Polo is a 7-year-old gelding, a competition horse in showjumping. He's talented and willing to work - his biggest challenge has never been his ability, but his own mind: in situations he finds stressful, he panics and goes into flight mode, becoming difficult to ride.
The account below, shared by Emma (his rider), describes their first competition together - and, in what makes this story especially convincing, three different ways of using Hempqualizer Compete over three consecutive days: the full dose, a split dose, and a day without the product. We publish it in full.
CASE STUDY BY EMMA
Polo is a 7 year old gelding that I got as my competition horse an year ago. He’s incredibly loving, talented and always willing to try his best. His biggest challenge, however, has never been his ability , but his own mind. In situations he finds stressful, he gets anxious, panics and goes into flight mode, which makes him strong and difficult to ride. Because he’s still young and green, we’ve been working a lot on building his confidence .
However, before our first competition together a few months ago, we were still at the beginning of that journey. I knew that if he could sometimes get anxious jumping at home, a competition , with a completely new environment, lots of horses, unfamiliar sounds, busy warm up arena and all the excitement, would be a big challenge for him.
My horses’ wellbeing always comes first, so I wanted to find something that would simply help him feel more comfortable and relaxed without any kind of harm. That’s when I came across Hempqualizer Compete. What really convinced me was that it’s non-sedating, made with safe ingredients, and had so many positive experiences from other riders. I’ll still admit that I didn’t expect a dramatic difference.
About an hour before our first class, I gave Polo the full 3 ml syringe. We had two classes that day, and honestly, it was such a special day for us. He jumped both rounds clear, stayed rideable, responsive and, most importantly, really calm. I believe Hempqualizer played a big part in that.
The following day, I made the mistake of splitting the dose in half, one before each class. The rounds still went well, as we finished the 1.10 m with just one rail, but I could definitely feel a difference. Looking back, I realized it was my mistake, as the instructions clearly recommend giving the full dose at once since it lasts for around five hours.
On the last day, I had no Hempqualizer left, so we competed without it. That’s when I really noticed the difference . Polo was more anxious, I had to work a lot harder to keep his attention, and it simply felt like we were back to managing his stress instead of focusing on our round.
In our own experience, Hempqualizer has made a real difference and has become part of our competition routine. It allows us to focus on the rounds, while helping Polo feel comfortable enough in stressful situations to stay calm, focused and able to think instead of simply reacting.
Key points from the case study
- Horse: Polo, gelding, 7 years old
- Discipline: showjumping (up to 1.10 m at the competition described)
- Challenge: competition stress - panic, flight mode, difficulty holding the horse's attention
- Product used: Hempqualizer Compete
- Day 1 (full 3 ml, about an hour before the class): both rounds clear, horse calm, attentive and willing to cooperate
- Day 2 (dose split in half): rounds still good, but the rider clearly felt the difference
- Day 3 (no product): anxiety returned, difficulty keeping the horse focused
Rider's takeaway: Compete became part of their competition routine; splitting the dose was a mistake - the instructions recommend giving the full amount at once
How do you correctly dose Hempqualizer Compete?
Based on the experience described in this case study and the manufacturer's guidance, the full dose (3 ml) is given at once, around an hour before the start - the effect lasts approximately five hours. Splitting the dose into smaller portions, as the rider noticed, gave a weaker result than giving the full amount at once.
Does Hempqualizer Compete sedate the horse at competitions?
No. In this case, the horse remained attentive, willing to cooperate and capable of clear rounds - the rider emphasises that the product is non-sedating. Compete is tested for the absence of doping substances at the LCH laboratory in Paris and supports a horse's calm and focus without a dulling effect.Does Hempqualizer Compete help with competition stress?
In this case study, the rider observed a clear difference in her horse's behaviour on the day with the full dose compared to the day without the product - Polo was calmer, more focused, and "able to think instead of just reacting." This is, however, an individual observation regarding a single horse; results may vary depending on the animal and the situation.
This case study describes an individual case and the rider's own observations. Hempqualizer Compete supports a horse's comfort in stressful situations and does not replace veterinary diagnostics or treatment. Results may vary depending on the animal.