Reining Tools and Techniques
By: Al Dunning

Getting the Most Out of Your Horse – On and Off the Course
A Discussion with Beezie Madden

Elements for a successful dressage test
By: Cindy Sydnor

Preparing for Competition
By: John Williams

A Young Rider’s Quest to Become a Champion
By: Marcia Kulak

5-Day Weekend Travel Study Overview

Congratulations to all of our Team ULCERGARD members on a great year in 2006!

PRESS RELEASES

Top Show Jumper Promotes Equine Stomach Ulcer Prevention, Laura Chapot joins Team ULCERGARD

FDA Approves New ULCERGARD® (omeprazole) Product Label
November 2006

ULCERGARD (omeprazole) signs on as "Official Equine Stomach Ulcer Product of the USEA"
February 2006

Merial’s ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD Named "Official Equine Stomach Ulcer Products of the USEF"
September 2005

Merial Becomes National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Newest Corporate Partner
August 2005

ARCHIVES

Pleasure Horses Have Ulcers, Too
June 2005, The Horse
By: Marcella M. Reca

Horse’n Around Lincoln County
May 3, 2005, Lincoln County Journal, Missouri
By: Gina Brinkerhoff

AAEP 2003: Preventing Gastric Ulcers
February 2004, The Horse
By: Stephanie L. Church, News Editor

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Congratulations to all of our Team ULCERGARD members on a great year in 2006

Team ULCERGARD members have proven that they have the stomach to win. Last year, ULCERGARD helped horses in a variety of disciplines ranging from Western Pleasure to Dressage. All had one thing in common — their use of ULCERGARD to help make sure their horses weren’t affected by painful stomach ulcers during competition.

Merial congratulates Team ULCERGARD members on their incredible accomplishments during 2006.

Dressage

• Cindy Sydnor taught several clinics this year, including the “Ride with the Best” clinic at Equine Affaire in West Springfield, Mass.
• Karen Lipp displayed her skills at the 2006 U.S. Dressage Federation (USDF) Trainers’ Conference as a demonstrator.

Show Jumping

• Beezie Madden, representing the United States at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany, and riding “Authentic,” brought home an individual silver medal and helped her team bring home the team silver medal. Her mount, Authentic, earned the coveted U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) Horse of the Year Award. Madden also won the $40,000 Kentucky Classic Grand Prix aboard “Integrity” and the Animal Planet Cup on “Judgement ISF” at the Syracuse Invitational.
• Savannah Talcott placed second in the small pony working hunter class at the Kentucky Spring Classic.
• One of the newest Team ULCERGARD riders, Laura Chapot, finished 2006 with five major Grand Prix wins on “Little Big Man,” “Samantha” and “Sprite.” She also was named the open jumper champion at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.

Racing

• Trainer Todd Pletcher won the 2006 Eclipse Award for Top Trainer of the Year for the third year in a row. In a record-breaking year, Todd topped his own single-season North American earning mark. He also surpassed former boss D. Wayne Lukas’ record for the most graded stakes wins and stakes wins in one season.
• Kiaran McLaughlin was a finalist for the 2006 Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer of the Year. He trained “Invasor,” the 2006 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse, and the 2006 Belmont Stakes winner, “Jazil,” which was McLaughlin’s first Triple Crown win.

Three-Day Eventing

• John Williams placed fourth at the Poplar Place Farm Show in the advanced division this year. He also qualified for the eventing short list as a potential team member for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games. In addition to his achievements in competitions, Williams is a recognized AHSA “R” Combined Training course designer.
• Amy Tryon was named the 2006 U.S. Eventing Association (USEA) Lady Rider of the Year. She took home the individual bronze medal at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games, placed fifth at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, third at the Ram Tap Fall Horse Trials in the intermediate division and first at the Twin Rivers International Horse Show in the advanced division.
• Darren Chiacchia placed fifth on his mount Windfall at the 2006 FEI Eventing World Cup in Sweden. Chiacchia also participated in the ULCERGARD “Day with Darren” sweepstakes sponsored by Merial, maker of ULCERGARD. Winner Heather Buttrum was chosen over more than 2,500 and received a free riding lesson from the top eventer.

Western Breeding

• Carol Rose is the American Quarter Horse Association’s No. 1 All-time Leading Breeder of Performance Horses and a perennial National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA) and National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) breeder. Adding to her achievements in 2006, she earned the University of Louisville John W. Galbreath Award for outstanding entrepreneurship in the equine industry.

Western cutting and Reining

• Cara Barry’s showmanship helped “Miss Four Docs” win the 2006 Iowa Breeders Cutting Futurity 4-year-old Open.
• Al Dunning, former recipient of the Monte Roberts Equitarian Award and the Spirit of Community Award, took fourth place in junior cutting at the 2006 American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show.
• Jay Holmes placed third at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in the team roping heeling class.

Western

• Bret Parrish was named reserve champion at the 2006 All-American Quarter Horse Congress in the masters 2-year-old Western pleasure class riding “Hot Little Mama.”
• New Team ULCERGARD member Tony Burris judged the Kentucky Winter Show this year. In addition, he trained “Principle N Style,” who won the Senior Western Pleasure circuit at the 2006 Kentucky Futurity.
• The newest junior member of Team ULCERGARD, Rebekah Kazakevicius, earned the 2006 National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) World Champion Youth Hunter Under Saddle. She also won the 2006 NSBA World Champion Maturity limited Non Pro Hunter Under Saddle title.

Reining Tools and Techniques
By Al Dunning
World Champion Reining, Cutting, & Working Cow Horse Trainer

There are many techniques to learn and master that will help turn you and your horse into a responsive, calm and smooth winning reining team. With lots of practice and repetition of the techniques I use daily, you can take your horse with basic reining training and further develop and polish that talent to make your horse a top competitor and champion.

Use Varying Equipment When Training Your Horse

If you’re just starting to ride, here’s a general overview of headgear equipment that may be used during training:

• Rope bosal or smooth snaffle bit – Used to break horses in as it offers greater flexibility in training. Don’t ask for too much from your horse in early rides with snaffle training — you don’t want it to get scared or resist.
• Braided bosal/hackamore - As a horse becomes more confident to what is being asked of it, it will be ready to move to this equipment. The hackamore is ridden with two hands and is used to teach a horse to stop and neck rein without anything in its mouth. For anyone that has ridden a well-trained hackamore horse with a light nose, it is a great feel.
• Shank Snaffle- This is my favorite bit for when a horse is ready to be bridled. The shank snaffle is more comfortable to the horse because it has the same mouthpiece as the smooth snaffle. I’ll begin riding with two hands and work up to one hand to teach the neck rein easily.

Training and Showing Techniques

Every rider should warm up with some basic techniques before moving to the more aggressive training maneuvers.

A basic workout for a reining horse is about one hour and only slightly more if you’re a more advanced rider working on a horse. I break that hour down as follows:

1. Warm-up – 20 minutes The goal of the warm-up is to get a horse to relax before beginning maneuvers. My warm-up consists of walking, trotting, galloping and loping circles, and backing a horse in circles.
2. Turnarounds – 10 minutes When practicing turnarounds keep your inside leg straight down so you don’t interfere with the shoulder of the horse. Use your outside leg to make the horse go faster if necessary. When turning, slightly twist your upper body and continue looking at the horse’s head to make sure the horse maintains posture and focus. Try not to turn too fast in the beginning, as you don’t want the horse to fumble with its steps.
3. Circles – 10 minutes To accomplish a great circle you must teach a horse to go forward, but without, what I call, any “unrequested forward motion.” That means, getting the horse to respond to your leg cues. For example, if you remove leg pressure, the horse knows to slow down, but if you begin rocking your legs and incorporate a clucking sound, then that signals the horse to speed up. The goal of circles is to work on speed control. If you can complete 10 full circles from the left and the right each day, then you are well on your way to training a great reining horse.
4. Fencing – 10 minutes Fencing goes a long way in helping to create those long, smooth stops that you and your horse will be judged on. Start by going from fence to fence in an arena, varying your levels of speed all the way to the stop at the fence. I typically begin with two hands on the reins as it helps control the speed and keeps the horse straight. After fencing a number of times, you should be able to run down the arena at any speed.
5. Stops – 10 minutes During a stop, bend your back, getting a lower center of gravity. Keep your heels down and away from the horse. If necessary, pick up on the reins. The key to a stop is the sequence in which you prepare the horse to respond to your cues. You should first sit down in the saddle and then alert the horse to stop by saying “whoa”. Only pull the reins as much as is absolutely necessary.

• Improving your speed by mastering how your horse responds to your verbal and non-verbal commands.
• Demonstrate dramatic changes in your circles, by being able to go from fast to slow and vice versa quickly. Ideally, you want to be able to approach the center of an arena, sit back, release your legs and move to a slow lope – all without letting the horse come to a complete stop. Then you must be able to get the horse to respond quickly and pick up speed on command.
• Great stops involve getting a feel for when to pick up slack out of the reins and doing so in a slower motion that allows the horse to glide into the stops, rather than abruptly stopping.

Getting the most out of your horse - on and off the course
A Discussion with Beezie Madden
International Show Jumping Rider

Beezie Madden, one of the world’s leading show jumping riders and member of the U.S.gold-medal winning team in Athens, sat down for our Team ULCERGARD®(omeprazole) fans to share her thoughts on riding and her keys to success.

1. How do you ensure you’re going to get the best performance possible from your horse?
   
   The key to success is about a lot more than just having a horse that can jump. You want to be sure you’re getting the most out of a horse on and off the course. That’s why the day-to-day care of your horse, including making sure it’s physically and mentally fit to compete, is more important than those few minutes it tackles the course.
   
   The best and most successful horses are the ones that have the full package. They are not only good jumpers, but they are also the ones prepared to handle the atmosphere at large competitions, to give optimal performance after the stress of shipping and traveling, to handle daily routine changes, such as feed and hay, and they are the ones able to learn to accept and listen to a rider’s input.
   
   
2. Is there a checklist of items riders should go through when preparing the horse to compete?
   
   First, with our high performance horses, we try to avoid soundness problems by catching them before they start to hinder the horse. So, about three weeks before our biggest events, the vet usually checks the horse. This way, if he needs any treatment, it will not interfere with his training or competition schedule.
   
   Secondly, always make sure to read the prize list to know what you’re up against. For example, if you have to compete in a big derby field you want to make sure your horse has practiced natural obstacles. If the competition is in a small indoor arena, make sure you practice in one (or at least a small outdoor ring if an indoor is not available).
   
   Also, if you have a long travel, get to an event several days early so your horse can get adjusted to its new environment and you can make sure it has no ill effects from traveling. For example, we use ULCERGARD to help all our horses stay ulcer-free and healthy when they are traveling. Once there, try to get the horse out of the stall and see the new surroundings so it can become familiar with them. In my opinion, having a real competitive edge has a lot to do with the temperament of the horse when it is in a show ring atmosphere.
   
   Additionally, if you are in a competition that allows you to walk the course, do so in order to make a good plan. Remember, when you walk in the arena, even though you know exactly where you are going, your horse has no idea. Try to understand his point of view. Lastly, good turnout is essential. Being particular about how you, your horse and your equipment look is a good start to being particular about every aspect of horsemanship and competition.
   
   
3. Are there any pearls of wisdom you can offer in terms of training a horse to compete at its best?
   
   Making your own fundamentals of position and balance correct is the first and foremost part of riding to work on. When you are strong in your basics, then you can begin to worry about your horse’s balance and training. Then, getting your horse to be responsive to the aids is what your focus should be on.
   
   I spend a lot of time on the flat with basic dressage movements and poles on the ground. I might jump once or twice a week depending on the age, schedule, and experience of the horse. Most of my jumping would be with gymnastic type lines that help improve my horses’ style, agility, and adjustability – lots of lengthening and shortening. When I work on adjustability, I sometimes just use rails on the ground or sometimes put the rails about one foot off the ground. By doing this, I can simulate jumps in a line, on a curve, or even a whole course without stressing the horse’s soundness by jumping big jumps.
   
   Finally, don’t forget to give your horse some time off. All of my horses get one day a week that they don’t get ridden (usually Mondays). They also get about two months a year of down time. During this time they only get turned out every day and trail ridden occasionally.



4. Is there a “right spot” to jump from? While the average ideal distance for take-off is about six feet from the jump, you should not get too concerned with the “perfect spot.” The pace and balance of the horse are the most important factors to getting a good jump. A well-balanced horse in a medium gallop can jump from closer or farther away than six feet with no problem. To help your horse, you need to match your ride with the distance. If you think it looks like you are getting closer than six feet away you need to help your horse shorten his stride. If it looks like you’re getting farther than six feet away, then you have to push the horse to help him lengthen his stride.



5. With such a stellar reputation and record for success, do you ever get nervous before an event? What advice would you offer to younger riders about handling nerves?
   
   Certainly experience helps alleviate the jitters that most riders face before competing, but I’m certainly not without a few nerves before big events. The adrenaline and excitement of competing is what keeps me going. I would recommend that if you’re fairly new to the competitive circle, then you should always try to occupy yourself with things that will benefit you in the long run. For example, watch some of the other riders in your class before you ride or spend some time preparing your horse and your equipment. I also recommend trying to break the course or test down into smaller parts. Try to plan how to solve each segment one at a time. This will help the course look less overwhelming. Also, don’t let a mistake or fear of making a mistake make you nervous. Everyone can make a mistake and everyone learns from mistakes. In the heat of the moment, try to forget what did happen and concentrate on making what will happen go well.

Elements for a successful dressage test
By Cindy Sydnor
Dressage Rider/Instructor/USEF Judge

Whether you’re just starting out in dressage competition or would like to master your skills as a dressage rider, Team ULCERGARD®(omeprazole) member and international dressage rider, Cindy Sydnor, answers some common questions that may help you ride a winning dressage test. Following years as a successful international dressage competitor, Cindy now focuses her career on providing riding instruction to those entering the competitive arena. Her long-standing reputation in dressage circles has earned her a current position as a judge for the United States Equestrian Federation and an examiner for the United States Dressage Federation’s Instructor Certification Program.

1. What is the best riding position for a dressage rider? There is an old saying: “For every defect in the horse’s performance, there is a defect in the rider’s seat,” so, position is very important to a rider’s success.
   
   The meticulously correct seat and position of a dressage rider is based on being in perfect balance with the horse and on having all body parts in the most advantageous places to affect the horse. Such a position is also the most elegant one. Briefly, from the waist up, the rider stretches upward, and from the waist down, the rider stretches downward. When viewed from the side, there should be a perpendicular line passing from the rider’s ear to shoulder to hip to heel.
   
   The rider’s hands are held with the fingers softly closed around the rein — little fingers outside the rein, and thumbs up, as if holding candles upright. The hands should be quite close to each other and the elbows kept close to the body. The hands are in the ideal position when they are low enough to the horse’s withers that if the little fingers were opened and extended downward, they would touch the withers. Also, the hands should be slightly in front of the saddle.
   
   The legs, starting at the top, should lie flat against the saddle panel. The thighs should be rotated inward in order to flatten them and to widen the base of the seat in the saddle. The knee should be close but not pinched into the saddle. The calves should also lie flat on the inside against the saddle panel and horse. The rider’s feet should point forward so that they are as parallel as possible to the sides of the horse.
   
   
2. Are there any exercises a rider can do to strengthen or achieve flexion?
   
   Flexion is the result of how the rest of the horse’s body is ridden. A rider should not start at the front with flexion and then try to ride the horse, but rather from the hindquarters, riding the horse forward into the contact. When the horse understands to relax into the contact while maintaining a steady rhythm and relaxation, he will give you flexion.
   
   One of the most basic exercises to initiate flexion is to ride a correct 20-meter (66-foot) circle, teaching the horse to bend a little to the inside, ride rhythmically forward in the correct tempo, and to ride with a slightly bending inside rein and a supportive outside rein. These rein aids are complemented by the correct leg and seat aids from the rider: inside leg near the girth; outside leg slightly behind the girth; slightly weighted inside seat bone; and the upper body held erect on the vertical without any tendency to lean right or left.
   
   Other techniques used by riders to improve flexion are leg-yielding and riding transitions between the gaits.
   
   
3. What are some tips for mastering half halts?
   
   The half halt is a weight shift in the horse’s balance from front to rear. The aids for this shift in weight are given by the rider using his or her seat, weight, legs, and reins. The aids for half halts must be given at a certain moment in the footfall of the horse in each gait. Half halts are most successfully achieved when given in a series of three or more. One half halt is not enough usually. I would recommend spending time observing a good horse and rider execute a series of half halts.



4. What is the ideal conformation for a dressage horse?
   
   There is no ideal conformation for a dressage horse as there are some impossible conformations that prevent horses from being dressage horses, and there are also some good dressage horses with less-than-perfect conformation.
   
   Here are a few good points of conformation in dressage horses:
   • moderately long and somewhat high set-on neck
   • open throat latch
   • well-defined wither that is slightly higher than the croup, providing a good place for the saddle
   • neither flat nor pointed croup
   • well-developed gaskins
   • strong-looking and well-angled hocks
   • correctly sloped pasterns


5. Do you have any tips for beginner dressage riders?
   
   Try to find an instructor who will lunge you so you can learn to have a correct seat. Trying to learn how to communicate with the horse at the same time you are trying to learn how to sit is unrealistic. Without a good seat, your aids will never be as good and effective as possible.
   
   
6. Are there things you should do before showing or traveling that are key to a horse’s success?
   
   Do your homework, including making sure that the horse’s “body condition” is excellent, making sure the horse is well shod about ten days before the competition, and cleaning all necessary equipment, including your boots, breeches, coat, hat and gloves. Also, don’t forget that the horse’s welfare and relaxed behavior are essential when preparing for travel and competition.

Preparing for Competition
By: John Williams

The most important element in preparation for competition at any level is making sure your horse is operating at 100%, physically and mentally. Developing a proactive healthcare maintenance program in the weeks prior to competition requires a good relationship with your veterinarian, farrier and trainer.

Veterinarian
Your veterinarian should be familiar with your horse throughout the year. This includes not only knowing how often your horse travels and competes, but how it moves, acts, performs and looks in various situations. Keep a log of this information to share with your veterinarian. This history makes it easier for your veterinarian to help you outline a regular health care maintenance program, and to help when any critical issues arise in the weeks prior to a big event. For example, you may notice every time your horse travels for long periods of time, it exhibits signs of colic or is not apt to feeding on a regular schedule. Your veterinarian would know this pattern and be able to determine if your horse suffers from ulcers due to the travel stress and may recommend a preventive program to ensure ulcers do not develop in the future.

Farrier
Your farrier is also vital part of your “team”. Don’t try to “stretch” an extra couple of weeks from your horses’ shoes. While skimping on shoeings may seem economical at the time, it will catch up to you in cracked feet, lost shoes and sore soles and heels. Sit down with your farrier and come up with a plan and schedule leading up to a big competition; this can be as much as four to six months in advance. Of course, unforeseen complications with your horses’ feet may mean you have to revise this plan as you go, but you can adjust the plan as necessary to make sure your horse is at its best.

Trainers/Groomers
Your trainer and groom play a pivotal role not only in contributing to your horse’s physical well-being, but in providing direction on how to improve its mental health as well. This is just as critical when it comes to establishing an effective health care regimen prior to any competition. Don’t be afraid to change your training routine if your horse in not responding. A horse’s outlook and performance can be affected by so many factors, including the physical and mental stress and pressure, we as athletes feel. I often spend the last week before a big competition just hacking in the countryside instead of drilling in the ring so that my horse maintains his fitness level and arrives at the event fresh and ready to go.

It is very important that horse owners educate themselves as much as possible about the essentials of preventive health care. Becoming knowledgeable on various health care issues and maintaining ongoing dialogue with veterinarians, farriers, trainers and grooms, will go a long way in helping to ensure that your horse can perform at its best.

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A Young Rider's Quest to Become a Champion
By: Marcia Kulak

Becoming a top competitor requires a lot hard work and training, but professional riders were once in the same place as the young riders of today — learning the fundamentals and beginning their quest to become a champion. I started competing when I was nine years old. It took me several years and a whole lot of time, money and energy to get where I am today, but I never gave up.

Here are some things to consider when entering equestrian competition:

Starting Out – Finding the Right Trainer
Finding the right trainer is one of the most important things you can do, as he or she will be key in helping you develop the fundamentals and the skills you will need to become a champion.

Establishing a Training Routine
Once you find the right trainer, its time to get to work and begin developing those fundamentals.

Preparing for Competition
When you and your trainer decide that you are ready to compete consider the following:

As you continue your quest to become a champion, always remember to be proactive and open-minded. There is always something more to learn. The most important lessons for every true champion are to be confident, safe and to have fun with your horse.

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PRESS RELEASES

Top Show Jumper Promotes Equine Stomach Ulcer Prevention, Laura Chapot joins Team ULCERGARD^® (omeprazole)

DULUTH, GA., March 21, 2007 — Today, Merial announced that top show jumper Laura Chapot will become the newest member of Team ULCERGARD. Chapot will join other top equestrian athletes, including Beezie Madden, Amy Tryon and John Williams in promoting ULCERGARD — the only FDA-approved product proven to prevent stomach ulcers in horses.

"I am extremely pleased with the results we’ve seen since starting to use ULCERGARD," Chapot says. "I firmly believe that ULCERGARD helps horses compete at their best and look forward to speaking with other riders about it."

In 2006, Chapot won the inaugural Budweiser Six-Pack Bonus for the Leading Rider of the Series. She also was the Leading Open Jumper Rider at the Pennsylvania National. In addition to her recent achievements, she was named American Grand Prix Association Rookie Rider of the Year in 1995. In 1996, Chapot and her mount, “Gem Twist,” took the win at the Budweiser American Grand Prix Association Championship, the Grand Prix of Florida and the East Coast World Cup League.

"We are proud to have Laura Chapot join Team ULCERGARD to help us promote equine stomach ulcer awareness and prevention,” says Jeannine Courser, Product Manager, Merial Equine Pharmaceuticals. “Laura will join other top jumpers who have made it a priority to rely on ULCERGARD to help keep their horses healthy during stressful times."

"We are proud to have Laura Chapot join Team ULCERGARD to help us promote equine stomach ulcer awareness and prevention,” says Jeannine Courser, Product Manager, Merial Equine Pharmaceuticals. “Laura will join other top jumpers who have made it a priority to rely on ULCERGARD to help keep their horses healthy during stressful times." For more information on preventing stomach ulcers in horses, visit www.ULCERGARD.com.

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2006 sales were nearly $2.2 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co. and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see www.merial.com.

®ULCERGARD is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies. ©2007 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. UGDCSA7CHAPOTPR

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FDA Approves New ULCERGARD® (omeprazole) Product Label
2006

DULUTH, Ga., Nov. 28, 2006 - Merial today announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new product label for its equine stomach ulcer product " ULCERGARD, the only FDA-approved product proven to prevent stomach ulcers in horses. The revised label provides the central claim that, when given once daily, ULCERGARD is effective in preventing stomach ulcers in horses exposed to stressful periods. The new label further expands those situations in which ULCERGARD can be used and highlights the product’s effectiveness in preventing stomach ulcers over both short and long periods of time.

"We are pleased to have received FDA approval on the new ULCERGARD product label," said Jeannine Courser, Product Manager, Merial Equine Pharmaceuticals. "All kinds of stressful periods in a horse’s life can lead to stomach ulcers, but we know that ULCERGARD will prevent ulcers during these times. The new FDA approved label provides fewer restrictions for product use and will allow both veterinarians and horse owners to try ULCERGARD in situations that may not commonly be perceived as times when stomach ulcers can occur, but in fact are."

Many times situations, such as when a horse is confined, training, traveling, competing, are stressful and are commonly recognized as optimal times to prevent stomach ulcers with ULCERGARD. This is especially true because during these situations ulcers have been shown to occur in as little as five days1. There are, however, other stressful lifestyle situations where horses may benefit from proactive ulcer prevention. For example, horses may be given ULCERGARD when hospitalized or being laid-up, during the weaning process or when they are being fed low roughage and/or a high grain diet.

Available through veterinarians, ULCERGARD is a once-daily (four daily doses per tube), cinnamon flavored oral paste. It’s active ingredient " omeprazole " suppresses acid production and prevents stomach ulcers. ULCERGARD is the only product that is FDA-approved for the prevention of equine stomach ulcers.

For more information on preventing stomach ulcers in horses, visit www.ULCERGARD.com.

About Merial

Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2005 sales were in excess of $1.9 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co. and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see www.merial.com.

¹McClure SR, Carithers DS, Gross, SJ, Murray MJ. Gastric ulcer development in horses in a simulated show or training environment. J Am Vet Med Assoc;2005;227:775-777. ®ULCERGARD is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies. ©2006 Merial Limited, Duluth, GA. UGD06NWLBLPR

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ULCERGARD (omeprazole) signs on as "Official Equine Stomach Ulcer Product of the USEA"
February 2006

The USEA is proud to announce that Merial, the makers of ULCERGARD, has signed a three-year contract as the "Official Equine Stomach Ulcer Product of the USEA" and Contributing Sponsor of both the American Eventing Championships and the Adequan USEA Gold Cup Series.

"The USEA is thrilled to partner with ULCERGARD," said USEA Chief Executive Officer, Jo Whitehouse. "As eventers, our horses’ health and comfort are the top priority, and considering the stressful lives they experience, especially during the competition season, ulcers are a definite concern."

In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association revealed that ulcers may develop in horses exposed to normal situations related to weekend show travel in as little as five days.1 These situations include, but are not limited to, training, traveling, confinement and competition.

"We are very excited to partner with the USEA and to have the opportunity to further support the eventing community," said Jeannine Courser, Product Manager, Merial Equine Pharmaceuticals. "We share a mutual commitment to maintaining a horse’s health and keeping horses ulcer-free with ULCERGARD so that they have the stomach to perform at their best."

For more information on ULCERGARD, visit www.ULCERGARD.com.

¹McClure SR, Carithers DS, Gross, SJ, Murray MJ. Gastric ulcer development in horses in a simulated show or training environment. J Am Vet Med Assoc;2005;227:775-777.

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Merial’s ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD Named "Official Equine Stomach Ulcer Products of the USEF"
Lexington, KY
September 2005

Merial, a world leader in animal healthcare, has joined the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) as its newest corporate partner. Though the partnership may be new, USEF athletes and veterinarians have depended on Merial for years, as its trusted products have long been used by USEF team horses as they travel to events both nationally and internationally.

Through this partnership, we are pleased to announce that ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD (omeprazole) from Merial, have become the "Official Equine Stomach Ulcer Products of the USEF". These products will be made available to all USEF team horses to prevent stomach ulcers that are often associated with the stresses that come from confinement, training, travel, and competition.

"As a longtime supporter of the USEF and their equestrian teams, we are pleased to make our partnership official," said Jeannine Courser, Product Manager, Merial Equine Pharmaceuticals. "As a company dedicated to the health and well being of animals, we share a mutual commitment to maintaining a horse’s health and keeping horses ulcer-free so that they have the stomach to perform at their best."

Merial offers the only two products on the market that are proven to prevent and treat stomach ulcers in horses. Available through veterinarians, ULCERGARD allows horse owners to proactively prevent stomach ulcers whenever their horse is exposed to stressful situations such as training, travel and competition, while GASTROGARD treats stomach ulcers and allows horses to continue training and competing while the ulcers heal.

For more information on Merial’s equine ulcer products, visit www.ULCERGARD.com or www.GASTROGARD.com.

For more information, please contact Sarah Lane, Public Relations Manager, on (859) 225-6974 or via e-mail at slane@usef.org. USEF press releases can be found on our website, www.usef.org.

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Merial Becomes National Reined Cow Horse Association’s Newest Corporate Partner
August 2005

The National Reined Cow Horse Association has announced that Merial has joined the organization as its newest Corporate Partner.

According to NRCHA Sponsor Committee Chairman Carol Rose, Merial has joined the NRCHA Corporate Partner family. As part of the partnership, Merial will become the Official Equine Ulcer Prevention and Treatment partner through its brand products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD (omeprazole).

Rose noted, "The NRCHA is very fortunate to have Merial and its wonderful products as part of our Corporate Partnership Family. On a personal note, we at Carol Rose Quarter Horses use a great deal of ULCERGARD when our performance horses reach their upper levels of training. The stress on the equine athlete is highest when they are in the final stages of preparation for competition; at that time we have all the show horses on ULCERGARD to help prevent gastric ulcers. GASTROGARD and ULCERGARD have definitely made a difference on the health and well being of our horses."

"We are pleased to come on board as a Corporate Sponsor and to have ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD named the official equine ulcer products for the NRCHA," said Jeannine Courser, Product Manager, Merial Equine Pharmaceuticals. "This partnership will go a long way in helping to educate competitors and trainers on the situations that may put their horses at risk for ulcers and how they can protect them."

Merial offers the only two products on the market that are FDA-approved and scientifically proven to prevent and treat ulcers. With ULCERGARD horse owners can proactively prevent stomach ulcers whenever their horse is exposed to stressful situations such as confinement, training, travel or competition. GASTROGARD is indicated for the treatment of existing equine stomach ulcers. Available through veterinarians, both products are supplied in a cinnamon-flavored oral paste that is well accepted by horses. For more information, visit www.ULCERGARD.com or www.GASTROGARD.com.

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ARCHIVES

Research has shown that 90% or more of high-level performance horses have gastric ulcers, and that lower-level show horses also can get ulcers, but at a lower rate. The Horse and Merial (manufacturers of GastroGard and UlcerGard, ulcer treatment and preventive) joined forces with Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., to have some pleasure and low-level show horses examined for ulcers to see if the average horse suffers from stomach ulcers.

Fifteen low-level show horses (shown a few times a year) that "weren't doing quite right" in Central Kentucky were recommended by their veterinarians to take part in an endoscopic survey on April 16. Some horses were recommended because they ate a lot of feed and never gained weight, while others displayed nervousness, teeth grinding, and a poor hair coat. These 15 horses were turned out every day, with fairly stress-free lives.

Each horse was trailered to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and examined with an endoscope by internal medicine specialist Bill Bernard, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM. Also on hand was Stephanie Thompson, DVM, manager of veterinary technical services at Merial.

The actual scoping procedure for each horse lasted less than 10 minutes and was done under sedation using Boehringer-Ingelheim's new tranquilizer Sedi-Vet. The sedative causes less ataxia (incoordination) than other sedatives currently available and helps the horse wake up faster; the horses stand quietly, but can walk away after the procedure without stumbling.

Eight horses were diagnosed with ulcers (53.3%). These ranged in severity from "healing ulcer ridge that looks like a volcano" to a "slight reddening in one portion of the stomach," according to Bernard.

Thompson discussed with each of the horse owners the best use of UlcerGard for their particular situations.

For horses that don't travel to shows on a regular basis, she recommended that owners use UlcerGard during times of stress, such as with varied feeding practices, changes in routine, and prior to any traveling.

For a description of each equine participant and their diagnoses, see http://www.TheHorse.com/emag.aspx?id=5734.

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Horse’n Around Lincoln County
May 3, 2005, Lincoln County Journal, Missouri
By: Gina Brinkerhoff

Welcome to "Horse’n Around Lincoln County". Today I’d like to talk about equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). Somewhere in the back of my head, I hear Willie Nelson singing "On the Road Again", and I have to believe that if horses could sing, many of those that frequent the show circuit are feeling the road calling again. Frequent travel, and the stress it entails on horses, can lead to gastric upsets, and equine gastric ulcers are just one of the many maladies that can affect your equine. Hopping in that trailer and heading off to one show after the other is probably your idea, not your horse’s idea, so perhaps you should learn a bit more about EGUS and make sure you are not placing your equine at risk.

According to an article in the Equine Vet Journal by M.J. Murray, et. al., more than 90% of race horses have experienced ulcers. If you don’t race your horse, according to R.D. Mitchell, you may still have an equine at risk, as over 60% of non-racing competitive horses have experienced ulcers (Association for Equine Sports Medicine, September 2001). Horses are grazing animals, and travel, shows, stall confinement, spoiled feed, low feeding frequency, and upset routines are among the situations that can interrupt the constant intake of plant based food into your equine’s stomach. When your equine experiences these events, excess acid can develop and irritate the upper part of their stomach. Excess acid can begin to cause erosions leading to EGUS.

According to the Merial website, www.gastrogard.com, even up to 57% of foals can have gastric ulcers. Symptoms in foals can include diarrhea, poor growth, rough hair coat, lying on the back, teeth grinding, excessive salivation, pot belly, and colic. Apparently, just getting born is a pretty stressful event, and we know foal season is upon us!

In people, a bacteria known as helibactor pylori can also contribute to gastric ulcer development, however, such a link has not been found in horses. In horses, even concentrated feeds can play a factor, as they can increase the production of gastrin, an acid-stimulating hormone. Horses that are allowed to graze on free-choice forage produce less acid than those who are fed grain. The stallion in the photo, Sizmo Gold owned by Tamara Sissom of Bellflower, Missouri, is doing what horses do best and what keeps them healthiest; grazing.

Signs and symptoms of EGUS can include recurrent colic, diarrhea, poor condition, weight loss, and performance loss according to an article on EGUS on www.gopetsamerica.com March 17, 2005. Most colic is NOT caused by ulcers, however, if other causes of colic have been ruled out, the presence of ulcers may be considered. Currently, there is only FDA-approved preventative treatment on the market. ULCERGARD®, a product of MERIAL, is a once-daily paste flavored with cinnamon that is given orally and is non-prescription; that is, you can ask your vet for it if you feel your horse is at risk. Each syringe of ULCERGARD® contains four doses and the average price is about $9.50 per dose. The main ingredient in ULCERGARD® is omeprazole, the same ingredient found in Prilosec (a medication humans use for heartburn, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, and duodenal ulcer, to name a few conditions).

Once an equine already has a gastric ulcer, as diagnosed by a veterinarian, the only FDA-approved medication to treat the active ulcer is GASTROGARD®, another Merial product. Equine ulcers are diagnosed by performing an endoscopy; a procedure involving a long fiber-optic tube inserted through the esophagus to directly view the stomach. Some veterinarians, however, may choose to treat for ulcers based upon the signs and symptoms alone. The goal of treatment is to reduce stomach acidity so that the ulcer can heal. Providing hay and pasture, and reducing other risk factors, including a possible suspension of training until the ulcer heals, may also be part of your veterinarian’s recommendations. Many ulcer medications used for humans have been tried in horses without substantial results, therefore it is important to consult with a veterinarian if you think your horse may be experiencing ulcers.

Remember, take good care of your equine. These large beautiful creatures depend on us to be aware of their issues and illnesses. I would also like to add a warning for the season. If your horse has been used to being confined or off of pasture, or is suddenly exposed to lush green spring grasses, serious problems such as colic and laminitis can result. When turning an equine out on a lush pasture, gradually build up their exposure. A regular routine of feeding and turn-out reduces stress, however, access to lush pasture should be built up at about 20 minutes per day. Turn out time is great for an equine’s mental and physical health, however, they can be fed grass hays while off of the pasture to reduce their risk of laminitis (founder) and satisfy their need for forage.

Don’t forget to send me your stories, ideas for stories and interviews, and any upcoming equine event news of which you may be aware. You can reach me at gbrinkerhoff@prodigy.net or via the U.S. mail c/o "Horse’n Around Lincoln County", Lincoln County Journal, 20 Business Park Drive, Troy, MO 63379.

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AAEP 2003: Preventing Gastric Ulcers
February 2004, The Horse
By: Stephanie L. Church, News Editor

"Gastric ulcers are a widespread and significant problem," said Gary W.White, DVM, of Salisaw Equine Clinic, Okla., at the 2003 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention. "Omeprazole (Gastrogard) is FDA-approved for the treatment of gastric ulcers in horses and foals greater than four weeks old at 4 mg/kg/day," he said ...

White and 10 other veterinarians from private and university equine hospitals in the United States and Canada investigated whether a dose of 1 mg/kg/day would prevent occurrence and recurrence of gastric ulcers in racehorses.

For complete article and review of summary results, visit http://www.TheHorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?id=5001.

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CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. GASTROGARD is indicated for the treatment and prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses and foals 4 weeks and older. In efficacy trials, no adverse reactions were observed. Safety in pregnant or lactating mares has not been determined. DO NOT USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. KEEP THIS AND ALL DRUGS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.

The National Reined Cow Horse Association, the governing body of cow horse competition, is responsible for promoting the sport, insuring high standards of competition and educating members and the public about the history and tradition of the cow horse. Through the support of a Corporate Partner family that includes Bayer Corporation, Bob's Custom Saddles, Cinch, Inc., Classic Equine, EQ Solutions, MD Barns, Platinum Performance, Inc., Nutrena, Skyline Gold and Silversmiths, Sundowner Trailers, National Ropers Supply, Quarter Horse News & Western Horseman magazine, the Reno Hilton, Farnam products Vetrolin Liniment and Farnam dewormers IverCare, ComboCare, LiquiCare P and Continuex, Fort Dodge West Nile Innovator, Rios of Mercedes, Merial products ULCERGARD and GASTROGARD, Great American Insurance Company and the Silver Legacy Hotel, the association works to keep the vaquero tradition alive in today’s equine industry. For information on the National Reined Cow Horse Association, call 580-759-4949 or visit the NRCHA Official Web Site at www.nrcha.com.

About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being and performance of a wide range of animals. Merial employs approximately 5,000 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide. Its 2004 sales were in excess of $1.8 billion. Merial Limited is a joint venture between Merck & Co., Inc. and sanofi-aventis. For more information, please see www.merial.com

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®ULCERGARD is a registered trademark of the AstraZeneca Group of Companies..