Wellington, FL (April 22, 2016) — While HORSE GYM USA® was in Fort Worth, Texas, showcasing its revolutionary fitness and rehabilitation products at the NCHA Super Stakes, the company also had the chance to catch up with NKH Selena, a Grant Prix show jumping horse that relies on HORSE GYM USA® to stay fit and compete her best. After learning how far Selena had come since beginning to use the treadmill, the company decided to award the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare with the HORSE GYM USA® Horse of the Month Award for the month of April.
HORSE GYM USA® is a company known for its innovative fitness and therapeutic equipment that ranges from treadmills to salt water hydrotherapy spas and solariums. After years of hearing success stories from customers whose horses had benefited from HORSE GYM USA® products, the company was inspired to create the HORSE GYM USA® Horse of the Month Award to recognize the most impressive transformations in equine athletes who have used products to achieve their fitness and competition goals.
Christian Heineking, a successful German rider who is based in Texas with his wife Erin Davis-Heineking, has been riding NKH Selena since she was a five-year-old. The American-bred bay mare (Stakkato Gold/Quattro B) is owned by Neil Knox and NKH LLC. “She started off as a little bit of a problem child in the beginning and pretty difficult,” laughed Heineking. “Because of her breeding we hoped she would be a Grand Prix prospect, and we are obviously pleased with the results.”
In 2016 alone, Selena has had top results in several FEI sanctioned Grand Prix events from HITS Thermal in California to the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida. But NKH Selena’s rise hasn’t been without a few bumps in the road. Heineking explained, “Selena won a World Cup qualifying class in Los Angeles, and was second a week later in Las Vegas in 2013, as an eight-year-old. She was injured shortly afterward and we had to start a rehab process.” Heineking continued, “The treadmill became a part of her daily routine, and still is. It is an even and controlled exercise and it is a great way to supplement her traditional training.”
The HORSE GYM USA® | WALK treadmill is the cornerstone of the HORSE GYM USA® equipment. Featuring a touch display with support for multiple languages, it has ten fixed programs installed, with up to 100 additional program slots. The speed and incline are both adjustable, maximizing at 9.3 MPH and a 10-degree incline. The combination of adjustable speed and incline, as well as the ability to control the intensity and duration of a session, allows for a horse’s conditioning program to be expertly tailored to the specific horse’s needs.
“We use the treadmill on all of the Grand Prix horses for at least 20 minutes every day. I am a big believer in keeping my horses moving and the treadmill is a great way to ensure that they don’t stand in the stall for hours a day,” remarked Heineking.
Heineking Show Stables, NKH LLC, and October Hill Farm are looking forward to what the summer has in store for their string of Grand Prix horses. “Selena is going to Omaha next, for the international class, and then we will head to Tryon, North Carolina, and the Colorado Horse Park in July,” said Heineking.
HORSE GYM USA® is thrilled to be a part of success stories like NKH Selena’s and are looking forward to hearing more about her success during the future.To learn more about HORSE GYM USA® and how its innovative products can help you attain your equine conditioning goals, visit www.horsegym.com.
To be entered to win the HORSE GYM USA® Horse of the Month Award, send a before and after photo of your horse to Jill@horsegym.com. You can also follow HORSE GYM USA® on Facebook and Instagram.
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Photo: Neil Knox (left) and rider, Christian Heineking (right), stand with NKH Selena, the winner of the April HORSE GYM USA® Horse of the Month Award (photo courtesy of October Hill Farm).