Ever wish you could take a sneak peek inside our horses’ SmartPaks? Now you can! Check out the supplements we love, for the animals we adore.

This Month’s Pick

Staff Member: Melissa H.
Department: Merchandising
Horse: Drago
Discipline: Hunter/Jumper

I started riding around age 7 in VA. I have been a hunter/jumper girl since then and have also had the pleasure of fox hunting a couple of times. I rode in college and competed with the IHSA team at St. Andrews University. These days, you’ll find me in the Adult Hunters and Adult Equitation.

Drago is a recent addition to the family. He is a six-year-old Irish Sport Horse that I imported from England in January. You can read all about our adventures together so far here.

Drago’s SmartPaks

SmartFlex I Maintenance
I added SmartFlex I to Drago’s SmartPaks because I wanted him to have some basic joint support as he begins his training program. Even though he is young, I’m starting a joint supplement early to help support healthy joints.

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SmartDigest Ultra
Drago has a busy training schedule and will start showing soon. I started him on SmartDigest Ultra so that he would have some additional support to help with the digestive stress associated with being a show horse.

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SmartOmega 3
Drago gets SmartOmega 3 because I think it is just a really great way to make sure that he is getting all of the Omega 3s he needs to look and feel his best. Two months into this supplement his coat is amazing and he just glows.

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SmartEnergy
I recently added SmartEnergy to Drago’s supplement program to help support a normal energy level and healthy stamina for his job.

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Why Melissa uses SmartPaks:

I use SmartPaks because they are just so easy. Drago’s SmartPaks ship right to the barn every month so I never have to worry about him running out of the supplements he needs. In fact, I don’t have to worry about anything when it comes to Drago’s supplement program because I know SmartPak has taken care of that for me. 🙂

Melissa’s Other Four-Legged Friend:

Gimli is an eight-year-old Australian Shepherd that I found and bought at Quarter Horse Congress. He and his brother were in the arms of their then current owner as she was walking around the horse show. I asked the woman carrying them what their names were. Her answer: “For and Sale.” It was right it before my husband’s birthday so I used that as an excuse to buy a new puppy…it was his present after all, right?!

Gimli and his brother (who was purchased by SmartPaker Jaralyn) endured the 16-hour car ride home just fine, but I soon began to notice that Gimli was incredibly itchy. Almost from the day we got him home, he started getting really terrible rashes and red spots on his tummy. The itching was relentless and it turns out that he has really bad allergies.

I feed Gimli Wellness Simple Food Solutions – Duck Formula in PortionPaks. I chose this food because it is good for dogs with food sensitivities.
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I chose PortionPaks because, well, he is my husband’s dog and therefore my husband feeds him. 🙂 The secondary benefit of PortionPaks is that my six-year-old son can also successfully feed him without over pouring.

About Melissa Hamlet

Melissa as a rider: I grew up in Virginia and started riding when I was about 7. I never looked back...riding and horses have been a part of who I am since that first ride all of those years ago. I’ve fox hunted a little but have spent most of my time competing in Hunters and Equitation. I rode on the IHSA Team in college and even competed in some IHSA Alumni classes after graduation. These days you’ll find me in the Adult Hunters, Hunter Derbies and Adult Equitation. Melissa as a SmartPaker: As VP of Merchandising, it is my job to oversee all of our product selection and development. Me and my team travel the world to find and develop things we think are worthy of being in your barns, on your bodies and on your horses. How cool is that?!