It takes dedication and careful management to make a horse look like a winner and, thanks to Chase Hickok, the gelding Sagacious HF shone above the rest to win the first Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award of the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival season.
Chase Hickok and Safacious HF Receiving Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award
Thanks to Chase Hickok, the gelding Sagacious HF won the first Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award of the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival season.
© 2015 by JRPR
Hickok and the 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Welt Hit II-Judith, Cocktail), owned by Al Guden of Hyperion Farms, clinched first in both the CDI Intermediaire II on January 10, and the CDI Under 25 Grand Prix on January 11.
Sagacious is a been-there-done-that horse; competing up the ranks from Training Level to Grand Prix. He and USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist Lauren Sammis won the Individual Silver Medal and helped clinch the Team Gold Medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
In 2013, Caroline Roffman took over the ride on the gelding. The young Floridian was the first rider invited to compete in the Under 25 Grand Prix division in Aachen, Germany, where she and Sagacious HF won the CDIO5* Reserve Championship.
Hickok began riding Sagacious in March 2014 with successful results, including her blue ribbon wins in the FEI Under 25 Grand Prix with a 65.209 percent and the FEI Intermediaire I with a 64.605 percent.
âShe has had loads of success in the Grand Prix, Intermediaire I A/B, Intermediaire II and Under 25 classes,â Guden said. âThis was her first CDI in the Under 25 and sheâs looking to go on to the Brentina Cup and do more.â
Hickok is based out of Diamante Farm in Wellington, Florida, and trains with Kevin Kohmann, who is also her fiancé. She says her secret to a healthy, happy horse involves lots of help and good horsekeeping practices.
âItâs due to a lot of work on the part of myself and our amazing groom, Isaias,â she said. âHe gets him looking beautiful every day. Sagacious gets healthy feed and a lot of grass. I think heâs a happy horse and that clearly shows.â
Patti Hanco, the the Director of Business Development for the equine division of Omega Alpha, outlined the criteria for the winners of the award. âThe Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award is given to a horse that exudes good health through proper muscling, a healthy, shiny coat, and a good attitude in its performanceâ which reflects good internal health,â she said.
âThe Omega Alpha Healthy Horse Award will be presented to one individual horse that stands out among the others; a robust and healthy horse who is fit and performs with vigor. The winners will receive a Healthy Horse commemorative ribbon and prize bucket filled with Omega Alpha products!â
Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals Inc., a leader in natural formulations for enhancing equine health and performance, is a sponsor of both the 2015 Adequan Global Dressage Festival and the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival. For 22 years, the Canadian-based company has led the way in formulating natural equine products through research-based science.
Omega Alpha offers a wide selection of award-winning formulations for joint health, calming, respiratory health, hoof growth, hormonal health, energy, performance, muscle rehabilitation and detoxification. In total, Omega Alpha produces over 300 natural supplements in five product divisions â Consumer Health Products, Pet Health Products, Equine Health Products, Professional Naturopathic Health Products and Professional Veterinarian Products.
To learn more about Omega Alphaâs unique range of equine products that can help horses become worthy of the Healthy Horse Award, visit www.OmegaAlpha.ca or call 1-800-651-3172.