Question: What do you think of Legend and Adequan for use in my Event horse? Are there any toxic side effects, and are "generic" products as effective? When should I use them?

Answer: Legend and Adequan represent a relatively new class of medication aimed at improving the health of horse's joints. They have been shown to improve the quality of lubricating fluid in the joints, (synovial fluid), as well as decreasing inflammatory byproducts within the joints. Adequan has an additional effect of "protecting" cartilage by reducing inflammation within the matrix of the cartilage.

The unique characteristics of these products are: (1) They have virtually no negative side effects - except price. (2) Legend and Adequan are administered systemically and therefore, all of the joints within the body stand to benefit by their use - including the back and neck (in addition, to all the joints of the legs). (3) because of their safety, they can be used frequently. The FEI still considers these medications "performance enhancing" and therefore, they are prohibited once a horse is competing in an FEI (international) competition.

There are a multitude of "spin-off" medications which have come on the market more recently: numerous oral, intravenous and intramuscular products are widely available. To my knowledge, these are not generic forms of the original medications. Rather, they are variations of the same medications. It is important to know that many of these newer products have very little "quality control" or efficacy studies behind them. To my knowledge, only Legend, Adequan and Cosequin have been shown to be effective. I encourage clients to look closely at what they buy, and LOOK FOR A RESPONSE TO THE MEDICATION. If the horse has not responded I would save my money or try another product. As a general rule: you get what you pay for.

Each product has its own specific recommendations regarding frequency of usage. When clients consult me, I try to tailor a treatment plan according to each individual horse and rider. With upper level event horses, the products are typically administered before any "maximal effort". This would mean before a Three Day, or before an especially big "gallop day". The number of treatments oftentimes depends on how hard the horse is working, how much the horse needs the medications, and how much the owner can afford.

In summary, I am a big proponent of these medications. They are safe and oftentimes very effective in treating a variety of joint-related problems.

back to top