Fidelia

Sex, Age: Mare, 1987
Breed: KWPN (Dutch Warmblood)
Discipline: Dressage
Stabled in: Laguna Hills, CA
Owner: Kathleen Raine
Trainer: Kathleen Raine
Veterinarian: Richard Markell

In July 1999, Kathleen Raine, one of the top dressage riders in the United States, was competing in Germany with her talented grand prix horse, Fidelia, when she began to notice a change in the mare's behavior. The highly expressive Dutch Warmblood was acting a little down.

"She usually is working for you 200%," explained Kathleen, a USET Bronze Medalist at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in Holland with Avontuur. Kathleen had immediately sensed the subtle changes and lack of alertness in her 13-year-old partner. This is no surprise as their special bond goes back to when Kathleen first met her as a month-old foal in Holland. Even as a baby, "Fiddle," a daughter of the great dressage sire, Beethoven, had the presence and style that make champions. With the thought of one day competing at the Olympic Games with this amazing bay filly with the white star and snip, Kathleen fell in love and bought her on the spot.

In addition to her uncharacteristic lack of energy in competition, Kathleen saw that "Fiddle" had started to exhibit other symptoms. The easy-going mare, normally a good doer, was off her feed. She would curl her lip and show signs of colic. Within 10 days, she was treated three times for colic. A groom, who also worked in a veterinary office, suggested ulcers might be the problem, but the treating veterinarian disagreed.

Fidelia was on a rigorous competition schedule. She had competed for three days in New Jersey, and then shipped to Europe the next day. She had been in transit for over 40 hours in the heat of the summer.

Greatly concerned, Kathleen called her sister and brother-in-law, who own racehorses and were familiar with ulcers. They alerted her to the symptoms and potential damage that could be caused by gastric ulcers. With her eyes focused on qualifying for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Kathleen was not going to risk anything that might prevent "Fiddle" from feeling her best and performing at her peak. She contacted her U.S. veterinarian, Dr. Richard Markell, who immediately prescribed GASTROGARD® (omeprazole).

Shortly after commencing a 28-day full-dose course of treatment of GASTROGARD, "Fiddle" stopped exhibiting signs and began to be her old self again. Feeling her best, "Fiddle" was able to perform with brilliance and earned the title of Reserve National Champion in 1999.

Kathleen continued her on the maintenance dose through the competition season in Europe and the United States. When the mare arrived back at the farm in California to relax, Kathleen took her off the treatment.

But within two weeks, "Fiddle" began colicking again. Kathleen had her "scoped," and her veterinarian observed pitting and small lesions starting to form. "Fiddle" was placed back on GASTROGARD -- a full treatment dose while traveling and competing, and a maintenance dose while at the farm. Her symptoms have subsided.

In summer 2000, "Fiddle" and Kathleen were back on the campaign for a spot on the USET Olympic team. With "Fiddle" free of gastric ulcers, she was able to perform at her best in the Olympic trials in May. Her expressive movement, especially at the piaffe and passage, combined with Kathleen´s talent and experience, gave this close partnership an edge, and they earned a spot as first alternates on the U. S. Olympic dressage team. With their fellow team members, they were shipped to Sydney, Australia in August. There they trained with the team and participated in the Olympic activities, ready at a moment´s notice to step up and take their place on the team should they have been called. Kathleen and "Fiddle" may yet get the great opportunity to turn their long-time dream into a reality- and compete in the Olympic Games in 2004.