MSM, a substance found naturally within the food chain, can help in the equine world of health problems.

The nutrient, which looks and feels like cane sugar and is nearly tasteless, is credited with clearing up epiphysitis in fast-growing yearlings and ameliorating arthritis in geriatric horses. It also has relieved a variety of lamenesses and reduced inflammation and is credited with an ability to increase circulation.

Though MSM has been used on horses many years now, relatively few horsemen are aware of its existence. It is marketed almost exclusively through veterinarians. Few journals, other than those circulated among the equine medical community have discussed it.

The source of much of the information on what MSM can do for horses is Dr. John Metcalf, a veterinarian in Auburn, Washington. An equine practitioner, Dr. Metcalf has used MSM on Thoroughbreds, hunters, jumpers, show horses, event horses, and even on himself.

MOTHER'S MILK
The richest source of MSM, it was discovered in the research, was mother's milk. Thus, babies and little foals are not as likely to suffer from sulfur deficiency. However, adult Thoroughbreds on the track which are fed processed hay and grain, under this theory, are very apt to be sulfur-deficient.  

FOR PROBLEM MARES
Because of its ability to enhance circulation, Dr. Metcalf is convinced MSM can be an important tool in getting geriatric mares in foal. "We all see these granny mares that shut down on us," he said. "They culture clean, but biopsy bad. We can't get them back in foal. I've been thinking, 'why is this?' I think it has to do with circulation; circulation to the ovaries and circulation to the uterus. Now, if those ovaries aren't functioning properly, the uterus is not going to be a nice place for that baby to settle in. I really think this is a place where MSM can be helpful because of its ability to enhance circulation. I would really like to see a push made (by veterinarians in the field) in this area of treatment to see if we can get those ovaries producing and turning the uterus into a healthy place for the fetus to develop."

HOOF AND HAIR GROWTH
Horses given MSM also show a more rapid growth of hoof and a glossier hair coat. MSM also has indicated the ability to kill internal equine parasites. Also, there is the matter of lamenesses that disappear when horses are on MSM. Two national level show horses owned by clients of Dr. Metcalf are sound and able to compete successfully when on MSM. When they are not on it, they show signs of lameness.

In one instance, a Thoroughbred with bad legs won consistently when on MSM, but, when it was not given to him daily, went lame and could not run. Despite all of his successes with MSM, Dr. Metcalf hastens to add that it is not a cure-all. "We can't expect it to be a miracle," he said. "We must determine the cause of discomfort and make sure the cause no longer exists, because no matter what you do, if the cause is still there, when you discontinue treatment the problem is going to return. Obviously, if you have joint chips in a horse's knee, you might get some temporary relief from MSM, but it isn't going to make him sound."