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Di Hannel is a Thoroughbred breeder from Queensland with forty years experience in equine management in both the UK and Australia. 

When she was contacted for help with a horse she had bred that was in terrible condition, she turned to Kelato. As the pictures show, the results were remarkable. We spoke to Di about the journey. 

Tell us about the horse and your involvement with him? 

Bert is a 5 year old unraced Thoroughbred that I bred, he was a lovely horse, very relaxed and had always been in very good condition. He didn’t show any race ability though so was spelled, then given training in flatwork and show jumping before his owners leased him to a new family. 

How did you find out there were problems? 

After six months at the lease property, the owners went to visit him and were horrified by his condition. They rang me immediately and asked whether I would take Bert back to rehabilitate him. 

How was he when he arrived back at Warrandale Stud? 

He was so weak when he got here that I got the vet out. He scored 2/5 for body condition and was the skinniest horse I’d ever had on the property. It was gut wrenching to see a horse that we’d foaled down return in that condition. He was also covered in rainscald and had abscesses in both fore hooves. 

What did you put Bert’s condition down to? 

Basically he’d been neglected, was suffering poor nutrition and a complete gut imbalance.

Where did you start with his rehabilitation? 

He was drenched, we had the farrier and the dentist see him in the first 24 hours and then it was a matter of getting his nutritional balance right. He was started on both GastroAID and ZanoBOLIC on the first day along with a small feed which was gradually increased until full feeds were reached. 

Why these products? 

I have been using GastroAID at weaning and both GastroAID and ZanoBOLIC for yearling prep for a number of years. Quite simply, they work! So they were my automatic ‘go to’ options. 

How long was it before you started seeing a difference, and what did you see? 

We started to see some results by the end of the first week, by week six he was still quite thin but acceptable, and at twelve weeks Bert was fat, sleek and happy. He is the healthy, relaxed, good looking horse that he once was and should have always been. 

How happy have you been with the outcome? 

I couldn’t be happier. As a horse that was foaled on our farm, Bert holds a special place in my heart. I was devastated to see him in such terrible condition but his progression has been amazing and he’s now ready for the forever home he deserves. I can’t recommend GastroAID and ZanoBOLIC highly enough, I always knew they were great products, I’ve never had a horse they haven’t worked for and had no doubt they would make all the difference to Bert.

For more information on GastroAID and ZanoBOLIC, click here.

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