Deciding which joint formula to use for your horse can be a daunting task, so we’ve come up with a simple guide to help you determine which products are best for your horse.

• Maintenance Support - preventive formulas, to maintain joint health for younger horses not yet showing signs of issues or discomfort.
• Moderate Support - support formulas for moderately worked horses, or horses showing initial discomfort, such as minor stiffness and soreness.
• Strong Support - for horses with chronic or acute issues, such as excessive stress or damage to the joint tissue.

Arthroxigen - Strong Support – Most Complex Blend of Joint Support Ingredients Available!  High strength combination of Glucosamine – Chondroitin Sulfate – MSM – Devils Claw – Hyaluronic Acid – Yucca and much more!  High in Antioxidents! Contains over 10 different dried fruits as well as grape seed extract, vitamin c, hydolyzed collagen, turmeric, cats claw, white willow and much more!  Recommended to support healthy joint function.

Arthroxigen is a premium, very high potency, complex joint support formula that includes much higher doses of MSM, Hyaluronic Acid and Glucosamine with Chondroitin. This also includes a higher dose of Vitamin C along with Vitamin B5 and a multitude of plant and herbal based ingredients that greatly support joint and connective tissue health while also offering an improved benefit by working together synergistically.  Bio-Active Whey is also a component that has particular benefit on supporting balanced immune health. The scope and potency of the ingredients in Arthroxigen are simply unmatched anywhere in the industry. This can be used as a general support formula or for horses that experience the joint related consequences of aging. More frequently, it is utilized as a high-powered support formula for horses with significant joint risk as a result of activity, training, competition or physical wear and tear.

Independent Testing Results for Arthroxigen from the Horse Journal:  “Double dose for optimum effect.  Broad Spectrum herbal support was rapidly effective in reducing pain.  ·2-year-old in training with chronic stifle soreness stopped tripping and quivering within 5 days.  Swelling and heat 85% reduced by 10 days, gone at 3 weeks.  ·17-year-old that had improved on a glucosamine and chrondroitin supplement but was still lame trotting improved a further lameness grade in the first week on 25-gram dose.  ·4-year-old racing mare with recurrent problems with fetlock swelling, heat and pain in all four showed 90% resolution with the first week but continued to require the 50-gram dose.”

“We had 72 products in this field trial . . . overall, our top performer for really tough cases is Arthroxigen.”

Arthroxigen is my go to joint product for horses with chronic and acute conditions, arthritis, or just in need of Strong Joint Support.   If you would like to give Arthroxigen a try and see how it can benefit your horse, you may click here.

Huh! How do I choose?

With so many joint supplements on the market and so many different ingredients to choose from, it can be just overwhelming trying to make a good decision for our horses.    I found this article and felt like it put this topic in perspective for me.   Therefore, I thought it might be able to shed light on the subject for all of you.

How to Choose a Joint Supplement

Equine joint and connective tissue stress can cause lameness, stiffness and swelling, ultimately affecting the horse’s cooperation, performance and general wellbeing. In many cases, joint health can be supported with regular replenishment of the body’s joint protecting nutrients in oral form to help maintain healthy function. Supplementation is excellent for horses with existing joint problems and can also be implemented as a preventative measure.

Joint Supplements provide ingredients that have inherent, tissue protective and natural properties to support joint tissues, such as cartilage, synovial fluid, tendons and ligaments. Among these, the most well known and most used ingredients are Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM. These nutrients support equine joint health, which reduce the risk of joint stress from everyday activities and events such as trail rides or more competitive, stressful equine endeavors. For many horses, these simple foundation formulas work very well. However, there are times when a stronger, more complex formula is sought, either because of inherent weaknesses or the stress of competitive events. Additional joint tissue support ingredients include Hyaluronic Acid, Silica, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Cetylated Fatty Acids, Vitamins, Antioxidants, Herbs and Botanical Extracts.

The most important of all the joint nutraceuticals is Glucosamine, the key building block for tissue integrity, with studies showing that Glucosamine supplementation provides symptomatic relief from pain, more rapid recovery, and partial restoration of joint function. The two forms of Glucosamine in pure form, hydrochloride and sulfate, deliver equally effective forms of Glucosamine. However, glucosamine hydrochloride contains approximately 25 – 30% more elemental Glucosamine for considerably less cost.

Chondroitin Sulfate is the primary substance found in cartilage. Its key functions include the ability to inhibit enzymes that degrade cartilage tissue, increase water retention for synovial fluid production and the ability to utilize Glucosamine in the formation of proteoglycans. Proteolglycans organize Collagen and water binding to give cartilage its desired flexibility, resiliency and resistance. Chondroitin Sulfate has also shown the ability to activate chondrocytes, which produce new collagen.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is found naturally in food and throughout the body. A bio-available source of sulfur, MSM is important for connective tissue production and repair and has been shown to reduce cartilage breakdown by protecting the cartilage tissue. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is also found throughout the body, with the highest concentration in soft connective tissue. HA gives elasticity to the joints and retains water in the cellular matrix. It is important for tissue hydration, lubrication, and proper cellular function.

Olive Extract is a powerful antioxidant from olive oil and fruit. It aids in stabilizing cell membranes and supports liver, brain, heart, joint and connective tissue health. Cetylated Fatty Acids (CFA) are a combination of specific fatty acids that support joint and connective tissue health, as well as balanced immune response to stress. Silica is a mineral involved in collagen production and calcium metabolism. It supports joint, connective tissue, bone, heart and digestive health. Silica supports hair, skin and hoof health, as well as trace mineral metabolism.

The Vitamins B-6 and B-5 support the horse’s ability to manage the metabolic distress associated with joint issues. The powerful antioxidants, Vitamin C in the buffered form of calcium ascorbate and Grape Seed Extract, can reduce free radical load, as well as minimize the stress associated with greater physical activity. Bio-Active Whey Protein is a nutrient that has particular benefit in supporting joint health by balancing immune and gut function.

Many herbs and botanical extracts have shown great promise in supporting joint health. Yucca and Boswellia extracts enhance the benefits of the foundation ingredients by reducing oxidative stress that can increase free radical formation and generate a greater stress on the joints. Devils Claw Extract, Turmeric Extract, Cat’s Claw, Fever Few, White Willow, Cayenne and other fruits, vegetables and their extracts have shown significant value as part of a well-balanced joint support formula. These plant-based phytonutrients have demonstrated natural antioxidant, anti-free radical activity, tissue fluid balancing effects, as well as discomfort modulating properties.

Manufacturing Standards Matter

Not all nutritional joint products are created equal. The grade of the raw ingredients, the potency and formula combination are just a few of the important facts that will determine the product’s effectiveness. Also, the label claim for the ingredients in any supplement should be accurate and precise. Good quality manufacturers regularly test their products to validate that the levels of ingredients listed on the label are actually contained in the product at the same levels. Quality testing to assure ingredient purity and integrity is an essential component for offering superior, highly absorbable and well-utilized nutritional products for joint support.

The NASC, a Regulatory Body for Animal Nutraceuticals

It is strongly recommended that any joint supplement being purchased is stamped with the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Seal of Approval. The NASC’s overriding goal is to protect and enhance the integrity of the animal health product industry. The cornerstone of NASC’s mission is to work cooperatively with state, federal and international government officials to create a legislative and regulatory environment that provides a framework that is fair, reasonable, responsible and nationally consistent.

The NASC Seal of Approval ensures that ethical manufacturing and labeling practices are complied with throughout the industry in an atmosphere of safety, accuracy and quality. All NASC members must undergo and pass a required, rigorous independent audit of its facilities. Upon completion of this audit, members are qualified to display the NASC Seal of Quality to show consumers they are committed to the “highest current standards of quality in the industry today.”

The NASC advocates and collectively enforces Good Manufacturing Practice Quality Standards in manufacturing, labeling and marketing animal health supplements. In addition, NASC members establish funding and facilitation of significant research for animal nutritional products and actively participate in programs of continual vigilance to ensure the quality of ingredients in these products.

Guidelines for selecting a joint supplement:

• Is the manufacturer an established company with a proven track record?
• Is there a lot number, tracking system and quality control?
• Are the product label claims based on solid research data and evidence?
• Are administration and dosage directions clear and easy to follow?
• Are the contents and a best-if-used-by date clearly indicated on the label?
• Is the manufacturer and contact information clearly on the label?

I hope that this little article clears up some of the confusion for you.   I know it did for me.   I can now read the label and actually understand the ingredients and their intended purpose.   Reading this article helped me make an educated decision when choosing the correct joint supplement for my horse.

Ooooo! I finally get it.

The Red Maple During it Glorious Fall Color Transformation.

I love the red maple tree.    I think that they are beautiful – spring & fall.    I love the color.   The red maple tree  is medium-sized  with a distinctively shaped three-lobed green leaves with jagged edges, bright red stems and silver white undersides.

The Red Maple Leaf in Summer

In the spring, the tree buds are  bright red.    In autumn, the leaves of most red maple trees turn fiery scarlet, but a few others produce bright yellow or orange foliage.  The bark is smooth and pale gray on younger trees, becoming dark and broken with deep grooves with age.

But as I just recently discovered.   The Red maple tree is on the Toxic  Plant list for our Beloved Horses.    

Toxicity:   Wilted or dried red maple leaves are extremely dangerous to horses.   They contain concentrated amounts of gallic acid and other identified toxins that cause Heinz body anemia, a breakdown of the red blood cells that prevents them from carrying oxygen.   The kidneys, levier and other organs may also be damaged.   As little as a pound or two of leaves can be fatal.   since all the parts of the maple contain the toxin, there is the potential for the green leaves to also cause poisoning.  Why horses are not as readily poisoned by the green leaves may be due to palatability issues and that the the toxin is not as concentrated in the green leaves.

Signs of Poisoning:  Lethargy; red, brown or black urine; colic, refusal to eat; pale yellowish gums and mucus membranes that progress to black; increased respiratory rate; rapid heart rate; dehydration.   Depending on how many leaves were eaten, it may take a few hours up to several days for signs to appear.

Treatment:  There is no specific treatment for red maple poisoning, but supportive care, including large amounts of intravenous fluids, vitamin C and possibly blood transfusions, may help a horse survive.  Chances for recovery depend on how many leaves the horse consumed and how quickly veterinary care can be instituted.

Control Measure:  Pick up fallen branches and rake and remove fallen maple leaves promptly.   The decision to remove red maple trees and possibly silver and sugar maples will depend on individual circumstances, and horse’s desire to seek out and eat maple leaves, and the potential risk one is willing to accept.   At least two other species, the silver and sugar maples, have also been shown to contain the same toxins as red maple trees, although in lesser amounts.   Red maple trees have also ten used to produce many hybrids and cultiars that are sold for ornamental plantings.   the toxicity of each of these varieties is unknown, but it’s safest to assume they may contain some amount of the gallic acid.   For those reasons, avoid planting any of these maple trees where the leaves will fall or blow into pastures.

One last note — Please note that the red maple is a different  species than the Japanese red Maple and the red – or purple – leaved varieties of the Norway maple.

The Red Maple

I wish I could take credit for this information but I have to give credit to Katie Frank “A field Guide to Toxic Plants”, Equus, April 2012.

Dandelions – not a pesky weed

Dandelions -While many people think of the dandelion  as a pesky weed, herbalists consider it a valuable herb that can be used as a food and medicine. The leaves are more nutritious than anything you can buy. They’re higher in beta-carotene than carrots. The iron and calcium content is phenomenal, greater than spinach. You also get vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-6, B-12, C, E, P, and D, biotin, inositol, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc by using a tasty, free vegetable that grows on virtually every lawn.  The Dandelion has a strong diuretic action, increasing the amount of urine the body produces, improving the way the kidneys cleanse the blood and recycle nutrients, & Basically improving general health from improved kidney function.   Unlike pharmaceuticals diuretics, this doesn’t leach potassium, a vital mineral, from the body.  Dandelions are also good for the bladder, spleen, pancreas, stomach and intestines.  It’s supposed to strengthen the entire body, especially the liver and gallbladder, where it promotes the flow of bile, reduces inflammation of the bile duct, and helps get rid of gall stones. And for all those owners who have horses with foot problems or whose horses require extra Biotin supplementation, dandelions are an excellent naturalsource of Vitamin H also known as Biotin.   So don’t be so quick to kill that pesky weed from the yard and pasture.    Instead –  Savor them, Eat them & share them with your horse.    

Growing Mint

Mint – Peppermint and Spearmint  -

have an antispasmodic effect on the digestive system; mint may help to expel gas, for horses prone to colic and also serves as a soothing appetite stimulant. You can grow mint very easily and offer your horse fresh leaves.

Magic Cushion™ Hoof Packing | The Original 

Magic Cushion is the only anti-inflammatory and analgesic hoof packing available to the equine athlete.

Magic Cushion has been proven effective in providing relief from the soreness resulting from the everyday rigors of training, laminitis, white line disease, pedal osteitis, abscesses, navicular syndrome, bruising, corns, canker and any concussive trauma to the hoof tissues.

Magic Cushion is formulated for use after hard work or the day before and all the days of athletic events. It is a natural product and will not test positive in any equine athletic discipline.

Magic Cushion can be used under a protective pad or simply applied with a wrap.

Magic Cushion Xtreme™ | Performance Horse Strength

Magic Cushion Xtreme uses a higher concentration of active ingredients than original Magic Cushion to provide faster, stronger relief for performance horses.

When your horses have to perform their best tomorrow, we recommend using Magic Cushion Xtreme today!
Magic Cushion Xtreme can be used under a protective pad or simply applied with a wrap.

All Magic Cushion Products are Available at Brandenburg’s Store.  We offer the 2 pound tub on our store site.   It is the most convenient size for travel and the your first aid kit.  But all other sizes are available.  So if you want a larger container of Magic Cushion or Magic Cushion Xtreme, just give me a call and I will get it for you.

If you are tired of your horse having sore feet or  if you just want it for your ‘just in case’ kit then order your self a tub of  Magic Cushion or Magic Cushion Xteme by Clicking here now.

Application Tips

How To Apply

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All Draper Therapies products included in Draper Body Therapy, Draper Equine Therapy and Draper Canine Therapy use the technology of Celliant to provide therapeutic properties to the wearer.  Celliant is a therapeutic fiber which is embedded with millions of microscopic minerals and gemstones that act as reflective mirrors for energy emitted from the body. This energy is redirected back to the body to relax the capillaries and improve blood flow and increase oxygenation. The result is accelerated muscle recovery and help for stiffness and soreness while also balancing the body’s temperature and making it more efficient. As it affects the circulatory system, Celliant has lingering effects that continue after it has been removed from the body. It helps the user remain strong and active even when the product is not actively being used.

How does it work?

Celliant, the technology contained in all Draper Therapies products absorbs and stores the electromagnetic (energy) emissions from the human body and releases them where they are reabsorbed into the skin and deep muscle tissue. In the deep muscle tissue they act as catalysts for natural, biological processes resulting in enhanced oxygen levels and more balanced body temperature during sleep, rest or physical activity.

In this way, it helps the user remain strong and active even when the product is not actively being used. It is the world’s first responsive textile with clinically proven benefits to the human body.

What is  Celliant?

What is a responsive textile?

A responsive textile is a material that interacts with the body, using its energy to be more effective.

How do I care for my Draper Therapies products?

All Draper Therapies products can be washed in your home washing machine and be placed in your dryer. As Celliant is embedded in the products, washing or drying will not alter the therapeutic properties of the fiber. Cleaning additives such as bleach and stain remover can also be used without effecting the properties of Celliant.

Has it been clinically tested?

Yes. Celliant’s efficacy has been proven in five U.S.-based clinical studies that consistently show the material’s effects to be significant, compelling, and verifiable.

Celliant has been clinically proven to reduce pain, increase the oxygen levels in tissues and skin and balance body temperature while active or asleep.

You can view more information on the Clinical Studies here.

Is it possible to get too much light or too much oxygen?

No. Your body will only absorb as much energy as it can handle. Although it is possible for your body to have too much oxygen, the increases caused by Celliant are in no way putting the body in danger of these levels.

What is in Celliant that makes it produce therapeutic effects?

Celliant is specially formulated with proprietary ingredients that are blended with polyester fiber. This fiber, in turn, can be woven or knit into almost any materials including wools, cottons and other polyesters. While the exact formula is a patent protected trade secret, we can say that Celliant contains many minerals including Titanium Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide and Aluminum Oxide.

Are there any side effects from using products with Celliant?

As Celliant encourages the body’s natural processes, there are no known side effects. In fact, the only effects that have been found from the use of Celliant have been increased stamina, more rapid recovery, and better overall performance.

While it is possible to have an allergic reaction to any material, Celliant contains minerals that most people come into contact with on a regular basis. Since the first products became available in 2003, there have not been any reported cases of allergic reactions to Celliant.

How long do I need to use the products to get the positive effects?

Celliant starts to work immediately and the effects generally increase the longer they are used. All products are tested over at least a 90-minute period to ensure that they are effective.

How do you know it is working?

While you will not necessarily be able to perceive, or feel an increase in circulation, oxygenation or blood flow, in clinical testing we have measured the increase in skin oxygen levels (TCP02) and consistently recorded significant improvements across a wide spectrum of test subjects. People who try Celliant often observe localized pain relief and an overall improved sense of health.

Does it have to come in contact with the body or skin to work?

Products enhanced with Celliant do not have to be next to the skin in order to work, but work best when in direct contact. Covering the material with additional layers will not decrease their effectiveness, but may delay their effects. Celliant will work through any type of covering including multiple layers of sheeting or clothing, laminated or waterproof fabrics, or pillowcases.

How can Celliant make the light reflect back toward the body and not in all directions?

The light is reflected in all directions, but the light sent towards the body carries enough energy to increase blood flow and blood oxygen levels. The rest will scatter into space.

How was Celliant developed and why?

The research that led to the creation of Celliant began in the 1990s, when a team of pioneers in the field of alternative medicine visited Asia and observed the use of several natural substances that were thought to have a positive effect on health, healing and physical comfort. After seven years of development and several more of testing, the team was able to integrate these materials into Celliant, a technology that can be woven or added to other fibers and yarns to make fabrics.

Draper Therapies was created in 2003 and has continued to expand its offerings to meet the need of its canine, equine, and human customers.

What sets Celliant apart from other therapeutic products?

Celliant is the world’s most technologically advanced fiber and the only responsive textile with clinically proven benefits to the human body. Celliant’s oxygen studies were done independently by three separate doctors and all tests came to the same conclusion, that Celliant increases blood oxygen levels which has been shown to increase performance, relieve pain and improve muscle recovery.

How does it directly differ from static magnet or ceramic therapy?

Instead of simply warming or redirecting the magnetic fields of the muscles, Celliant works at the circulatory level, encouraging not only alleviation of pain and other negative symptoms but an actual improvement of the body’s natural systems. It works with your body to help it do what it does naturally.

Will Celliant products help treat or reduce pain caused by arthritis or diabetes?

While Celliant is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, it has been proven in clinical tests to reduce pain, increase blood flow and blood oxygen levels, and help balance body temperature. Each of these results can have added benefits including faster healing, increased performance, better-quality sleep, and improved overall wellness � all of which help alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and peripheral vascular disease often associated with diabetes.

Will my Celliant product still work through my pillowcase, sheets, extra layers of clothing, etc.?

Yes. Products enhanced with Celliant do not have to be next to the skin in order to work, and covering the material with additional layers will not decrease their effectiveness. Celliant works equally well through any type of covering including multiple layers of sheeting or clothing, laminated or waterproof fabrics, or synthetic pillowcases.

Where can I purchase Draper Therapies Products?

All Draper Therapy Products – Body, Equine, & Canine – are available through the Brandenburg Store.   If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Tiffany at (618) 660-7266.

It is hard to admit.   But are precious little Sweetie is starting to get older.   Today with the damp cold our young lady was stiff and sore.   So we decided it was time to do a little work on her.   I have to say that she looks more than content sitting in the pulsating magnetic coil.   I guess from this day forward this will become part of her daily regime.   We might not be able to change the fact she is getting older but we sure can ease the burden for her.   We love you Sweetie.