracycline. My vet told me he could still have flare ups but luckily we havent had one yet and its been years now. It was so sad to watch him go thru that though. My guy is usually very beefy, very muscular. It was unbelievable the amount of muscle mass that he lost in about 3 weeks. Still blows my mind how quickly one can deteriorate from a tick bite. This was a 3 month difference with nothing changing except for adding Exceed.