Last Updated on June 12, 2023 by Georgie Smith
Muscular stiffness, aches, and pains are a significant impact on how a horse performs as well as its overall attitude. If caught early enough, you can manage these ailments effectively. If gone unnoticed, pains such as these can take away the horse’s comfort level and free movement.
Imagine how painful it is for you when you have overdone yard work or lifting a lot of heavy items. Muscle injury and pain can feel unbearable in any form. Would you know what to look for to recognize that your horse suffers from joint pain?.
See Also:
- 5 Best Horse Vitamin And Mineral Supplement For All Around Good Health
- 5 Best Saddle Leather Conditioners To Keep Your Saddle In Great Shape
- The 5 Best Mineral Block For Horses To Keep Your Horse Hydrated And Healthy
Signs Your Horse Suffers From Muscle Pain
Muscle aches and pains are a type of lameness which is a problem that affects how your horse moves. If the injury is simple to detect such as a localized injury, finding and treating the area is simple. If the horse has damage to a muscle, it will be tender to touch and usually feels hard.
When you begin examining the wounded area, your horse will probably flinch to attempt to move away. You may also notice the injured muscle may twitch and depending on the area; you may witness obvious lameness.
If you have a horse that tends to be sore all over, it may be more challenging to recognize due from exercising harder and longer than necessary. That often happens when a horse works harder for the level of conditioning it needs.
If your horse is suffering from joint or muscle pain, you may see the following signs:
- Depressed
- Slow to eat
- Resent and resist grooming, saddling and touch
- Movement is stiff
- Shortened stride length
There are many variations of muscle aches and pains. You may even find that the damage is in limited places. These following places are the areas to keep a close watch on:
- Pectorals in the chest
- Hamstrings
- Inner thigh muscles
- The back
- Quadriceps above the stifles
- Triceps of the front leg
- The neck
Here is where an excellent horse liniment comes in to play. Liniments are not new to the scene of aches and pains. Some formulations date as far back as a century and are a staple in most barns for good reasons.
The best liniments relax and soothe sore and achy muscles after work to help with preventing pain and stiffness. This article is going to help you narrow down the best-selling horse liniment on the market. We will review the product and give you a way to make a safe and secure purchase.
Our job is to help weed out the not-so-good products and provide you with those that have excellent results. Therefore, we do not favor any product or manufacturer.
The 5 Best Horse Liniment To Combat Aches And Joint Pains with Horses
Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel, 12-Ounce
When your horse is in pain, you want a product that will not only help but help quickly. This Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel is just what the Dr. would order for muscle and joint pain relief. It comes in a 12 oz squeeze bottle with two in the pack.
When you apply the liniment, your horse will have relief of muscular soreness, swelling, and stiffness. You will also find that the gel works as a tightener and bracer. One other added perk is the liniment gel helps with stimulating circulation and thanks to its spearmint scent; it’s easy on the nose.
As you can see, buying this package is placing your horse’s health and overall comfort in the hands of a best-selling, no-fail product. Click here to go to the product page and get yours ordered today.
Buy from Amazon
Draw it Out – Veterinary Strength Liniment, Topical Analgesic Gel, and Pain Relief Cream
Next is this Draw it Out pain relief gel for muscle and joint pain for horses. Not only is the name cool, but the product itself is also unique. What you will get is an effective and safe product that helps both the rider and the horse.
This gel combats soreness and swelling without the need to stress over creating added concerns that need constant attention. The Draw it Out formula penetrates deep within the muscle to alleviate deep joint and muscle soreness.
This item is available in both gel and spray that works as a complete body pain management for your horse. Check out more facts on this high-ranking liniment by clicking here:
Buy from Amazon
Equilite Sore No More Performance Ultra Liniment 16 oz
The title of this liniment speaks for itself; Equilite Sore No More liniment has a unique formula that is clinical strength to work on every competitive level. This product reveals faster and extremely effective results for the following:
- Reduce Inflammation
- Increase circulation
- Loosening circulation for the muscles, tendons, ligaments, body, and legs
For those horses that suffer from sensitive skin, the Sore No More liniment is the perfect match. There are no harsh additives or chemicals, and you can apply it before or after workouts. The active ingredients that make this pain reliever work so are these:
- Rosemary
- Ginger
- Comfrey
- Leaves with arnica
- Extracts of witch hazel leave and bark with arnica
It is important to mention that it is never a good idea to put this solution on open wounds or cuts. If you want to learn more about this best-seller, click here:
Buy from Amazon
Absorbine Vet Liniment – 16 oz
Absorbine Vet Liniment is the world’s leading horse liniment for over 120 years. For temporary relief of sore muscles, tendinitis, and stiff joints, this blend of natural oils and herbs is the perfect fix. The following are some features that keep this product at the top of the best-sellers list:
- Fast relief of joint and muscular soreness
- Stiffness
- Swelling
- Soothes pain due to arthritis
- Alleviates the swelling of sore tissue
- Excellent antiseptic for minor cuts
- Aids with preventing sole fungal and hoof infections
There are many more details on this item on the product page. Be sure to go to the page, read all the excellent information, and place your order by clicking here:
Buy from Amazon
Horse Health Cool Pack Green Jelly Liniment for Horses, 64-Ounce
This last product is the Horse Health Cool Pack Green Jelly Liniment. As you will see, this maker chose a different strategy to help your horse with temporary relief of minor stiffness and soreness brought on due to overexertion.
The McTarnahan Green Gel has a cooling element to it that adds more comfort to the strained area. The container is one gallon with simple access. The green cooling gel works on ankles, tendons, suspensory ligaments, bucked shins, and shoulders.
The product is excellent for sweats and will not blister and is simple to apply. This product is an Amazon Choice, and you can buy it by clicking here.
Buy from Amazon
A good liniment will soothe and relax muscles after every workout which helps prevent pain and stiffness from developing. Add to that a light massage with heat therapy making the combination a perfected technique for relieving stiffness and existing pain.
One other good tip is to give the horse a brisk rub before a competition or work to help with warming up tendons and muscles.
Treatment for Aches and Pains
There are many injuries that you should have your vet examine and not take matters into your own hands. Deep injuries need analyzing via ultrasound to determine the nature and full extent of the injury. You and your vet will then set up a treatment plan and go from there.
Heat, gentle massage, topical treatment, gentle turnout, and stretching are also keys to treating muscle problems. The leading rule of thumb for stretching and massaging is simple to understand. If it is clear you are hurting the horse, stop.
Gentle manipulation and massage will help keep the muscle relaxed. If you do it wrong, the pain and spasms will hurt even more. If you are unsure, it is best that you stick with warmth, light rubbing, and a good liniment.
FAQs:
Q: Is it safe to try different products at the same time but in different areas?
A: Until you know how the horse is going to react, it is best to stick with one. (learn more)
Q: What about OTC gels for humans, want they work?
A: Never use an OTC product that is formulated for humans on your horse. Each has their own use and reason they work the way they do. Talk to your vet if you are looking for a budget-approved product.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article gave you insight into how painful the tendons and muscles can get for your horse. You never want to leave it to mend on its own. Take your time while using one of the best liniments and make your horses pain-free and yourself worry-free.
Do you have input you would like to share? Leave us a message below and let us get right back to you. While you are here, please “like and share” our work to help us help others.
