Liz Diegutis is a British international Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer based in Iserlohn, Germany. Currently Liz is aiming both her 10-year-old mares to be competing at Grand Prix level in 2016, and is hoping to get both of them selected for their first international starts. “My big dream would be to ride at my first World Cup qualifier,” says Liz. Earlier this year, Liz was faced with a few challenges that made her decide to try Equine 74 Gastric as a part of her mares’ diets. That was a choice the British rider does not regret.
“From my personal experiences with my own top mares, you can tell that they at times are under a lot of stress,” Liz says when speaking of what the sport demands of the horses these days. “I think that the horses’ stress levels get affected by all the travelling, and the new environments they meet at competitions which is different to the one at home. Separation anxiety is also sometimes an issue – at least for my two mares.”
Liz is of the opinion that mares often are more prone to stress than for example geldings. “I have had many mares, and I would say that they tend to get easier stressed. The mares are usually a lot more aware of what is going on around them, and more sensitive – for example who they are stabled next to at a show will usually affect a mare more than a gelding. The mares are much more alert,” Liz says.
“Stress is often recognized by your horse moving around a lot in the box, being highly alert – and also with the horse being agitated when being tacked up, especially when moving around the girth area,” Diegutis explains.
“For me the alarm bell rang when my mare Saskia Hit, that is being stepped up to Grand Prix level, started showing anxiety and naughtiness before and during her performances. This kind of stress was what made me decide to try to do something to help her, and why I wanted to support my two mares by testing Equine 74 Gastric,” she says.
“I had read about Equine 74 Gastric on Eurodressage, and as other riders gave it their references and were actually using it I wanted to give it a try. I ordered a trial package, and quickly filled up with more,” Liz continues about how she learned about Equine 74 Gastric.
“After feeding Equine 74 Gastric for the last five months I can both feel and see a big difference in my two mares. First of all, the mares have maintained their weight in a much better way. Secondly their overall condition looks a lot better. In the ring, Saskia Hit has been much easier to deal with and in her last two competitions she was placed. There were no behavior problems, she just copes better with everything,” Liz says.
For Liz the main reason to choose Equine 74 Gastric was its nature of being a nutrition supplement, and not a medical product. “Equine 74 Gastric is natural and that was a big thing for me! I don’t want to be shoveling chemicals into my horses. I feel that with omeprazole you more or less feed a medical product, and long term this can not really be healthy for the horses. And, as we all know – Gastro Guard is very expensive,” Liz says about the advantages of feeding Equine 74 Gastric.
Compared to other products aimed to help acid protection for the stomach and prevent gastric ulcers, Liz found Equine 74 Gastric to be very easy to use as it is simple to administer. “My mares just don’t touch powder and using paste is a hassle, and here I had Equine 74 Gastric that was based on granules instead. It is perfect; easy to feed, and the horses eat it really well as it hides in the food.”
“I also try to vary the amount I give the horses with the situation,” Liz explains. “Sometimes I go down on the amount at home, and up it before a competition.”
The statistics say that 63% of all competition horses deal with stomach ulceration, but Liz never had a bad experience in particular. “But, then again… When I was younger I never really had any experience or knowledge with stomach ulceration. Looking back – I am sure I could have helped my best horse in those days a lot, only if I had known then what I know now!”
For further information please read more at www.equine74gastric.com.
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