© Laura Chapot and Quointreau Un Prince win the Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award after taking first place in the FEI $35,000 WEF Challenge Cup Round 4

Laura Chapot and Stephanie Bulger Accept Omega Alpha

 Healthy Horse Award at the Winter Equestrian Festival

At the internationally competitive Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, hunter and jumper horses are turned out to look their finest and trained to clear every jump. Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Toronto-based company that has been a leader in producing all-natural formulations for enhancing equine health and performance since 1992, sponsors the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) and keeps an eye out for the horses that best exemplify Omega Alpha’s priority of excellent health on the Wellington, Florida show grounds.

Omega Alpha recently chose two stunning horses – a hunter and a jumper – to receive the Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award. The first was Quointreau un Prince, a 13-year-old Selle Francais gelding co-owned by McLain Ward and Laura Chapot. Quointreau un Prince caught the attention of Omega Alpha representatives while jumping with Chapot in the $35,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round 4. Quointreau un Prince demonstrated that his healthy, athletic appearance was more than just looks when he and Chapot bested the field of 47 competitors as the only pair to jump a double clear round, winning the blue with a time of 38.67 seconds.

Omega Alpha presented Chapot with the Healthy Horse Award as she exited the ring, and the acclaimed jumper added her Omega Alpha ribbon to the winning blue ribbon around Quointreau un Prince’s neck. “He’s just a horse who really enjoys his job,” said Chapot. “He’s funny because he’s really just a show horse. He doesn’t care too much to go out to exercise and do flat work. He’s very quiet, but when he enters the ring he’s a totally different horse.”

Chapot was excited to earn the Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award, as she knows that keeping her horses in top condition is key in keeping herself in the winners’ circle. “Each horse is an individual, and you have to cater to their needs,” said Chapot. “This horse in particular can sometimes be bothered by the hot weather, so we try to keep him fresh and fit enough so that when it gets really warm down here in the Florida circuit it won’t bother him. To keep him healthy and sound is the main priority.” As winner of the Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award, Quointreau un Prince and Chapot received an embroidered fly scrim, baseball cap, and multiple Omega Alpha award-winning health products, developed using botanical ingredients through research-based science. “I’m thankful for Omega Alpha donating all these products,” said Chapot. “This is really interesting and I’m looking forward to trying them and seeing what we can use!”

Meanwhile in the hunter rings at WEF, there was another horse whose excellent health and shining coat were deemed worthy of the Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award – Hemingway, a six-year-old German-bred hunter owned by Stephanie Bulger since 2015 and ridden by Sandy Ferrell. Hemingway and his team have been doing well this competition season, once again showing that good health goes deeper than just impressive appearances. Hemingway moved up to the 3’3” classes this year, and has so far earned the blue in several Green Hunter 3’3” classes. Last year, Hemingway was the Circuit Champion for 3’ Pre-Green Hunters.

© Hemingway, owned by Stephanie Bulger and ridden by Sandy Ferrell (pictured here), wins the Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award

Bulger and her family own MeadowView Farm in Long Island, New York, and have been bringing their horses to south Florida for WEF for the past 16 years.  “We love the competition and the weather here,” said Bulger. “Our goal for Hemingway this year is to be consistent at the 3’3” level.” Bulger gave credit to Hemingway’s grooms for keeping Hemingway healthy and beautiful for the show ring. “We have the best grooms in the business. Amazing guys who are really devoted, wonderful horsemen,” she said. Bulger was excited to get the chance to be introduced to Omega Alpha products. “This is great! Thank you!”

In addition to rewarding healthy horses at WEF this season, Omega Alpha is recognizing barn managers who provide exceptional care and nutrition to keep horses in top shape. To nominate a barn manager who deserves recognition, look for the Omega Alpha Best Barn Manager of the Season ballot boxes at the Winter Equestrian Festival show office or fill out a nomination form online at www.omegaalphacontest.com. The winner will receive a one-of-a-kind bit box and Omega Alpha supplements of their choice.

Source: JPR News

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