Customer Success Story: 30 Days to Improvement!

"My name is Lynn and I have an 8 year old Quarter Horse named Frosty Bud Light that I compete on for barrel racing. Bud had issues with ulcers when I bought him and began his training as a 6 year old. I treated with Omeprazole and had good improvement. This past summer he needed hock surgery and the stress and stall confinement brought his ulcers back. I treated with Omeprazole again and this time did not get the results I had gotten last time. I assumed Bud had hind gut ulcers, but really wasn't sure how to help him.

Bud was refusing the gate with a vengeance. He would NOT run in the pattern and became a 3D horse. Throughout everything he continued to look amazing though. His coat was shiny and he was very fit and kept his weight on easily. He has always been a VERY picky eater. He would eat all of his feed, but it would take forever and he’d always eat hay before grain.

I was getting ready to give up on Bud when I found your product on the internet. I figured I had nothing to lose, so I ordered a bottle and within the first 30 days saw improvement…he was not quite as scary in the alleyway/outside the gate and he ran a little harder and longer in the pattern. After 60 days, he refuses mildly and runs almost the entire pattern and is a becoming a 1D horse in a very tough area of Texas. 

I’m starting my third bottle now and he is eating much faster at feeding time and will eat grain and hay together instead of hay first and taking all night to finish the grain. I am amazed at what SeaBuck has done for Bud. I always knew he could be a very talented horse, but just couldn't convince him to give me his all. 

Thanks for a product that actually works!"

~ Lynn H.- Texas

Do you have your own SeaBuck 7 success story? Send it to us at care@seabuck.com.  

Equine Endurance & Recovery: 1,000 Years of Experience

SeaBuck 7 Endorser Natalie Foutch at the IRCA Finals

Are you looking for a way to boost your horse’s immune system, performance and overall well-being? There are many health supplements out on the market that claim to improve your horse’s health, but I can only think of one that has modern and ancient historical evidence supporting these types of claims. That would be the sea buckthorn berry!  If you thought that sea buckthorn is a recent health-food discovery, think again.  To understand what sea buckthorn can do for your four-hooved friend, let’s first take a look back at Ancient Greece. 

The health benefits of sea buckthorn are mentioned by Ancient Greek scholars Theophrastus and Dioscorides. The Ancient Greeks discovered that wounded enemy horses that had been foraging on the leaves and berries of the wild sea buckthorn healed quickly and had excellent coat quality. The scientific name is taken from these observations, as Hippophae rhamnoides translates to “shining horse.” 

The Ancient Greeks were so impressed with sea buckthorn’s health benefits that it is even mentioned in legends, most notably as the main food source of the mythical winged horse, Pegasus. In day-to-day ancient life, the leaves and berries of sea buckthorn were regularly added to the rations of horses, to promote a healthy body condition and a shiny coat. 

In modern times, sea buckthorn continues to boost the horse’s health, in a variety of important ways:

1. Improved Energy Levels
Sea buckthorn has been shown to improve energy levels and helps to relieve fatigue in humans and horses. This is likely due to its high levels of Vitamin B1 (thiamine) and Vitamin E.  If you and your horse regularly enjoy long trail rides or even higher levels of competition such as endurance or eventing, a natural, drug-free and legal boost from sea buckthorn is worth considering. Daily oral, whole-fruit supplements are integrated into the body more efficiently than B-complex vitamin injections, plus your horse doesn't have to suffer the daily needle sticks! 

2. Longevity
Sea buckthorn contains a large number of bioactive compounds, with most of these being longevity-promoting compounds such as omega 3, 7, and 9 essential fatty acids, antioxidants, carotenoids and protective vitamins such as vitamin E. Training is tough on horses, as well as travel. These environmental stressors promote rapid cell aging and oxidative damage to the body. Sea buckthorn oils and fruit pulp act as a vehicle for these important compounds, and ones that will protect him or her from premature aging and tissue damage. 

3.  Recovery
All horses need time to rest and repair their bodies, even if your horse is only used for weekend trail rides. Proper nutrition is the cornerstone to proper cell repair and maintenance of healthy tissues.  When your horse is at work or at rest, daily use of whole-fruit, nutrient packed supplements like sea buckthorn berry will support the body’s ability to heal itself.  Even in horses without injury, inflammation can occur in the body after any amount of training.  Inflammation, while a normal bodily process, can over time create problems and contribute to poor performance.  Sea buckthorn extracts have been shown in a variety of species, from mice to horses, to improve healing times and reduce levels of inflammation. 

With proper, botanical nutritional support, you and your horse can be working together better and sooner than you expect.  You can’t get any better than thousands of years of experience and the fuel of a famous mythical being, the sea buckthorn berry.


Resources

(1) Li, Thomas S.C. 2002. Product development of sea buckthorn. p. 393–398. J. Janick and A. Whipkey (eds.), Trends in New Crops and New Uses. ASHS Press, Alexandria, VA 

(2) Li, Thomas S.C., Beveridge, Thomas H.J. 2007. Sea Buckthorn: A New Medicinal and Nutritional Botanical. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Publication 10320E. Edition 2007.

(3) Roudebush, Philip. Nutrition, Inflammation and Pain. Hill’s Global Mobility Symposium. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, Kansas.

(4) Huff, N. et al., 2012 Sep-Oct, Effect of sea buckthorn berries and pulp in a liquid emulsion on gastric ulcer scores and gastric juice pH in horses. J Vet Intern Med. Vol. 26(5) 1186-91.

Equine Joint Health: Could Sea Buckthorn be the Solution?

Our equine companions are living longer than ever and some performance horses are still going strong well into their 20’s. The horse’s natural ability to move gracefully and with strength is what captivates us. In order to preserve this movement, it is important for us to protect their joints from the march of time. But what is it that causes horses to develop painful joints in the first place?  

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis, most commonly known as arthritis, is the inflammation of the cartilage that lines the joints. Over time and with enough damage, the cushioning cartilage will wear away, allowing the surface of the bones to come in contact with each other, causing pain and inflammation. Arthritis can be caused by a number of problems, including injury, infection (from penetrating wounds or sepsis), poor conformation and daily wear-and-tear. 

The most common signs of arthritis are lameness, swelling of the joint, pain upon flexion or extension, ‘grumpiness’ and reluctance to perform. If there is a significant amount of arthritis present, a “crunching” sound or feeling (crepitus) may be observed when the joint is flexed or extended. Due to the unique blood supply of the cartilage, it can take some time for horses to recover from joint injuries. It can be even harder to prevent lasting damage to the cartilage in the absence of anti-inflammatory therapy. 

Horses of all ages and activity levels can benefit from natural, holistic nutritional joint support. The key factor in preventing pain and nourishing the joints through natural remedies is to start them before problems happen. However, even if your horse has suffered an injury, these products still have significant value and can improve recovery times. 

Glucosaminoglycans (GAGs)
GAGs have been used in horses for several decades to help nourish cartilage and ‘treat’ arthritis. GAGs are naturally occurring compounds that are found within the cartilage of other animals, particularly sharks and mollusks. When these compounds are introduced into the diet, taken up by the synovium of the joint and it in turn can “lubricate” the joints more efficiently. 

GAGs also have a mild anti-inflammatory effect at the level of the joint. One of the downsides to using GAGs is that some products are made from non-environmentally friendly sources, such as factory-farmed beef cartilage and shark cartilage. If you use GAGs for joint support, select an ocean-friendly source such as sustainable New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel. 

Sea Buckthorn 
Sea buckthorn is scientifically known as Hippophae rhamnoides, which means “shining horse.” The Ancient Greeks noted that when their horses foraged on the leaves and berries of the sea buckthorn plant, that it had a wonderful effect on their health. Their coats were shiny, hooves were stronger and the horses had an overall “bloom.”  Today, researchers have begun to understand why we see these health benefits. 

Sea buckthorn berry contains over 190 bioactive compounds that support every aspect of your horse’s body.  This sustainably wild-crafted food is rich in omega-3, omega-7 and omega-9 essential fatty acids, numerous antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. One of the most important reasons to consider using sea buckthorn as a joint support supplement is the high levels of omega-3 and omega-7. 

Extensive research in dogs, cats, primates, rats and horses have shown that across the board, the high levels of omega-3 and omega-7 fatty acids found in sea buckthorn controls inflammation, arthritis pain and supports joint health.(1,2,3) Recently, two important groups of anti-inflammatory compounds in the body have been discovered called resolvins and protectins. These molecules are made in the body from dietary omega-3 fatty acids found in sea buckthorn berry. These compounds are “switched on” during inflammatory process and act as a “braking signal” which prevents prolonged inflammatory over-reaction within the body.(2) These findings show that high levels of omega fatty acids can be extremely helpful for controlling arthritis-related inflammation and prevent further cartilage damage and degradation. The antioxidant punch of sea buckthorn also helps to prevent free radical damage not only in the joints but in the rest of the body as well.  

It is a good idea to use a combination of natural remedies, including GAGs and sea buckthorn for your horse’s joint health.  Both supplements work in different ways and can complement each other. If you have a horse that is taking a NSAID such as phynelybutamine (“bute”) for severe arthritis pain, laminitis, or an injury, sea buckthorn has another benefit that GAGs do not. “Bute,” combined with the stress of recovering from an injury, can predispose horses to painful gastric ulcers. Studies in horses and dogs have shown that sea buckthorn berry puree and oils have a natural preventative gastro-protective effect and can speed the healing of gastric ulcers.(4,5) 

Numerous users of sea buckthorn have reported an increase in their horse’s energy level and flexibility. Even small improvements in performance can make all the difference, especially for demanding disciplines.

Horses, despite their power and strength, are somewhat delicate animals. Keeping them healthy and performing at their peak without pharmaceuticals is in everyone’s best interest. Your veterinarian will likely agree that use of holistic products like sea buckthorn will help your horse to outshine the rest.


Resources
1. Patel, C, et al., 2012, Remedial Prospective of Hippophae rhamnoides Linn. (Sea Buckthorn). ISRN Pharmacol. 2012: 436857.
2. Roudebush, Philip. Nutrition, Inflammation and Pain. Hill’s Global Mobility Symposium. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, Kansas.
3. Mozafarian, D. et al., 2010, Trans-Palmitoleic Acid, Metabolic Risk Factors, and New-Onset Diabetes in U.S. Adults. Annals Intr Med, Vol. 153, no. 12.
4. Huff, N. et al., 2012 Sep-Oct, Effect of sea buckthorn berries and pulp in a liquid emulsion on gastric ulcer scores and gastric juice pH in horses. J Vet Intern Med. Vol. 26(5) 1186-91.
5. Xing, J. et al., 2002 December, Effects of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) seed and pulp oils on experimental models of gastric ulcer in rats. Fitoterapia. Vol. 73(7-8), 644-50.