Product Review: The Missing Link Well Blend Senior

Rocky and Randy test this supplement from Absorbine.

The Missing Link Well Blend Senior. Absorbine.com

As my little herd of horses slides surprisingly gracefully into “senior” status — that rather arbitrary age range that can be anywhere from 14 to 25 or beyond depending on the individual — I’m always looking for ways to keep them happy and healthy, hoping to keep the aging process as smooth as possible. Whenever I can, I try to be proactive, working with a great team including my farrier, veterinarian and equine dentist to try to stay on top of any age-related issues that might arise.

Fortunately, my little herd of seniors seems to be maintaining great health — but that didn’t mean I wasn’t eager to try Absorbine’s senior supplement from The Missing Link. The Well Blend Senior supplement is designed specifically for aging horses and their needs, supporting general physical and mental health.

My draft horse team, Rocky and Randy, don’t have any particular areas of concern (yet) as they’re aging — Rocky does suffer from shivers, which I’m currently managing, Randy experiences some occasional stiffness when handling his hind hooves and both horses need close monitoring over the winter to make sure they stay at fighting weight; other than these concerns both Belgians are in good shape for their indeterminate mid- to late-teen age. The Missing Link Well Blend Senior sounded like the perfect supplement to support overall health.

They don’t actually know they’re seniors…but they are. Photo by Kristen Kovatch.

From the product label:

• Glucosamine and MSM help support healthy joints and flexibility
• Omega-3 fatty acids help decrease normal inflammatory pathways
• Probiotics may reduce the possibility of digestive colic
• Grape seed extract provides potent antioxidant protection to help eliminate free radicals associated with the aging process
• Ginkgo may help enhance brain function

In a ground flaxseed base, Well Blend Senior was appealing to both Rocky and Randy and they consumed it with relish as an addition to their daily feed.

General support supplements like this can be a little tricky to review — it’s tough to know if the supplement is “working” when the horse was healthy to begin with. In the interests of truly observing Well Blend Senior’s effects on Rocky and Randy, I’ve been feeding this supplement for close to two months, which gave both horses plenty of “loading” time.

What I can safely say is that Randy’s slight “creakiness” — you know, the occasional stiffness in joints you might experience from time to time as a horse ages — has cleared up since starting this supplement about a month and a half ago. Both geldings’ coats are soft, shiny and have a great bloom; both geldings have developed some dappling as they shed out of their winter coats. Rocky and Randy step eagerly out when we hook up to drive and stay fresh throughout our workouts, which I take as a sign of overall health, enthusiasm for the job and physical/mental comfort.

Happy, healthy, eager to work! Photo by Kristen Kovatch.

To learn more about The Missing Link Well Blend Senior supplement (and to browse the rest of The Missing Link line of equine supplements), visit the Absorbine site. The Missing Link supplements are available through multiple online retailers.

Go riding!