R&D Update: HMB vs. Fluid Flex EQ® — No Discernible Advantage | Draw It Out®

R&D Update

HMB vs. Fluid Flex EQ®: Why We’re Sticking with the Proven Choice

Plain talk: we tested the idea. It did not beat what already works.

We explored an HMB-based concept to see if it would deliver meaningful, rider-noticeable gains. After evaluation, we found no discernible advantage over Fluid Flex EQ® Advanced Equine Joint Health. When an idea does not earn its keep for real riders, we do not add cost or complexity. We double down on what works.

What We Tested and How We Decide

  • Use-case: Day-in, day-out joint support for training, hauling, and show season.
  • Decision rule: Keep only what shows clear, repeatable benefit in practical use, not just on paper.

Result at a Glance

Criteria HMB Concept Fluid Flex EQ®
Real-world benefit No clear improvement Consistent, rider-trusted support
Complexity and cost Higher complexity, added cost Lean, efficient, proven routine
Ease of use More moving parts Straightforward daily use
Bottom line: We are not launching an HMB product. If you are choosing today, stay with Fluid Flex EQ®.

What to Use Instead

Why riders stick with it

  • Trusted support for hard-working horses across disciplines.
  • Simple, consistent routine that is easy to keep on program.
  • Built for riders who value practical results over unnecessary complexity.

How to work it into your day

  • Consistency wins: Keep the same cadence through haul and show weeks.
  • Pair with basics: Forage-first diet, hydration, shoeing on time, and sensible workload ramps still matter.
  • Review the whole picture: Fit, footing, workload, and daily management shape outcomes too.

Where to go next

Go to Fluid Flex EQ®

See the live product page if you already know this is the daily joint-support path you want.

View Fluid Flex EQ®

Browse the Joint Care hub

Compare how Fluid Flex EQ® fits alongside topical and routine-based support inside the broader joint-care system.

Explore Joint Care

Use the Solution Finder

Start here if you want the site to route you based on what your horse needs right now.

Start the quiz

Quick Q&A

Short answers so you can get back to the barn.

  • Should I switch from Fluid Flex EQ® to HMB? No. Our call is to stay on Fluid Flex EQ®.
  • Will you revisit HMB later? If future data show a meaningful gain for real riders, we will re-evaluate. We ship only what earns its keep.
  • What if my horse needs more? Talk with your veterinarian about the full picture, including fit, footing, workload, and a tailored care plan.

We build for real riders. If we cannot feel, measure, or defend the gain, we do not add it to your routine.

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Start here

Reading first? Here is the clean path.

This article gives you the background. If you are ready to put the idea into a real horse care routine, these are the next places most riders should go.

Daily recovery

Liniment Gels

Explore the Draw It Out® liniment gel lineup for everyday use, post-work routines, and targeted recovery support.

Shop liniment gels
Find the fit

Solution Finder

Match your horse’s workload, age, routine, and care goals to the Draw It Out® products that make the most sense.

Use the finder
Routine first

Prehabilitation

Learn how riders support soundness, comfort, and consistency before little issues become bigger problems.

Read the guide
Simple rule: read the article for context, use the Solution Finder for direction, then build the routine around the product format your horse will actually use consistently.

Real Barn Proof

What this looks like in real barns.

Real riders. Real horses. Real routines. These clips rotate automatically so the proof stays fresh without weighing the page down with a long feed.

Random rider clips

Why this matters: good horse care should make sense outside the ad. These clips show the kind of everyday use that builds trust one barn at a time.

Further Reading

Keep building the routine.

Horse care works better when the next step is clear. These related reads help connect today’s topic to better daily decisions in the barn.

Horse health news

Start with the principle, then build the habit. The right article should make the next barn decision easier, not more complicated.

Next Step

Keep your barn dialed in.

Simple care guides, practical product paths, and rider-trusted tools built for real horses and real routines.

More care guides View all products

Good care gets easier when the next step is obvious. Read the guide, match the routine, then choose the format that fits how your barn actually works.

Recovery Routine

Build a complete recovery routine.

Want a smarter way to think through post-ride care, heat, swelling, leg support, and daily recovery decisions? Start with the Performance Recovery Hub.

Visit the Recovery Hub

Better recovery starts with a repeatable routine. The hub gives riders a clearer path from workload to product format to aftercare timing.

Rider Favorites

Always in the kit.

Four core Draw It Out® staples riders keep close for daily recovery routines, wash rack use, targeted support, and quick barn-side care.

Core barn staples
Draw It Out® 16oz Liniment Gel | Daily Horse Care

Stay-Put Gel

16oz Liniment Gel

The everyday liniment gel format riders reach for when they want targeted, no-mess application.

View product
Draw It Out® 32oz Liniment Concentrate | Mix-to-Use Formula

Mix Your Way

32oz Concentrate

A flexible concentrate for riders who want to mix their own routine around workload and barn needs.

View product
Draw It Out® RTU Spray 24oz | Ready-to-Use Liniment Spray

Ready To Use

24oz RTU Spray

A ready-to-use spray format for quick application after work, travel, turnout, or daily care.

View product
CryoSpray® by Draw It Out® 24oz | Cooling Body Brace for Horses

Cooling Brace

CryoSpray

A cooling body brace spray for riders who want a fast, practical option after hard work or hot days.

View product

Format matters. Gel, concentrate, ready-to-use spray, and cooling spray each solve a different barn problem. Pick the one your routine will actually use.

Where To Go Next

Turn the idea into a routine.

If this topic connects to what you are seeing in your horse, these are the three cleanest next steps. Start with direction, then choose the product format that fits the way your barn actually works.

Next steps
Find The Fit Find the right product Answer a few practical questions and match your horse’s workload, age, and routine to the best Draw It Out® path. Use the Solution Finder
Daily Recovery Shop liniment gels Explore stay-put liniment gel options built for targeted application, daily recovery routines, and real barn use. Shop the collection
Routine First Build a prehabilitation routine Learn how riders support comfort, soundness, and consistency before small issues start steering the program. Read the guide

Best next move: use the Solution Finder first when the issue is unclear. Go straight to the liniment gel collection when you already know the format you want.