Why are Rosehips included Feedmark’s popular joint supplement, ExtraFlex HA?
Rosehips (Rosa Canina), commonly known as Dog Rose, can be naturally found on rose plants extensively in the wild across the globe. You might be familiar with the deep red/orange fruit in your garden or perhaps you’ve spotted it in hedgerows around the autumn time. You may have even noticed that your horse will seek it out if it’s accessible in their fields!
Over the years, many horse owners have used Rosehips for their health supporting properties, to include aiding the immune system as well as joint and hoof support.
The history of Rosehips
Rosehips have been used for their health benefits for hundreds of years. In humans, it has traditionally been used for rosehip syrup, given to children since the 1940s. This was simply the rosehips boiled and combined with sugar which contained high vitamin C content.
Vitamin C
Rosehips are a rich source of vitamin C (reported to be approximately 295mg per 100g or 3000mg per 1kg). Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, plays several very important roles within the horse’s body. These include helping to maintain healthy skin, bones and blood vessels; hormone synthesis and collagen synthesis. As a water-soluble vitamin with antioxidant properties, vitamin C plays a vital role in neutralizing free radicals and can work from both the inside and outside of a cell.
In addition to vitamin C, rosehips also provide vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin K and volatile oil. Vitamin A is important for growth and plays a vital role in supporting osteoclasts (bone-resorbing cells). Thiamine, niacin and riboflavin are all B vitamins, a group of water-soluble vitamins each with their own chemical properties. Further information on the importance of all vitamins in the horses’ diet can be found here.
ExtraFlex HA with Rosehips
The formulation of ExtraFlex HA with Rosehips includes a generous rate of glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid (HA), plus micronized linseed to provide important omega-3 fatty acids.
Each of these ingredients have shown to play important roles in supporting a horse’s mobility. Teamed with the high rate of rosehips, this makes ExtraFlex HA with Rosehips the ideal choice of supplement to support your horse.