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Peek in Our Paks: Macaire F. & Roxi

Posted on: September 02, 2025 by Macaire Stinner

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

Get to Know Roxi

  • SmartPaker: Macaire F.
  • Department: SmartBarn Services
  • Horse: Roxi, 23yo Thoroughbred X Percheron
  • Discipline: Retired

Roxi was a PMU foal that I adopted back in 2001. PMU stands for Pregnant Mare’s Urine, which was used to produce Premarin (pregnant mares’ urine), a hormone replacement drug used to help postmenopausal women. Since the mares must be pregnant to produce the drug, this has led to thousands of foals needing homes. When I was 11 years old, I somehow managed to convince my parents that I was ready for a second horse and that horse should be a rescued PMU foal that wasn’t even halter broke. (Luckily, this ended up going over much better than it could have thanks to excellent trainers! 😅)

It took many weeks and hours of cleaning and raking Roxi's stall to gain her trust. It was a lot of work for a horse I couldn't even touch yet, but eventually, we were able to get a halter on her! Once that trust was gained, she was the most loyal and horse. We trusted each other completely and created a bond that was undeniable. As she got older, we started jumping and loved it! I rode at a show jumping barn, although I couldn’t afford to show, so we spent most of our time schooling at home.

Fast forward to 2014, I was hired to work as a professional groom in Asia with a traveling show (think Cirque du Soleil with horses!) called Cavalia. Due to my traveling, I had opted to work with a great local trainer to find Roxi a new home to ensure she was getting great care in a loving home and after that I lost track of her. However, it wasn’t long before I deeply regretted the decision to sell her and in 2020 during the pandemic, I began searching for her. I reached out to the trainer who helped sell her, but his information along with my other leads all ended up in dead ends. I ended up posting pictures to as many Las Vegas horse-related groups I could find, knowing it was a complete long shot. It wasn’t more than a couple hours before the trainer who had purchased her most recently sent me a message! She let me know how much Roxi was loved by her new adult amateur, a first-time horse owner. I was so relieved to hear she was doing so well! I let the trainer know that whenever she’s ready to retire, I’d love to have her in my care.

In 2022, they reached out to let me know that she had sustained a tendon injury, and they were attempting to rehab her. They did everything they could, but eventually decided retirement was the best option for her considering her age. In May of last year, she finally came home!

Get to Know Roxi's Supplements

Leg Up® Mare Pellets

Since coming home, I adjusted her diet to encourage weight loss after her rehab and as she's settled in, I gradually increased her turnout time so that she can be out 24/7. Her new introduction to socialization with my geldings had sparked some mareish behavior, so I decided to try her on Leg Up® Mare Pellets. Since starting her on it, she has had a noticeably more balanced temperament! (Which I think she and her new friends have appreciated)

SmartComfort™ Pellets

I recently decided to try SmartComfort™ Pellets and within a couple of weeks, she started moving around more comfortably. I even caught her trotting and cantering around the paddock which was something she wasn’t doing before! SmartComfort Pellets have been huge in supporting her comfort in retirement.

Smart & Simple® Vitamin E Pellets

A white supplement tub with a dark blue lid and light blue label plus imagery of a scoop and brown pellets next to green grass. A small pudding cup of pellets sits next to the bucket.

Since my horses are mainly on sand and dirt turnout here on the west coast, they don't have as much access to fresh green grass. Adding Smart & Simple® Vitamin E Pellets was a really easy way to help ensure they're all getting the right amount of natural Vitamin E every day.

SmartBug-Off® Pellets (seasonally)

Having a small herd, keeping all three of them on SmartBug-Off® Pellets has been a huge help in keeping the flies away! It's a multi-pronged approach that supports resilient skin and a normal inflammatory response, and I know the horses appreciate a bug-free summer as much as I love not having to put fly sheets on them on the hottest days!

Get to Know More

While not in Roxi's SmartPak, an important part of her diet and routine are keeping free choice Bermuda hay in a slow feed hay net (shoutout to Hay Chix!). Plus, she also gets Gro N’ Win, and Sainfoin Premium Equine Forage Pellets.

Overall, she is looking fabulous and loving her life in retirement! I am so grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to provide a soft landing for her after all that she taught me and the immense joy she brought to my youth. She has been the absolute greatest introduction to my small herd and gets along so well with my boys, Kimchi & Levi (thanks to Leg Up Mare 😉)!