Different goals, same passion

Question:What do Piggy March’s Badminton winner Vanir Kamira and a Welsh Section D dressage pony called Coalman have in common?

Answer: They perform at their best on Vetrofen.

British eventing’s leading lady and amateur dressage rider Christie Mclean share a determination and a passion that sets them apart from the crowd. Both have dreams and both want to push boundaries knowing that their horses’ needs are being met every step of the way. They know the value of having a fit, happy horse. That is why they choose Vetrofen for targeted, fast-acting joint comfort and recovery.

We caught up with the pair to find out what the post-pandemic season has in store.

“It could be a really exciting year with the possibility of the Olympics and the Europeans,” says Piggy. “None of us are quite sure yet what will happen in terms of events that will run and the conditions they will run under, but my horses are fit, ready to go and feeling fantastic.”

Christie is making waves on the dressage circuit with her 14hh “fireball of energy”, Coalman, with wins at novice and elementary level.

“He’s not built for the game, but he puts everything into his work,” says Christie of the seven-year-old gelding who she has owned since he was four. “We have been competing at medium, but my aim this year is to nail the flying changes so we can move up to advanced medium.

“I keep my horses on a shoestring, but I put everything into my riding. I don’t have the luxury of facilities at home; Coalman is kept in a tin shed at the back of the house and I have to box up to use an arena, which makes life a struggle during the winter months.”

Central to both riders’ ethos, though, is using products they passionately believe in.

“Eventing is a demanding sport, but I have a system in place for training and feeding that I am passionate about and really believe in,” says Piggy. “You cannot put a value on looking after your horses’ joints which is why I use Vetroflex for every day joint care and promoting healthy cartilage and Vetrofen Intense formula for when I step up the horses’ work. Both play a big role in keeping my horses strong, supple and happy in them selves.”

Like Piggy, Christie is a firm believer in prevention over cure, which is why she uses Vetroflex on a daily basis and Vetrofen Intense for a quick-acting, long-lasting effect.

“Coalman puts everything into his work, so it’s really important to me that I manage him well and ensure he has the right nutrition,” she says. “Some people question why he needs a joint supplement at the age ofs even, but I am a firm believer that if you look after your horse’s joints from an early age you will reap the benefits later on. Coalman hasn ever had an off day despite training at the level he does, jumping and going cross-country for fun. He’s going from strength to strength.”

When it comes to being the best you can, age, breed and background are all irrelevant. “Horses are a passion; a dream,” says Christie.

And you can’t put a value on that.