ETN (Equestrian Trade News) – February / March 2022

February/March 2022

Volume 46, No 2

HEADS YOU

WIN...

BRIDLE FITTING: THIS SEASON’S HOT TOPIC ON THE HOOF PRODUCTS FOR HOOVES AND JOINTS

ETN is the official media partner of BETA International

PLUS

• AMTRA ACCREDITED RAMA CPD FEATURE AND QUIZ • RETAILER PROFILE • SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS

2022

11-13 September NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, UK Main Sponsor

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Editor’s comment L

ast month, I criticised the way some retailers communicate with their customers.

Well, my confidence has been restored

by Supplement Solutions. After I ordered an item at their online shop, they contacted me to say it was out of stock and to offer an alternative.

And when I say ‘contacted’, they phoned, left a voicemail, emailed and even sent a WhatsApp message. How thorough is that?

The parcel arrived promptly - with some free sweeties inside. Well done and thank you, Supplement Solutions.

Bedmax is the first equine bedding manufacturer to gain BETA NOPS certification. Surely others will be keen to follow suit.

Suppliers such as NAF already champion clean sport and, surely, this season will be one in which all equestrian sports need to be squeaky clean to maintain public acceptability.

Last year was a shocker for equine welfare hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Former racehorses ending their days in a grim slaughterhouse, a schoolteacher hitting her horse around the head and a clearly unhappy horse napping during the Olympics modern pentathlon all made it into the tabloids and onto small screens.

Meanwhile, the closer equestrian community continues to be concerned about tight nosebands, dubious spurs and catastrophic injuries to horses in Middle East endurance racing.

As far as products are concerned, heightened sensitivities mean that never

February/March 2022 Volume 46, No 2

HEADS YOU

WIN...

BRIDLE FITTING: THIS SEASON’S HOT TOPIC ON THE HOOF PRODUCTS FOR HOOVES AND JOINTS

ETN is the official media partner of BETA International

FRONT COVER:

PLUS

• AMTRA ACCREDITED RAMA CPD FEATURE AND QUIZ • RETAILER PROFILE • SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS

2022

11-13 September NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, UK Main Sponsor

Main Sponsor

To order, call our team on 01270 782 236 or email enquiries@dodsonandhorrell.com

Packed with health supplements and suitable for all horses and ponies, we call it Ultimate Balancer for a reason!

25% OFF

In this issue...

NEWS

What’s been happening?

before have efficacy and suitability been such important selling points.

It’s all about credibility and reassurance, which is why the likes of BETA NOPS and riding hat standards are so valuable. Maybe such schemes need extending to more product areas?

Why are we still killing horses with kindness?

Five years ago this month, ETN warned of “over-rugged, over-fed horses and ponies going out onto the Spring grass like obesity time-bombs.”

Despite many valiant efforts to educate owners, nothing much changes.

And those prominent members of the showing fraternity who should know better and set an example to others ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Bits have become their own industry what with so many permutations of mouthpieces, cheeks and materials available.

Meanwhile consumers’ thirst for knowledge increases as fast as the arrival of new bits and fresh thinking on the subject.

As a rider, it’s very easy to spend a great deal of money on bits. (Good news for retailers!) The thing is, you can often find a bit that works really well, only for the effect to wear off after a week or so. That’s why bit banks are so brilliant.

If you’re a retailer and get asked about bits, don’t be afraid to point your customer in the direction of expert help. A conversation with Sprenger bitting advisor Lindsay Middleton, and a subsequent change of bit, has worked wonders for me and my horse.

Thinking about communicating better with my horse also highlighted an add-on sales opportunity... Trying some different bits made me think about my hands and, by extension, my reins. And when I looked closely at them, the rubber covering was so worn, if they’d been a car tyre, I’d have been facing a fine.

So, I got myself some new reins, and while I was at it, a fresh pair of gloves. What a difference; renewed grip and renewed confidence…

PRODUCT NEWS Latest launches

4 11

RETAILER PROFILE

Meet the team at Leonard Coombe Equestrian

PEOPLE

Who’s new, who’s moved

SMS/ETN BENCH SADDLER OF THE MONTH Read our winner’s story

SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS Do you batch?

16 18

19 20

2022 BETA BUSINESS AWARDS

Find out which companies and people are short-listed

AMTRA ACCREDITED CPD FEATURE & QUIZ Test your worming knowledge

WORM CONTROL Looking for trouble Product gallery

22

24 28 30

BEDDING AND STABLE TOOLS New standard awarded and time-saving products

COVER STORY

Bridle fitting in focus

33 36

AMTRA ACCREDITED CPD FEATURE & QUIZ Nutrition: Supplementing for the coming season

38

HOOVES, LEGS AND JOINTS Laminitis: your customers’ questions answered Product gallery

40 42

READER SURVEY

Tell us what you think about ETN – and enter a free prize draw

44

TURNING BACK THE PAGES What ETN was reporting five, ten, 20 and 30 years ago

45

ULTIMATE

BALANCER

Bridle fitting and selection is a hot topic this Spring. See inside this issue of ETN for expert advice to highlight to your customers.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

Liz Benwell Liz Benwell

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 3

News ETN | NEWS

spoga horse 2022 postponed spoga horse 2022 – originally planned to run in February – has been postponed until 23 to 25 July.

Organisers of the trade fair held at the Koelnmesse exhibition centre in Cologne, Germany, say the move is for one year only.

Exhibitor stand bookings are being carried forward. The booking deadline for spoga’s fashion show and innovations competition has been extended until 15 May. Oliver Frese, chief operating officer of Koelnmesse, said the postponement had happened after “intense consultation and in close cooperation with the industry.”

Equestrian Trade News East Wing, Stockeld Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 4AW Tel: 01937 582111 Email: info@equestriantradenews.com Website: www.equestriantradenews.com Subscriptions Distributed on a controlled-circulation basis to the retail trade. Paid-for annual subscriptions are £39.95 (UK), £73.00 (Europe), £86.00 (rest of the world).

Design & Print Designed and produced on behalf of EMC by DJ Murphy Publishers: www.djmurphy.co.uk Email: abi@djmurphy.co.uk Tel: 01428 601020

He added: “We have succeeded in securing the same setting for the exhibitors and visitors - Halls 7 and 8 have been pre-allocated.”

Michael Manefeld, executive director at wholesaler Waldhausen and a member of the show’s industry task-force panel, hinted that Covid had influenced spoga’s postponement.

“If conditions are better in July than in February, then postponing the date is the only logical and correct decision for the industry and the trade fair,” he said. spoga no longer takes place in September, its traditional date for many years.

Advertising Manager Evie Edgar Email: etn@djmurphy.co.uk Tel: 01428 601031 Abi Cannon Email: etn@djmurphy.co.uk Tel: 01428 601028 Digital Manager Nicki Lewis Email: nickil@beta-int.com The magazine is independent of all groups. Editorial views expressed in ETN are not necessarily the official view of any organisation or group.

Copyright All material is copyright Equestrian Management Consultants Ltd

Publisher Equestrian Management Consultants Ltd Editor Liz Benwell Email: editor@equestriantradenews.com 4 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

www.carbonbalancedpape r.com CBP123456

NEED MORE NEWS? Receive ETN’s weekly e-newsletter directly to your inbox. It’s free and you can sign up at www.equestriantradenews.com

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX Absorbine Aubiose Battles Balanced Horse Feeds BETA International Bettalife Citrus-Lime Dodson & Horrell Fleck Whips Gallop Equestrian Horslyx Jenkinsons NAF Nettex Premier Equine Red Gorilla Saracen Society of Master Saddlers Solution Saddles Strawmax Virbac Westgate Laboratories Zoetis

41 35 10 46 46 OBC 46 OFC 5 IFC 43 3&9 7 21 15 IBC 17 10 10 35 27 29 32

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

FESTIVAL FOR HORSE LOVERS BACK ON

NEWS | ETN

Equestrian PR agency acquired

HorseFest – a new summer festival for horse lovers – is back on for 2022 after being postponed due to the pandemic last year.

Offering a mix of equestrian learning and fun presented by John Oates Horseboxes, HorseFest will take place at Kelsall Hill in Cheshire on 8 – 10 July.

Kelsall Hill is a new venue for the festival which was originally planned for Weston Park.

“We’ve visited Kelsall Hill to see the incredible new facilities that the Latham family have invested in,” said Heidi Hunter-Cope of HorseFest.

“With two indoor arenas, one with grandstand seating, as well as two outdoor arenas - and plenty of space for talks, closeup demos, shopping, great food and bars, plus camping areas around the festival site – Kelsall offers a wonderful combination of a beautiful valley setting and state of the art facilities, just 25 minutes from the M6,” added Thea Roberts, co-founder.

Visitors can attend HorseFest for the day or stay for the weekend with camping, including in horseboxes, and glamping available.

Top names and experts booked to appear include equine biomechanics expert Simon Cocozza, eventing legend Mary King, dressage favourite Steph Croxford, natural horseman Jason Webb and show jumper Jay Halim.

HorseFest will also host evening music and entertainment, food stalls, bars and a shopping village plus activities for children.

April Coate has acquired the equestrian PR and marketing agency JB Promotions.

April has worked for the company founded by Bridget Jennings nearly 40 years ago - for seven years.

JB Promotions’ clients include Dodson & Horrell and The Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park.

“I’m delighted to hand over the reins to my colleague April Coate who has been a key player,” said Bridget who has stayed on in a consultancy role.

April said she was “pleased to be securing the long-term future of the company and looking forward to developing the business further.”

RETAIL ACQUISITION SWELLS STABLE OF BRANDS

Online store Artemis Equestrian has been purchased by EquiAmi, home of the lunge aid.

Following the acquisition, Artemis Equestrian continues to trade under existing branding, selling riding clothing, saddlery, bits, grooming and therapy tools.

British company EquiAmi recently launched a riding version of its patented lunge aid, plus branded numnahs and riding socks.

“I’m over the moon to be kicking off 2022 with such exciting news,” said director Jo Forrester of her latest purchase.

Ms Forrester is also a director of ergonomic bridle brand Elevator Equestrian.

Recognised Worldwide

www.zebraproducts.co.uk +44 (0)1352 763350 info@zebraproducts.co.uk WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

Modern materials, unsurpassed handling and unique quality EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS JANUARY 2022 | 5

ETN | NEWS

Horses “vulnerable” says new Highway Code

Horses are now classed alongside pedestrians and cyclists as vulnerable road users, according to changes to the Highway Code.

The advisory speed for vehicles passing ridden or driven horses has been reduced from 15mph to 10mph.

And drivers must allow at least 2 metres (6.5 feet) of space.

RECORD-BREAKING SPONSOR EXTENDS TRADE FAIR SUPPORT Neue Schule has agreed a two-year extension to its main sponsorship of BETA International 2022.

The trade event reverts to its traditional show days of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday when it returns to NAEC Stoneleigh on 11-13 September.

North Yorkshire based bits and bitting specialist Neue Schule is BETA International’s longest standing main sponsor, having backed the show for nine years.

“BETA International has proved to be incredibly valuable for Neue Schule throughout our years of sponsorship,” said CEO Sarfraz Mian.

“The trade fair delivers excellent UK and international exposure, and has brought results that have far exceeded our expectations.”

New organiser BETA International 2022 will be run by Impact Exhibitions & Events.

The company, which stages the pet and aquatic industry events PATS and AQUA, is organising BETA International on behalf of Equestrian Management Consultants (EMC) – the commercial arm of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).

“We’ll be working closely with BETA’s trade fair committee to make sure the show continues with its winning formula,” said Gordon Thomas of Impact Exhibitions & Events.

“There are some exciting plans to make the 2022 exhibition an unmissable event in the equestrian industry calendar.”

VAT REMINDER Firms are being reminded to prepare for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT before it becomes mandatory for all VAT-registered businesses from 1 April.

Since April 2019, businesses with a taxable turnover above £85,000 have already been required to follow MTD, keeping digital records and filing VAT returns using MTD compatible software.

Now all VAT registered businesses must file digitally through MTD from April 2022, regardless of turnover.

BETA welcomes new members The following were approved for BETA membership at recent meetings of the trade association’s Council.

• EquiChoice, Spalding Lincs – Retail member • Pony2Paddock Equestrian Supplies T/A Bianco Equestrian Ltd, Liverpool – Retail member • The Saddle Bank Ltd, Peterborough – Retail member • HorseFest Ltd, Shrewsbury, SY5 6EJ – Associate member 6 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

IN BRIEF

Badminton Horse Trials has launched its own pay-to-view livestream service. Coverage of the event on Badminton TV will be produced by the same team that delivers Badminton’s BBC coverage. British viewers will be able to watch all days live, including the show jumping until the final ten, when they’ll be asked to join the BBC’s two-hour highlights programme.

NAF is to sponsor the BE80 National Championship at the Bramham International Horse Trials, West Yorkshire in June.

Rutland based event rider Eliza Stoddart is the latest rider to choose Equipe saddles. “An owner sent me a horse with an Equipe saddle and I really liked the feel of it,” said Eliza whose yard has 17 stables. “[So] it’s fantastic to have secured support from Equipe. These saddles are superb quality, feel extremely comfortable and the horses go really well in them,” added Eliza who’s pictured with Simon Middleton of Zebra Products, UK distributor of Equipe. She rides in the Equipe EKGO when jumping and the Equipe Oracle for dressage.

Farmtrac provided five all-electric tractors to grade the arena surface at the London International Horse Show in December. Its emissions-free FT25G model runs off a lithium-ion battery and makes very little noise with its emissions-free operation.

Belgian based equine nutrition brand Cavalor has extended its commercial agreement with the international governing body for horse sports (the FEI) for a further five years. Cavalor is the FEI’s Official Nutrition Partner and title partner of the annual FEI Best Groom Award.

SEIB has been shortlisted in two categories for the National Insurance Awards 2022. The insurance broker has made the final cut for Commercial Lines Specialist Broker of the Year and Personal Lines Broker of the Year. The winners will be announced at the National Insurance Awards gala dinner in London on 9 March.

Equestrian is among 28 sports recommended for inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games

by International Olympic Committee.

Badminton Horse Trials has a new Official Partner for 2022 - solar technology specialist Lightsource bp. The company has financed and built more than 200 solar projects in the UK, managing over 10,000 acres of land used for renewable energy production.

The Grantham Cup, the headline class at The Eventing Spring Carnival, has won the backing of Lycetts Insurance Brokers. Organised by BEDE Events on 1 – 3 April, the venue is Thoresby Park. The Lycetts group has more than 60 years’ experience of providing insurance, risk management and financial advice to commercial, equine and private clients.

An increased prize fund for the 2022 Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials includes £100,000 to the winner. The total pot is worth £320,000.

Under a new partnership between Bates Saddles and British Equestrian, the saddlery brand will share educational content and offer competition prizes. Bates Saddles is already an official partner of British Eventing.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

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ETN | NEWS

Letter

OBITUARIES GEOFF DEAN

The impact of freight rates Dear ETN, I note in a recent ETN e-newsletter (12 January) that one of the UK trade suppliers is rolling back prices to 2020 because freight rates have stabilised. Unfortunately, that is not our experience and I hope they do not stabilise at current rates.

Our products are either made in our own factory in China or made by other long-term Chinese or Indian manufacturers to our specification.

Freight rates have not increased so much from India (only approximately £7,000 currently) but from China - where 40’ containers were costing approximately $2,500 - the price rose as high as $20,000. I have just checked with our import department and the container we received a few days ago cost $16,500.

In order to meet our customers’ requirements, we hold substantial stocks. If and when freight rates do reduce, we will of course look at our pricing. But customers should remember that we will have paid high freight costs on stock we are holding which will take a while to work through the system.

If we want to stay in business, we have unfortunately had to increase prices although we have kept increases to an absolute minimum. It has always been our policy to maintain high stocks so that we meet our customers’ expectations.

It has been very difficult over the last 12 months; in some cases, we have even used airfreight in order to meet our obligations. Hopefully freight rates will reduce at some point, although there is not much sign of that happening in the near future.

Yours etc Malcolm Ainge Shires Equestrian Products 8 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Geoff Dean, the distinguished Master Harness Maker who for many years ran his own saddlery shop and workshop in Sussex, died on 23 November. He was 77.

Harness Geoff created during a lifetime in the trade still graces many a Geoff Dean, the distinguished harnessshow ring today. maker who has died aged 77, receives a A self-confessed ‘old commendation from Hugh Dyson-Laurie, school’ craftsman, he a past Master of the Saddlers’ Company. generously passed on his skills to many apprentices throughout his working life.

Geoff’s father was a boot maker. The young Geoff helped in the shop from the age of ten, then joined the family business. There he worked on general repairs but got bored after two years.

However, his foray into boot-making had given Geoff a liking for working with leather. So one day he walked into the local saddlery workshop, Rices of Oxted, and asked if there were any jobs going.

It was 1961, and Rices took him on as an ‘improver’. He was to stay with the business for five years.

At the time, Rices had several shops around Sussex. Geoff worked there alongside Curtis Rice and Wally Kenward who would make and mend anything that came along.

Geoff recalled farm tractor loads of heavy harness coming in regularly. Every Tuesday, they would restring tennis rackets.

But Geoff’s first task remained in his memory as quite a test. He was given a set of heavy horse traces to stitch by hand… They were full size, sewn eight to the inch, with a double row of stitching.

Eventually, Geoff’s parents bought a pub and he set up a small workshop at the back.

In 1968, Geoff became manager of Larkin the Saddler of Worthing, staying on until 1976.

Next, he branched out on his own in a small lock-up workshop in the Sussex village of Ashington. The rent was £5 a week. He soon outgrew that workshop and moved into larger premises nearby.

Geoff mainly specialised in bespoke harness, but his upbringing enabled him to turn his hand to anything. He eventually opened a retail shop in Findon, Sussex with his long-term partner Susan Smith who predeceased him two years ago.

There are many working in the trade now who had the benefit of Geoff’s exacting training as apprentices. Although he described himself as a ‘man of the old school’, he was always willing to give advice to the young.

Geoff’s show harness remains sought-after in the show ring. He also designed synthetic harness which meets today’s demanding standards for the cross country marathon phase of carriage driving competitions.

A winner of numerous prizes for harness at the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) National Competitions, Geoff was made a Fellow of the SMS in 2010.

“He was a mentor to me many times; but there was one thing that I was able to give him,” recalls fellow saddler Julia Forsyth.

“In all those years he had been in the trade, Geoff had never actually driven a horse.

“So, one Sunday, I invited him and Susan to lunch and afterwards took them carriage driving – and of course allowed Geoff to take the reins.”

With thanks to Julia Forsyth WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

Mary Hill, who has died aged 95, with her late husband Len. Together they furthered the fortunes of saddlery company Syd Hill & Sons and made many friends in the UK.

MARY HILL Mary Hill, a member of the family behind Australian saddlery manufacturer Syd Hill & Sons, died on 25 November. She was 95.

Mary made many friends on business trips to the UK with her late husband Len Hill.

Queensland based Syd Hill & Sons was founded in 1865 by John Hill who arrived in Australia from England in the mid-1800s. It is still running today after 157 years.

Len joined the family company in Brisbane in 1936. In 1942, he was drafted overseas to fight in the Second World War. He returned in 1946 and continued to work in the saddlery business.

Len and Mary married in 1953; they had three daughters and a son. Initially, Mary remained at home to bring up the children.

Meanwhile Len and his family drove Syd Hill & Sons on to become famous for stock and racing saddles as well as equestrian leather goods. Their products were sold around the stock stations and racetracks of Australia, and also to a growing export market.

Mary joined Len at Syd Hill & Sons in 1968, the couple working together successfully on the commercial running of the company.

They made a strong team, travelling extensively overseas, selling and purchasing. As they did so, they made many friends throughout the international saddlery industry, including in the UK. Len was very proud of his English family roots.

Mary and Len retired in 1993 at the same time as Len’s brother Jim and his wife Mavis who were also in the business.

In 2008, Len, Mary and other family members again travelled to the UK. Their itinerary included accepting an invitation from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers to Saddlers’ Hall in London where Len was presented with a set of books depicting the history of the Saddlers’ Company and its artefacts. Sadly, Len died unexpectedly during the trip.

Len and Mary Hill were very devoted to their work at Syd Hill & Sons. Between them, they built an international respect for themselves and, in doing so, furthered the fortunes of this famous Australian saddlery company.

Mary’s death draws to close a partnership that many longstanding members of our industry will remember with great affection for their sense of purpose in business, their humour and above all their unbounded generosity.

With thanks to Mike Williams.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

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The Society of Master Saddlers has a busy year ahead with a host of courses planned.

• April 6 - Introductory Saddle Fitting Course Practical - Moulton College • April 11 to 13 - Qualified Bridle Fitters’ Course Practical – Moulton College • June 21 to 23 – Qualified Saddle Fitters’ Course Practical – Moulton College. (Theory webinars running in May) • August 23 - Introductory Bridle Fitters’ Course Practical, Berkshire College • October 24 to 26 – Qualified Saddle Fitters’ Course Practical – Moulton College

For details of prices and to book your place on any of the courses contact the SMS office on (01449) 711642 or email enquiries@mastersaddlers.co.uk

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Visit the Battles website to view more limited edition prints Become a stockist today

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Product News What’s new for 2022?

You can always rely on Rhinegold to come up with some cracking new products.

Rhinegold Men’s Harlem Waterproof Country Boots are made from waxy grained leather with a drawstring and reflective piping detailing.

They feature a Wiltex membrane certifying that they are waterproof and breathable.

Fully lined with a soft brushed lining, the Harlem boot is a stylish alternative to Wellingtons or yard boots. An energy return rubber sole adds stability and comfort throughout the day.

The popular Harlem is already available in ladies and wide leg styles.

The finest fleece

Also new, the Rhinegold Comfey Collar Fleece Rug is made in best quality, anti-pill suede fleece.

Suitable for stable wear, travelling and at shows, it features single chest strap, with a touch-tape closing chest skirt plus an elasticated surcingle.

A snug, padded neck line adds comfort and reduces rubbing.

Rhinegold is available exclusively at Snowhill Ltd.

PRODUCT NEWS | ETN

Helmet earns a halo

Charles Owen marked its 110th anniversary with the addition of the customisable MyHalo to its bespoke CX helmet range.

Seven shell colours are available in a smooth matt or high gloss finish, or a combination of both.

Further options are two Swarovski fabric coverings and 12 ring colours, including two brushed metallic colourways with two crystal settings, plus five crystal colours.

MyHalo is certified to PAS:015, VG1 and ASTM, and is Kitemarked and SEI certified. MIPS is available as an extra in all sizes. The RRP is from £340.

Charles Owen offers retailer training on helmet selection, fitting and safety. The manufacturer also runs brand days on which retailers are invited to visit its North Wales factory.

Marketing support includes an extensive media library.

AND BREATHE…

New Airmunch from Equilibrium Products is made from 1kg of compressed timothy hay.

Fortified with vitamins C, D, E plus peppermint, the fibre block is designed to help support horses’ respiratory and immune systems while keeping them occupied.

Its high fibre, low sugar content means it can be enjoyed by all horses and ponies, including those prone to laminitis.

Distributor lines up high-performance range

Irish company Forte Healthcare has formed ARKequine to supply products to the racing, competition horse and breeding sectors.

ARKequine is distributing nutritional supplements and topical horse-care products from German brand derbymed, the official sponsor of the German Olympic Committee of Equestrian Sport (DOKR).

The company also offers high-performance nutritional feed and supplements from ACME, and stable hygiene products from Staldren of Denmark.

In addition, Forte Healthcare’s own label ARKequine makes its debut product launch with Respimin, a respiratory health supplement.

The people behind ARKequine are Richard Young, managing director of Forte Healthcare, and equine nutritional manager Kirsty McCann.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 11

ETN | PRODUCT NEWS

£100k funding secured by body protector developer

JUMP TO IT

HITS THE SPOT

Designed to flatter

A former show jumper who’s working on a new body protector has secured £100,000 funding.

Buckinghamshire based Esmeralda Tuomi, who hails from Finland, set up Armaros to create “a new type of flexible body armour for horse riders.”

Her design, which she has named Guardian Angel, is to be submitted for testing to the BETA Body Protector Standard.

The six-figure investment is from the British Design Fund.

Esmeralda says many riders are put off wearing body protectors because they are uncomfortable.

“When I started asking fellow riders about their experiences, I quickly found that most riders don’t wear one because they find them incredibly stiff and restrictive. That was a lightbulb moment for me,” she added.

Esmeralda set about finding a solution while on a Global Innovation Design course, backed by Imperial College London.

Key to her new body protector has been the creation of a flexible yet supportive material, said to be inspired by the human spine.

“The design is accessible, scalable and suitable for mass manufacturing, so the maximum number of people can potentially benefit from it,” says Esmeralda.

“We have managed to engineer a product that works with existing manufacturing techniques, which also has potential for many other markets.”

Armaros hopes to bring its product to market within the next year. Initially targeting equestrians, the company hopes to expand into other sports and sectors such as defence.

British Design Fund works with UK start-ups. Alongside capital investment, it provides mentoring to accelerate growth plans.

The versatile Massage Mitt Hotspot from Equilibrium Products has a choice of settings.

It offers two types of massage (cyclical or continuous), each with three intensities, plus the option to add heat.

The Massage Mitt Hotspot increases the horse’s skin temperature by an average of 8.7°C, says the supplier, making it the perfect way to deliver safe, repeatable heat.

A safety cut-off mechanism prevents overheating.

12 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Veredus’ new Absolute equine jumping boots have an extended gel and carbon protective surface from the flexor tendon to the fetlock.

Yet they retain the characteristics of the brand’s popular Vento boots with their double ventilation for exceptional breathability.

Two styles are available; the Carbon Gel Absolute and Olympus Absolute.

Veredus is distributed in the UK and Eire by Zebra Products.

The Dakota clothing collection – designed by Vicki Clark, who runs Westleighs Saddlery in Essex – is now available to other retailers.

The on-trend range includes leggings with a full silicone seat, high waist and two big pockets.

Flattering and comfortable, the range covers all sizes and comes in grey, burgundy, navy, rose gold and non-see-through white.

RRPs are £55 for standard leggings, £65 for a thermal version, with children’s sizes at £35.

Matching base layers are RRP £35, and £25 for children’s sizes. A waterproof coat, socks, bridle numbers, tracksuits, hoodies, headbands and show shirts complete the Dakota collection.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

PRODUCT NEWS | ETN

TAKE THE LEAD

Fed up with soggy cotton leadropes? How about one in leather?

Passier has launched an elegant leather leadrope to match its leather stable halter.

With a padded noseband and headpiece, the halter (headcollar) has an anatomical shape. It’s adjustable on both sides and the throatlash and chin strap are removable.

The 160cm long leather lead rope has a hand loop and snap hook. The soft leather is said to give excellent grip. Braiding on the lead rope matches that on the halter.

Both products are available in black with stainless steel fittings and in Havana with brass fittings.

All feet on deck

The Java G2, new to Chatham’s deck shoe range, is made with sustainably produced leather.

The footwear collection aims to reduce consumption of water, harmful chemicals and energy throughout the manufacturing process.

The Java G2 features Chatham’s Solespring Comfort technology which uses natural latex foam. The outsole is in latex rubber for slip resistance.

Says Philip Marsh, managing director at Chatham: “Java G2 is an exciting first for Chatham. We’ve chosen the very best sustainable materials which have been put through rigorous testing to ensure it can endure all the coast and countryside has to throw at it.”

MOVEABLE MAGNETS The new Equilibrium Magnetic Rug from Equilibrium Products allows magnets to be placed where they’re most needed on each horse.

Each rug comes with six large Vitaflex magnets, said to present alternating poles of north and south, effectively creating a magnetic field.

The magnets can be placed anywhere throughout the rug’s lining.

The versatile product can be used overnight, while the horse is stabled or when travelling. It’s available in sizes 5’6” to 7’.

KICK ON IN STYLE

Catch your customers’ eyes ahead of a new competition season with EGO7 Aries boots.

With anatomical shaping and high-end style at their heart, EGO7 boots offer freedom of movement, lightness and close contact with the horse.

The full grain leather, tall riding boots have a slim ankle and two-layer elastic panel for a stretch fit, plus a YKK zip.

Other features include a padded heel guard for comfort and safety, sleek adjustable spur rest and stitched toe cap.

The leather foot-bed has a double anti-shock insole and the boots are breathable and antibacterial. The RRP is around £315.

EGO7 Aries boots are distributed in the UK and Eire by Zebra Products.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 13

ETN | PRODUCT NEWS

Shaped for comfort

The Premier Equine Verdura Anatomic Snaffle Bridle is made from high quality Italian leather.

It’s carefully shaped to contour around the horse’s ears, nose and cheekbones for a comfortable fit.

An anatomically shaped, padded poll piece is designed to distribute pressure over the less sensitive areas of the poll, and away from the ears.

The browband, with its round, raised design and padding, is shaped to create definition.

The snaffle noseband dips down at the sides to avoid contact with the horse’s cheekbones, alleviating pressure and potentially heightening performance, says Premier Equine.

Premium quality stainless steel fastenings and elegant stitching complete an overall stunning look. The trade price is £46 plus VAT.

DRESS TO IMPRESS

The Highbury Collection is a fashionable clothing collection from Hy Equestrian.

The navy and taupe range, augmented with trendy rose gold detailing, comprises matching base layer, jacket and breeches.

Made in top quality performance fabric, all pieces offer optimum breathability, flexibility and comfort for equestrian activities.

Hy Equestrian is available from Battles.

PRICES STILL AT 2018 RATES…

Leading supplier Snowhill says it’s still holding 2018 prices – as well as holding ample stock – “despite unforeseen overheads.”

Best sellers include the Rhinegold Elite Storm Outdoor Rug, a classic blue middle-weight turnout with a 1,200 denier, ripstop, breathable, waterproof outer with 200gsm Polyfill and breathable nylon lining.

A multi-adjustable chest with twin buckles creates the perfect fit, with trigger hooks for everyday ease. The waterproof stretch chest panel aids freedom of movement.

This rug also features a front shoulder movement pleat, surcingle guides and an extra-large umbrella-style tailguard with reflective tape. A neck cover is included.

The price is still at £42.50 since 2018

No price increase since 2018

Another great value product from Snowhill is the Rhinegold Boston Front Zip Paddock Boot in quality leather with a front zip, pull tab and double stitching detail along the toe cap.

Elastic sides and non-slip, traditionally styled moulded rubber soles feature in both children’s and adults’ sizes. And at £16.90, this best-seller has seen no price increase since 2018.

Rhinegold is available exclusively from Snowhill.

Elegance and comfort

Amerigo Vespucci Bridles are designed by world renowned saddle-maker Peter Menet to compliment the brand’s accessory range.

Vespucci bridles have the horse’s comfort and performance in mind.

Integrated headpieces are softly padded to protect the sensitive poll and ear area.

And there’s a range of elegant styles to suit every horse’s head-shape.

14 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

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PRODUCT NEWS | ETN

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Outstanding Quality EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 15

ETN | RETAILER PROFILE

Bringing old-fashioned service to a modern era Edith Ligthelm talks to Deborah Hayward about Leonard Coombe Equestrian, her family business with a rich tradition and long history in the Devon market town of Newton Abbot.

L

eonard Coombe Equestrian has enjoyed a presence in Newton Abbot, Devon, for more than 200 years.

As a saddlery, it supplied harnesses and leatherwork to farmers and soldiers during the First World War, before moving with the times to provide horse equipment and rider clothing for today’s equestrians.

In a nod to its rich heritage and long history, the store still bears the name Leonard Coombe, but it is now run by three women – sisters Edith and Karen Ligthelm, and Edith’s daughter, Joanne.

Together, with their staff, they pride themselves on offering the very best customer service, some fabulous brands and a top-class online and in-store shopping experience.

A DUTCHMAN IN DEVON

Edith’s family arrived on the South West’s saddlery scene by chance. Her father, Johannes Ligthelm, was a Dutch resistance fighter during the war who fled the Netherlands to escape occupying German forces and eventually arrived in Britain.

“He was such a private man, but he had some fascinating stories about this time and was even interviewed by the Imperial War Museum,” says Edith.

He settled in The name Leonard Devon, where Coombe has a proud he met Leonard history in Newton Abbot Coombe’s that began more than 200 years ago. daughter. The pair married and Johannes went to work in the family saddlery, where he taught himself – with help from some of the employees – to be a saddler.

Unfortunately, the marriage did not last and, with Leonard dead, no sons in the Coombe family and no one interested in running the saddlery, Johannes packed all his tools into a wooden handcart and set up a new business in 1955 not far from the shop’s current location in Highweek Street.

Edith Ligthelm (left), sister Karen (right) and Edith’s daughter Joanne, with baby John, run Leonard Coombe Equestrian, following in the footsteps of the sisters’ father, Johannes.

“With the family’s agreement, he took the Leonard Coombe name with him,” explains Edith.

A HUB OF INDUSTRY

Back in its heyday, Newton Abbot had 10 saddleries. “Leatherwork and saddlery were really big business in the town,” says Edith. “Of course, everything was on a much smaller scale, but there were lots of grazing cattle and tanneries, so plenty of raw materials to make the horse equipment that was needed.

“Throughout the First World War, there was a huge amount of leather belts and gaiters made for the soldiers. It’s amazing how this market town grew and equally amazing that our family business is still here after all these years.”

BECOMING A FAMILY BUSINESS

Johannes went on to marry Ivy and the couple had three daughters Edith, Karen and Elizabeth. “Elizabeth is the clever one,” says Edith. “She’s a chartered accountant and a real high-flyer. She isn’t hands-on, like Karen and me, but she’s still a partner in the business and does all our accounts.

“Karen was trained by our father to do saddlery, while I enjoy the retail side. We started working with our parents in the shop when we were quite young. During the school holidays, we’d be plaiting velvet browbands for pocket money.

16 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

“I have such good memories of the shop from back in the 1970s. I can remember when we stocked our first Christy velvet hats, with the elastic under the chin, and there were Gorringe jodhpurs and Carr & Day & Martin clothing.

“You didn’t need to specialise back then, as people’s needs were much smaller – there wasn’t the same choice as there is today. Many of our customers came from riding schools, as there were lots in the area, as well as nearby racing yards, farmers and the local hunt.”

On leaving school, both Edith and Karen went to work for the business full-time alongside their parents, who continued to lend their support until they died – their mother in 1992 and father in 2000.

TAKING THE REINS

The two sisters gradually assumed greater responsibility for the business over the years and have successfully built on its traditions and popularity to create a modern retail business for the 21st century.

Edith’s daughter, Joanne, has also come on board to take care of the shop’s website and online sales.

Karen still carries out leatherwork repairs and spends a huge part of her working day saddle fitting. “That didn’t happen in my father’s day,” recalls Edith. “A farmer or a huntsman would order a saddle and it was never properly fitted.”

Edith has found the perfect niche for herself in the retail side of the store. “I really enjoy people – the customers, some who have been coming for 50 years – and our staff, who are involved in showing, eventing and hunting,” she says.

Selling clothing is a relatively modern phenomenon for the store that has expanded from being just a saddlery.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

RETAILER PROFILE | ETN on-site saddlery repair shop, the business is perfectly placed to serve regular customers and passing trade.

Open six days a week and offering services such as click-and-collect – increasingly popular since lockdown – rug repairs, riding hat and body protector fitting, and a rug-washing service, the store remains a real hive of activity in this thriving market town.

Leonard Coombe Equestrian moved into its current property in 2006.

“On the whole, leisure riding seems to be what most people are doing round here and they come to us for their regular gear and some really nice brands, as they tend to get more specialised clothing and equipment on the internet or at the big shows.

“I confess to having a bit of a love-hate relationship with the internet, but I still make sure people get a personal service when they shop online with us.

“If they email with a query, I give them a call. They’re a bit surprised at first but really appreciate that I have taken the trouble to do this. I’m pleased to offer good oldfashioned service in a modern era.”

A NEW, BIGGER BUILDING

Leonard Coombe Equestrian moved to a large, purpose-built new property in the centre of Newton Abbot – just a few yards from its previous shop – in 2006. With two floors of showrooms, car parking and an

A BRIGHT FUTURE

A global pandemic has proved a challenge to many in the retail sector but, as Covid restrictions are lifted, people are back out and enjoying their bricks-and-mortar shopping experience once again.

“They can try things on, handle the products, chat face-to-face, enjoy chatting to staff about their horses and the products,” says Edith, “and I think members of the public are really appreciating us and the job we do a bit more.”

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

The sense of community and the importance of handing down their own piece of history through the generations is something that is incredibly important to the Ligthelms. Perhaps the newest member of the family – Joanne’s baby son, John, fittingly named after his grandfather – is a saddler in the making...

ETN asks Edith…

Q. Which brands do you stock?

We have brands such as Barbour, Ariat, Baleno, Dubarry, Horseware, Jeffries, LeMieux and Bridleway.

Q. Do you use social media to promote the business and products?

Joanne does this for us, mainly on Facebook and a little Instagram.

Q. Who takes care of the buying for the business?

I do the buying, but I always get opinions from younger members of staff and Joanne.

Q. Are you a horsey family?

I have been in the past, but there isn’t the time now. Karen has her own horse and Jo used to have one.

Q. Do you have any pets?

Yes, I have three dogs – all mongrels.

The eldest, Daffodil, is 16. We really love our dogs and Karen has two German pointers in the workshop.

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FOR FURTHER DETAILS

Sarah Rushby – Northern T: 07894 611898 · Sarah.rushby@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk Kate Hayward – Midlands T: 07802 815596 · Kate.hayward@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk Rosie King – East Anglia T: 07736 881029 · Rosie.king@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk WORKING WITH

Abi Turner – South East T: 07702 563247 · Abigail.turner@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk Nic Read – Southern England T: 07841 045273 · Nic.read@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk Lucy Sweeting – South West of England & Southern Wales T: 07736 825571 · Lucy.sweeting@saracenhorsefeeds.co.uk

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ETN | PEOPLE

People Catherine Morris, formerly the Society of Master Saddlers’ (SMS) development officer, has joined Abbey England as marketing analyst.

Catherine’s CV includes account handling for Cadbury Trebor Bassett, the supply of medical devices and managing technical textiles. She took up saddle fitting after seeing an advert for a course in ETN. After training with saddler David May, Catherine spent seven years working as a MSFC (Master Saddle Fitting Consultant) through her Towcester, Northants based business, Breathe Saddle Fitting.

At Abbey England, Catherine will help develop the business’s understanding of its customers’ supply needs, and identify opportunities for growth.

“We are thrilled Catherine has joined our team,” said Richard Brown, CEO of Abbey England. “As a qualified saddle fitter, she brings a wealth of experience in the sector, alongside good industry knowledge to assist with our marketing initiatives.”

Catherine is pictured with her New Forest pony, Mole.

James Collantine has joined Dengie as ruminant, pet and poultry manager.

A graduate of Harper Adams, he’s had 14 years’ practical dairy farming experience in England and Scotland. James’s arrival coincided with the launch of Dengie’s new livestock website.

Northampton based supplier Westgate has taken on two new paid interns.

Jo McCormac (pictured left) graduated from the Royal Agricultural University with a first-class honours degree in equine science and business. Jo studied the impact of feeding antioxidants to equines with glandular ulcers, and has a particular interest in equine nutrition and bio-veterinary science.

Outside work, she’s aiming for the 2022 TREC world championships.

Alex Greene, a University of Birmingham graduate with a first class honours degree in geography, also joins Westgate. She’s coached for Riding for the Disabled (RDA) for six years.

David Mitson, CEO of Westgate’s parent company HLM Group, said it was the ninth year the company had run a paid internship programme. “We believe it is important to support young professionals entering our industry and to teach them good business practices,” he added.

Nicola Davies has become the first female chair of Council of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. She succeeds David Lewis who retires after more than 40 years’ service to the society which runs the Royal Show.

Nicola, from Ceredigion, has exhibited Welsh Cobs at the Royal Welsh for many years as well as supporting the show as a commentator and steward.

18 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Social media expert Rhea Freeman has won an award for women at the forefront of digital industries. Rhea, who writes a regular column for ETN, picked up Podcast of the Year at the 2021 Digital Women Awards for her Small & Supercharged weekly podcast.

Digital Women is an online skill-sharing community where women learn and hone digital skills.

Irralie Richardson has joined Hilton Herbs’ UK helpline team. She previously worked for insurer NFU Mutual as a commercial account manager.

Before this, Irralie was a groom working in studs and hunt yards. She has a degree in equine performance science.

Irralie lives in Dorset with her partner Samuel and terrier Charlie.

She says she’s looking forward to getting back into the saddle.

Riding for the Disabled Association’s (RDA) chief executive Ed Bracher has resigned and will leave the charity in April after 17 years.

Hartpury College and Hartpury University have appointed Professor Andy Collop as its next vice-chancellor, principal and CEO. Currently deputy vice-chancellor of De Montfort University, he will take up the post at Hartpury upon the retirement of Russell Marchant in September 2022.

Amy Pickard has been promoted to national accounts manager at Bettalife. She has been with the supplement supplier for three years.

“I’m looking forward to continuing to build relationships with new and existing retailers,” she says, “as well as to creating a broader portfolio of stockists nationwide.”

Dr Diane Fisher-Adamson, BETA’s chief medical officer, has been appearing in Channel 5’s 999:Critical Condition. Diane is a major trauma and emergency medicine consultant at the NHS Royal Stoke Hospital where the TV series is filmed.

Liz Smith and Dena Hellowell have joined forage manufacturer Honeychop’s sales team.

Liz’s agency has taken on the new role of covering sales in Scotland. Dena, who returns to Honeychop after two years with Dengie, becomes Honeychop’s area sales manager for the Midlands and East Anglia as Rachel Gillam prepares for maternity leave.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

BENCH SADDLER OF THE MONTH | ETN

Celebrating

the best bench saddlers...

This ETN award, presented in conjunction with the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS), recognises those who uphold the highest standards of leathercraft skills.

After a few more years’ work and starting up her own business – north Oxfordshire based CK Leatherworks - Corrie’s dream has come true and she’s recently been awarded Master Saddler status.

COMPLICATED WORK

Oxfordshire based Master Saddler Corrie King has a second job as a retained firefighter.

ETN BENCH SADDLER OF THE MONTH: CORRIE KING

NOMINATED BY: Catherine Baker of Wylye Valley Equine, who says: “Corrie is a hugely talented saddler with a wide range of skills.

She produces some amazing miniature pieces and re-enactment work, and has even ventured into shoe-making. I’ve had the pleasure of judging Corrie’s work a few times; the quality is outstanding.”

ABOUT Corrie: Even as a little girl collecting Breyer model horses and making their tack, Corrie had an eye for detail.

“I got hold of an old second-hand saddle and took it apart to figure out how it was constructed,” she says. “I spent hours and hours in my bedroom making miniatures.

“At the start, they were quite crude and clumsy, but I practiced and practiced and slowly developed the skills for crafting delicate miniature saddles, bridles and headcollars.”

Corrie had riding lessons from the age of eight. “Riding was the highlight of my week,” she recalls.

CHASING THE DREAM

Having decided that saddlery was the job for her, Corrie was determined to pursue her dream of one day becoming a Master Saddler. The SMS pointed her in the direction of the saddlery course at Capel Manor College.

“I started the course after my GCSEs and, after two years learning the skills of the trade, went on to a three-year apprenticeship with S. Milner & Son in Leicestershire to work towards becoming a Qualified Saddler.”

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

A self-confessed perfectionist, Corrie loves making anything intricate and complicated. That attention to detail has remained steadfast too. “If a piece of work is not perfect, then it doesn’t leave the workshop,” she says.

Leather-lined horsehair bracelets, to a design Corrie’s developed over the years, are a favourite item. “They draw on my love for fiddly miniature work, and are so rewarding to create because they are often a way for someone to remember a beloved horse.”

Making something unique is key to Corrie’s passion for her craft. “There’s nothing more satisfying than making someone’s design or idea into reality,” she says.

PRESERVING A TRADE

Corrie is proud to preserve and practice a trade which has been passed down through generations of saddlers. She even has a couple of 100-year-old tools in her collection. “Just think of all the saddlers who have used them over the years,” she says.

On the flipside, saddlery can be a very frustrating job. “When something doesn’t turn out as I’d hoped, I take a deep breath and remind myself that every day is a school day. But it’s not easy when you’ve just remade something for the third time that morning!”

For the 2021 SMS National Saddlery Competition, Corrie made a half-size circus bridle from white leather with red pigskin patent inserts.

“It was stitched at 18 stitches per inch and took as long as, if not longer, to stitch than a full-size bridle. I did question my sanity, but was really pleased with the end result.”

NO STOCK, ALL BESPOKE

On a typical day at CK Leatherworks, it’s just Corrie and her lurcher Phoenix in the workshop.

“I don’t carry any stock, every single item I make is bespoke and made to measure.” These include bridles and tack for general riding, eventing and dressage, Iberian bridles and replica historical bridles.

Corrie has also made vintage car bonnet straps, a leather case for a coaching horn, and a specially designed schooling/ groundwork cavesson for a local equine physiotherapist.

Although she works alone day to day, Corrie values contact with the wider saddlery community.

“Although I don’t have quite the length of industry experience that others might, I feel that those within the saddlery trade are more willing now than ever to invest time and effort into sharing skills and helping up and coming trainee saddlers and leatherworkers.

“Social media means there’s a wealth of knowledge being shared by craftspeople across continents via Facebook groups, set up specifically for this purpose.

The combined years of knowledge and experience is such an invaluable tool to draw on, and I hope to contribute to this.”

ON CALL FIREFIGHTER

While beavering away in her workshop, Corrie is constantly on-call for her other job as a retained firefighter. “There’s nothing that gets the blood pumping quite like the pager going off,” she says.

She also helps out with the sheep on her partner’s farm. “Getting involved with the lambing for the first time last year was something quite special.”

HOW TO NOMINATE A BENCH SADDLER:

Everyone is invited to nominate bench saddlers they feel deserve to be named ETN/SMS Bench Saddler of the Month.

Candidates must be a member of the SMS, based in the UK or overseas. To nominate a bench saddler, email editor@ equestriantradenews.com and tell us why this person deserves to be put in the spotlight. Please include the bench saddler’s name and business name too.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 19

ETN | SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS

Do you batch?

Social media posts should be a call to action, says Rhea Freeman in ETN’s latest guide to making the most of your business’s online activity.

W

e’ve all heard about batching – there’s a lady who’s made a career from teaching us how to batch our cooking (The Batch Lady!), but does batching work when it comes to content creation? And should you try and adopt it this year?

It’s no secret that task-batching can make us more efficient, but it also has the ability to improve focus, quality of output, and some suggest it can also reduce stress. As a real life example, you wouldn’t take each individual order you receive and go through the printing, then picking, then packing, then sorting out the postage for each on its own before starting again with the next order, would you? This strategy extends to social media content creation too.

Whether it’s flatlays or studio shots, long form video, or short form like Reels. Let me explain…

Let’s say you have a new product. You know you’re going to need website images and also flatlays for social media, but you just ‘quickly’ want to get one and you’ll worry about the rest later. So, you get your product in all the colourways, prepare your area (maybe you have a light box or you use white boards to create your studio), clear your space, find your tripod, get your camera or phone, take the image, take a few more, transfer them to your computer, edit them, tidy up your work space and return everything to stock. That’s a fair amount of time for a handful of images. And you’ll need to repeat it for the next set you do.

Let’s run through the batching idea. Instead, you have a few products to photograph and you have a props box that you can use to create flatlays (so it probably contains connected items- if you sell haynets you might have some little bags of hay, weighing scales, tie rings, weight tapes, or maybe even gloves, woolly hats, etc) and a box of products from the rest of your range that would work well with it for social media or website headers. Maybe, you play around with different combinations of products, you move around the flatlay you’ve created to capture different angles or make different items the focus of what you’re doing. This means that instead of having a few images from your session, you will have a lot that you can use in different ways, and although the photography time and editing time is greater, you might be surprised that it’s not a proportionate increase.

With video, this works well too. Lighting can be challenging to set up and can take a fair amount of time. If you’re hiring models or presenters, the chances are that having them for half a day or a full day will allow you to get SO much more content created in contrast to hiring them for an hour here and there. You only need to set the kit up once. And get the area prepared once. And even do hair and make up (if you’re doing that) once. Yes, a big batch content creation day can be tiring, but it’s so worth it when you have all 20 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

that content ready to go. And it’s arguably not as tiring as creating the same output over many (many) hours.

Reels continue to be a huge trend, and batching works here too.

If you spend the time planning out the Reels you want to capture, and what transitions will work well for the product/services you’re going to show through them, you can get everything you need in one place, with the right lighting, etc. With videos that include different scenes, the continuity in light, background, season, expression… even hair and make up… can really elevate your video and take it to a new level.

When you batch, it generally allows you to create a lot of content in a shorter space of time, which is usually better quality because you’ve been able to focus. And don’t forget the stress factor. I think we have all been caught out with a ‘need’ for a specific photo. Maybe it’s an awareness day that you need a picture of something relevant for, for example. With a little planning, you won’t be panicking at the last minute, you’ll already have it. And then we come to the smug factor. Which is a very nice side effect of nailing your batch content creation!

About the author: Rhea Freeman is an award-winning PR adviser and social media expert who is a Facebook Lead Trainer and accredited #SheMeansBusiness trainer. She provides one-to-one mentoring for brands and also runs a free Facebook group, a membership group, and produces a weekly podcast with the Small & Supercharged prefix. Find out more at www.rheafreemanpr.co.uk Rhea is running a webinar series with BETA which includes FREE sessions for all BETA members who wish to participate and paid for sessions that are open to BETA members and non-BETA members, although BETA members enjoy preferential rates. Find out more by contacting the BETA office tel 01937 587062.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

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ETN | BETA BUSINESS AWARDS

Network and celebrate with the industry’s finest We are delighted to welcome back the BETA Conference, this year combined with the BETA Business Awards 2022.

T

his year’s BETA conference theme is Back to Business.

Guest speakers will cover a wide range of topics including Introducing Sustainability to your business, the Future of Retailing, the Modern Marketing Mix, HR in a post-Covid world and Making sense of the Money Markets in 2022 and more.

The conference and awards will take place on Thursday 24 March at the Hilton East Midlands Hotel. The day will begin at 10am, with the conference concluding early afternoon, followed by a drinks reception & canapés, and 2 course meal. The Business Awards will be announced after the meal over the course of the afternoon.

If you are unable to attend in person, you can attend the day via livestreaming, with conference tickets costing £25 + vat pp.

If you would like to book please email agy@beta-uk.org for a booking link to be sent or visit the BETA website.

22 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Costs for the full day are: £55 + vat pp for BETA members, £75 + vat pp for NonMembers.

Or, if you would prefer to just attend for drinks, meal and the awards you are welcome to at a cost of: £40 + vat pp for BETA members, £55 + vat for Non-Members.

Overnight rate including B&B and the Conference, Lunch and Awards: Members - £140 + VAT single occupancy, £110 + VAT per person double occupancy.

Non Members - £170 + VAT single occupancy, £140 + VAT pp for double occupancy.

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BETA BUSINESS AWARDS | ETN

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR FINALISTS!

Finalists of the 2022 BETA Business Awards, leading B2B accolades recognising and rewarding the outstanding achievements of individuals and companies in the equestrian industry, have been announced.

“After an incredibly challenging year for us all, I am thrilled that the awards have been so positively received,” said BETA executive director Claire Williams. “We have had a huge number of nominations across the board, which really shows that, in times like these, members of our industry are keen to rally and support one another.

“We are delighted to be able to be holding the ceremony face to face for the first time in two years to celebrate those industry heroes who really have gone above and beyond over the past 12 months.

“We would like to congratulate all our finalists, who have done incredibly well to get this far, and wish them the very best of luck.”

Zebra Products Retailer of the Year To be awarded in two categories of Retail Store and Online/Mail Order Retailer.

Retail Store: • Millwheel Tack Shop – Warfield, Berkshire • Griggs Equestrian – St. Austell, Cornwall • Riseholme Feeds – Wysall, Nottinghamshire • North Wales Tack Shop – Llandudno Junction, Conwy • Redpost Equestrian – Totnes, Devon • Manor Equestrian – Annesley, Nottinghamshire Online/Mail Order Retailer: • Supplement Solutions – Preston, Lancashire • Linney’s Equestrian – Audenshaw, Greater Manchester • Griggs Equestrian – St. Austell, Cornwall • GS Equestrian – Paignton, Devon • Equine Express – Colne, Lancashire • Redpost Equestrian – Totnes, Devon STUBBS ENGLAND Nutritional Helpline of the Year To be awarded to the Feed or Supplement Manufacturer’s Technical Helpline offering the best service in nutritional advice and assistance to customers.

• Allen & Page Ltd – Thetford, Norfolk • Baileys Horse Feed Ltd – Braintree, Essex • Blue Chip Feed Ltd – Sheffield, South Yorkshire • Science Supplements Ltd – Hartwell, Northamptonshire • TopSpec Equine Ltd – Thirsk, North Yorkshire Equine Careers Sales Representative/Agent of the Year To be awarded to the Sales Representative/Agent who is judged outstanding in their approach to servicing their customers’ and companys’ needs.

• Chris Potts – SJR Supplies, Buckinghamshire • Nicola Read – Saracen Horse Feeds Ltd, Kent • Patrick Robertson – Allen & Page Ltd, Norfolk & Honeychop, Suffolk • Simone Highmore – Allen & Page Ltd

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BETA Export Award An award open to companies of all sizes that have shown substantial and sustained increases in export activity over a three-year period.

• Equilibrium Products Ltd – Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire • Saracen Horse Feeds Ltd – Aylesford, Kent Weatherbeeta Group Retail Employee of the Year Celebrating employees showing excellent customer service, great product knowledge and a passion for professional retailing.

• Charlotte Wright – H & C Beart, Norfolk • Georgie Walker – Redpost Equestrian, Devon • Jo Burton – Hidden Oak Equestrian, Devon • Natalie Lynn – Carrs Billington, Morpeth • Tia Partington – R B Equestrian, Buckinghamshire TSM Marketing Effectiveness Award An award that marks effective communications and the increased value a company’s marketing campaign has brought to its brands.

• Dengie – Southminster, Essex • Gray Equestrian - Leybourne, Kent • HorseHage & Mollichaff – Paignton, Devon • Redpost Equestrian – Totnes, Devon • Weatherbeeta Ltd – Rushden, Northamptonshire Citation Trade Supplier of the Year Awarded to the manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor judged to offer the best in delivery, customer service, product knowledge and awareness of retailer requirements.

• Battle, Hayward & Bower Ltd – Lincoln, Lincolnshire • Perry Equestrian (A. Perry Ltd) - Cradley Heath, West Midlands • Shires Equestrian Ltd – Leominster, Herefordshire • Westgate – Northampton, Northamptonshire The BETA Business Awards were launched in 2004 and have grown to become prestigious industry accolades and a landmark in the equestrian calendar. Categories are designed to reflect the changing face of this vibrant sector.

The winners of the 2022 BETA Business Awards will be announced at Hilton East Midlands Hotel on 24 March 2022.

Further details are available from the BETA office, telephone 01937 587062 or email agy@beta-uk.org.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 23

ETN | CPD FEATURE ABOUT ETN’S RAMA/SQP FEATURES ETN’s series of CPD features helps RAMAs (Registered Animal Medicines Advisors/SQPs) earn the CPD (continuing professional development) points they need. The features are accredited by AMTRA, and highlight some of the most important subject areas for RAMAs/ SQPs specialising in equine and companion animal medicine.

AMTRA is required by the Veterinary Medicines Regulations to ensure its RAMAs/SQPs undertake CPD. All RAMAs/SQPs must earn a certain number of CPD points in a given period of time in order to retain their qualification. RAMAs/SQPs who read this feature and submit correct answers to the questions below will receive two CPD points. For more about AMTRA and becoming a RAMA/SQP, visit www.amtra.org.uk

SEASONAL WORM CONTROL Test your knowledge about testing and treating Summer means ideal conditions for eggs and larvae to develop on the pasture.

W

hether your customers are in store, online or on the phone, it’s a RAMA/SQP’s responsibility to prescribe the most appropriate product for every individual equine circumstance.

At this time of year, you are likely to be hit with some tricky questions, not least about testing versus treating, says Zoetis vet Wendy Talbot. So in this CPD piece we cover the key aspects of autumn/winter worming to ensure you have all the right answers to hand.

24 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

THERE’S TESTING AND THERE’S TESTING

Back in the day, faecal worm egg counts were the sole option for testing; but because they didn’t reveal ‘hidden’ worms such as encysted small redworm and tapeworm, we treated for these on a strategic basis.

Now that a saliva test and a blood test are available for tapeworm and encysted small redworm respectively, the word ‘test’ is potentially more confusing for your customers.

But one thing’s for sure, in the autumn/winter period it’s WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

CPD FEATURE | ETN Faecal worm egg counts were once the sole option for testing.

Now saliva and blood tests are available too.

An antibody test using blood or saliva can help to guide treatment in groups or individual horses. Products containing praziquantel or a double dose of pyrantel provide effective treatment. It is recommended that horses should be tested or treated for tapeworm every six months.2,6

UNDERSTANDING THE ANTIBODY TEST

It’s important to understand how antibody tests work: A horse with a high level of tapeworm infection will produce a large number of antibodies, which can be detected in blood or saliva. Depending on the results of a saliva or blood test, your customer will be advised whether a worming medication is required.

Because tapeworm antibodies can persist for several months after successful treatment, the results must be interpreted with care and the test cannot be used immediately after a worming medication to check that it has worked.

The small redworm test is also an antibody test but is currently only available on blood. It does not distinguish between encysted and other stages of small redworm, meaning a positive test at this time of year should be taken as evidence that encysted stages are likely.1,2 unavoidable that encysted small redworm, tapeworm and bots need individual attention.1,2

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF THE SEASONS

Parasite life cycles are linked to the seasons, which is why one of the first rules of worm control is to consider the time of year. The summer months present the ideal environmental conditions for the development of eggs and larvae on the pasture.

This can lead to high pasture contamination and increase the potential for horses to acquire new parasite burdens, predominantly small redworms, which is why regular faecal worm egg counts (FWECs) every 8-12 weeks from March to October, are so important.3

“One of the first rules of worm control is to consider the time of year.”

AUTUMN AND WINTER THREATS

During the late autumn and winter, most parasites are entering a less active phase and by winter the potential for further pasture contamination is reduced. However, encysted small redworm, tapeworm and bots will not show up in a faecal worm egg count so you need to highlight to your customers that these worms will need special attention.

ESRW - WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

All horses of more than six months of age should be blood tested by a vet or treated with a wormer that is licensed for encysted small redworm in autumn/winter, regardless of their FWEC; remember the encysted stages of the small redworm won’t show up in an FWEC so if your customer chooses to test they must have a blood test conducted by a vet to check if any encysted small redworm are likely to be present.1,2,4,5

TAPEWORM TACTICS

It’s important to treat or test for tapeworm during the autumn and winter too. A faecal worm egg count is not a reliable test for tapeworm because the segments containing eggs are only passed in faeces periodically.

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BOT CONTROL

The best way to control bots is to administer a suitable wormer in the winter, after the first frost when the adult flies have died and before the bots mature.7

USING THE WRONG WORMER CAN INCREASE THE RISKS

Your customers may think any wormer will do for the treatment of encysted small redworm. However, using one that does not specifically treat the encysted stages (such as those containing ivermectin, pyrantel or single dose fenbendazole) during late autumn and winter can actually increase the risk of a horse with a high ESRW burden developing larval cyathostominosis.

This is because wormers such as ivermectin will remove the adult stages of small redworm from the gut which then leaves room for the encysted stages in the gut wall to emerge and take their place.

Because moxidectin acts against the encysted stages before they have a chance to emerge, it is less likely that larvae in the gut wall will be Moxidectin is the only active able to cause this effect.7,8 ingredient licensed to treat Moxidectin is the only encysted small redworm in a active ingredient licensed single dose. to treat encysted small redworm in a single dose. A five-day course of fenbendazole is also licensed to treat encysted small redworm but there is widespread evidence of small redworm resistance to fenbendazole, including the five-day dose so a resistance test is recommended before using it.4 A practical and cost-effective solution may be to combine a bot treatment with ESRW and tapeworm treatments using a single dose of moxidectin and praziquantel.

GET CONNECTED

For more information visit RAMA Connect, a new online platform specifically for RAMAs/SQPs, and sign up to join the community.

You can download horse owner information for your clients and complete the accredited CPD modules. Product information is at your fingertips, as well as short informative articles on prescribing and on business topics.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 25

ETN | CPD FEATURE IS THERE ANY RECENT RESEARCH ON ANTHELMINTIC RESISTANCE?

Computer modelling has recently been used to gain a better understanding of equine cyathostomins and how their unique biology affects core concepts of parasite control. The study; The effect of climate, season, and treatment intensity on anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins: A modelling exercise, was published in 2019.

The model suggested that treating all horses twice a year with wormers offered a marked reduction in the rate of resistance development compared to treating horses four or six times a year, but the timing of these (two) treatments in relation to climate was important. In temperate climates, such as the UK, timing of treatments in the winter or early spring reduced the development of resistance compared to those administered in the later spring months.

Resistance development was shown to be affected by treatment intensity, with the results showing that increasing treatment frequency increased the speed at which resistance developed. However, the results also indicated that reducing the number of annual treatments from six to four, while continuing to treat all horses, is likely to have only a minimal benefit in slowing resistance development.

Selective therapy (the practice of treating horses selected by the results of FWECs) was shown to delay resistance development, with the largest delays shown in temperate climates. This suggests that selective therapy should be encouraged for spring treatments, whereas strategic treatments (administered to all horses), such as those administered for ESRW, appear better suited for autumn treatments.

The study is also the first real evidence for refugia which is directly related to equine parasites and not extrapolated from other species. Refugia are the worms that, for whatever reason, remain unexposed to the wormer used at each treatment. These worms importantly contribute to the next generation of worms and may then be susceptible to the next wormer used.

They helpfully counter the population of worms generated from resistant stock and it is thought that they are important in slowing the development of resistance. The largest and most important source of refugia is parasites on the pasture and those parasites in horses that are not treated. A smaller source is any stages not treated by a wormer (i.e. larval stages).9

References 1. Austin Davis Biologics Ltd. Small Redworm Blood Test Press Release. https://www.austindavis.co.uk/small-redworm-bloodtest. Accessed 11th October 2019 2. Austin Davis: Elisa Kits. https://www.austindavis.co.uk/elisa-kits 3. Rendle D (2017) De-worming targeted plans. Vet Times, Equine, Vol.3 Issue 1 p16-18 4. Matthews JB (2008) Equine Vet Educ, p 552-560 5. Hallowell- Evans C and Hallowell G (2017) Vet Times, April 24 6. CJ Proudman. Diagnosis treatment and Prevention of Tapewormassociated Colic. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science January 2003 Vol 23 Number 1 7. AAEP (2019) Parasite Control Guidelines 8. Reinemeyer CR and Nielsen MK (2013) Handbook of Equine Parasite Control.p87. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

9. Nielsen MK, Sauermann, C.W., Leathwick, D.M. (2019) The effect of climate, season, and treatment intensity on anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomins: A modelling exercise. Veterinary Parasitology, 269, 7–12, 26 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

RAMA CPD QUIZ SELECT YOUR ANSWERS AND TICK THE BOXES

RAMA CP Questio D ns Februa ry/Marc h 2022 E TN

1. Does a faecal worm egg count show the presence of encysted small redworm? a.

Yes b.

No 2. A saliva test is used to identify the presence of which worms? a.

Tapeworm b.

Encysted small redworm c.

Bots 3. A blood test is used to identify the presence of which worms? a.

Tapeworm b.

Encysted small redworm c.

Bots 4. What is the recommended time period for conducting faecal worm egg counts in the UK? a.

March to October b.

All year round c.

April to September 5. How does parasite activity change during the late autumn/winter? a.

The become less active b.

They become more active c.

They have the same activity all year round 6. Should all horses of more than six months of age be tested using a specific blood test, or treated with a wormer licensed for encysted small redworm in the late autumn/early winter? a.

Yes, because the encysted stages of the small redworm won’t show up in a faecal worm egg count test b.

Only if a faecal worm egg count is greater than 200epg c.

No, not if they have been recently treated with ivermectin 7. Why isn’t a faecal worm egg count a reliable test for tapeworm? a.

Because the segment of the tapeworm containing eggs are only passed in faeces periodically b.

Because the eggs look the same as redworm eggs c.

Because tapeworm don’t produce eggs 8. Why is it risky to use a wormer that isn’t licensed to treat for encysted small redworm in at-risk horses in the winter? a.

The wrong wormer will remove the adult stages of small redworm from the gut which then leaves room for the encysted stages in the gut wall to emerge b.

The horse may spit out a wormer that isn’t licensed to treat for encysted small redworm c.

The wrong wormer will remove the adult stages of small redworm from the gut which then leaves room for tapeworm to grow 9. Which active ingredient is licensed to treat encysted small redworm in a single dose? a.

Ivermectin b.

Fenbendazole c.

Moxidectin 10. What has a recent study identified as the best time to administer an encysted small redworm treatment in terms of minimising resistance pressure? a.

Autumn b.

Spring

SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS ONLINE AT WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM UNDER THE CPD SECTION.

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LET US TAKE THE WORRY OUT OF WORMING

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ETN | WORM CONTROL

Looking for trouble We should be using reduction testing to check wormer efficacy every time we need to treat, says Claire Shand, Equine RAMA from parasite control specialists Westgate Labs.

W

ormer resistance is a big topic; a concept that hangs over the very health of our horse population but one that is hard to get hold of and even more difficult to quantify, especially when we’re not looking!

So where do we start with managing it in our own horses and those we prescribe for? It’s time to take the bull by the horns…

Resistance and refugia

Many published studies show that small redworm now exhibit widespread resistance to fenbendazole and pyrantel. Shortened egg reappearance times, the first stage of developing resistance, has been documented in ivermectin and moxidectin chemicals too.

With no other treatments licenced this puts us on a slippery slope.

In order to preserve the chemicals we have for as long as possible, the accepted advice is to target wormers, testing on a regular schedule and treating only those that need it.

Worm egg counts, which monitor egg shedding of adult large and small redworm and ascarid species, should form the basis of a targeted parasite control programme. Conduct these tests every 8 -12 weeks and tapeworm test every six months.

The aim is to achieve a reduction of overall egg shedding, while leaving a proportion of the herd untreated in a practice known as refugia. This is the best way to balance slowing resistance in the population with safeguarding the health and wellbeing of individuals.

Research says that to achieve any meaningful delay in the development of resistance, adult horses should average no more than two worming treatments a year.1 (Young horses under four would likely require treating more frequently.)

Management such as poo picking, cross grazing and resting and rotating grazing should be employed to help to break the lifecycle of parasites mechanically rather than relying on chemicals.

There is an obvious opportunity to retail laboratory test kits.

EPG (pre-treatment) – EPG (14 day post-treatment)

X 100 = FECRT

EPG (pre-treatment)

Use the above equation with the results table to work out the percentage reduction for each horse individually and the mean reduction for the yard or stables. The results will help to decide whether resistance could be present, taking into consideration variables such as whether sufficient wormer was given for the weight of the horse and that the horse took the full dose.

Observed results of the FECRT3 Anthelmintic

Expected efficacy if no resistance

Susceptible (no evidence of resistance)

Suspected resistant

Resistant

Fenbendazole

99%

>95%

90-95%

<90%

Pyrantel

94-99%

>90%

85-90%

<85%

Ivermectin/ Moxidectin

99.9%

>98%

95-98%

<95%

Reduction tests monitor for wormer resistance

We don’t worm egg count our horses often enough as a matter of course but when was the last time – or have you ever - followed up to make sure a treatment has worked? Whenever testing indicates that treatment is required, or at the very least annually2, faecal egg count reduction tests (FECRT) are recommended to ensure this has been effective and inform future treatment plans.

A worm egg count result is collected that indicates treatment is required. The wormer is given and 10-14 days following treatment (the last day of treatment if using a product such as a Panacur Equine Guard) a second worm egg count is collected.

28 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Specific guidelines for FECRT are currently being developed by the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology. Until those guidelines are published, the cut-off values listed in the above table should be used as a guide for interpreting the results of a FECRT along with the NOAH guidance notes.

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Westgate Laboratories POSTAL WORM COUNTS & TESTS

Sustainable, evidence-based horse health just got even more environmentally friendly!

What this means for us as RAMAs

There is an obvious opportunity to retail laboratory test kits and to build this into your worming advice to customers.

Wormers should not be supplied without a worm egg count or tapeworm test result that indicates treatment is required. (With the exception of proactive treatment of foals under 6 months old or encysted stages of redworm in horses ineligible for the redworm blood test.)

All treatments based on positive test results should be followed up with reduction tests to monitor for resistance.

Knowledge is power when it comes to protecting our horses from the advancing threat of wormer resistance. We need to be turning over those rocks and looking for trouble before it finds us and, where we do, reporting suspected cases to the company whose products are involved.

Only then can the regulatory authorities even start to get a handle on the true state of play here in the UK, and develop tactics accordingly.

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Knowledge is power when it comes to protecting our horses from the advancing threat of wormer resistance.

1. Dave M. Leathwick, Christian W. Sauermann, and Martin K. Nielsen, Managing anthelmintic resistance in cyathostomin parasites: Investigating the benefits of refugia-based strategies, International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance. 2019 2. Rendle D., Austin C., Bowen M., Cameron I., Furtado T., Hodgkinson J., McGorum B., Matthews J.B. Equine de-worming: a consensus on current best practice. UK-Vet Equine. 2019 3. Guidance Note: Faecal Egg Count Reduction testing (FECRT) and interpretation of results in equines. NOAH https://www. noah.co.uk/focus-areas/anti-parasitics-for-animals/faecal-eggcount-reduction-testing-fecrt-and-interpretation-of-results-inequines/. Undated.

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ETN | WORMING GALLERY

Worming regimes should be designed on an individual basis.

Worm control BUILDING SUSTAINABLE WORMING PROGRAMMES Resistance to drugs available to worm horses is a real threat, so to maintain the efficacy of the drugs available it is essential that horse owners are given up-to-date advice regarding rational drug use, say experts at Virbac.

If parasite infections are allowed to reach high levels, they can prove fatal, but even relatively small burdens can cause colic, weight-loss and diarrhoea, so advice for horse owners to follow a sustainable worming programme is key.

RAMAs (SQPs) play a critical role in ensuring appropriate and targeted treatments are adopted. Worming regimes should be designed on an individual basis, considering the age of the horse, its pasture management, health status and the risk of disease.

A good worming plan is not designed to eradicate worms from horses but to control their levels; firstly, to prevent worm related diseases and secondly to minimise pasture contamination with worm eggs and larvae from the horses’ droppings.

Most horses require key strategic treatments for encysted small redworm at some point over the winter, tapeworm in the spring and tapeworm along with bots in the autumn. But the use of targeted treatment allows a less drug dependent approach to worm control and can be used whether horses are kept on their own or on a yard.

From late Spring to early autumn, regular faecal egg counts should be used to identify ‘wormy’ horses and treat only those that genuinely need it.

In addition, a blood test is available to determine if a treatment for encysted small redworm is required. It should be noted that the only two wormer treatments that are licensed for the encysted stages of red worm are moxidectin and fenbendazole, however resistance to fenbendazole is widespread.

30 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Consequently, experts now recommend that the use of moxidectin should be reserved for this annual treatment over winter and that alternative drugs should be used where possible throughout the rest of the year, to minimise the development of resistance to this important treatment.

If horses share pasture with others (either directly by co-grazing or indirectly WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

WORMING GALLERY | ETN

“A good worming plan is not designed to eradicate worms from horses but to control their levels”

by rotation of fields) they represent some risk to each other. The health of all these horses is therefore inter-linked so it makes sense for a single worm control programme to be applied to all horses on a yard.

The need to administer drugs for worm control can be reduced if sufficient attention is given to pasture management.

In particular: • Avoid overstocking pasture, allow at least one acre per horse.

• Poo pick two to three times per week.

• Co-graze horses with sheep or cattle.

• Rotate pastures and rest them annually.

• Graze young horses separately from older horses.

Virbac’s 3D Worming programme is designed to help educate clients and optimise equine parasite control, ensuring the sustainable use of wormers.

Direction - Appropriate testing should be undertaken to identify the horses that require treating.

Dosage - Under-dosing is thought to be a major factor in the development of resistance. Accurate weight assessment is paramount, with most horse owners underestimating their horse’s bodyweight.

Delivery - The quality and design of wormer syringes varies considerably. Using

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

a robust ergonomic syringe will help make worming easier and ensure the entire dose of wormer is administered.

Product watch

Equimax and Eraquell equine wormers from Virbac provide proven and trusted efficacy.

Equimax is the ideal choice for strategic spring and autumn worming, treating roundworms, bots and all three species of tapeworm in a single dose. Eraquell is the ideal choice when summer worming for roundworm is required.

Both products are available in ergonomic syringes to treat up to 700 kg bodyweight.

About the author: Kate Ingram is a vet who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2003. She worked in practice for 8 years before moving into industry, where she now works for Virbac as a technical adviser.

Kate Ingram BVetMed MRCVS Technical adviser (Ruminant) Virbac UK

Don’t let your customers forget encysted small redworm Equest and Equest Pramox are the only products available to treat for encysted small redworm in a single dose.

Equest is an oral gel containing moxidectin for single dose control of roundworms - including encysted larval stages of small redworms, and bots.

Equest Pramox is an oral gel containing moxidectin and praziquantel for single dose control of all three species of tapeworm, roundworms - including encysted larval stages of small redworms, and bots.

Equest and Equest Pramox are licensed for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating mares and have been shown not to adversely affect the fertility of mares.

Equest and Equest Pramox are available in 700kg syringes and have the longest expected egg suppression period (13 weeks) for small strongyles of any equine wormer currently available.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 31

RAMA

CONNECT

BY ZOETIS

CONNECTING YOU TO THE RESOURCES YOU NEED, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE RAMA Connect is the new go to place to help you make the most of your role as a RAMA. It provides you with access to:

• Campaign assets • Product information • Training and education • AND SO MUCH MORE!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

RAMACONNECT.CO.UK

For further information contact Zoetis UK Limited, First Floor, Birchwood Building, Springfield Drive, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7LP. www.zoetis.co.uk.

Customer support: 0835 300 8034. CustomerSupportUK@zoetis.com.

Date of preparation: February 2022. MM-13911

BEDDING GALLERY | ETN

Home sweet home…

Help your customers achieve fast and effective stable management.

FIRST COMPANY ACCREDITED TO NEW BEDDING INDUSTRY MANUFACTURING STANDARD Bedmax has become the first equine bedding company to become BETA NOPS accredited.

BETA’s latest NOPS scheme aims to minimise the risk of contamination by naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS) in equine bedding products.

Carrying this badge certifies that all products from Bedmax’s range, which includes Bedmax, Littlemax and Stockmax shavings and Strawmax straw pellet bedding, conform to the current best practice in minimising the risk of contamination by NOPS. Contamination by NOPS has been an ongoing problem with performance horses for some time and the FEI [international governing body] takes a no-tolerance stance to prohibited substances.

The list of prohibited substances is long, and the rules can be difficult to navigate. The problem often lies in inadvertent crosscontamination from external sources which is not just a problem for professional riders, but amateur and hobby riders too, says BETA. Prohibited substances in bedding can be absorbed into a horse’s or pony’s system if contaminated bedding becomes mixed up in hay, for example, and even tiny quantities can be detected and result in a positive doping test.

Spot testing is much more common at all levels of professional and amateur competition in all disciplines, and riders need to be vigilant as fines can still be administered if they are unable to prove that all preventative measures have been taken.

BETA first launched its NOPS Code for Equine Feed in response to the increase in incidents in positive doping tests. Further research revealed that bedding is also a common source of crosscontamination, and so the BETA NOPS Code for Equine Bedding was set up.

Claire Williams, executive director of BETA said: “I am so pleased to see the years of work on this scheme coming to fruition.

It seemed logical to develop this programme to complement the NOPS Feed code, when bedding and feed are so closely associated. Working alongside our independent auditors, Kiwa, we have produced a scheme that adds another level of risk assessment to bedding production that I believe is unique.

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“Congratulations are due to Bedmax on auditing successfully to the standard. I know how much work they have put in to ensuring that they meet the standards that we have set.”

Carrying the NOPS logo also assures customers that equine bedding products are marketed fairly and legally. It means that claims are evidenced and offers peace of mind that bedding products receive the same amount of scrutiny for the risk of prohibited substances as feed.

For Tim Smalley, managing director at Bedmax, NOPS accreditation is a landmark in the bedding company’s 21-year commitment to excellence.

“This is a very positive step forward for both Bedmax and the equine industry, especially professional riders and trainers. Unlike feeds and supplements, you don’t get a list of ingredients on a bag of bedding so it’s important to know that the manufacturer has taken steps to ensure the product does not contain prohibited substances.

“I am delighted that we are the first bedding company to carry the BETA NOPS badge and I hope this will help all equestrian organisations in their drive to make competition at all levels as clean and fair as possible. We pride ourselves on providing customers with the highest quality of equine bedding, and this is a milestone achievement for us as a company.”

SUPPORTS RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Aquamax wood pellet crumble is made from Canadian pine whitewood.

It’s said to be nine times more absorbent than shavings, and lasts at least twice as long as wood pellets, according to the supplier.

Canadian pine has a natural property in the wood that helps eliminate ammonia, making this bedding supportive of horses’ respiratory health.

Another selling point is that Aquamax biodegrades within three to six months making a really good compost.

The bedding is easy to use and economical too, with people often using less than a bag a week. It all makes for smaller muck heaps.

This wood pellet bedding, which has been available for 22 years, also works well in horseboxes and trailers, making for a pleasant environment on journeys.

Aquamax also offers a Fine Tine Fork. Designed with close together tines and a deep basket, it helps ensure no bedding is wasted while mucking out. Forks can be ordered with stocks of bedding.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 33

ETN | BEDDING GALLERY

Time for a spring clean Now’s is the time to stock up on Spring equipment. From the Gorilla Broom to the Big Tidee, Red Gorilla has it all it all.

The brand’s ambassador and Olympic medallist Sharon Hunt told us what her spring cleaning checklist looks like…

“Clearing and fertilising the fields is the number one priority,” she said.

“To do this, I need to clear the paddocks of manure to allow the grass to grow. The Big Tidee makes poo-picking so much easier and efficient with its extra-large scoop.

“Having the Tidees in different colours for the paddocks and yard makes life easier because we know where they should be located.

“General field maintenance takes place, repairing any broken fencing and our Multitubs (used for drinking water) are checked over and cleaned.

“Although the stables and water tubs are cleaned daily, the spring clean involves bedding removal, rubber matting disinfected, and the stable walls scrubbed. All our stable maintenance equipment is cleaned down and checked over for replacements.

“Finally, the stable block is swept all over, using my favourite broom – the Poly Yard Broom. Our stables are painted and then we are ready for the spring ahead.

“Having a clean yard for the start of the season is like having a clean slate. We’re ready to hit the ground running.”

WHEELY GOOD BARROW Whether mucking out or carrying bales and sacks, the Stubby Borrow is a formidable workhorse.

Also suited to the garden, it’s light, well balanced and easy to tip.

The tough blue, green or pink Stubbythene body has stepped sides for immense strength and enormous capacity; while the steelreinforced front makes this a very robust product.

All body mountings are sited away from the central shovelling area. Mounted on two 40cm 4-ply pneumatic tyred wheels, the galvanised steel frame quickly assembles with six bolts and a 17mm spanner.

The Stubby Barrow comes packaged with handles, legs and wheels inside its shrink-wrapped body and complete with a POS label.

34 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

LESS TIME MUCKING OUT, MORE TIME TO RIDE Aubiose bedding is made from hemp, cultivated without pesticides, fungicides, herbicides or insecticides.

Managed correctly, it can offer great saving in terms of mucking-out time and labour.

The bedding is said to absorb up to 12 times more urine than straw and four times more than shavings. Liquids are soaked up in a small area and retained there, allowing the top layer to remain clean, warm and dry.

This makes Aubiose perfect for a deep-litter bed, saving your customers time and money while giving their horses clean, supportive beds.

Disposal is easy. Aubiose quickly decomposes on the muckheap, making it a popular fertilizer or compost for farmers and gardeners.

Aubiose is readily available to retailers with good stock and supply into the UK through leading wholesalers.

Also look out for Aubichick for poultry. Tightly packed, easyto-store 10kg bales are now available to order with handy carryhandles.

Meanwhile new product Aubizoo, a small animal bedding, is available in 20kg, 7kg and 1.5kg pack sizes.

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W A E DM N BE

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STRAW PELLET BEDDING FOR HORSES

X

INCREDIBLY EASY • EXCEPTIONALLY ECONOMICAL • ULTRA ECO-FRIENDLY STRAWMAX is a very welcome cost effective new option for owners at a time of steeply rising costs.

It combines high levels of equine health benefits with exceptional ease of use and economy. And it comes in handy 15kg bags through a UK-wide network of local equine retailers, so it’s always available, reliably consistent, and easy to handle, store and use in the stable.

All Bedmax beddings including STRAWMAX now come with the new BETA NOPS Bedding logo. You can read more about what this means for you and your horses at: strawmax.co.uk/nops

Key benefits for Horses

Key benefits for Owners

The most important deciding factor when considering STRAWMAX pellets is that they help you create a healthy and hygienic stable environment for your horses.

STRAWMAX pellets are very long-lasting, they isolate urine in small patches which minimises waste, and that makes them exceptionally affordable.

• Minimal airborne dust • Huge volume & depth • Comfort & support • Super absorbent • Suppresses odour

• Very easy to use • Low on waste • Big on economy • Small muckheap • Fast composting

6-8 bags of STRAWMAX make a full bed 20-24cms deep in a standard 12 x 12 stable. A bucket of water per bag will swell them to 3 x volume but still leave them super absorbent to soak up urine. Maintaining an optimum bed should only require about 1 bag per week.

Find out more at… strawmax.co.uk

Connect with us…

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NEW 10kg sizes now available

& AubiChick Supreme hemp bedding for all animals and birds To find out more about Aubiose or AubiChick, to request a free sample and our usage guide, please email info@aubiose.co.uk Order from your local feed merchant

100% natural Saves time and money Less waste Sustainable and organic Produced without pesticides Highly absorbent

Reduces smell Low dust Composts fast Nourishing for the land Great for allotments, gardens and land maintenance

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ETN | BRIDLE FITTING

COVER STORY

Heads you win...

Bridle and bit fitting: it’s this season’s hot topic. Frances Roche and Catherine Baker highlight the big rights and wrongs.

A

It is often implied that an anatomical bridle doesn’t touch the back or bulbs of the ears, but this is simply not true.

The anatomy of the head and neck, along with the use of a bit, means that the headpiece will always want to sit behind the ears.

However, if the headpiece is the correct shape and correctly fitted, there will be less pressure against the ears.

There are one or two exceptions to this – bridles which have an exaggerated shape to the headpiece or which may use a crossunder throatlash.

Photography by permission of Rose Lewis, Frances Roche and the SMS.

quick look on social media reveals an increasing amount of chatter about bits, bridles and the correct fit of both.

Riders are becoming more aware of how well-fitting bits and bridles impact the welfare and performance of their horses as part of a holistic approach to equestrianism.

This is, however, a vast topic which can get somewhat confusing for the horse owner. So, we’ve put together a few key points of bridle fit and the most commonly seen bit and bridle fitting errors.

Key point - the headpiece should sit comfortably over the poll and behind the bulbs of the ears.

It is good practice to just slide your hand under the crown of the headpiece to make sure it is comfortable. Predominantly, most bridles are still in the traditional style; but increasingly we see more modern, so-called anatomical bridles on the market.

The principal idea behind anatomical bridles is that they are better shaped around the ears and other facial features to reduce peak pressures, therefore they should be more comfortable.

However, they do need to be fitted to the individual horse.

There is not any one type of anatomical bridle which suits the shape of every single horse head. As a result, we often see the shaping on these bridles situated in completely the wrong position causing more pressure rather than less.

This does not necessarily mean the bridle is a poor design, but more likely poor sizing or incorrectly fitted.

Correct fit of an anatomical headpiece

36 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

Sized incorrectly, anatomical headpieces can cause more problems than they solve. Here the wide section of the headpiece is fitted too low causing it to dig into the ears and set the browband too low.

Key point – the browband should not be so short that it pulls the headpiece forward against the bulbs of the ears. Nor should it be so long that it gapes at the front.

While we still see traditional browbands, shaped browbands are very much in vogue. Whichever style is selected, it is key to make sure that it does not pull the headpiece forward onto the bulbs of the ears or apply pressure around the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ).

A low profile browband (one that is not bulky under the headpiece) is a good option for horses with a difficult or narrow conformation in this area.

Shaped browbands are in vogue.

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BRIDLE FITTING | ETN Key point - the noseband needs to be fitted at the correct height for its purpose.

A cavesson or crank noseband should be fitted with two fingers’ space below the facial crest/prominent cheek bones. The cheek straps should not come across the facial crest on these designs.

With any noseband that sits below the bit, the front should not sit so low that it impedes the soft part of the nostril. Any buckles should be clear of the lips or the bony area under the jaw.

Horses are obligate nasal breathers; they can only breathe through their noses. If you impede the nostril, you impede the breathing and you impede the horse’s ability to perform.

Research into the pressures produced by nosebands has led to the redesign of the drop noseband with curved shaping or two ring styles being much more popular and versatile. Other manufacturers have designed styles to avoid many of the facial nerves and the facial crest.

Two modern styles of noseband.

Crucially, any type of noseband should be fitted so it is not ‘keeping the horse’s mouth closed’. You should be able to get at least two adult fingers (or the ISES taper gauge) under the noseband on the front of the nasal bone, regardless of which style of noseband is being used.

Buckles should not be situated too near the lips or against bony areas under the chin, unless there is good padding underneath therm.

ISES taper gauge being used to measure noseband tightness.

Key point - the cheek pieces should run parallel with the facial crest. The buckles should sit roughly level with the corner of the eye, holding the bit or bits in the correct position and comfortably in the mouth.

The most common error by far is cheek pieces that are too long. This can mean buckles being crowded up underneath the browband, often forcing the browband up onto the ears. Worse still, this can cause pressure against the TMJ which is not only uncomfortable but can cause behavioural and performance issues.

Cheekpiece length is also impacted by the size of the bit ring; when a bit is changed, reassess cheekpiece length.

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These over-long cheekpieces are interfering with TMJ.

Key point – the bit should be the correct width and height.

With so many different types of bits now available, selecting one which is appropriate for the discipline and fitting it correctly can be tricky.

Really simply, bits can be split into two camps – fixed cheek and loose cheek. A fixed cheek should sit snug to the side of the horse’s lips while there should be ¼” gap between the lip and the cheek of a loose ring or Correctly fitted bits. shank.

A common myth to assess the height of the bit is the two-wrinkle rule. But, although this is a good guide, the correct height cannot be determined without looking at where the bit sits in the horse’s mouth.

Fortunately, there are many trained, experienced bit fitters to help riders. And it’s recommended that they choose a bit fitter who carries plenty of stock to try, and one who will follow up with a good after-sales service.

Key point – sizing of bridles is often a sticking point with horse owners. We frequently hear ‘I can’t find a bridle to fit because my horse is a cob-sized nose and a full-sized headpiece’.

This is largely down to the change in the type of horse we ride today, and the unchanged sizing used by many manufacturers. 40 years ago, most riding horses in the UK were either derived from native breeds or mostly thoroughbred in their background, so they tended to have straight or long heads.

Modern breeding and the warmblood influence means the shape of many horses’ heads is more varied, and frequently triangular in shape, requiring larger headpieces and throatlashes, and smaller nosebands.

Add to this the vast array of bits in use today with larger rings or shanks, and it becomes difficult to buy a bridle ‘off the peg’.

The simple answer is to buy from companies who offer a good choice of mix and match parts; or to get a good, SMS Qualified or Master Bridle Maker to make a bespoke bridle. This way, horse owners can gain a good fit and have exactly the colour and style they need.

Bespoke may not be as costly as expected - especially when you consider the price of A correctly fitted some anatomical bridles and the chance that anatomical snaffle bridle (below) and more than one may need to be purchased to traditional double. achieve the correct sized parts.

About the authors: Frances Roche and Catherine Baker are Master Saddlers and Master Bridle Makers. ETN thanks them and the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) for its help with this feature.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 37

ETN | CPD FEATURE ABOUT ETN’S RAMA/SQP FEATURES ETN’s series of CPD features helps RAMAs (Registered Animal Medicines Advisors/SQPs) earn the CPD (continuing professional development) points they need. The features are accredited by AMTRA, and highlight some of the most important subject areas for RAMAs/ SQPs specialising in equine and companion animal medicine.

AMTRA is required by the Veterinary Medicines Regulations to ensure its RAMAs/SQPs undertake CPD. All RAMAs/SQPs must earn a certain number of CPD points in a given period of time in order to retain their qualification. RAMAs/SQPs who read this feature and submit correct answers to the questions below will receive one CPD point. For more about AMTRA and becoming a RAMA/SQP, visit www.amtra.org.uk

SUPPLEMENTING FOR THE COMING SEASON

By Kate Hore RNutr(Animal), R.Anim.Technol (Cert), head nutritionist at NAF. Exercise level Light

Description 1-3 hrs/week

Types of horses/work Leisure horses.

Start of training. race training.

Mainly walk and trot, a little canter.

Moderate

3-5 hrs/week Less walk, more trot and canter, incl. skill work, like jumping.

Hard

4-5 hrs/week.

Low - medium level eventing Rac training (mid-stage) Polo Regular competition at strenuous level.

Mainly trot, canter and gallop, including skill work.

Very Hard

A

s we look towards the longer days of spring and summer, anticipating this year’s competition season, it is important owners assess horses’ fitness, and put in appropriate regimes as part of their training.

Whether coming back from a period of total rest or quieter work, following injury, or bringing on younger, less experienced horses, the first thing is to establish the horse’s condition and workload so you know where you’re starting from.

Unfortunately, research shows that owners routinely underestimate Body Condition Score, while over-estimating their work rate. We know obesity is a significant concern in leisure horses, and excess weight will only increase strain on limbs and organs, and reduce performance.

Therefore, we need to ensure horses are fed appropriately for their work level and condition, and encouraging owners to think honestly about that level is a great start.

Ranges from 1hr speed work, to 12 hrs/week slow work.

HOW MUCH WORK ARE THEY IN?

As the level increases, it is advised horses are on appropriate daily joint support, suitable for their work and lifestage. Joints are complex structures which require complex nutritional solutions.

Look for products based on a synergistic combination of joint support nutrients such as glucosamine, MSM, and the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. With any blend, look for one that includes antioxidants to flush out the damaging free radical toxins associated with joint stress.

Research shows combination formulae are preferable to single ingredients. For customers interested in herbs, they can be very useful in providing comfort where it’s needed, but caution is advised. Devil’s Claw is a particularly well-known example, but is banned for affiliated competition, so should be used in retired equines only.

38 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

School horses.

Leisure horses.

Regular competitions.

Elite 3-day eventing.

High level endurance.

Racing.

Additionally, if choosing those single herb options in store, remember their evidence for long term joint integrity is poor, and best advice would be to stick to a joint health complex, particularly for working horses and ponies.

Increase work appropriately for the stage of the horse, and don’t forget the importance of rest days. It is advised horses have a minimum of two rest days a week, which, amongst other things, is recognised to help prevent the occurrence of EGGD (Equine Gastric Glandular Disease).

The stage of workload for each horse should consider both their mental and physical maturity, particularly for some of the large Warmblood breeds, who are not fully mature until eight or nine. As work and travel increase, gastric stress may also increase; so follow our guide to ensure horses cope comfortably with the pressures of the new season.

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CPD FEATURE | ETN GOOD GUT GUIDE

• Feed a high fibre, low cereal diet.

• Feed a small, high fibre feed 30 mins before exercise.

• Minimum two rest days a week.

• Turnout as much as possible.

• Minimise changes in routine, equine companions and human carers.

• Feed a targeted digestive supplement daily for total tract health.

Over 70% of the body’s immunity is based in the gut, so maintaining digestive health is critical to overall health and welfare. Any dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) in the hindgut may be seen as obvious signs like a change to droppings, or coat condition, or could have a more subtle effect on training.

Slight changes in behaviour, particularly irritability and unwillingness to work, can be an early warning sign of ‘overtraining’, defined as an imbalance between training and recovery which leads to chronic fatigue.

It is advised to vary both the type of training the horse is doing, and the surface they are working on, as the ideal way to provide both physical and mental variety in their work. Remember, even top dressage stars enjoy hacking out as part of their regular routine.

For most horses, unless in very hard work, their basic diet will provide sufficient protein. However, what is important for muscle health, is quality rather than quantity.

Supplementing with targeted amino acids, including Lysine, known as the ‘First Limiting Amino Acid’ due to its importance, is advised. The amino acid complex should also include L-Glutamine, known to be depleted by exercise, and an important nutrient for general health and immunity.

Beyond amino acids, it’s important to ensure sufficient zinc is provided, as muscles hold half the body’s store.

Together with antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Selenium and natural bioflavonoid antioxidants as found in plants like rosehip; or marine algal polyphenols, as found in, for example, chlorella or spirulina.

Finally, for recovery, don’t forget to supplement with broad spectrum electrolytes whenever horses are working or travelling to replace sweat losses.

RAMA CPD (Nutrition) QUIZ SELECT YOUR ANSWERS AND TICK THE BOXES

6. Which of these breeds are relatively slow to mature physically?

Arab a. b.

Warmblood c.

Thoroughbred d.

Standardbred

2. According to research, which of these is true of the majority of horse owners when assessing their horse? a.

Their horse is lighter than is true b.

Their horse is overweight c.

Their horse is ideal Body Condition Score d.

Their horse is in light work

7. How long before exercise should a small, high fibre, feed be given for gastric health? a.

10 mins. b.

20 mins c.

30 mins d.

Never - don’t feed before riding

4. Which of these is a ‘GAG’ for joint health? a.

Vitamin C b.

Chondroitin sulphate c.

MSM c.

Linseed oil

Ensure the diet is suitably supporting muscle effort and recovery from exercise.

While protein is important, feeding muscles is more complex than protein alone.

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RAMA CP Questio D ns Februa ry/Marc h 2022 E TN

1. Why might a horse need a fittening programme? a.

After rest period b.

Following an injury c.

Bringing on youngsters d.

All of the above

3. If a horse exercises 4 days a week with two hacks (45 mins. each), one schooling session (30 mins.) and one flatwork lesson (45 mins.), what level best describes their workload? a.

Light b.

Moderate c.

Hard d.

Very Hard

Valegro and En Vogue hack out for physical and mental variety.

Selected references 1. Geor R.J, Harris P.A, Coenen M (2013) Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition.

Pub: Saunders Elsevier 2. Lindiger M.I (2020) Do horses receive optimum amounts of glutamine in their diets? Veterinary Science Research.

02(01) 3. McGown C.M & Whitworth D.J (2008) Overtraining syndrome in horses.

Comparative Exercise Physiology. 5(2) p57-65 4. Morrison P. et al (2015) Perceptions of obesity in a UK leisure-based population of horse owners. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 57 (Supp1) 06 5. Nutrient Requirements of Horses. 6th Rev Ed. (2007). NRC. Pub The National Academies 6. Rendle D et al (2018) Equine obesity : current persepctives. UK-Vet Equine 2(5) Sep/Oct 2018 7. Rendle D et al (2018) EGGD Consensus statement. UK-Vet Equine Jan/Feb 2018

5. Which of these is banned for competing horses, due to it’s anti-inflammatory action? a.

Turmeric b.

Rosehip c.

Devil’s Claw Apple Cider Vinegar d.

8. Overtraining is defined as a.

Recovery after training period. b.

Imbalance between growth and recovery c.

Imbalance between training and growth d.

Imbalance between training and recovery 9. Which of these amino acids is known as the ‘first limiting’ for horses? a.

Lysine b.

Leucine c.

Isoleucine d.

Valine 10. Algal polyphenols are natural antioxidants found in what? a.

Rosehip b.

Chlorella c.

Selenium d.

Turmeric SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS ONLINE AT WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM UNDER THE CPD SECTION.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 39

ETN | HOOVES, LEGS, JOINTS

Laminitis: what are your customers asking?

To help you get ahead of laminitis related questions commonly asked in store, SPILLERS nutritionist Sarah Nelson shares the answers to the top five queries from horse owners contacting the SPILLERS Care-Line.

Q. My horse is overweight, how much hay should I feed?

This question is definitely easier to answer in theory than in practice, especially for horses with access to grazing. For the large majority of horses and ponies, total daily forage intake should not be restricted to less than 1.5% of current bodyweight per day on a dry matter basis. Accounting for the fact that even dry hay contains some water (which doesn’t count towards the horse’s forage intake), this equates to approximately 9kg of hay ‘as fed’ for a 500kg horse without access to grazing (or 11kg if owners intend to soak it first).

Due to a loss of nutrients (and therefore dry matter) into the water, each hay net will contain less ‘hay’ and more water post-soaking so if soaking to reduce WSC (Water Soluble Carbohydrates), owners should increase the amount they soak by approximately 20% to compensate. However, the exact amount of hay owners should feed will depend on the individual horse and circumstances – the aim should always be to feed as much forage as possible whilst still achieving a healthy rate of weight loss.

Where possible, owners should consider ways of reducing the calorie content of their forage which in turn, may mean that total forage intake does not need to be restricted so severely. This might involve feeding soaked hay and/ or replacing some of the horse’s forage ration with straw. Counting droppings can be a more practical way of monitoring forage intake in those with access to grazing. If their horse needs to lose weight, owners should aim to reduce the number of droppings by a third initially and never by more than half.

Q. How long should I soak my hay for to reduce the sugar content?

A quick internet search is likely to bring up an array of conflicting advice which often leaves owners feeling confused. Soaking hay helps to reduce the water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) or ‘sugar’ but results are highly variable and in UK hays at least, do not seem to be linked to the species of hay or the initial WSC content.

Given the variability factor, the rules are not set in stone but based on research published to date, soaking times of 1-3 hours in hot weather and 6-12 hours in cold weather can be used as a guide.

It should also be remembered that soaking, regardless of time or temperature, does not guarantee suitability for laminitics.

Q. Can I turn my horse back out once I’ve taken his grazing muzzle off?

A little like us over-indulging after being on a diet, some horses 40 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

and ponies will simply eat more once their muzzle has been removed and as a result, may gain more weight. Rather than allowing free access to grazing once the muzzle has been removed, owners should consider stabling or ‘non-grass turnout’ for the remainder of the day.

Q. My laminitic is underweight, how can I increase his calorie intake safely?

As with any other horse, appropriate forage or a forage replacer should be the foundation of the diet and ideally be fed ad lib. However not all laminitics are good doers and some need additional feed in order to maintain a healthy body condition.

As a starting point, owners should choose fibre-based feeds that are low in starch and sugar. In some cases, the recommended amount of a ‘low calorie’ feed may be all that is needed; but if necessary, feeds high in oil provide a safer alternative to cereal based feeds. Gram for gram, oil is approximately 2.5 times higher in calories compared to cereal grains but starch and sugar free.

Q. Is true that all feeds for laminitics should have a combined starch and sugar content of less than 10%?

Not necessarily! Percentages are a useful starting point when it comes to comparing one feed against another, but they only tell part of the story. Think of it like money – if someone offered to give you 10% of their salary, would you prefer them to be earning £20,000/year or £50,000/ year?

The amount of starch and sugar consumed from any feed will depend on how much of it is eaten for example: • 2kg of feed with a combined starch and sugar content of 9% contains 180g of starch and sugar • 1kg of feed with a combined starch and sugar content of 18% also contains 180g of starch and sugar Recommendations to restrict non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) or ‘starch and sugar’ intake in laminitics to less than 10% of the total diet stem from research into forage and polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM: a form of tying up). However, in practice, many laminitics are managed successfully on diets that include feeds (and forage) containing more than 10% NSC. It may also be important to consider that forage is consumed in larger amounts than compound feed and is generally eaten more slowly.

Laminitics do need to be managed carefully on a diet low in WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

HOOVES, LEGS, JOINTS | ETN More tips for managing laminitics

starch and sugar but when it comes to choosing feed in a bucket (as opposed to forage), consider the amount of starch and sugar the horse will actually consume rather than getting too hung up on percentages alone. Restricting NSC intake to less than 0.5g per kilogram bodyweight per meal (<250g per meal for a 500kg horse) should be a suitable guide for most horses provided they are not severely insulin dysregulated.

• Encourage customers to monitor their horse’s weight and body condition score (BCS) regularly.

For most laminitics, a BCS of 4.5-5/ 9 is generally considered ideal.

• Suggest owners of overweight horses and ponies check out the free SPILLERS Slimmers’ group on Facebook https://m.facebook.com/groups/ spillersslimmers/ • Restrict or remove grazing – possible methods of restricting grass intake include using a grazing muzzle, strip grazing, non-grass turnout, turn out on bald paddocks and stabling.

• Beware of binge eating – turning out for short periods without a grazing muzzle may lead to ‘gorging’.

• Ideally owners should feed a low WSC hay or a hay replacer low in starch and sugar.

• Balancers are the ideal way to provide vitamins, minerals and amino acids to balance a foragebased diet without excess calories.

• Advise owners to divide feeds into as many small meals as possible – this helps to reduce the amount of starch and sugar consumed in each meal.

• Encourage owners to seek advice from a nutritionist before making changes to their horse’s diet – most feed companies have nutritional helpline and should be able to offer advice on all aspects of the horse’s diet, including forage.

Challenging Conditions demand premium hoof care Hooflex® provides complete horse hoof care that’s been recommended by farriers and trusted by horse owners for more than 70 years. Ÿ

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Hoof conditioners to support strength and flexibility Hoof packing to cool and cushion, with or without pads Hoof dressing to help maintain moisture balance Frog and Sole care to help eliminate odour

Available from your regular Absorbine® supplier. absorbine.co.uk

ETN | HOOVES, LEGS, JOINTS

A leg at each corner

As Spring unfolds, horses will be doing more work, putting extra strain on hooves, legs and joints. Meanwhile the grass is about to start growing, making laminitis an ever-present threat. Here are some products that can help on all counts…

CLEVER WAY TO FEED BIOTIN

Cleverly disguised as a mint, Lincoln Biotin Tablets are a convenient solution to providing the recommended 15mg per day of biotin for strong, conditioned hooves.

They’re perfect to give as a treat or when no supplementary feed is given.

Horses and ponies love the peppermint taste – making Lincoln Biotin Tablets a winwin for everyone!

With 30 days’ supply per tub, the RRP is £15.85. Available from Battles.

The right diet helps hooves

Almost half of owners say their horse has had a hoof abscess in the last five years, says Dengie. And the problem is closely followed by splits and cracks.

Good quality nutrition is vital to hoof strength and quality, so getting the diet right can go a long way towards avoiding these common issues.

Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free is a nutritionally balanced, low-calorie, high-fibre feed which contains essential nutrients for healthy hooves.

The alfalfa provides calcium and other minerals known to help improve the structural integrity of hoof horn, while there’s a full range of B vitamins including biotin.

Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin.

Research has found that supplementing the horse’s diet with 15mg of biotin per

Additional support

TurmerAid from The Golden Paste Company is formulated to optimise the bio-availability of key functional ingredients which include turmeric (5.1% curcumin), linseed oil, black pepper, apple cider vinegar and yucca.

Ideal for use when horses require additional support to maintain healthy joints, it also aids digestion and promotes a healthy skin and coat.

BALANCING ACT

SPILLERS Supple + Senior Balancer is ideal for seniors and those that may benefit from joint support as it contains glucosamine, MSM and omega 3 fatty acids, as well as prebiotics and probiotics for digestive health.

It’s a great choice for horses that keep their condition well and is low in starch and sugar, making it suitable for those prone to laminitis. It provides a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals and is high in antioxidants too.

Hoof support

day helps increase hoof hardness and growth rates.

It was also found that feeding biotin over a longer period of time reduced the severity of hoof horn defects, increased tensile strength and improved the condition of the white line, says Dengie.

Fat in the digital cushion

Further research suggests obese horses store more fat in the digital cushion. While what this means in terms of hoof health in unknown, it’s clearly desirable to keep horses at a healthy weight to avoid disruption to the composition of the hoof structure.

Healthy Hooves Molasses Free is a low-calorie way to provide a horse with everything he needs for a balanced diet. Therefore it’s ideal for good doers, overweight individuals and those prone to laminitis.

When fed at the recommended daily rate of 500g per 100kg bodyweight, it provides a horse with all the vitamins and minerals he needs, including the recommended amount of biotin.

42 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022

SPILLERS Original Multi Balancer is great for supplementing forage only diets by providing the nutrients needed every day as well as digestive, immune and hoof support.

It contains 15mg of biotin per 500g serving, proven to support hoof health. It’s also rich in amino acids to support muscle development and topline and high in antioxidants, while probiotic live yeast and prebiotic MOS support digestive health.

For happy hooves

SPILLERS Happy Hoof is a low calorie, shortchop fibre ideal for those prone to laminitis.

It has all the vitamins and minerals they need, plus biotin for hoof condition.

It can be used as a total hay replacer and is approved by The Laminitis Trust.

SPILLERS Happy Hoof Molasses Free - a low calorie fibre blend with garlic and oil and no added sugar – is the ideal alternative for customers concerned about molasses.

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HOOVES, LEGS, JOINTS | ETN

For fabulous feet

Added biotin for hoof quality makes FibreBeet a great feed for promoting hoof health.

It also contains Speedi-Beet, alfalfa and oat fibre to release energy slowly. And, thanks to its low starch and sugar content, Fibre-Beet is ideal for horses prone to laminitis as part of a balanced diet.

A 20kg bag of quick-soaking FibreBeet makes up to more than 85 scoops of soaked feed.

Top specification nutrients

TopSpec 10:10 Joint Support is a caramel flavoured additive containing an excellent specification of nutrients to support healthy joints.

Synovial joints are stabilised by a complex network of tendons, ligaments and muscles in and around the joint, and by the joint capsule itself.

In ideal circumstances this enables joints to function smoothly and comfortably.

TopSpec 10:10 Joint Support is designed to help support joints subject to excess trauma and/or repeated wear and tear.

It contains natural sources of glucosamine (10g/500kg horse/day) and MSM (10g/500kg horse/day). Glucosamine is a precursor and component of GAGs such as chondroitin and hyaluronic acid. GAGSs are essential constituents of cartilage and synovial fluid.

MSM is a bio-available source of sulphur and helps to maintain optimum function in connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments and muscles. It promotes fluid dispersion at injury sites via its role in the permeability of cell walls.

TopSpec 10:10 Joint Support also contains a blend of anti-oxidants such as vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and natural tocopherols, to help maintain healthy cells in the joint.

On laminitis alert?

EquiGlo Quick Soak 10 Minute Beet is an ideal source of fibre for horses and ponies prone to, or at risk from, laminitis.

A convenient and safe feed, it’s made from British-grown, non-GM unmolassed beet flakes and is low in sugar and starch.

The feed provides an excellent supply of non-heating, steady energy and can be used as a direct replacement for starchy, cereal-based feeds or as a partial

KIND TO HOOVES

Mollichaff HoofKind is a complete, high fibre feed to support horses and ponies prone to laminitis.

Low in starch and sugar, and cereal-free, it’s made from oat straw, dried alfalfa and fibre pellets. It has a light dressing of soya oil with added vitamins and minerals, trace elements, antioxidants and biotin.

By providing high quality protein with restricted calories. Mollichaff HoofKind delivers controlled energy from digestible fibre and oil-based ingredients. This makes it useful for good doers as well as laminitics.

Sound ideas

Low in starch and sugar, while balanced with vitamins and minerals, Dodson & Horrell’s Safe & Sound is perfect for horses and ponies prone to laminitis.

Providing D&H’s QLC antioxidants, as well as recommended levels of biotin for hoof support along with zinc and methionine, MSM is included for the support of the musculoskeletal system.

Safe & Sound is ideal for equines prone to weight gain, or good-doers. A firm favourite in the Dodson & Horrell product stable, it’s always a strong seller.

Joint approach

Dodson & Horrell’s Joint Support contains a blend of nutritional and herbal ingredients designed to support healthy joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Glucosamine helps provide essential building blocks for the maintenance of healthy joint cartilage; MSM helps support healthy joints and mobility.

D&H’s QLC antioxidants ‘mop-up’ excess free radicals and help support immunity and recovery, while mobility herbs are included too.

replacement when forage is limited or of poor quality.

It should be soaked for ten minutes before feeding or five minutes when hot water is used.

EquiGlo Quick Soak 10 Minute Beet is manufactured

by Henry Bell & Co (Grantham) Ltd, a trusted name in the feed sector since 1825.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 43

ETN | HOOVES, LEGS, JOINTS

ALL BASES COVERED

NAF Five Star PROFEET supplements not only provide nutrients to directly support hoof health, they also offer nutritional support that helps target healthy liver function which, in turn, is fundamental to healthy hoof growth.

Biotin is combined with a rich sulphur complex of methionine, lysine and MSM, minerals including calcium and zinc, and a broad spectrum of amino acids and essential fatty acids.

PROFEET supplements are available as powder, liquid or pellets.

Expertly blended

PROFEET Farrier Dressing and Solution comes as an easy-to-apply, drip free dressing with a natural brush for convenience and cleanliness.

Expertly blended for deep penetration into the horn, it can help prevent premature cracking and drying, while protecting the hoof capsule from the outside in.

By helping to defend the hoof from waterborne threats, PROFEET dressing and solution give farriers hooves to work with.

Horses’ joints have to cope with extreme forces and it’s commonly the cartilage that’s the first part to show wear and tear.

The key cartilage nutrients - glucosamine sulphate, MSM, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid (HA) - are known for their support of cartilage and the thick synovial fluid that oils the joint, says NAF. Five Star Superflex contains the right combination of key nutrients in the optimum ratios, developed over 25 years of working with sound horses. Naturally sourced antioxidants are also included.

The right combination

For seniors

NAF Five Star Superflex contains a scientifically balanced ratio of glucosamine and chondroitin, high quality MSM plus the added benefits of a powerful anti-oxidant formula designed to address excess free radical build up around the joint.

NAF Five Star Superflex Senior provides NAF’s highest specification of key joint support nutrients, working in synergy with rich natural sources of omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants to support healthy, flexible joints in hard working horses and older horses and ponies still leading active lives.

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ETN REPORTING | ETN

TURNING BACK THE PAGES…

For more than four decades, ETN has reported on the equestrian trade. Let’s look back at the news, people and products that were making headlines this month five, ten, 20 and 30 years ago.

In February/March 2017, ETN reported:

In February/March 2012, ETN reported:

l Saddlery company Bates Australia set up Saddlery Brands International to distribute its Bates and Wintec ranges directly to UK and American retailers. The saddle brands had previously been supplied to the trade FIVE

by Weatherbeeta for more than 20 years.

YEARS l Buckinghamshire retailer Equine Essentials AGO...

Direct opened a third store in Denham. The proprietors, mother and daughter Dawn Frances and Laura Dunn, started the business in 2012 selling products in village halls. They had other stores in Chalfont St Giles and Bellingdon End Farm, Chesham. l At the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) National Saddlery Competitions, Catriona Coppens of The Royal Mews collected the Bruce Emtage Memorial Plate for ‘best in show’ with her miniature harness. She received her award from The Princess Royal. l NAF formed a new partnership with British Showjumping.

Britain’s senior Nations Cup teams, along with the international youth teams, became known as Team NAF. British team performance manager Di Lampard said she was delighted to be working with a company so closely associated with Clean Sport.

l The last bastion of hatless riding – the German dressage community – finally fell when national heroine Isabell Werth vowed to wear a helmet in training and TEN competition. “In dressage, helmet wearing YEARS is still almost a taboo,” she said, “so there’s AGO... a clear need for action.” Isabell had just signed a sponsorship deal with helmet manufacturer uvex. l Rumenco – best known for its cattle and sheep supplements – acquired horsecare products manufacturer Nettex Industries. Meanwhile, Design Headwear, manufacturer of Gatehouse helmets, joined Westgate EFI; and Abbey England purchased Catras Leather from Richard Stevenson who was retiring. l K C Sports, the company that developed and manufactured Rodney Powell body protectors, ceased trading. Director Roger Cooper told ETN that HM Revenue & Customs had taken possession of the company’s assets for sale at auction to recover overdue tax. l Equiport opened a retail outlet near Knutsford, Cheshire.

Eventer Oliver Townend and showing star Louise Bell did the honours. The shop was to showcase Equiport’s own brands plus the likes of Gersemi, HV Polo, Veredus and Equipe.

In February/March 2002, ETN reported:

In February/March 1992, ETN reported:

l TV presenters Clarissa Dickson Wright and Johnny Scott visited E. Jeffries’ Walsall factory to film the saddlemaking process for the BBC 20 series Clarissa & YEARS the Countryman.

AGO...

Jeffries’ chief executive Duncan Kent and Master Saddler John Flavell were interviewed. l The Government announced that all horses, ponies and donkeys in England and Wales were to be given unique registration numbers and a passport for life. The new law would be implemented from the end of 2003 to bring the UK into line with European legislation. l Zebra Products was appointed UK distributor of the Kentucky clothing brand – and promptly brokered a sponsorship deal with dressage supremo Carl Hester. l BETA set up a new training course to help retailers sell equipment for the “increasingly popular” disciplines of endurance and Western riding. Jeremy Weiss from Weaver Leather in the US and British international endurance rider Ally Edwards were the course presenters.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

l Country clothing manufacturer Belstaff International announced the closure of its Staffordshire factory. More than 200 employees were working out 30 their notice. Belstaff YEARS was originally AGO... founded in 1924 and for many years, oiled motorcycle clothing was its mainstay. It was best known in the equestrian market for its Brittan collection and UK distribution of the Australian owned Drizabone range. l A survey commissioned by BETA and the Standing Conference on Country Sports showed that hunting contributed 16,500 jobs to the economy. It was published as a private member’s Bill, which sought to ban all hunting with hounds, was due to be debated in Parliament. l Puffa donated 100 Puffa Parkas – with blue and pink hippo patterns – to event rider Lucinda Green’s Riders for Romanian Orphans charity. l Clothing brands set to make an impact at BETA International at Sandown Park were Splashdown, Javlin, Christy & Co, Tally Ho, John Partridge, Gorringe Sportswear, Joule & Sons, Husky, Thomas H Loveday and an exciting newcomer - Toggi.

Meanwhile, wholesaler MacTack promised to go “colour crazy” across numnahs, saddle cloths and hat silks.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 | 45

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