May 2014
I have been competing in Dressage for more than twelve years, and in that time I have campaigned a range of horses, including three at Grand Prix level. Over the last few years I have maintained 5-6 horses in work whilst undertaking study and now my profession – I spend a lot of time each day in the saddle, but also a large amount of time sitting in the car or behind a desk. As a younger (more stupid) rider, I have also found myself riding horses that were more exuberant than most. As a result, I’ve been dealing with back pain for a long time. I was on scholarship with the ACT Academy of Sport for four years – weekly physio sessions, and ultimately expensive scans, failed to diagnose or treat the pain. Strength and conditioning work at the gym several times per week also made little impact; often making it worse. Since coming off scholarship I dragged myself to physio when things got unbearable, but aside from that, I just got on with it (though apparently my family put up with a bit of whingeing too). In late 2013 my back flared up, so I was once again at physio, every competition I rode with my back taped and all I could smell was Dencorub. I was thinking that I’m 26 years old and this shouldn’t be happening!
I’ve now been taking the human version of Rose-Hip Vital for the last six weeks. While I still have a minor pinching, the burning ache is gone and I have to say, I haven’t been to the physio nor had to have my back taped since I’ve been taking the product. Where before, if I saw something on the ground, I had to make a conscious decision whether it was worth the pain to bend down and pick it up, or whether it could stay there. It took a while for me to realise that I was suddenly picking things up without thought. I have more energy which is not surprising seeing as I’m no longer in a fog of pain. I have made plans to go and train in Europe, something that I wasn’t confident my back would cope well with before now. I can safely say that I’m very impressed and I’m relieved to have found something that works for me.
As far as Rose-Hip Vital Equine goes, I’ve always been extremely sceptical of most oral supplements on the market. Most of the time, these products only have anecdotal evidence of their success – nothing quantitative or scientific. Given the impact that the product has had on me, I’m prepared to use the equine version as a maintenance supplement for my horses. Neither Jive Matrix or Danse Avec Moi had any significant issues, so their response has not been the same emphatic one that I’ve seen in myself, however they are both moving more freely and consistently. The horses don’t mind the taste either. I like the fact that it is a natural product, particularly in this day and age as we start to discover the ill-effects of synthetic substances. Of course, competing at major competitions I need a product that does not contain prohibited ingredients, and once again Rose-Hip Vital ticks the box. So, as an athlete, I couldn’t speak more highly of the product and its contribution to my wellbeing and my equestrian objectives.
February 2015
My second horse, and first at FEI level, was Bridgford Princess, a Stockhorse Thoroughbred cross. She isn’t the most conventional dressage mount – a little bit bum-high and pretty hot, but together we made various State and National Young Rider Squads and she gave me an insight into the top levels of the sport.
Unfortunately, she also gave me an insight into trying to manage difficult soundness issues. Ultimately, we decided to retire Prinnie far before her time, but she taught me so much and the least she deserved was a wonderful retirement at home with loads of grass and my first horse Czar as her companion. They’d been very happy munching away in the back paddocks of the farm, but she was progressively getting worse – crotchety and visibly lame in the right front leg. This had been an ongoing issue and had had significant veterinary attention over a number of years. Czar, at 29, was far more sound than her at 24. I was giving her a well-reputed oral joint supplement which had little to no effect. After the results for myself with Rose-Hip Vital With GOPO, I decided to try her on Rose-Hip Vital Equine. The first video was taken on 12 November 2014 when she was still on the other product, which she’d been getting for about six months – there’s not much footage but I was taking it on a camera phone and just for our records. She stopped that product and started on the RHVE on …… and the second video was taken on 5 February 2015. I wish RHVE had been available back when I was competing her – I have to say I’m thrilled that for a senior citizen my precious girl is looking comfortable again (so much so she went gallivanting around the paddock rather than be caught for the second video!). These results also justify why I am glad to have my competition horses maintained on RHVE.
