Three Magic Beans

Sex, Age: Gelding, 1990
Breed: Thoroughbred
Discipline: Three Day Eventing
Stabled In: The Plains, Virginia
Owner/Rider: Nina Fout

Nobody looking at the gangly three-year-old thoroughbred standing in the Coosaw Farm training yard near Middleburg, Virginia would have guessed that in less than 10 years, Three Magic Beans would carry the United States Three Day Event Team to an Olympic Medal.

Steeplechase trainer Doug Fout thought it would take too long for the oversized dark brown gelding to mature enough to withstand the rigors of racing. But Fout's younger sister, international event rider Nina Fout, liked the promise of the big, bold-looking horse.

"He looked like a Ferrari, lean and aristocratic with a definite sense of style," recalled Nina. "I knew it would take a long time for him to grow up and an even longer time to learn the refinements of dressage, but I could tell he had a really big jump."

Three Magic Beans grew up to fulfill Nina's premonition. He topped out at 17.1 hands and is nearly as long as he is tall. He gallops over the top international cross-country courses like a foxhunter out for a day's sport. And, when he puts his mind to it, he can deliver a top-level dressage test that reflects the highest elegance and grace of the American thoroughbred.

In turn, he earned the team bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, placed 12th at the Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event in 2000, finished in the top 20 at the prestigious Badminton (England) Horse Trials in 1999 and was the top placed American horse at the demanding Burghley (England) Horse Trials that same year.

But getting Beans to international competitions both healthy and happy was an enormous struggle for Nina. His thoroughbred nerves constantly got the better of him, eroding months of effort in building endurance and fitness. He was terribly nervous traveling, refusing to eat and drink. At competitions, he continued his hunger strikes, a dangerous situation for a very fit horse with little body mass to spare. Such stress repeatedly triggered signs of colic.

Beans' distress was clear in performance, particularly in the dressage phase of the three-day competition. He could not concentrate enough to listen to Nina and execute the pliant, engaged movements required.

Nina credits GastroGard with helping her solve numerous health and behavioral issues. She learned about the equine ulcer medication from her family's many contacts in the racing industry and decided to try it in 1999.

"I don't think we ever would have done so well at Burghley or Badminton that year without GastroGard," she said. "I know we would not have survived the selection process at the Sydney Olympics," she added. The Americans traveled to Australia six weeks before the competition and had to compete for their spots until the week before. "GastroGard ensures that I have a happier, healthier horse when I get to a competition," Nina said. "GastroGard allows Three Magic Beans and me to focus on our performance, delivering the best effort possible in all three phases of our sport, dressage, cross country and show jumping. I think GastroGard really helped put me on the Olympic podium in Sydney."

Nina continues to treat Beans with GastroGard and has competed in seven consecutive CCI**** events. Most recently, Nina and Beans finished 8th at the highly competitive 2002 Rolex Kentucky Three Day Event. With her top horse in excellent health, Nina is now preparing for the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain.