Has Anyone Used SmartTendon by SmartPak

[Little Indian]

I have been looking high and low for a soft tissue support supplement since my horse had had two soft tissue injuries (a bowed hind tendon and an irritated suspensory that has left him with a bump on his leg). Has anyone tried this supplement? What did you think of it? Did you see a noticeable difference in your horse?

[Lieslot]

Can't tell just yet, started on it last week... can update in a month hopefully ;).

[Carolinadreamin']

I'd like to know as well. Anyone else tried it?

[mjrtango93]

My horse has been on this supplement since tearing his superficial flexor tendon in a front leg. Overall can't really tell you how it works I guess as we treated that tendon quite aggressively with splitting and stem cells, and careful exercise and rehab. I can say it healed about twice as fast as it should have, but like I said we did stem cell, so that probably has a lot to do with it. Other then that not sure how you would tell, I just figure anything with collagen to help regenerate tissue was a good thing for special ed.

ETA: Well duh, I guess duration he has been on the supplement would help as well.....started on it October of 2008. Not displeased with it and will definately leave him on it even after he is all back to normal, just hard to tell what it does.

[turningpointequine]

I've had one horse on it as a preventative for ohhh, a year now (quite a while anyway)? He just came in from the pasture a few days ago with a cannon bone blown up like a balloon (ran around the pasture like an idiot for a good 1/2 hour or so). Now whether the supplement didn't help as the preventative I was hoping for or if it is helping (the swelling has come down significantly) who knows. For $20/month (with the free shipping codes) I'll keep him on it "just in case" but I'm not convinced it's all it's cracked up to be. If it were priceier I wouldn't feed it.

[Lori B]

I feed a related supplement - SmartFlex Repair, which I seem to recall from when I was choosing it is similar to SmartTendon, but had more 'stuff' in it.

Started in early March this year to aid in healing a lesion on mare's left front suspensory. She's now been on stall rest for 3 months and last night, trotting in hand looked to be about 95% sound at the trot. We aren't there yet, but I think we are getting close.

3 months isn't that long for healing a suspensory, so I would tend to credit the supplement a bit, along with the ESWT and stall rest. But it's so hard to tell when things improve what gets the credit, unless you run your horse care like a double blind science experiment, only change one thing at a time, have a control, etc.

[ZiptotheStar]

I haven't used SmartTendon yet but was looking into it because a friend told me good things about it. I was really impressed to see how many great customer reviews there are posted on the SmartPak website - http://reviews.smartpakequine.com/7493/4659/reviews.htm

Also, looks like they now have SmartTendon in pellets, which is cool

[dwblover]

I posted a great review on the website. I love smart tendon. I started my OTTB on it due to some left-over edema and such from the track in the tendon areas. No injuries, had him checked by vet. But I just didn't like the look of his legs. Started him on smart tendon and within one week all fluid was gone. His tendons felt so tight and clean. Just amazing. Nothing else changed in his life during this time either, so I can contribute all the changes to the smart tendon. He's still on it three months later and his legs still look amazing!

[3 is the limit]

My horse has been on it for 1 month now. I can't say that I have noticed any differnce. Having said that and having this horse come back to full work after 2 deep flexor tendon tears, I'm willing to go for $20 a month for anything that says 'helps tendon' on it. LOL.

[atr]

I started it last week too--for $20 a month it can't hurt... Looks and smells quite tasty, too.

[Peggy]

I am awaiting my next shipment of Paks. Talked (emailed actually) with my vet about it and she said it wouldn't hurt and that any additional help might be beneficial. She suggested the SmartTendon over the SmartFlex Repair since he is already on Adequan and Legend.

[Lieslot]

Looks and smells quite tasty, too.
Oh yes, most definitely, the smells is very indulging, I'm almost thinking of trying a spoonfull myself... :lol:

[appychik]

I tried it on Gus for a few months, back when he originally torn one of the ligaments in his stifle. Didn't really see any difference.

Read from another CoTHer about a "homemade" receipe using the herbs Shavegrass (a form of silica), Grapeseed Extract and Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C). I've since started supplementing with Grapeseed Extract, Fenugreek and Shavegrass (though only use the Shavegrass occassionally).

Not sure if helps at all, but it certainly doesn't hurt. The Shavegrass is really messy though, and turns everything green.

[ljc]

Hali - I used SmartFlex repair when my "youngster" tore both his tendon and ligament. He recovered from those injuries. I stopped the supplement. He then tore another ligament!!! Go figure. In the nearly 18 months I was giving him that particular supplement, I did notice changes during brief periods I took him off it. I know that's not the exact one you're asking about but I'm just passing on my history with the "stronger" version.

(Benjamin says "hi.")

[yellowbritches]

I have a friend who SWEARS by it. Her upper level event horse, she says, has suspensories that look like swiss cheese. She has not had one issue with him, and he has been running at intermediate for a couple of years and just did a CIC** without an issue. Of course, she is also very detailed in her conditioning and ices the crap out of him if he so much as thinks "jump" or "gallop", so who's to say if it does much.

I tried it on a horse of ours with some less than beautiful tendons. I didn't notice any big benefit.

[ladipus]

I have been looking high and low for a soft tissue support supplement since my horse had had two soft tissue injuries (a bowed hind tendon and an irritated suspensory that has left him with a bump on his leg). Has anyone tried this supplement? What did you think of it? Did you see a noticeable difference in your horse?


If the ingredient you want is the silicon...which is the primary ingredient in smart tendon....Platinum Performance's Osteon has a much higher/concentrated amount than smart pak's smart tendon...i was using on my horse who tore his check ligament,but recently switched to PP's Osteon-i feel better knowing he's getting a higher more concentrated amount of silicon.

[RAyers]

First, tendons and ligaments are two different tissues with differing physiologies and chemistries. Yes, a good diet is paramount, however there are few, if any supplements that affect tendons. They are relatively acellular and avascular so there is not a lot of metabolic activity per se. Thus, it is doubtful much "supplementing" will actually do anything other than make you feel better.

Second, silicon is a METAL. Silicone is a plastic. Silica is a ceramic. It is silica that is used in these supplements.

Third, ff you want to strengthen tendons and ligaments, along with bone, SHOCK LOADING by working the horse on HARD ground is the only tested and proven method. There are numerous studies that directly examined the tissue after working on hard ground and showed that the tendons, ligaments and bone thickened and became more dense.

When I say work, I mean long (20 minutes or more) walking hacks on dirt roads or pavement.

Please realize that silica is SAND (SiO2) and is ubiquitous in the environment as well as in all food stuffs and in well water. It is the anticaking agent in feed etc. Horses ingest quite a bit of it in their grazing. It becomes the "bioavailble" form of ortho-silicic acid in the gut and is exposed to water.

There is little to no research that indicates silica (NOT SILICON) has any effect on tendon.

[NorCalDressage]

RAyers -

Great info - thank you!

[dwblover]

Thank you, RAyers, very useful info.