Skip A Cool Clu

Sex, Age: Filly, 1998
Breed: American Quarter Horse
Discipline: Halter Horse
Stabled in: Trenton, NC
Owner: Ralph and Sherrin Anne MacFarland
Trainer: Ralph MacFarland
Veterinarian: Dr. Lisa Handy

Last fall, a month or so before the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, Ralph MacFarland took a critical look at the filly he had qualified for the prestigious competition and made a tough decision. The yearling, Skip a Cool Clu, had all the conformational characteristics to make it big as a Halter Mare and was perhaps the best prospect Ralph had ever had in his many years as a Quarter Horse breeder and exhibitor.

In her campaign to qualify for the top show in the Quarter Horse world, she had made a good start in her career, earning a number of circuit championships and grand championships. But as the World's Show approached, he began to notice a change in her. While the coat on the 15-hand deep chestnut filly still shone, and her sculpted muscles developed by miles of jogging behind a golf cart were still firm, something was not quite right. He decided to pass on the show.

The filly had begun to exhibit subtle behavioral changes. Her general demeanor had changed. The normally bright and interested filly became lethargic. Intermittently she was off her feed. She'd take a few bites and go stand at the back of her stall, and at times lie down. Her weight began to drop slightly. Ralph thought that perhaps the stress of traveling to shows was the cause. He decided to give her a rest with extra turnout, and watch her for a while. But she did not respond as well as he hoped.

In December Ralph called in his veterinarian, Dr. Lisa Handy, who did a blood work up. The results showed the filly was anemic, and there was blood in her stool. Based on the blood test and Ralph's anecdotal evidence, Dr. Handy began to suspect gastric ulcers. However, the filly did not show some of the more common symptoms, such as pawing or grinding her teeth. They talked about doing an endoscopic examination for a definitive diagnosis. With the nearest endoscope some distance away in Athens, Georgia, and the related shipping and other costs involved, Ralph decided to forego that diagnostic step. Dr. Handy began to treat her for gastric ulcers based on the general indications. She prescribed a course of treatment of GASTROGARD® (omeprazole) and rest.

Ralph began to notice an improvement "almost immediately." The filly was eating well. She was playful when she was turned out. The good natured, pretty youngster began to be her old self again. Dr. Handy took another blood test, and she found the red blood cell count had come up.

In late March, Ralph had the opportunity to have the filly scoped when Merial representative Jim Gibby was in the area. The screening showed that she indeed had had ulcers, which were now healing.

Skip A Cool Clu is back on the show circuit. In early May she was grand champion in the amateur Halter Division at the South Carolina Mini-Circuit and earned a championship in the open division as well. Prior to shipping and during the course of the show, Dr. Handy recommended the filly be put on GASTROGARD to prevent ulcers from developing.

Judges were quick to note Skip A Cool Clu's overall conformation, pretty head, good muscling and balance. If she continues to look and feel well, Ralph believes this quality filly has the potential to achieve a superior rating, one of the highest American Quarter Horse achievement awards, and one of the awards that has eluded him in his long career.

Skip A Cool Clu is the result of the MacFarland's breeding program, which extends back to her grandmother, Lucky Miss Mocha, a granddaughter of the important foundation stallion, Wimpy. Cool resembles her sire, the world champion Halter Horse, Cluition. With her pedigree, the care and attention of the MacFarlands, and the benefits of GASTROGARD, Skip A Cool Clu is ready to make her mark.