By Erin Gilmore
Royal Choices for Horses
Choosing which supplement to give your horse is a little like walking down the grocery aisle at Costco; the sheer volume of choices can be overwhelming.
But when looking at the history and reliance of Royal Champion supplements, the choice suddenly becomes simple. Thirty-five years after its inception, the company that has its roots in the racing industry is still going strong.
Dr. Trevor Cook, Royal Nutritionist to England’s Queen Elizabeth II, developed Royal Champion in the early ‘70s. Since then, the product has evolved into a line of supplements whose specific benefits range from hoof strength, muscle conditioning to coat shine. In 1992, racing trainer Dianna DiCastro bought the worldwide rights to Royal Champion and extended its reach across the pond to the California racing community, and later the hunter/jumper market.
Fed in powder form over grain or bran, Royal Champion can be given all year round, and benefits horses both in training and off. Considered a multi-purpose supplement, Royal Champion provides hoof and joint support, making it a popular alternative to feeding a handful of different supplements. 
NOTICEABLE BENEFITS
The high levels of vitamins A and D, and macro and micro-minerals in Royal Champion give it broad-reaching benefits that affect the whole horse. Without exception, Joie Gatlin, of Joie Gatlin-Morley Abey Show Jumping in San Juan Capistrano, puts all new horses that come into her barn onto the Royal Champion program.
“Whenever we have new horses come into the barn, we put them on it,” Gatlin comments. “Once we’ve had them on the product after 30 days we always see a difference in their energy and their coat.”
Joie uses Royal Champion with her entire string of horses. “It’s been a staple in my feeding regiment for fifteen years,” says Gatlin. “From my grand prix horses to the amateurs, all of my horses are on it. I think it can rival any other products of its kind out there.”
The benefits of recovery are a key factor for Joie and other users of Royal Champion. While the Premium and Premium Plus supplements replace any inconsistencies that might surface in a horse’s daily hay ration, the nutritional benefits also help going grand prix or high-level performance horses recover quicker after an intense workout. Hap Hansen is another longtime user of Royal Champion, and attests to the significant difference in his horses’ coats, condition and quick recovery time after a tough round.
PROOF IN PERFORMANCE
Riders that use Royal Champion prove with their performances that they’ve literally found a winning formula for their horses; at the 2010 HITS Desert Circuit, Gatlin won the March 6th $50,000 World Cup Qualifying Grand Prix with Camaron Hills Quick Dollar. Olympian Guy Thomas followed in fifth place with Carino. But on March 14th, during the concluding class of the circuit, Thomas scored his biggest finish of the season, coming in second in the $300,000 Lamborghini Grand Prix of the Desert with his longtime partner Peterbilt.
Thomas’ trainers and parents, Butch and Lu Thomas, have made Royal Champion part of their program since 1998. As coaches of the North American Young Riders team and directors of a multi-facility training program, they use Royal Champion vitamins in their stables. “We run a very busy business, and are on the road at least 25 weeks of the year,” says Guy. “Royal Champion helps our horses stay in condition and deal with the stress of travel so I can depend on them in the ring. It will always be part of our supplement program.”
So when shopping for supplements, perhaps the above accolades will help you make a decision to try Royal Champion. In 30 days or less you may see a difference in your horse’s performance.
Next in Mexican rider Eduardo Menezes on his Renoir Mercedes Benz were the first double clean setting, the time to beat at 45.38. Another top contender, Susie Hutchison and El Dorado 29’s Cantano, nipped at Menezes heels, double clean in 47.70, which would end up third best. The amazing (and young) Ashlee Bond was clean on all three of her Little Valley Farm entries, her first time back in on Chivas Z garnered her lowest prize, seventh with a rail in 49.10. Her next attempt on GZS Cassira Z ended up fastest of the four-faulters in 45.37 for fourth overall. Menezes returned on his Let’s Go Mercedes Benz, racing around in 46.80 with four for fifth place. And Ashlee Bond finished the class on her outstanding Cadett 7. The pair blazed around in their now internationally known style and stopped the clock clean in 44.73 for the win.
Of forty starters in the first World Cup qualifier of the West Coast season, six horses piloted by four riders jumped off. Last to go, Tiwistar and Francie Steinwedell Carvin were two time faults away from making it seven clean. Four faulters rounded out the top eleven and similarly to seventh, twelfth went to a team with one rail and one time fault.
Young Horses
While we make our way through one of the most challenging economic times we’ve had as a nation, if not the world, there are shining stars and glimmers of light at the end of the tunnel. Whether the economy is up or down, our own niche of sport horses never ceases to please and amaze us. Take a close look at this week’s stories from Carleton to Compton to World Cup.
Next, our American top hats are off to Steffen Peters who dressaged his way to a World Cup win over some of the world’s best riders. His high scores included a 93 in the artistic category on the final night, as his horse Ravel danced to the music of his freestyle ride. Notable that Meredith was American-born, but is now a German citizen whereas Steffen was German-born and now lives and trains in nearby Escondido, CA.
The room was buzzing at the final press conference on Sunday, not only with the excitement of the fabulous sport all had witnessed, but at the conclusion Robert Ridland made an announcement that put the icing on the Las Vegas FEI World Cup cake. After ten years of participation, Ridland took the time to honor some of the many names that made this phenomenal event possible year after year, including John Quirk, Bob Maxey, Shawn Davis, Tim Keener and Pat Christensen, among others. He then stated that Blenheim EquiSports, with the full support of Las Vegas Events, would be making a bid to bring the FEI World Cup Finals back to Las Vegas in 2014. “This team, this event is too good to give up,” he said. In response to this announcement Sven Holmberg, FEI Vice President, replied with a smile that the 2014 bid would be “very well received.”
Using Twitter, EquestriSol will now be able to bring results and updates from the West Coast’s most prestigious horse shows (and who knows where else) the minute that they are posted. Followers will also be able to see news updates, receive reports, know when hot sale prospects are on the market – all this from just about anywhere.
We are pleased to announce websites for Harley Brown and El Campeon Farms:
After watching her fellow Californian Aurora Griffin move to 1.50m and win Individual Bronze at Young Riders, Team Gold, Double Gold at Harrisburg, in addition to the William Steinkraus Style of Riding Award, Zazou decided it was an opportune time to ask Aurora and her trainer a few questions.