Oscar is a sport horse competing in showjumping, always very sensitive to his surroundings. During competitions, he was easily distracted by external stimuli - the crowd, movement around the course, louder sounds, and horses in the warm-up arena. Instead of focusing on the task, he would analyse everything happening around him, which meant his rounds didn't always reflect his real ability.

The following account from his rider describes how Oscar's behaviour at competitions changed after introducing Hempqualizer Compete - from distraction and tension in the warm-up arena to focus and smooth cooperation on the course. We're publishing it in full.

Oscar: before and after using Hempqualizer Compete

BEFORE

Oscar has always been a horse very sensitive to his surroundings. During competitions, he was easily distracted by external stimuli - the crowd, movement around the course, louder sounds. Horses nearby or in the warm-up arena were also a problem. Instead of focusing on the task, he would often analyse everything happening around him.

In the warm-up arena, he was tense, his attention was harder to hold, and on the course he reacted more strongly to his surroundings than to my aids. Because of this, his rounds didn't always reflect his real ability.

AFTER

Before our next competition, we decided to introduce Hempqualizer Compete.

I noticed a difference from the very first start. Instead of focusing on the crowd and the stimuli around the course, Oscar focused much better on the task at hand, while still keeping his energy and willingness to work.

During the round, he was more attentive to my signals, responded more smoothly to my aids, and found it easier to maintain rhythm and focus from the first fence to the last. This let us make use of his potential without fighting excessive stress and distraction.

For me, the biggest change was the feeling that I was riding a horse who was present with me "here and now." Instead of fighting emotions triggered by his surroundings, we could focus on cooperation and the course itself. With each passing day, Hempqualizer showed him more and more that there was no need to get overly stressed about his surroundings and other horses. And that's exactly what it was about.

Key takeaways from the case study

• Horse: Oscar, sport horse (showjumping)
• Problem: excessive sensitivity to surroundings and distraction during competitions
• Symptoms before supplementation: distraction by the crowd and movement around the course, tension in the warm-up arena, difficulty holding attention, stronger reaction to surroundings than to the rider's aids
• Product used: Hempqualizer Compete
• Observed changes: better focus on the task, smoother response to aids, maintained rhythm from the first fence to the last, preserved energy and willingness to work
• Biggest change according to the rider: the feeling of riding a horse "present here and now," focus on cooperation instead of fighting emotions

Does Hempqualizer Compete help a horse that gets distracted at competitions?

In the case study described, the rider observed that after introducing the preparation, instead of focusing on the crowd and the stimuli around the course, Oscar focused much better on the task at hand. This is an individual observation concerning one horse - the reaction may vary depending on the animal and the situation.

Does Hempqualizer Compete take away a horse's energy?

No. In the case described, the horse kept his energy and willingness to work while also focusing better - the rider stresses that there was no question of dulling. Compete supports the horse's calm and focus without a sedating effect and is tested for the absence of doping substances at the LCH laboratory in Paris.

How long does it take to see the effects of Hempqualizer Compete?

In this case study, the rider noticed a difference from the very first start after introducing the preparation. The effects of use are usually visible 30-60 minutes after administration.

The case study above describes an individual case and the rider's observations. Hempqualizer Compete supports the horse's comfort in stressful situations and does not replace veterinary diagnosis or treatment. The effects of use may vary depending on the animal.