Conference noted::equitation

    A horse in our barn uses this for bone spurs on his ankles.  The
    horse is 22, and very alert, but he is new to the barn so I couldn't
    attribute the MSM with his attitude.
    
    I understand that MSM is an oral form of DMSO, so it would be something
    I wouldn't take myself, and give my horse only under a vet's guidence.
    

    The researchers studying it claim it is a natural substance found in
    many fruits and vegetables that are fresh and unprocessed but it
    degrades very quickly when the food is heated or otherwise processed.
    It delivers sulfur in a very usable form. The advocates claim sulfur
    deficiency is the cause of many metabolic and skeletal problems of
    warm-blooded animals which eat primarily processed foods. Few people
    even know about the product and the only documentation, apparently,
    has been in veterinary journals.

I've been giving my horse MSM since about April. My horse has a bone spavin in 
one hock. I believe it has made a significant difference in his way of going 
(for the better).  I used the standard grade stuff for the first 6 weeks or so, 
but have switched to the 99% pure.  It's more expensive to buy, but you use so 
much less that it works out to be MUCH cheaper.  I also feel the results are 
better.  Now I just have to figure out a way to get a consistent 3/8 teaspoon 
dose!

    what do the vet journals have to say about it?
    
    
    

There was an article in the chronicle of the horse that I saved that basically 
says that MSM is a supplement that provides sulfur in a highly digestible 
form.  An interesting thing that I noted is that my horses salt consumption 
has decreased significantly since he's been on the MSM. He has a mineral (red)
field block in his stall and it has lasted over 6 months, and is only about 
2/3 gone. He was going through one in about 5-6 months.

If I remember, I'll type in the article.

Reprinted without permission from The Chronicle of the Horse, May 11, 1990:

		    What is MSM?
			Heather Smith Thomas


	 DMSO breaks  down  into MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane), which is
     created  by  adding an extra oxygen atom.  MSM has some of the same
     properties  of  DMSO  and  can be used topically (it can be used to
     help  heal  cuts  and abrasions and has the advantage of being less
     irritating  to  the  skin than DMSO).  But it's primary use is as a
     nutritional supplement.

	 MSM is  34  percent  sulfur,  by weight.  It supplies the horse
     with  sulfur  in  a readily assimilated form.  Sulfur is one of the
     non-metallic  elements  that  is  necessary  to  the  body in small
     amounts.   Some  of  the  amino  acids (building blocks used in the
     creation  of  proteins)  require  sulfur, and too little sulfur can
     affect protein production.

	 Sulfur is  present  in  the  horse's  environment  and  en many
     natural  feeds  such  as  grass.   It's  also  present in some salt
     blocks.  But the elemental sulfur is not assimilated by the body as
     readily  as  is  the  sulfur present in an organic molecule such as
     MSM.   In  it's  elemental  form,  the  body  has to work harder to
     assimilate  sulfur,  while in MSM the sulfur is already broken down
     and easily used by the body.

	 This discovery  led  to  the  use  of MSM as a feed supplement,
     especially  for  young  stock and for helping horses recover faster
     from stressful athletic activities.  There seems to be a connection
     between  sulfur  availability and protein production, especially in
     health of skin and connective tissue, hoofs and blood circulations.

	 People who  use  MSM  as  a  feed supplement feel that it helps
     reduce  stress  and  increase recovery rates in the equine athelete
     and  that  it  helps prevent some of the growth problems associated
     with  fast-growing  young horses.  It seems to reduce the incidence
     of  epiphysitis  and  other  bone  and  joint  problems in stressed
     youngsters.

	 Some horses,  for  one  reason  or  anotherm  are more prone to
     imbalances  and  dietary  problems  (partly to the unnatural way we
     feed and raise horses and have selectively bred them away from what
     nature  originally  created).  Some just don't utilize the building
     blocks  of  diet efficiently or can't handle the imbalances created
     by our unnatural conditions without problems.

	 A feed  supplement like MSM, which contains a natural substance
     easily  used by the body, seems to help tip the balance for some of
     these  horses,  and they do better.  MSM is marked in a crystalline
     form  (granules)  and sells by the pound.  Is is usually fed in the
     grain, one to two grams daily per horse.

    A number of the equine practitioners at Tufts use and recommend MSM,
    primarily as an anti-inflammatory agent. They say it works very well
    for arthritis and other forms of joint lameness. Dr. Kirker-Head, a
    British doctor is reported to be an advocate.
    
    The research reports I have seen describe, in more detail, much of
    what was contained in Heather Smith Thomas' article. The distributors
    of the product are being VERY careful to describe it as a food or
    nutrient rather than a drug in order to avoid the delays, hurdles
    and roadblocks from the FDA. MSM has been used on horses for more
    than five years. Everyone I have spoken to or heard from states,
    categorically, they know of no adverse side-effects from the product.
    Claims about its benefits range from those I mentioned above to 
    improving all aspects of a horse's physical condition. Those who
    claim the latter say it is because the sulfur makes up for deficiencies
    in the sulfur content in processed hay and grain products. The body
    uses sulfur in hair, skin, hooves, connective tissues and enzymes,
    hormones and immunoglobulins. 
    
    I have decided to test MSM on a couple of my horses over a prolonged
    period to see if I can detect any changes.

    Both my horses are fed only hay and grain year round.  It sounds like
    they could benefit from MSM.  It would be interesting to see if it
    could clear up a skin condition my older mare has.  I've had several
    vets out and noone seems to be able to help.  
    
    Where does one purchase MSM?  At a local grain store?
    
    Caryl