In equestrian sport, even horses with a calm temperament can react with tension in moments of greatest pressure, especially during competitions, when emotions, spectators, and the atmosphere of rivalry come into play. For many horses, this is precisely when difficulties in maintaining emotional balance appear, which can affect concentration and precision of work. The story of Chips, a 12-year-old horse competing in CCI2 eventing*, shows how important support can be in such moments. support that helps the horse stay calm and focused on the rider. This case study describes several months of experience with the use of Hempqualizer Compete in competition situations and shows how regular use can translate into stable, repeatable results in sport performance.

Case by Hanna Pogodzińska

Chips, a 12-year-old horse competing in eventing at the 2* level, has been regularly receiving Hempqualizer Compete paste since July 2025 as support during competition starts. Despite his calm temperament and excellent physical condition, one of the challenges in his work for a long time was his reaction to stress during dressage tests.

The tension started already during warm-up. As the start approached, Chips began grinding his teeth, reacting too dynamically to the aids, and losing precision in the movements. After entering the dressage arena, a characteristic “switch” appeared, rather than focusing on the rider, he began to anticipate the next movements of the test, which affected the accuracy of the ride.

During the first trials, we decided to administer 2 ml of Hempqualizer Compete approximately 40 minutes before the warm-up, to help lower the level of emotional tension and make it easier for the horse to focus on the work. The effect was very clear. During warm-up, Chips was relaxed, focused, and still responsive to the aids. The biggest change, however, was noticeable after entering the arena. The horse no longer switched into a state of excessive reactivity but maintained the same calm quality of work that he showed during warm-up.

From that moment on, Hempqualizer Compete has accompanied Chips regularly during important competitions. Over many months of use, the effect has remained consistent: the horse keeps his energy and willingness to work but is clearly more emotionally balanced.

A good example was the Cavaliada Eventing Tour 2026, whose final took place in the TAURON Arena Kraków. This environment is full of strong stimuli: loud crowds, intense lights, and music can create tension even in very experienced horses.

Before this start, Chips also received Hempqualizer Compete paste. Despite the exceptionally intense atmosphere of the event, the horse remained calm and focused. At the same time, he did not lose his energy or willingness to work, he was simply more stable and confident.

Thanks to this, we were able to fully use his potential. The ride was smooth and controlled, and in the end we managed to secure 3rd place in the Cavaliada Eventing Tour.

Regular use of Hempqualizer Compete since July 2025 has confirmed one important thing for us: when used appropriately, the product does not change the horse’s character or energy but helps maintain emotional balance in moments when competitive pressure and environmental intensity are at their highest.

When can Hempqualizer Compete be helpful?

Hempqualizer Compete may be particularly helpful in situations where a horse, under competition conditions or in a new environment, shows signs of emotional tension such as excessive reactivity to the aids, difficulty concentrating, or increased arousal during warm-up or the test itself. This also applies to horses that work calmly and correctly in training but easily enter a state of heightened stress in the competition atmosphere.

The product can support horses in maintaining psychological balance, helping them stay focused on the rider and the task without losing energy or willingness to work. In such cases, its role is not to “calm” the horse by limiting expression, but to allow for a more balanced response to external stimuli.

For this reason, Hempqualizer Compete can be valuable support during competitions, travel to events, or work in intense environments where the horse’s ability to remain calm, focused, and emotionally stable is crucial.