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Letters from a Satisfied Customer | |
April 29, 2004
To Whom It May Concern:
Last year, on May 4, 2003, my 13 year old daughter, Jennifer, tragically lost her beloved pony, Charlie Brown, also known as Z-Z. He had been her best friend for 6 years.
I am a Vet Tech student enrolled in the long distance program at St. Pete College, and while discussing his death with one of my professor’s, another student, by the name of Jane, overheard our discussion, and asked me to get in touch with her. Jane had an advanced level event horse, a mare by the name of Impulsive. Jane had campaigned her for many years, from Canada to Florida. She had owned Impulsive since the mare was a 2 year old. She was now 13. Jane had decided to quit eventing, and she and her husband moved to Ft. Meyers, Florida. “Imp”, as she is affectionately known, was being used for only trail riding and Jane thought she was miserable, as her love was eventing. “Come try her, and if you like her, your daughter can have her”, Jane told me. I was flabbergasted. Here was a woman I had never met before, a woman who was touched by the story of my daughter’s pony, and she was willing to give us her horse!
Of course, there is always a catch, and with Imp, the catch, were her hocks. She had degenerative joint disease, however, one hock had fused, and the other was in the process of fusing. Once it is fused, Jane told me, there should be no problems. Well, initially, I politely declined her generous offer. The last thing I needed was a horse that was going to need expensive monthly injections and who knew what other upkeep. However, after weeks of looking at horses that were too expensive, too green or too crazy, I happened to mention the offer to Jen’s instructor, Lisa Sumner of English Acres. Lisa, and her husband Dave, after hearing about Imp’s hocks, proceeded to inform me that Manny, the horse that Jen was riding now, had fused hocks. And this large pony was jumping 3’6” with no problems! After listening to what they had to say, the next day I called my equine vet, Dr. Pultz. Dr. Pultz gave me a lesson in the whole fusing process and DJD. When he was finished, he said “go look at the horse, and take your trailer. Bring her home. If it doesn’t work out, return her!”
I called Jane and asked her if her offer still stood: it did. I asked her to send me Imp’s last x-rays, just so we could understand what we were up against. Dr. Pultz gave his approval upon looking at the rads. He said injections would not be necessary; however, he did recommend we put her on Gluquestrian, a new joint therapy product he was carrying, and that he was very impressed with. At the end of July, we were on our way to look at this mare.
We spent 2 days in Ft. Meyers, with Jen riding Imp both days. Her flat work was nice and quiet, but she had a lot of jump to her. But she hadn’t been jumped in over a year and was only being ridden about twice a week. I felt that we could assess her better at home, after Jen had ridden her consistently. We hadn’t brought the trailer, as we were going on vacation the following week. I made plans to pick up Imp the first week of August, once we returned. We brought Imp home. The first week was very emotional, as Jen dealt with her emotions of losing Z-Z, as well as learning to ride such a sensitive, advanced level horse.
The next weekend I trailered Jen and Imp to English Acres for a lesson with Lisa. By the end of the lesson, Jen had the biggest smile on her face, as Lisa showed her how to ride such an exquisite animal. The next few months were spent only doing dressage. Jane had suggested giving Bute to Imp if we started jumping her. But I wanted to know just where we stood, so I didn’t give her any. We had been giving Imp the Gluquestrian every day. We hadn’t noticed any signs of lameness or discomfort.
Imp’s first test came as Jen rode in a 2 day clinic that our pony club, the Horseketeers had sponsored for the upper level members. The clinic consisted of 2 sessions each day, dressage, stadium jumping and cross country. Imp passed with flying colors! She stayed sound the entire weekend, with no Bute! We were ecstatic!
Fast forward to the winter of 2004. Jen and Imp have become so bonded with each other that I don’t even attempt to ride the mare anymore. A horse with no personality when she came to us, is now nickering to us, and is developing more and more of a personality. Jen has her sights on the United States Pony Club Championships, to be held in Lexington, Kentucky in July. To attend, there are several hurdles she must cross. The first one is in February, at the Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials, in Altoona, Florida. This event attracts over 450 entries, including the Olympic riders. Jen has to ride in a recognized event, and have no more than 20 cross country faults. Jen enters Imp in the Novice division. With clear cross country and stadium rounds, she finishes in 6th place!
The next hurdle is to pass her C2 Rating. In order to attend Championships for eventing, she must be at least a C2. The rating is in March, and the day is flawless! She passes with many “exceeds standards” remarks from her examiner. She is one of only 2, out of the 5 raters, to pass.
In April, she and Imp attend the USPC Sunshine Region Show Jumping Rally. In case they don’t qualify for eventing, she wants to qualify for stadium jumping. The courses are big and difficult, and after 2 days of competition and 4 rounds of jumping, she is one of only 4 riders who go clean the entire weekend, with no faults. She is the number one qualifier for stadium jumping in her division!
In March, the eventing rally is finally upon us! Jen has entered in the novice division. They turn in a respectable dressage score of 37 and go clean in stadium the first day. I was very nervous about her morning jog the next day: the weather was very cold that night, and she had been confined to her stall all night, instead of her usual turnout. Jen is diligent to hand walk her every chance she gets, and to rub her hocks and legs with liniment. However, my fears were unjustified, as she jogged out sound Sunday morning. They have a brilliant cross country ride, jumping 18 obstacles over several miles. Impulsive comes into the vet box with no problems, and actually seeming a bit disappointed that it was over. She not only jumped clear, but several jump judges remarked to me about how much she cleared the jumps…by several feet!
Jen’s team ended up winning their division, as well as having the best team dressage score and the best horse management score for the rally. As a result, Jen and Impulsive have qualified to attend the USPC Championships this July, not only for stadium jumping, but also eventing! Because she can only compete in one discipline, she has chosen eventing.
I am writing this long letter, to let you know how pleased I am with Gluquestrian. I am certain that she has accomplished all of this, and more, because of your product. Not once have I had to administer Bute to her. I have used many different joint therapy products over the years, but none that are on the market can compare to yours.
We are certain that Jen and Impulsive will have many more years together! Jen is already planning for her C3 rating next year. Having this incredible horse will ensure that she accomplishes this goal. We are also, of course, looking forward to our trip to the Championships this summer. And naturally, Gluquestrian will be accompanying us!
Thank you,
Lori Tankel
Florida
November 17, 2004
Follow-up letter to the original letter:
In July, Jen and Imp attended the United States Pony Club Championships, held in Lexington, Kentucky. After a 14 hour trailer ride, they arrived 4 days before the competition began, in order to have the horses well rested and refreshed.
Imp came off the trailer looking as if she had just traveled around the block. Unfortunately, another show was taking place, so there was no turnout available. Jen rode Imp twice a day and did lots of hand walking in between. Between their arrival and the start of competition, Imp was able to be turned out only once, and only for about 30 minutes. This was a very big concern of ours. However, not only did she pass the vet jog, they went on to have an incredible 3 days of competition.
Their dressage score was one of the highest, a 35. They went clear on both cross country and stadium jumping. Jen’s team placed a very respectable 6th place overall, out of 20 twenty teams from around the country. Better yet, Jen was 3rd for individual scores!! After the Championships, we stayed for 4 more days of Festival, which the USPC puts on every 3 years. This is where members can ride in clinics with the best clinicians from the United States. Jen participated in cross country, dressage and stadium jumping clinics. At the conclusion of Festival, the horses were loaded for another 14 hour ride, this time for home.
In total, Imp was in Kentucky for 13 days. During that time, she was turned out only the one time. Not once did she ever indicate any lameness or soreness. Nor did I once Bute her or give her anything other than the Gluquestrian. Her previous owner is amazed that Jen and Imp accomplished so much with no [drug] medication. I am convinced that she has done so well, because of Gluquestrian.
Since we have been home, due to the disruption of 3 Hurricanes, Jen has only taken Imp to one event, held in October. They won their novice division. In January, they will move up to training level. And I can guarantee, Gluquestrian will always be part of her feeding program!
Thanks again,
Lori Tankel
October 2005
Since I wrote the first two letters regarding our Thoroughbred event mare Impulsive, I just wanted to let you know how she and my daughter Jen have done in the year since.
In January, they moved up to the training level division. They entered the Rocking Horse Winter Horse Trials and placed 4th in their division. They did several other trials throughout the winter and spring, winning one of their events.
Imp has continued to stay sound and healthy. She never misses a day of Gluquestrian. Jen is preparing her for her C3 rating, to take place in November 2005, and then to begin an active show season in January 2006.
Thanks again for a great product!
Lori Tankel
