Importance of Joint Cartilage!
The articular cartilage in your horse’s joints needs to be healthy for smooth, easy movement. Cartilage is made up of up to 80% water, plus collagen and proteoglycans. Proteoglycans are molecules of protein and sugars, woven around and through collagen fibers inside cartilage and are what make cartilage resilient and shock-absorbing.
Collagen is a versatile protein that gives cartilage elasticity and the ability to absorb shock. Collagen also forms the framework that holds proteoglycans in place. This gives cartilage the resilience to stretch and bounce back with movement. They also trap water to lubricate and nourish the cartilage.