RIP Sweet Ollie

This gentle giant, who opened a whole new world to me, passed over to the rainbow ridge.  A part of my heart went with him.  He belonged to Jennifer Conour, who generously loaned him to me to try and make it to WEG at the last minute.  There was one more qualifier for the selection trials... in Canada.  My second horse had also come up lame and there was one week to go before this last qualifier.  Jennifer allowed me to come try Ollie (who had been retired, but she brought him out of retirement for, I think, the 3rd time, for me.)  After one ride together, I shipped him to Canada the next day and flew out myself.  My second ride on this big boy was on the day of the jog.   3rd ride was down centerline.  We did get our scores for selection trials that weekend and ultimately made it to be alternates for WEG, thank you to the awesomeness of Jennifer Conour for sending her horse out of the country with someone she had met once and to Shelley Van den Neste who coached me and helped me learn the ropes as I winged it.  Little did I know how kind, gentle Ollie with his massive height of 17.3 and his big broad shoulders would propel me into a whole new arena in life.  I will miss the six to eight months we spent together, him beginning to reteach me movements I had to relearn after my accident (He retaught me my flying lead changes with James Dwyer giving us an "8" on our first ones while we trained with Missy and Jessica Ransehousen at Blue Hill Farm!) ...him sleeping standing over my wheelchair...him taking my ponytail and twirling in in his upper lip over and over... his gentle nicker when he would see me...him following me around like a puppy - only he was a quite massive puppy....  As my riding improved, he gave more - never more than I could handle, but always enough so I was challenged.  When other horses would spook at an object, he would literally look back at me as if to say, "You're ok.  I've got this." and he would steadily go ahead.  He was such a confidence builder. 

Jennifer asked me if the winters were to get too cold, could he come south with me - and if anything were to ever happen to her, would I take Ollie.  Of course, I immediately said I would.  I've made sure I've had room for him wherever Ghlen and I go from that time forward.  I am going to miss my great, big, massive godson who was a legend in his own right.  He helped so many get their bronze, silver, gold medals.  He helped me gain international experience.  He taught so many and was so generous a schoolmaster, from beginner to grand prix, it didn't matter.  He was a saint.

It's not often that a retired Grand Prix jumper/Grand Prix dressage horse comes out of retirement to show you the ropes, reteach you some skills and give you the confidence to move on.  Ollie, you were one of a kind and I hope you are one of the first ones I see when it's my turn to cross the rainbow ridge.  RIP my dear, dear friend.  

Ramard

Photo by Lindsay McCall.  2012 London Paralympic Selection Trials; Gladstone, NJ

There are only two companies where I've tried multiple products and thought each product from that company provided a benefit to my horse.  The first one I ever experienced that with was KER.  The second is Ramard, Inc. 

Ramard is in the process of bringing a new product out for horses who have experienced the neurological effects of EPM, as well as other neurological issues, including stringhalt and shivers, to name a few.  The product is all natural and each ingredient has been proven by science to help the neurological components of the body (both human and equine) function as intended.  Ghlen was the perfect horse to try this on with both shivers and EPM.  Since his EPM diagnosis in June 2015, he was having trouble backing in his stall without dragging his feet.  After the first dose, he was backing, lifting his feet and not dragging them, about 50% of the time.  I can now ride him and back him and he backs 90% of the time as he is supposed to do.  Before I started this gel by Ramard, he was completely incapable of doing this.  His forward and lateral balance has become better under saddle as well and he is becoming more sure of himself.  This is a totally natural product and is FDA approved.  As soon as the name is announced, I will let you know! 
     I've also tried this product on myself.  Those of you who know me know how skeptical I am of new products.  You also know that since my accident in 2001, I have had anhydrosis.  After just 3 or 4 doses, I am beginning to sweat!  Not much yet, but definitely sweat.  Errrrrr perspiration.  From the positive effects seen in both Ghlen and myself, I plan to keep us both on this for many years to come.

Another Ramard product I like is Total Medicated Rinse.  Ghlen is a northern boy and the bugs and heat here in the south are no friend to him.  His allergic reactions are bigger than any horse I have ever owned and have sometimes produced some very serious health issues.  Plus - he is a redhead.  So I decided to buy some Total Medicated Rinse.  It soothes his itchies and reactions and provides a nice smell which also repels the bugs.  It's been tough to find things that work for him and his weird skin type.  But this definitely works for him.

Total Joint supplement is another product I have begun to purchase for Ghlen.  It combines MSM, chondroitin, glucosamine and HA (in a high molecular weight so it is digestible) in one supplement.  I like it because #1, it works and #2, it is in an affordable monthly container.  What I was purchasing before was GREAT, but I had to buy a bucket that lasted for several months at a time and with my disability, fixed income, that was getting harder and harder to do.  I've been very happy with the results Total Joint gives me and none of the ingredients are on the FEI banned or controlled substance list. 

I have been very happy with the Ramard products I have used.  They are top quality ingredients, the benefit to my horse is definitely noticeable, and their service and quality is top of the line.  I will let you know when the gel for neurological issues comes out on the market.  It has already been FDA approved and is all natural.  It has provided benefits for skeptical me and my horse.  I was quite impressed and am looking forward to the continuing neurological improvements this product provides for both Ghlen and me.

From the bottom of my heart -- Thank you, Ramard, Inc!!