ETN (Equestrian Trade News) - May 2022

MAY 2022

Volume 46, No 4

HOME TRUTHS About stables, hay nets and tack rooms SMALLHOLDINGS

ETN is the official media partner of BETA International

FROM PETS TO POULTRY

PLUS

• AMTRA ACCREDITED RAMA CPD FEATURES • BETTER BUSINESS TIPS

2022

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

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Editor’s comment O

f course, we all want to do the right thing by the environment in our personal and business lives.

Apart from protecting the planet, the rising cost of power is prompting even the most ardent climate-change sceptic to turn the lights off and thermostat down.

Our industry was among the first to latch onto ‘green’ issues. Indeed, equestrianism’s links with the countryside, fresh air and animals make it an ideal candidate.

Many suppliers now go to great lengths to tell us how ‘sustainable’, ‘eco-friendly’ and environmentally caring are their products and brands. All good selling points… But beware, curbs could be coming.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has been looking closely at the implications of businesses blithely describing their wares as ‘made from recycled materials’ or ‘kind to the environment’ when they don’t necessarily have the evidence to back up those claims.

The problem, of course, is that making unsustainable claims not only tricks consumers, but is unfair to competitor companies who are more honest.

Environmental marketing is usually well intended and a good promotional tool. But look at how illegal claims for supplements were clamped down upon – and how quick rival businesses are to snitch on those breaking the rules.

Yes, the law is poised to come down hard on all those who cannot substantiate their environmental protestations.

I’ve just had a gastroscopy performed on one of my horses. It was the first-time I’ve seen a horse ‘scoped’.

Two vets worked together to sedate him, a tube was passed through his nose into his stomach, then a camera on the end of a long

COVER CREDIT:

In this issue of ETN, we look at all aspects of the stable yard, from HOME mucking out to TRUTHS stocking the first aid kit. There’s even PLUS the chance to peek behind the scenes of one of Britain’s most historic tack rooms. Our front cover image comes courtesy of Freepik.com.

MAY 2022

Volume 46, No 4

About stables, hay nets and tack rooms SMALLHOLDINGS

ETN is the official media partner of BETA International

FROM PETS TO POULTRY

• AMTRA ACCREDITED RAMA CPD FEATURES • BETTER BUSINESS TIPS

2022

11-13 September NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, UK

cable was inserted down the tube to enable the vets to see inside his stomach.

As ever with these high-tech procedures, the skill lies in interpreting the results.

And, sure enough, the vets found evidence of long-standing and only partly-healed ulcers. I was even sent images to prove it.

And, by the way, the cost of the drugs subsequently administered was about three times the cost of the ‘scoping!

I’m no expert, but I wonder how many horses we refer to as ‘a bit sour’, ‘poor doers’ or ‘grumpy’ have actually got gastric ulcers?

Interesting, one of the vets who ‘scoped my horse now specialises in the procedure, so sees hundreds of horses’ insides. “How many horses have you ‘scoped with no signs of ulcers?” I asked.

Her reply was revealing: “One,” she said.

In this issue...

NEWS

Industry happenings

PRODUCT NEWS Latest launches

PEOPLE

Who’s new, who’s moved

BENCH SADDLER OF THE MONTH Meet Jeanette Hutchinson

RETAILER PROFILE

Robinsons Equestrian

BETTER BUSINESS

Let technology take the strain

IN THE HOT SEAT

Simon Parker of Henry Bell airs his views

SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS When to hire a professional

2022 BETA BUSINESS AWARDS Find out who won

SUPPLEMENTS AND BALANCERS What’s on the market

Compiling ETN’s Turn back the pages feature is a great excuse to pour over old copies of this esteemed trade title.

There are some weird and wonderful ideas – did compression suits for horses ever catch on 20 years ago? While many people and companies mentioned are still around.

Some attitudes have changed dramatically. Thirty years ago, there was an outcry – big enough to make ETN’s front page – when Italian saddle brand Pariani was appointed an official supplier to the British equestrian teams.

Even more shockingly, it was reported at the time, the sponsorship was announced just ahead of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

“It’s nothing short of shameful,” was among the more printable comments from members of the UK saddlery industry.

At the time, the British Equestrian Federation justified the deal by explaining that Pariani had “offered a substantial sum” and “provided all British team members with made-to-measure saddles.” Can you imagine today’s PR machines being quite so straight-forward?

Back to 2022, and earlier this year Australian company Bates Saddles became an official partner of the UK’s current federation, British Equestrian. Yet there was barely a murmur from the trade.

SMALLHOLDINGS AND PETS Diversification ideas

AMTRA ACCREDITED CPD FEATURE AND QUIZ Test yourself on hen health

4 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 28 32

35

TURN BACK THE PAGES

What ETN was reporting five, ten, 20 and 30 years ago

AMTRA ACCREDITED CPD FEATURE AND QUIZ

Nutrition module on equine gastric ulcers

PADDOCK, STABLE AND TACK ROOM Wound care explained Hay nets: friend or foe A tack room to savour Product gallery

38

40 44 46 47 48

Main Sponsor

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ARM YOUR CUSTOMERS WITH THE BEST FLY DEFENSE

T: +44 (0) 1295 722855 • E: orders@lesliesutcliffe.com For our complete range see our website www.lesliesutcliffe.com

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

Liz Benwell Liz Benwell

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 3

News ETN | NEWS

“Proud moment” for British manufacturer Equi-Trek has invited dealers from across the UK to view its British-made Apollo trailer.

The new design, manufactured at the company’s facility in Epworth, North Lincolnshire, will be launched to the public at Badminton Horse Trials this month (May).

The Apollo has been in development for two years.

Testing has included simulating a full lifecycle of being driven, says Equi-Trek.

“We’ve already seen a huge demand with many deposits taken to secure May delivery,” said Tom Janion, managing director at Trek-Group.

“We can’t wait to see the trailer in use across the UK and then overseas. It’s a proud moment for the team who have worked incredibly hard over the last two years to create the Apollo.”

A production line for the new trailer has been established at Equi-Trek’s factory. Enquiries about new dealerships are welcome, says the company.

The 2,000kg Apollo retails at £6,999 including VAT, and the 2,600kg model at £7,299 including VAT.

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

Equi-Trek dealers and the management team enjoyed a tour of the company’s North Lincolnshire facility. From left, Jeremy Lovatt of Equi-Trek, Ian Pedler of Trek Trailers, Jodie Tindall of Equi-Trek, Annie Pushman of Equi-Trek Worcester, Chris Winchester of Equi-Trek Bury St Edmunds, Ross Pushman of Equi-Trek Worcester, Will Drury of EquiTrek Bury St Edmunds, Tom Janion – Trek-Group managing director, Andy Wyer of SBS Trailers, Andrew Millington – Equi-Trek managing director, Russell Hodge of Equi-Trek Lincolnshire and Conor Thornton of Equi-Trek.

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 MAY 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 39 Agma Ltd 43 Allen & Page 19 BETA International 50 Bettalife IFC Citrus-Lime 50 Dengie 21 Dodson & Horrell 15 Horslyx 33 Jenkinsons 3&7 Leovet 27 L S Sales OFC NAF 9 Perry Equestrian 23 Premier Equine 13 Pro-Equine 31 Red Gorilla IBC TopSpec 31 Tricklenet 43 Vita Animal Health 43 Western & English Sales Association 39 Zebra OBC

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NEWS | ETN

MAJOR COMPANIES SECURE THEIR STANDS AT BETA INTERNATIONAL 2022 BETA International is set to be a must-visit event for retailers and buyers as leading companies show their commitment to the exhibition on 11-13 September 2022.

Stand space for the show at NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire is 75% sold, say new organisers Impact Exhibitions & Events who also stage the pet and aquatic industry events, PATS and AQUA. Companies who have already booked stands at BETA International 2022 include Abbey England, Bliss of London and Cavaletti Saddles, Charles Owen & Airowear, Elico Equestrian/Jenkinsons, Equilibrium Products, ETN, LeMieux, Mackey Equestrian, NAF, Neue Schule, Shaws Equestrian, Shires Equestrian, Silvermoor, The Original Muck Boot Company, TopSpec Equine, Vale Brothers, Waldhausen, Westgate, Science Supplements and Woof Wear.

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

“Companies are booking their stands for the September show and it’s wonderful to be holding it at such a lovely venue as NAEC Stoneleigh, which the equestrian market knows and loves.”

Sarfraz Mian, CEO of main sponsor Neue Schule, commented: “As activities open up and international travel becomes easier after the pandemic lockdown restrictions, we look forward to welcoming our customers from the UK, across Europe and beyond, back to BETA International.

“Currently, there’s a huge amount of enthusiasm for equestrian activities and this can only be good for the industry. It points towards it being a highly successful BETA International for all concerned.”

In a change for 2022, the show reverts back to running on a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, after being held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in 2021.

However, many key features - including the New Product Gallery and seminar programme - will return.

HKM Sports Equipment (UK) has booked its stand for BETA International 2022. Said director Laura Parry: “It presents the opportunity to showcase our products and new collections and gives our customers the chance to make their forward orders for the upcoming seasons. It is also a perfect opportunity for us to meet new potential customers.”

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

“Currently, there’s a huge amount of enthusiasm for equestrian activities and this can only be good for the industry.”

Citrus-Lime’s head of sales and supplier partnership, Grant Hadwin, commented: “BETA International is arguably the most important show in the equestrian calendar. We wouldn’t be anywhere else in September.”

Barbara Huddart, head of marketing at Bedmax which is to exhibit again this year, added: “BETA International provides a platform for us to meet our existing customers, to introduce ourselves to potential new customers and for open discussion with others within the industry.”

Annabel Frater, head of marketing at Silvermoor, said BETA International was “the number one equestrian trade event. From networking with industry stalwarts to showcasing our latest products to the right audience, BETA International gets it right year after year.”

And Paul Jeffery, of Saddlery Trade Services (STS Walsall), said: “BETA International gives smaller companies like [us] a chance to network with our customers and demonstrate our new products. It also gives us a chance to meet new clients and build lasting relationships.”

Retailers and buyers wishing to register for free entry to BETA International should visit www.beta-int.com where a list of exhibitors can also be found.

To find out more about exhibiting at BETA International, contact Fiona Dagger at Impact Exhibitions & Events on 01892 862848 or email fiona.dagger@impact-exhibitions.com.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 5

ETN | NEWS

NEW TRADING OPPORTUNITY?

Trade stand applications are open for the new Bolesworth CDI3* International Dressage.

The event will be run by the experienced organising team at the Cheshire venue, against the backdrop of Bolesworth Castle, on 24 26 June 2022. 5,000 spectators are expected.

With three arenas running over three days, and classes from preliminary to grand prix, there will be a VIP hospitality marquee, demonstration by Olympic rider Richard Davison and a shopping village.

Bolesworth’s managing director Nina Barbour said she was “delighted to be welcoming the dressage world back to Bolesworth for what promises to be a huge celebration of the sport.”

Flying the flag

Clippers manufacturer Lister has joined the Made in Britain organisation.

The Gloucestershire based company is now entitled to use the protected Made in Britain logo.

Established more than a century ago, Lister has held a Royal Warrant for 70 years.

Said Sebastian Goodison, managing director: “The Made in Britain campaign reinforces Lister as a proud British manufacturer, and we look forward to integrating the mark into our communications and products in the future.”

MORE COMPANIES JOIN BETA

A diverse range of equestrian businesses have become the latest members of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).

Theirs were among applications for membership to be approved at the recent meeting of the BETA Council.

BETA represents equestrian retailers, manufacturers, distributors and related suppliers, and acts in the interests of horsey consumers. Applications to join are scrutinised by existing BETA members before being granted or refused.

Member companies are entitled to use the BETA logo. To consumers, the badge is therefore a sign of a reputable businesses where they can shop with confidence.

The following firms are BETA’s newest members:

Risk-free offer for “uncertain” times

BETTALIFE is offering retailers the chance to stock its products risk-free “in light of rising costs and uncertainty.”

The supplements specialist is inviting stockists to swap unsold stock free of charge, provided it’s undamaged, clean and sellable.

“Although we’re sure that customers will love the BETTALIFE range, we hope offering this flexibility along with 28 days to settle accounts allows retailers to feel supported in their decisions to stock our products,” said a company spokesman.

In addition, BETTALIFE’s 100% money back guarantee available on all products - is settled by the company directly with consumers, enabling retailers to maintain the margin on sold products, even if the customer is not satisfied.

BETTALIFE says it will also happily exchange short-dated products for ones with longer expiry dates.

• Victoria Leavesley Equestrian, Burton upon Trent – saddle fitter and mobile retailer (Retail Member of BETA) • Millstream Saddlery, Beaver Hall Equestrian Centre, Leek, Staffordshire – equestrian store and internet retailer (Retail Member) • Pets & Country, Whittle-le-Woods, Lancashire – equestrian store (Retail Member) • Cavaletti Collection, Aldridge, West Midlands – saddle manufacturer (Trade Member)

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• STS Walsall (Saddlery Trade Services), Walsall, West Midlands – wholesaler of equestrian products (Trade Member) • Rhea Freeman PR, Kidderminster – social media and marketing consultant (Associate Member) WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

RDA sets out post-pandemic recovery plan A shortage of suitable horses and reduced participation post-pandemic are to be tackled by the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA).

The charity has also set out plans to support 10,000 more people by 2025.

The organisation’s new ‘Transforming lives across the UK’ strategy focuses initially on supporting its existing network of RDA RDA activities should be more groups to increase the widely recognised for the mental number of centres and health benefits they deliver, says people that can take part. the charity.

RDA also reports seeing growing demand for its activities amid a changing landscape of disability.

Said RDA president HRH The Princess Royal: “This new strategy signals a moment of change and opportunity for all of us involved in RDA as we seek to rebuild and resume our work following a difficult two years.

“United by our goal to bring the benefits of horses to as many disabled people as possible, we have a chance to make even more of a difference to communities all over the UK. “Now, as we look to strengthen our groups and grow our reach, we will explore new ways for people to benefit - with horses at the heart of everything we do.”

Rachel Medill, RDA UK chair of trustees said the charity was “realistic” about the challenge.

“Post-pandemic, our participant numbers are down, so our first priority is to rebuild confidence and bring people back to their previous levels of activity.

“At the same time, we need to build the strength and capacity of our network. Our groups will need localised, tailored support to build the strong foundations from which they can thrive and grow.

“We will also need the commitment of new volunteers and coaches, and a strong supply of horses and ponies.”

INSURER’S PARENT COMPANY GETS NEW NAME

The owner of SEIB Insurance Brokers has changed its name from Ecclesiastical to Benefact Group.

Benefact Group is owned by a registered charity called the Benefact Trust which gives to faith-based charities. However, Benefact Group awards all its available profits to good causes, regardless of the sector. It’s the fourth-largest corporate donor in the UK. Originally created 130 years ago to protect parish churches from fire, Benefact Group has since become an international family of three divisions: insurance, investments, and broker and advisory, with operations in the UK, Ireland, Canada and Australia.

It includes more than 30 specialist financial businesses including Ecclesiastical Insurance, EdenTree Investment Management, SEIB Insurance Brokers, Lycetts and Lloyd & White brokers.

SEIB Insurance Brokers and the Benefact Group’s other trading brands will continue to operate under their own names.

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EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 7

ETN | NEWS

Photo: focusonracing.com

Trainer credits “the best advice and products” after big race first and second Team NAF supported trainer Christian Williams delivered a masterclass in training when he took the top two places in the Coral Scottish Grand National with Win My Wings and Kitty’s Light.

Under jockey Rob James, Win My Wings cruised to a seven lengths victory ahead of stablemate Kitty’s Light ridden by Jack Tudor. Kitty’s Light also finished strongly, ending up five lengths clear of the rest of the field.

The 1-2 victory cemented Chistian’s growing reputation as a top trainer of staying chasers. He won the Midlands and Welsh Grand Nationals with Potters Corner.

He also earnt praise for producing a mare to win last Saturday’s big race, Win My Wings being the first to take the prize in 51 years.

Christian’s yard, Ogmore Farm, is on the outskirts of the coastal Ogmore by Sea in the the Vale of Glamorgan. It’s a beautiful and tranquil place.

Using the natural surroundings of the beach, the dunes and the river, Christian takes a hands-on, holistic approach to training racehorses.

On his partnership with NAF, Christian said “NAF have been on board with me from the start, we have a great relationship and they are very much part of the team.

“I can rely on them and their team of nutritionists and vets to provide the best advice and products to support my horses throughout their careers.”

Christian feeds a number of products from across the NAF supplements range including NAF Racing products Clean Wind, Gastro Form and Rapid Recovery.

Five Star Oestress is also a staple part of the diet of each of the mares on the yard.

Extending congratulations to the connections of both horses, the team at NAF said: Team NAF supported “We have forged a strong trainer Christian Williams relationship with Christian and and jockey Rob James with the Coral Scottish his team and are delighted to have played a role in these Grand National trophy won by Win My Wings. fantastic successes.”

Fay Raper, sales assistant and member of the winning retail display team at Torne Valley Ltd Tickhill, is determined to draw customers’ attention to new Mollichaff Light Molasses Free.

Retailer puts on a show to win display competition A South Yorkshire retailer has scooped £500 worth of prizes by winning a national display competition.

The Tickhill branch of Torne Valley Ltd beat off entries from more than 50 other stores to win £250 in M&S vouchers and £250 worth of branded clothing.

The competition was run by HorseHage and Mollichaff to promote its new Mollichaff Light Molasses Free product.

The contest was open to all UK stockists. Each entrant was sent a display pack and a box of chocolates as a thank you for participating.

“We’ve been blown away with the response to our competition and would like to thank each and

every one of our stockists who participated,” said Mark Westaway, marketing manager of HorseHage and Mollichaff.

“With such a high standard of competition, it was a tough one to judge.”

Chris Chambers, general manager at Torne Valley Ltd Tickhill, said: “We’re over the moon to have won and are all very grateful for the £500 prize.”

He went on to thank sales assistants Fay Raper, Sarah Sykes and Kate Drewery who “put in a great amount of time and effort to create such a brilliant display.

It’s drawn a lot of attention to the new Mollichaff Light Molasses Free product.”

Fay and Sarah added: “We’re so proud to have won and really thankful for the prizes. We really enjoyed creating the display and put a lot of thought into it to get everything coordinating.”

Industry professionals urged to complete saddlery survey Equestrian professionals – from farriers to equine dentists - are being asked to take a survey on tack fitting.

Hartpury University’s Equestrian Performance Research Centre has launched a research project to investigate experiences and opinions on saddlery fit for horse and rider.

The team of Dr Kathryn Nankervis (Equestrian Performance Research Centre Lead), Dr Russell Mackechnie-Guire (Reader in Biomechanics Research) and Dr Jane Williams (Head of Research) are working with colleagues from the Society 8 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

of Master Saddlers (SMS).

They are inviting equestrian professionals - including veterinary surgeons, physical therapists, coaches, saddle fitters, equine dental technicians and farriers - to take the survey The study will investigate how saddlery fit issues feature when equestrian professionals help horse-rider partnerships. It will also look at what influences referrals to other professionals, and some common tack fitting issues.

Dr Kathryn Nankervis said: “This research is hugely important as part of

a wider goal in improving horse welfare, comfort and performance through better fitting saddlery.

“The results will be used by the SMS, and we’d encourage everyone who is working in the field to take part in the survey.”

The survey takes around ten minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous.

Find the survey here: https://uchartpury.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/ equestrian-professionals-and-saddle-fit2022-launch.

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ETN | PRODUCT NEWS

Product News LEAP OF FAITH

“Believe in Yourself’ is one of a new collection of show jumps launched by Jump 4 Joy in collaboration with Emily Cole Illustrations.

It comes complete with two wings featuring Emily’s pony and unicorn drawing, plus two pink and white poles and a plank. The complete jump has an RRP of £826.

Individual pieces, such as wings and plinth-based fillers, can be purchased separately.

“It’s been a pleasure working with Emily Cole,” said Jump 4 Joy’s managing director Nigel Underwood. “We have four more exciting new jump designs waiting to be launched as part of the collection later this year.”

IN BULK RUG WASH

Granger’s Rug Wash not only removes dirt and odours.

It also refreshes horse clothing, revives repellency, enhances breathability and is recommended for all fabrics including Gore-Tex. The makers say it also removes residue build-up which can affect rugs’ performance.

Available in 25 litre containers for big yards or tackshops offering rug cleaning services.

In the pink

The Bucas Freedom Fly Sheet comes in stunning new colours of spicey pink (pictured) and sweet blue. Silver remains available too.

The lightweight mesh rug allows air to circulate around the horse, keeping him cool while preventing irritating flies from agitating him.

Many owners also like using this type of rug to save horses’ coats from bleaching in the sun.

The Bucas Freedom Fly Sheet has a 10 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Why this company is on cloud 9…

Retail EPOS systems provider CitrusLime has marked a milestone in the development of its Cloud POS system.

The company’s automatic product listing platform now has more than 100,000 items in its database, with around 25,000 from the equestrian sector. “[Cloud POS] benefits our clients by saving them huge amounts of time when setting up and managing their websites,” says Patrick Adamson (pictured), head of the product activation team at Citrus-Lime.

“The number of brands we have coming on board is growing at a phenomenal rate. We already work with the main equestrian suppliers and the list is growing all the time.

“Brands and suppliers are recognising that Cloud POS maintains the integrity of the data being provided to retailers, ensuring more consistent coverage of each product they supply.”

The system automatically updates website pages with optimised product data as soon as stock is booked in.

Data within each listing includes short and long descriptions, sizes, colours, technical specifications and images.

Patrick says the information collated by his team is purposely configured so that products can be found when Googled - providing retailers with a multi-channel offer and their customers with the best possible online shopping experience.

“Because product data is online as soon as stock hits the shop floor, retailers have longer to sell at full margin, reducing the prospect of end of season discounting, which no one likes to do,” adds Patrick.

“This is a great additional benefit of Cloud POS; every independent equestrian retailer should have it.”

The past year has seen Citrus-Lime double its equestrian clients, something that’s reflected in the number of suppliers and brands the company is talking to across the sector, marketing manager Jane Kinsley told ETN. Outside of equestrian, the rest of the 100,000 product listings with Cloud POS are from the outdoor and cycle markets. “[Equestrian] is a key sector for Citrus-Lime and we’re focussing our efforts on bringing on board as many suppliers and brands as possible,” added Jane.

At the time of writing, Citrus-Lime had 19,295 active listings from Trilanco, Shires, Equetech and Battles available on Cloud POS. And the company was working with Tredstep, Westgate and Weatherbeeta to bring online a further 4,300 product listings imminently.

full neck and a tail flap, plus external cross surcingles to wrap it around the belly. A silk-feel lining along the shoulders helps stop rubbing and an overlap T-bar front closure makes for a secure fit.

Other features include attachment points for leg straps, a fillet string and integrated neck.

Sizes 5’6” to 7’ have an RRP of around £74; sizes 3’6” to 5’3” are priced at around £62 retail.

Bucas is distributed in the UK by Zebra Products.

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PRODUCT NEWS | ETN

TALES FROM A HORSEY HEROINE

Anneli Drummond-Hay was a horsey heroine of her generation, and remains an icon to equestrians of a certain age.

Now the international eventer turned show jumper has written her autobiography.

Merely a Rider, published

by Quiller, is written by Anneli with Horse&Hound’s features editor Martha Terry.

The book tells how Anneli never went to school, and had no friends growing up.

But she had a gift with horses in which she sought solace.

Her most famous horse was Merely-A-Monarch. He was invincible in eventing, but as female eventers were not permitted to compete in the Olympics in that era, Anneli switched to show jumping.

She came close to going to three Olympics but was foiled at the last moment each time, despite winning just about everything else in the sport.

Besides her wonderful horses, Anneli gives an amazing account of the people she met including the Queen, in front of whom she was asked to lend her horse for the British Olympic effort - and refused.

Merely a Rider also covers Anneli’s later life in South Africa where she continued competing at an age long after most riders have hung up their boots.

As The Princess Royal so rightly says in the foreword to this book: “Thank goodness Anneli decided to write her story.”

What’s in a name?

Dodson & Horrell’s High Fibre Mix and High Fibre Nuts are set to return to the range, their names changing back from Classic Fibre Mix and Cubes.

“Our trade and consumer customers told us that they liked the original names and who are we to argue?” says a spokesman for D&H. “The names High Fibre Mix and High Fibre Nuts better reflect the highquality recipe that is used in these products. The emphasis on high fibre helps our customers to understand the category that these feeds sit in, and we are proud to see the name return.”

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

Naturally moisturising WildWash Equine Wonder Balm for Horse Hooves and Wounds is a multipurpose soothing and moisturising balm.

Made with shea butter, sea buckthorn oil and kanuka oil, it can be used as a hoof dressing as well as on minor cuts, scrapes and grazes.

ESME’S CHOICE

Hy Equestrian has introduced This Esme rugs to its StormX collection.

The designs have been developed in collaboration with the brand’s rug partner Esme Higgs, who’s known as This Esme on social media.

A lavender, zero fill turnout rug is already in stock, with a mint 200g detachable neck turnout rug due to arrive in September. Coordinating boot and hat bags are available.

“I’m so excited to be teaming up with Hy Equestrian to release a new line of my very own rug design,” says Esme.

“I’ve been using the StormX range for some time now. They look smart and have withstood some serious antics from my horses.”

Hy Equestrian is available from Battles.

Ideal for hacking out

Charlotte Dujardin and equine friend are seen modelling the Equisafety Waterproof Multi Coloured Quarter Sheet – the perfect hi-viz hacking companion.

Made from waterproof, breathable outer fabric, the sheet has a 100g quilted polyester wicking fill.

There’s retro reflective tape detailing on the rug and a large tail flap to help ensure horse and rider are seen when out and about. Additional features include four adjustable fastening straps and two leg straps.

The quarter sheet comes in yellow/orange, pink/yellow or pink/orange, in sizes Shetland to extra-full. The RRP is £59.99.

A matching rider’s gilet is available.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 11

ETN | PEOPLE

People Allister Nixon is the new chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) which runs the Great Yorkshire and other events at the Harrogate showground. He replaces Nigel Pulling who retired after more than 20 years at the YAS. Allister is a chartered accountant.

He was previously the chief operating officer at the Castle Howard Estate in Yorkshire, managing a holiday park, retail, catering, farming and forestry businesses. He moved from London six years ago and now lives with his family in North Yorkshire.

Photo: EmmPix , Marion Photography, Julie Howden/British Horse Society

This month sees Mel Newman leave her role as head of marketing at Finest Brands International where she has been working with the Toggi and Champion brands. Mel is joining an agency that handles equestrian and skiing brands.

Four exceptional horse-people have become Fellows of the British Horse Society (FBHS).

David Sheerin, Kylie Roddy, Lisa Morris and Jayne Smart (pictured clockwise from upper left) join fewer than 60 other Fellows of the BHS worldwide.

The Fellowship is awarded on successful completion of a twoday assessment of candidates’ knowledge in all aspects of equitation and educating horses and riders. Fellows’ assessments days are typically held only once every two years.

Eventing royalty Lucinda Green and her daughter Lissa bring their wealth of knowledge to HorseFest, the new entertainment and demonstrations show to be held at Kelsall Hill in Cheshire on 8 – 10 July.

The pair will attend the equestrian festival on the final day to pass on their training and producing skills, and talk about their eventing journeys over the years.

12 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Eve McCoy has a legend of a father in former champion National Hunt jockey AP McCoy. But it’s show jumping in which the 14-year-old is making a name for herself.

As part of Britain’s Children on Horses team, Eve won team bronze at last year’s European championships. And now she’s secured sponsorship from Equipe saddles and UK distributor Zebra Products.

Eve, a pupil at Cheltenham College, is trained by international show jumpers Eleni and Peter Murphy. Her top horses are Non Stop and Elia, both of whom she rides in the Equipe Evolution Special monoflap jump saddle.

As Eve progresses up the ranks, the show jumping world should watch out for a competitor every bit as fierce as her father. “She’s very driven and passionate about the sport - and is as determined as AP was when he was racing,” says her mum Chanelle McCoy. In a quest for more championship medals, British Equestrian and British Showjumping have announced three appointments to enhance the support team headed by performance manager Di Lampard.

Stanny Van Paesschen, who represented Belgium at Olympic level and has managed medal-winning showjumping teams internationally, is the new technical expert. British Olympian and youth team trainer Tony Newbery becomes nations cup chef d’equipe, and Simon Woods takes over from Robrecht Cnockaert as team vet.

HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the British Horse Society’s new operational hub for Scotland at Stirling Agricultural Centre last month.

As well as unveiling a plaque, the princess met soldiers and horses from the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards who gave a display. The centre is home to many rural organisations and activities including Stirling’s famous bi-annual bull sales.

People using horses and ponies for therapy can now join a voluntary register. The Human-Equine Interaction Register (HEIR) is designed to protect all participants, including the horses and ponies involved. It also provides a reference database for potential sponsors or patrons wishing to support such schemes or charities.

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ETN | BENCH SADDLER OF THE MONTH

Celebrating

the best bench saddlers...

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

JOB TO SUPPORT HER PONY After school, Jeanette had to find a job.

“I needed to support my pony as my mum couldn’t afford the both of us,” she explained, “so I started working for the Civil Service Riding Club which then had their horses stabled at The Royal Mews in London.

“From there, I was fortunate enough to get a job with the Metropolitan Police [mounted branch] as a groom when I turned 18.”

A MOVE TO THE MEWS

Jeanette Hutchinson hard at work in her role as saddler to the Metropolitan Police mounted branch.

ETN BENCH SADDLER OF THE MONTH: JEANETTE HUTCHINSON

NOMINATED BY: Master Saddler Frances Roche, who says: “Jeanette has won many prizes in the National Saddlery Competition.

She has a great flair for thinking outside the box and has created some unusual and interesting leather items over the years.”

ABOUT Jeanette Jeanette grew up in London’s East End, close to Canning Town. At school, she was attracted to pottery, wood-working or lessons that involved designing things rather than maths and science.

Aged seven, she started riding lessons at the Connaught Riding School, now the site of the London City Airport. And when she was 16, her dad bought Jeanette her first pony, a Welsh section D. “Unfortunately, my father passed away that year. As is traditional, we gave him an East End horse-drawn funeral,” she says.

“The funeral director, Stan Harris of T. Cribb & Sons, found out I had my own pony and took me to see their horses and harness. I think this is where my fascination started. I was amazed by how it was stitched with all the embellishments.”

14 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

While grooming for the police, Jeanette married Kevin, a coachman at the Royal Mews where the couple also made their home.

With an eye still on saddlery, Jeanette approached Frances Roche, the Mews’ resident Master Saddler & Harness Maker, about taking her on as an apprentice. And she had to be persistent…

“At first, Frances was cautious as I worked shifts and she didn’t think I would be able to give it enough time,” recalled Jeanette of their first meeting 20 years ago.

“However, after going into her workshop for a couple of months on my days off and after finishing an early shift, Frances agreed to be my Master on the Millennium Apprenticeship run by the SMS.” During her apprenticeship, Jeanette won the coveted Best Apprentice Award at the National Saddlery Competition.

“Even on completing my apprenticeship, I would continue to pop into Frances’ workshop to gain more skills. I’ve been lucky enough to work on state harness for our royal family and for the Dutch and Swedish royal households too,” she says.

MALE DOMINATED INDUSTRY

As Jeanette gained more experience, she began assisting the Met Police’s Master Saddler, Gary Garcia. Last year, Gary left his post to take a job nearer to his home, and Jeanette has taken over his role.

“I enjoy making the military-style bridles used in the mounted branch, as we have such a varied range of sizes of horses,” she says.

Taking over the workshop at Imber Court - the Met Police’s mounted branch training establishment - has been a learning curve too. “[I’m often] dealing directly with manufacturers and suppliers as a female in a male dominated industry,” she says. “Most are happy to help - but there are a few!”

As she’s moved up the ranks, Jeanette’s love for leatherwork remains.

“I’ve made a few different items for fun; like a pink piggy bank, a leather wallclock, and a ladies’ 1930s inspired leather hat made from one piece of leather and embellished with leather flowers.

“Over the years, I’ve also seen different pieces of horse and rider equipment that were - or could be - made out of leather.

And I can see that it could be designed slightly differently to improve it.”

As someone always striving for improvement, it’s no surprise that Jeanette Hutchinson has recently upgraded to Master Saddler, Harness Maker and Bridlemaker.

As she’s moved up the ranks, Jeanette Hutchinson’s love of working with leather remains.

TO NOMINATE A BENCH SADDLER (OR MORE THAN ONE),

email editor@equestriantradenews. com and tell us why this person deserves to be put in the spotlight. Candidates must be SMS members.

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ETN | RETAILER PROFILE

A one-stop shop for horse and rider Edward Bowron and Sue Hancock, of the BATA Group, tell Deborah Hayward about the successful synergy between the agricultural trading association and its Malton retail store, Robinsons Equestrian.

R

obinsons Equestrian, in North Yorkshire, was bought around 20 years ago by the Brandsby Agricultural Trading Association (BATA), which was set up as a farmers’ cooperative in 1894.

It sits in the small market town of Malton, just a five-minute walk from the town centre, next to one of the business’s 11 BATA Country Stores that are spread across North and East Yorkshire.

Both have an independent frontage, but an interior door allows customers to pass from one to the other.

Sue Hancock is the buyer for Robinsons Equestrian, the store she managed for 16 years, while Edward is BATA’s marketing manager. Both are based in the association’s head office in nearby Amotherby.

AN EQUESTRIAN ACQUISITION

BATA has always supplied agricultural products and services to the farming community.

“The purchase of Robinsons & Co allowed it to reach out to a new, equestrian audience,” says Sue. “Malton is perfectly placed for an equestrian shop as we’re in racing country and there are a lot of riders around here.

“Although the BATA stores stock some horsey basics, the full range can be found at the Robinsons Equestrian store. We have also included Robinsons departments within BATA stores in Beverley and Gate Helmsley.”

HORSES FOR COURSES

Sue has worked at BATA for many years and her switch from shop manager to buyer has been a shrewd move.

A keen horsewoman with a sound knowledge of retail and an understanding of the area’s riders and their needs, she is something of a superpower, with feet firmly in both the BATA and Robinsons camps as she helps to drive them forward in a mutually beneficial arrangement.

“We are really promoting our click-and16 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Malton is racing country, with plenty of riders and trainers, and the store caters for all.

collect service, which is a great example of the way we work together,” says Sue. “Customers can order anything from the Robinsons Equestrian website and collect it from any one of our BATA Country Stores, completely free of charge.

“They can also shop between the two stores in Malton, picking up their bedding and feed in the Country Store and walking through the door into Robinsons for their rider clothing, rugs and riding hats.”

A WELL-STOCKED STORE

Robinsons Equestrian is a large, singlestorey showroom managed by Amy Hayhurst and a small knowledgeable

team all trained to fit riding hats and body protectors. The store is arranged in defined product areas to make shopping as easy as possible for customers.

“There are a lot of [race horse] trainers in Malton,” says Sue, “but I wouldn’t say we deck out the jockeys. It’s more the stable lads who come for the everyday equipment they need. We are definitely more happy hacker, middle-of-the-road, not high-end, and we try to cater for everybody.”

The store sells an extensive range of leatherwork and bridles, although the commission sales of second-hand saddles has just stopped. “You need a qualified saddle fitter to sell saddles and we didn’t WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

RETAILER PROFILE | ETN

Robinsons Equestrian is part of the BATA Group.

have one any more,” explains Sue. Popular brands available at the store and online include LeMieux, Racesafe, Shires Equestrian, Airowear, Champion, Le Chameau, Pampeano, Maxima Mix ’n’ Munch and Crafty Ponies.

All feed, bedding and worming products are stocked on the other side of the internal door, providing Robinsons’ customers with that one-stop-shop experience.

BUYING AND INSPIRATION

Sue keeps her finger firmly on the pulse of what’s hot and what’s not by consulting those coming into the store and keeping an eye on social media and magazines.

“We always ask staff and customers if there is anything new they would like to see,” she says. “You can also go online and see how many followers a company or product has.

“Facebook and Instagram make it impossible to hide things any more. Before, if a rep said something was a bestseller, you had to take their word for it. Now, we can see the reaction on social media and read the product reviews.”

PROMOTING PRODUCTS

Edward joined BATA in 2016 as a marketing assistant after studying digital media production at university. Three years later, when the marketing manager left, he took over the reins and has brought fresh, new thinking to the mix.

“After experiencing every level of marketing, I was clear what needed to improve,” he says. “One of the first things I have done is to expand into digital with Google Ads and upped the game on the Instagram and Facebook side. We also had a rebrand, along with the website.

“We are quite traditional in the way we run things. It’s very much about the long game – even if people don’t buy then and there, they will have us at the back of their minds. We adopt this approach across the company because, being a cooperative,

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

we can’t afford to put on a massive sale or huge promotions, as we are restricted on budgeting.”

Robinsons Equestrian invests in the sponsorship of smaller local events to highlight its presence. It had a long-running advert on the now-defunct Minster FM radio station too.

“There was an ad with a jingle, which got quite well known, but it was expensive and we decided that the money we were spending could be put to better use,” says Edward. “When we stopped it, we didn’t see a dip in sales at all.”

BATA attends local shows where Robinsons is also given a presence, in addition to mentions in many BATA mailings to its customers.

A GROWING E-COMMERCE WEBSITE

Robinsons’ new all-singing, all-dancing website was launched in March 2020 on the day before Boris Johnson announced that the country was to be plunged into the first coronavirus lockdown.

“When stores closed, we saw a massive amount of sales online and the turnover was quite exhilarating,” says Edward. “It was really motivating and it’s still growing.

There was a slight dip when lockdown ended and people were able to go out and spend their money elsewhere. Online sales have slowed down a bit, but the shop is booming.”

PREPARING FOR PRICE HIKES Although impending price rises are predicted to hit the equestrian industry, Robinsons Equestrian has not experienced any change in shopping habits yet.

“We have a starting point across our product ranges,” says Sue, “so, if somebody is having to watch the pennies, we are ready for them. You can even get a bridle for £25, although we do have them for £150. Whatever your budget, we have it covered.”

Sue Hancock is the buyer for the Robinsons Equestrian store in Malton.

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Both Sue and Edward look to the future of the business from their own perspectives.

One has eyes fixed firmly on the digital offering while the other has plans for the bricks-and-mortar store.

“We need to expand the e-commerce site and develop our online presence,” says Edward. “The internet is not the future – it is definitely the present and has been for the last 20 years. There’s always going to be a limit on how many people will come to your store, but there is no limit for the website.”

Sue has plans to improve the store interior and enhance the stock, although she can see that the website and shop can – and do – work well together. “We are always looking for new ideas and products,” she says. “As Malton is a little traditional, we might have the navy and brown in the window and leave pink for the website.”

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 17

ETN | BETTER BUSINESS

Let technology take the strain Digital systems can do all those boring, time-consuming jobs for you, say Marcus Chipchase and Giles Watkins.

A

digital transformation strategy is a plan of action describing how a business must strategically reposition itself in the digital economy.

In simple terms, this is using technology to do jobs that were once manual.

Businesses have used technology to improve how they deliver their products and services for many years, but now there is more choice.

Thanks to the speed of the development of new technologies and digital systems, companies can choose from a wide range of technology to their individual advantages.

CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS

Customers expect a business transaction to be easy and seamless, in line with their personal lives and the way technology is now being used in the home.

A business needs to align with this expected customer service, whether that means being able easily to buy products displayed on a particular platform or to receive offers relevant to them.

As a business, you need to focus on evolving consumer satisfaction with the technologies of the time.

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT

Getting away from once manual tasks can help keep your employees engaged, as they can focus on wider business activities.

Manual tasks can be mundane and timeconsuming. Automating functions such as payroll, HR, and finance frees up staff to assist in other areas of the business.

A good example of a technology that helps engagement is project management software that shows all staff tasks.

Transparency across the whole business helps everyone see what everyone else is working on. This can help stimulate ideas and teamwork across departments without any effort (or meetings).

BUSINESS STRATEGY

Technology provides data which, in turn, means more accurate business decisions can be made.

For example, it’s easier to see instantly the cash flow situation on a daily basis. It’s 18 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

also easier to get accurate information on your customers, their likes and dislikes, and their buying journey, enabling you to tailor your marketing.

HOW TO START

First of all, this is no ‘one size fits all’ option.

While every business needs to adopt technology, how far it takes it needs to be defined. And this depends on what the business does – and wishes to achieve.

That being said, there are certain tasks a business can undertake to establish the journey they will take during their digital transformation. These include: • Audit/discovery: Determine what ‘digital transformation’ means to your company.

• Assess your current capabilities: It’s likely that you already have several digital technologies on the go, from accounting software to social media accounts. List what you already use, and the positives and negatives of each.

• Establish how you will go digital: Once you know where you already have digital capability, you can look into whether you need to upgrade to new versions or find a new solution that can integrate several systems.

• Get the right buy-in from staff: Help staff understand the reason behind any changes, involve them in the process too.

• Create a roadmap: This will be completely individual - and the biggest tip is not to try and do too much at once. Spread out tasks and timelines.

This is the time when getting outside help can be useful. An outsider can often see more easily the importance of tasks and the order they need to be in.

• Ensure you have the right skills in place: Book in training sessions for any staff who need to up-skill. There is an incredible amount of free help out there too - look into your local Growth Hub (your local library will have information on these too).

• Start: Sounds simple, but this can be the hardest part. Begin, then make changes as you go along your roadmap, and learn.

Digital Transformation is a term that can feel irrelevant or scary to many businesses.

But if you look at it in terms of what you currently do that’s manual - and whether that process can be streamlined by technology - you will be well on your way to making business efficiencies.

About the authors: Marcus Chipchase (below) and Giles Watkins (top) are from tinderboxbusinessdevelopment.co.uk

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ETN | OPINION

In the hot seat Meet Simon Parker from Henry Bell.

EQUIGLO 10 MINUTE BEET IS A WELL-KNOWN EQUINE FEED. WHAT ELSE DOES HENRY BELL PRODUCE AND SUPPLY? Simon Parker: We are an incredibly diverse business with a portfolio of own brands including Mr Johnson’s small animal food and Dog Gone Fishin’ canine treats, as well as EquiGlo 10 Minute Beet and Minty Treats.

We are one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of wild bird feed, supplying own-label products for supermarkets and large garden centre groups, in addition to our Henry Bell Wild Bird Care brand, which is selling really well.

We also use our expertise in micronisation to produce a range of materials for equine and animal feed manufacturers.

WHAT’S YOUR ROLE WITHIN THE COMPANY? I’m Henry Bell’s trading director, with responsibility for our global trading and purchasing of raw materials such as seeds and grains.

THE EQUINE FEED MARKET IS A BUSY ONE, WITH MANY BRANDS OFFERING VAST NUMBERS OF PRODUCTS, YET HENRY BELL HAS A VERY STREAMLINED RANGE… We are a major manufacturer of ingredients for the animal feeds sector and supply several well-known equine feed companies.

A significant amount of our manufacturing capacity goes into servicing our large customer base, so we have chosen to focus on one really fantastic product of our own.

We are extremely proud of EquiGlo 10 Minute Beet, which is made from pure, British-grown micronised ingredients and offered to our customers at an incredibly competitive price.

AS COMMODITY PRICES SOAR IN THE WAKE OF RUSSIA’S INVASION OF UKRAINE, ARE YOU ALREADY NOTICING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SUPPLY AND PRICE OF ANIMAL FEED? The price of raw materials began to increase well before Russia invaded Ukraine, with poor harvests in the UK and Europe. So we were already lacking in volume, but then the prices rocketed, as Ukraine and Russia produce 20% of the world’s wheat and maize, and a considerable quantity of oil seeds, such as sunflower.

With the current situation, Russia will stop or curb its exports to us, and Ukraine will be so badly damaged that it won’t be able to export. This will have a big effect on raw material prices from now until next year.

For instance, since the last harvest, wheat – a major ingredient in animal and horse feed – has increased by more than 70%, barley has risen by 90% and maize probably by 50%. There is no doubt that we are going to see significant increases in the cost of animal and equine feed.

20 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Simon Parker from Henry Bell

WITH THE COST OF FUEL AND FERTILISER ALSO RISING STEEPLY – ADDING TO THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING FROM HAY TO TRANSPORT – DO YOU EXPECT THE EQUESTRIAN INDUSTRY TO TAKE A HIT THIS YEAR? Unfortunately, I think it’s inevitable and only a matter of time before feed companies have to increase the price of their products.

We all try to absorb rising costs as much as possible so that we don’t have to pass them on to our customers, but you can only do that for so long before you end up not making any money.

That said, I don’t think prices will rise overnight. Companies will already have contracts in place, with materials bought for the next harvest at a fixed price. The fuel hikes and rising costs of fertiliser, though, are only going to compound the situation, so it’s inevitable that there will be further price rises coming down the line.

EQUIGLO IS MADE FROM BRITISH-GROWN SUGAR BEET. IN THE LIGHT OF RISING COSTS AND CARBON FOOTPRINT CONCERNS, SHOULD ANIMAL FEED MANUFACTURERS CONSIDER USING MORE HOMEPRODUCED RAW MATERIALS? Yes, we should all use British-grown products and I think many of us do. After all, it’s cheaper to buy something here than it is to import it. However, not everything we need, such as soya, is grown here, so we have to buy it in.

As a sector, we are also competing with others such as the bioethanol industry, which is buying huge amounts of wheat. This shouldn’t be happening. We should be growing food to be used as food and, at times of crisis, we should not be putting it into petrol manufacture.

We are also seeing a lot of good agricultural land being used for solar farms. Land that once grew wheat, barley, beans and linseed is now being covered with solar panels.

Taking land out of food production is a major issue. The solar panels might generate electricity from the sun, but you ultimately push the carbon imprint up, as you end up having to import food from overseas because we can no longer source the raw materials here in the UK.

WHAT DO YOU PREDICT WILL BE THE NEXT ‘BIG THING’ IN EQUINE FEEDING? We will see an even greater emphasis on feeding fibre as owners understand the important role it plays in their horses’ health and wellbeing. They appreciate that a fibre diet is more closely aligned to an equine’s natural feeding requirements and behaviours, and will be looking for products that tick all the boxes in helping them to provide well-balanced, high-fibre feeds.

Would you like to sit in the hot seat and answer ETN’s questions? If so, email editor@equestriantradenews.com WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

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ETN | SOCIAL MEDIA MATTERS

Do you need to hire a pro?

If you’re looking to take your social media images and videos to the next level, do you need professional help?

W

hile there’s definitely a case to use professional videographers and photographers for many areas of your business, it’s also really important you upskill your team - and yourself - so you can improve the quality of what’s produced day in, day out.

There’s no denying that professional images and videos can elevate the ‘feel’ of a business. They can be a valuable tool for printed media, for catalogues, for websites, and for social media.

But you can’t rely on professional images for everything, simply because you’d need to have someone in house – maybe even more than one person - following your team around and capturing the behind-the-scenes content, the big reveals, the fun as you go, all the time. And not many businesses have the budget for a full-time team of videographers and photographers.

You might be wondering if it’s important or even necessary to share the ‘stuff’ mentioned above. While it’s important we put our brand and business across in a highly professional way, it’s called social media for a reason. It provides us with the opportunity to be sociable. To form connections and relationships. And part of that is sharing the real and unfiltered ‘stuff’ that goes on behind the scenes. This is the stuff that makes you unique, injects personality into your brand by promoting points of difference, and allows people to connect with you.

So, how can you upskill? Here are six easy ways to improve the quality of your social media videos and images: • Head to YouTube. Yes, you don’t even have to pay! Many of us have really capable phones that we don’t know how to use properly, but you might well find that there are options and settings within the palm of your hand that will take your content to the next level.

• Experiment. As with everything, you’re not going to be amazing the first time you try… but you have to start. Take lots of images. Experiment with video. Move around to try different backgrounds, direction of the light, the time of day, and see what works the best for you. When you’re fairly happy, get it out there.

• It doesn’t have to be forever. Features like Stories on Instagram and Facebook last just 24 hours, so if you’re experimenting, why not use a fleeting form of content to see what works and what doesn’t? Use polls to see what’s working with your audience, include links to take people to the online store - decide on your objective for that piece of content and then measure. You can then add more of this style of content to videos, Reels or images if it works.

• Authenticity is in. Embrace it. Your customers will genuinely love the real, raw footage of you and your team trying things on, having a laugh and a joke, and sharing behind-the-scenes. It’ll help them to connect with you.

• Be inspired. Look at what other people do - go outside the industry and look at great ways that people use video and

22 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

images to share their brand story. Can you use this as inspiration and add your own unique twist?

• Look at what content styles will work for you. You’ll probably find that some things - like catalogue images - do need that professional input, but what about Reels? What about Stories?

The tools inside the app are superb and help you to create really good content. Could you give that a go?

This isn’t about not using professionals, far from it. But with the amount of content every brand needs to put out, it’s very useful to educate yourself and improve your own skillset so you can create content in addition to the professionals you use. Equally, if you have zero budget, improving your own skills is the only way you’re going to be able to build your social media and create that interest.

Oh, and clean your lens. Whether you’re doing videos or still images, it’s a game changer!

About the author: Rhea Freeman is an award-winning PR adviser and social media expert who is a Meta Certified 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 also 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.

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ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE | ETN

Perry Equestrian wins Trade Supplier of the Year 2022 Delighted to be crowned winners of the Citation Trade Supplier of the Year at the BETA Business Awards, fresh-faced Perry Equestrian are taking the industry by storm

H

aving only launched in 2017 and being the newest division of the Perry Group, the team at Perry Equestrian are punching well above their weight. They’ve beat industry stalwarts to the coveted trophy of Trade Supplier of the Year 2022 despite the business being just five years old. This is a huge coup for the equine brand that supplies stable, yard and tack room equipment to retailers and wholesalers across the UK at the crème de la crème of industry awards.

Tricks of the trade

The Perry Equestrian team continuously exceed all expectations with their unrivalled product offering and commitment to customer care with their dedicated account management team and UK-wide sales team.

The key to the brand’s success is their business model – being a 100% trade only supplier means all the savings, focus and attention are given to the trade without compromise. Having no conflict of interest puts Perry Equestrian in an enviable position that allows them to be completely trade centric and focus their efforts on building client relationships, while keeping their finger on the pulse of demand to ensure the product offering is the best it can be to service the needs of the industry.

From left to right: Ian Dunnaker, Director; Claire Hayward, National Sales Manager and Steve Perry, Marketing Director.

On top of that, customers can see the live status of their orders, obtain tracking information, download and pay invoices, view back orders and so much more. There are also additional features that make the user journey and line of communication as quick and easy as possible.

The website is an intuitive tool that offers clarity and transparency for trade customers who now have full autonomy and visibility of their orders as well as business operations, including stock levels and delivery dates.

eco-initiative to remove all non-recycled plastics from their retail packaging by the end of 2022, there’s no surprise they were crowned winners of the BETA Citation Trade Supplier of the Year award. Not to mention the Perry Equestrian team were double award winners at this year’s Midlands Business Awards, too!

Significant investment

Online optimisation

A recent £30,000 investment in a new website that’s built entirely around one goal – to increase the ease and user experience for trade retailers – has launched. It ensures that Perry Equestrian customers can get all the answers they need at the click of a button.

Alongside the new website funding, Perry Equestrian has had a £1.2m investment in picking robots that have enabled the company to vastly reduce day-to-day operational costs and make more efficient use of floor space. This will allow for future expansion of stock volume that’s held onsite as well as the variety of products on offer, all while making prices as competitive as possible.

Striving for more

With no minimum first order requirements, same day shipping on all products in stock, support with FOC merchandising, coupled with eco-credentials that include their

To find out more and get in contact with Perry Equestrian, call 01384 414001, visit perryequestrian.co.uk or email sales@perryequestrian.co.uk

ETN | 2022 BETA BUSINESS AWARDS

Best in the business

Face-to-face networking was back on the agenda at the 2022 BETA Conference and Business Awards.

C

ompanies and individuals who have made a significant contribution to the equestrian industry were celebrated at the 2022 BETA Business Awards.

The winners were announced during a newly formatted day incorporating the BETA Conference in the morning, followed by a reception and lunch with the awards presented in the afternoon.

The event took place at the Hilton East Midlands on Thursday, 24 March – the second anniversary of the first Covid lockdown. Many guests took the opportunity to meet other members of the

equestrian industry face-to-face in what was, for many, the first opportunity in 24 months.

“This year saw a set of deserving winners in the BETA Business Awards,” said BETA executive director Claire Williams.

“The bar is always set extremely high, but the past year has seen so many challenges impact on the trade from both the pandemic and Brexit, that those who received a trophy this time have truly represented the very best in the industry.

“We send our congratulations to them all - and our thanks to the companies who sponsored the awards.”

THE WINNERS OF THE 2022 BETA BUSINESS AWARDS ARE...

Ben and Claire Tuff of Redpost Equestrian with Tim Smith of TSM

TSM MARKETING EFFECTIVENESS AWARD

EQUINE CAREERS SALES REPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEAR

Doug Walker of Weatherbeeta Group with Tia Partington of RB Equestrian

WEATHERBEETA GROUP RETAIL EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Winner: Tia Partington, RB Equestrian Ltd, Great Brickhill, Buckinghamshire This award recognises employees showing excellent customer service, great product knowledge and a passion for professional retailing. The winner receives a cash prize in addition to the award and their employer is given BETA training vouchers.

The judges said: “Tia is clearly a focused team player who is determined to serve her company well. Brimming with enthusiasm and ambition for the future she must clearly be a big asset to her employer.”

24 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Winner: Simone Highmore, Allen & Page, Thetford, Norfolk This award, open to both employed and self-employed sales representatives and agents, goes to the individual judged outstanding in his or her approach to customer service.

The judges said: “Simone was a delight to talk to. She is clearly a very reliable, dedicated and knowledgeable pair of hands. The enthusiasm for her career shone through.”

Emma Dyer of Equine Careers with Simone Highmore of Allen & Page

Winner: Redpost Equestrian, Totnes, Devon Runner Up: HorseHage & Mollichaff This award celebrates effective communications and the increased value a company’s marketing campaign has brought to its brands. Aspects such as media advertising, sponsored riders and social media are assessed to see how powerful a role they play in solving business problems and generating revenue.

The judges said: “This was a really competitive group of finalists. Due to the high quality of entries, we have awarded winner and runner up.

HorseHage and Mollichaff (runner-up) have made a real shift in the way they market the company and have created a new marketing stream to launch their new products as well as making good use of popular influencers.

Redpost Equestrian (winner) stood out for its innovative and professional approach using technology through video and an online app to achieve their clearly set out goals. They showed a sustained growth in business, with a clear correlation between the marketing and growth of revenue and social media engagement set out in the application.”

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2022 BETA BUSINESS AWARDS | ETN

ZEBRA PRODUCTS RETAILER OF THE YEAR

This award for tack shops and feed merchants – whether or not they are BETA members – relies on customer nominations. Matthew Severn and Amara Freeman of Manor Equestrian It is divided into two categories: with Simon Middleton of Zebra Products Equestrian Retail Store and Online/Mail Order Retailer Online/Mail Order Retailer.

Winner: Griggs Equestrian, St. Austell, Cornwall Equestrian Retail Store Runner-up: Supplement Solutions, Winner: Manor Equestrian, Annesley, Preston, Lancashire Nottinghamshire The judges said of the winner: “Great Runner-up: Riseholme Feeds, Wysall, website and easy to use with good search Nottinghamshire options. Well packaged product on arrival.

The judges said of the winner: “The quality of care and diligence was first class. Returns information was easy to find on the website and refund issued promptly.

Beautifully laid out shop, the gentleman The phone enquiry was also dealt with who served me knew his topic incredibly professionally and pleasantly with lots of well.” advice for a ‘non-horsey’ mum.”

STUBBS ENGLAND NUTRITIONAL HELPLINE OF THE YEAR

This accolade goes to the company that offers excellence in nutritional advice and service to customers – consumer, trade and retail.

Joint Winners: TopSpec Equine, Thirsk, North Yorkshire Allen & Page, Thetford, Norfolk The judges put all finalists through their paces this year, and the competition was hard. The two winners were too close to call even after six mystery calls, and so to choose one over the other was not justified.

Instead, for the first time ever, BETA awarded two winners for their fantastic efforts of customer service, nutritional advice and keeping the horses’ wellbeing at the forefront of their minds over sales.

Patrick Roberton of Allen & Page and Katie Mickle of TopSpec Equine with BETA president Jane Holderness-Roddam

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CITATION TRADE SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

Claire Williams of BETA with Hannah Donnelly of Equilibrium Products

BETA EXPORT AWARD

This award is presented to the company that has shown substantial and sustained increases in export activity over a threeyear period.

Winner: Equilibrium Products, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire The judges said: “The winner showed impressive export growth as a result of careful research, planning and preparation. All of these combined with internal restructuring, strategic use of a wide range of advisors as well as innovative use of new routes to market and training through digital platforms have yielded new customers in new markets and even better prospects for the future.”

Awarded to the manufacturer, wholesaler or distributor judged to offer the best in delivery, customer service, product knowledge and awareness of retailer requirements.

Winner: Perry Equestrian (A.Perry Ltd), Cradley Heath, West Midlands The judges said: “From highly commended last year to winner this, Perry’s showed that they had really listened to the feedback given last year and changes made to the business were clearly illustrated, inching them ahead of the other finalists.

They provided clear details about their environmental policy and showed how this had made a difference to themselves and customers alike.”

Steve Perry, Ian Dunaker and Claire Hayward of Perry Equestrian with Nigel Lea of Citation

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 25

ETN | 2022 BETA BUSINESS AWARDS BETA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Winner: Frank Baines Frank Baines founded Frank Baines Saddlery in 1981 and ran it until he retired from the business in 2016.

Saddle-making is in Frank’s blood, with family connections to the trade going back over 200 years.

He was inspired as a young boy by his bridle-making grandfather, and his greatgreat-grandfather who, he was told, had walked 40 miles to Walsall at the age of 13 to become a bridle-maker.

Frank became a saddler’s apprentice when he was 15. After many years of learning his craft, he started winning awards and became recognised nationally for his saddle-making skills. Driven by a desire to improve horse welfare and rider comfort, his creative and innovative flair was at the forefront of his saddles.

During his time running the business, Frank was extremely passionate about training and ensuring traditional skills were kept alive.

In 1991, when there was a shortage of skilled workers, he set up a scheme to offer training for the national Skill Assessment and Qualification Scheme for Saddlers.

Frank Baines Saddlery went on to be awarded the first National Training Award - for its investment in training staff and commitment to workforce development. The award was presented by HRH The Prince of Wales, and the company received letters from then Prime Minister, John Major and the prince, both of whom acknowledged the importance of developing a strong workforce to secure the future.

Frank not only founded his own company but breathed into it a spirit which is still upheld today; an understanding of the relationship between the saddle, the welfare of the horse and performance.

Conference gets the trade talking

An outstanding line-up of speakers addressed the 2022 BETA Conference, their topical presentations promoting plenty of questions from the live audience and online viewers.

Gillian McAteer of The Citation Group spoke about HR Challenges post Covid and beyond; Emma Dyer from Equine Careers covered how to employ the right people and keep them; and the modern marketing mix was addressed

by Tim Smith of TSM Marketing & PR. Richard Cole from Future Money examined factors shaping the economy; the future of retail was covered

by Craig Smith of C & A Smith Retail Consultants; and Mike Seaman from Raccoon Events talked about sustainability.

BETA Lifetime Achievement award winner Frank Baines with BETA president Jane HoldernessRoddam

He has acted as a judge in the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) saddle-making competition in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, and served on the Company’s Trade Liaison Committee for ten years.

Despite being retired, Frank was recently a key driver in the establishment of the new Leather Skills Training Centre in Walsall.

He has dedicated his working life to the saddle-making industry and through his commitment to training has not only ensured that traditional skills are carried on and taught to future generations outside his own company, but inspired a generation of new saddlers to come forward and enter the trade.

“Saddle-making is in Frank’s blood, with family connections to the trade going back over 200 years.”

26 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

What the delegates said • “It’s been a good day out and nice to socialise. It’s a good combination between meeting everybody and the seminars. We all learnt a lot,” Claire Hayward, Perry Equestrian.

• “[The BETA Conference has] a good format. Retailers will always think of reasons why they can’t come to an event and particularly the conference part of it. But if things like this disappeared, we’d all complain. As retailers and people in the trade, we need to make an effort. I think it’s worked really well.” Ben Tuff, Redpost Equestrian.

• “I really enjoyed [conference speaker] Craig Smith; he was a proper retailer.

They were all really good speakers,” Matt Severn, Manor Equestrian.

• “What a day. I’ve not been to a BETA conference before and it was phenomenal.

It’s so nice to be in a room with like-minded people, all here to service equestrians.

I learnt lots of top tips throughout the day,” Thea Roberts of HorseFest and HorseTribe.

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ETN | SUPPLEMENTS AND BALANCERS

A helping hand Supplements and balancers are now an essential part of almost every horse’s diet. Welcome to this fast-moving and ever-changing marketplace…

Launch backed by consumer promotion

There’s always a solution…

For good doers that perform

oxidants to support healthy cell function, healthy immune system support and an effective hoof supplement which also supports a supple skin and shiny coat.

Performance Lite Feed Balancer, which may encourage relaxed behaviour, is perfect for medium or hard-working horses and ponies that do well on good forage only, plus salt/ electrolytes.

Nettex Equine has re-launched its range of V.I.P equine supplements.

Support for retailers includes a national promotional campaign and marketing toolkit.

The supplements have new and improved formulae designed by an equine nutritionist with help from Nettex’s team of in-house chemists.

There are new ingredients, a new apple flavour for palatability and the V.I.P. range contains no added sugar or alfalfa.

To support the re-launch, Nettex is running a national consumer campaign titled My V.I.P. to help raise awareness and drive sales through retailers.

Stockists are supported with a digital toolkit containing in-store POS and digital assets such as website banners, social media posts and consumer e-shots. They can also access free online AMTRA and Vet Pol accredited CPD content for retail staff via Nettex’s new skills centre at novatecskillscentre.co.uk.

Says Ellie Cashmore, product manager: “Nettex V.I.P. supplements are designed with high quality, carefully selected ingredients that have been chosen for their health benefits and are included at and above minimum recommended levels to provide support for the most common issues horse owners encounter.”

The V.I.P range includes V.I.P So Sound, Keep Kalm, In the Balance and Hoof Builder. New to the range are V.I.P Miracle Mare, Acid Shield, Gut Thrive and In The Balance which contains a new and improved formulation of trace elements, vitamins and minerals.

Nettex products are tested to be free of naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS) at the point of manufacture.

The tubs are recyclable; they now come in 1kg and 1.5kg sizes as well as the existing 2kg tubs to encourage new users to try the V.I.P. range.

In addition, a 100% money back guarantee is managed entirely

by Nettex, adding no extra work for retailers.

The full range of V.I.P products is available from Trilanco.

TopSpec Performance Lite Feed Balancer is designed for gooddoers in medium or hard work that need their weight controlled, perhaps because of good grazing and forage quality.

It’s important that this group of horses and ponies receive their full requirements of vitamins and minerals to support their work, say TopSpec nutritionists.

Performance Lite Feed Balancer allows this to be achieved in a small amount of very low-calorie feed.

This palatable, non-heating feed contains a broad-spectrum supplement plus levels of micronutrients normally only found in high quality specialised supplements. For example, there are anti28 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

NAF has a vast collection of supplements to fulfil your customers’ every need, whatever the activity level or life-stage of their horses.

Here’s a selection of seasonal favourites: Feeding NAF’s Five Star OPTIMUM Concentrated Feed Balancer optimises the daily diet of all equine from family ponies to equine athletes. The pelleted supplement is formulated to complement either a high fibre, low concentrate or performance diet. Each concentrated, palatable pellet contains key ingredients to optimise gut function.

NAF Five Star Superflex is a scientifically balanced ratio of the key joint nutrients glucosamine sulphate, MSM, chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid (HA). This synergistic blend, with naturally sourced antioxidants, supports healthy, flexible joints.

Oestress Liquid is a fast-acting liquid tincture which compliments the mare’s natural oestrus cycle by encouraging regularity. It provides extracts of herbal ingredients that have been used for hundreds of years to support hormone balance. Oestress also provides bio-available magnesium to relax muscle tension and encourage calmness.

PROFEET supplements not only provide nutrients to directly support hoof health, they also provide 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 naturally sourced amino acids and essential fatty acids. The range has been developed by veterinary scientists, with the assistance of leading farriers.

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SUPPLEMENTS AND BALANCERS | ETN All the essentials

Partners in equine wellbeing

Under a new collaboration, Horslyx and British Pet Insurance aim to support the UK’s near one million horses via a wide range of equine care initiatives.

Sold as various sizes of licks, Horslyx’s Balancers help to enrich equine health and lifestyle.

Larger sized licks keep horses occupied while balancing the nutrient deficiencies in forage and grazing. Smaller, handheld Mini Horslyx are frequently used as treats or for distraction and reward when handling horses in stressful situations.

“We are looking forward to working in collaboration with British Pet Insurance,” said Horslyx business manager Fiona Nellis.

“We share core beliefs, and both understand that horse health and welfare are paramount. We are excited about the opportunities for future joint campaigns and mutual research, which will be of benefit to both horse and rider.”

Horslyx is recommending British Pet Insurance as the insurance provider of choice.

“Our aim is to assist and educate pet owners on how to better look after their animals, minimizing the need for medical treatment, therefore helping to retain lower premium costs,” said British Pet Insurance CEO Andy Pearce.

That vital top-up

The idea behind Dengie balancers is that fibre feeds, such as those in the Dengie Alfa-A and Hi-Fi ranges, provide most of the energy and protein a horse needs. The balancers then top-up any essential vitamins and minerals that may be lacking.

All forages reflect the soil on which they are grown, says Dengie, so most UK grown forages are short of minerals such as copper and selenium.

Dengie balancers have a high specification of essential nutrients as well as extra features that help keep horses healthy and in excellent condition.

Ingredients include linseed, an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids and herbs such as rosemary and thyme for their antioxidant properties and high palatability.

Trace minerals copper, zinc and manganese are chelated to help boost maximum absorption.

Dengie Performance Plus Balancer is formulated for horses with increased nutritional requirements, such as performance horses, breeding, youngstock or veterans.

With this in mind, the balancer contains some extra ingredients including B vitamins, biotin for hoof growth, FOS prebiotic for gut health and glucosamine to counteract the effects of everyday wear and tear on joints.

As long as Dengie balancers are fed at the correct level - 100g per 100kg body weight, the amount of Alfa-A or Hi-Fi can be adjusted according to the horse’s workload and body condition.

Lincoln All Inclusive Digestive Balancer supplies the fundamental vitamins and trace minerals - plus prebiotic digestive support.

It’s suitable for good doers, those on restricted diets, forage only diets and any diet where there is a gap in the daily nutritional elements required to maintain good health.

There’s 30 days’ supply per 2.1kg tub; the RRP is £32.35.

Lincoln All Essential Vitamins & Minerals provides the full spectrum of essential vitamins and trace minerals.

It’s formulated for horses, ponies and donkeys being fed either a forage or grass only diet or receiving less than the recommended amount of a compound feed.

Also suitable for veterans, there’s 30 days’ supply per 1.65kg tub, and the RRP is £22.70.

Both products are available from Battles.

Benefits inside and out

Aloemega, launched by Pro-Equine earlier this year, contains aloe vera juice and sea buckthorn.

“Aloemega has around 200 active ingredients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes,” explains sales director Catherine Stott.

The product offers all-round support to the equine digestive and immune system. In addition to helping the horse feel more comfortable from the inside, its omega-rich properties promote skin and coat condition so the horse looks amazing from the outside too.

Aloemega is suitable for all horses but especially appropriate for the older or run-down horse or a competition horse in need of a boost.

Available in a 1 litre twin-top or 5 litre recycled plastic jerry can, it can be fed alongside other Pro-Equine supplements. Aloemega joins the brand’s other trademarked producs – Activgait, Colikare and Ulsa-Soothe.

Cost-effective balancer Saracen Horse Feeds Essential Balancer is a cost effective (£32.50 for 20kg), low intake, complete feed balancer.

It’s suitable for horses and ponies of all ages and activity levels who do not require any additional calories.

The low sugar, low starch, non-heating balancer can be fed alongside a forage only diet to provide a balanced ration. It contains a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to support immune function, general health and well-being as well as a live yeast and healthy hoof package.

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EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 29

ETN | SUPPLEMENTS AND BALANCERS BETTALIFE PharmaPRO Total Equine Support is an all-in-one formula.

It contains a blend of PharmaQuin Joint Complete HA, PharmaTRAC Total Digestive Support and PharmaPlast Ultimate Topline - providing optimum levels of 35 active ingredients to support horses’ joints, digestive system and topline development.

Fed at just one scoop per day, it offers a time-saving saving method of supporting all equines with its non-heating, palatable formula.

All BETTALIFE products come with a no quibble, money back guarantee. The RRP is £75 for 1kg.

Balancing act

Daily wellness

Dodson & Horrell’s Ultimate Balancer is a low-calorie, concentrated source of vitamins and minerals with additional support supplements. It’s suitable for all horses and ponies.

Ideal for topping up vitamin levels in forage and providing essential amino acids for overall health and muscle support, it’s packed with digestive, hoof, recovery and immune support.

Daily Vitamins & Minerals from Dodson & Horrell is a low intake, pelleted supplement.

Designed for equines that need to watch their weight, it’s formulated to provide the broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals required in a balanced diet – something that’s particularly important for those fed on forage alone.

Also containing natural antioxidants to support immunity, it’s a useful addition for horses and ponies on grass, in light work or those who hold weight well.

Fed at typically 500g per day for a 500kg horse, a balancer contributes negligible levels of calories, starch and sugar to the total diet, say nutritionists at SPILLERS. SPILLERS Daily Balancer is designed to balance the nutrients typically low in hay, haylage or pasture.

SPILLERS Lite + Lean Balancer balances a calorie restricted diet.

It’s high in amino acids, including lysine, methionine and threonine, to support lean muscle and topline. It also contains cinnamon and FOS to help support a healthy metabolism and is suitable for those prone to laminitis.

SPILLERS Original Multi Balancer is rich in amino acids including lysine and methionine.

It’s high in antioxidants, including vitamins E and C, to support immune health while probiotic live yeast and prebiotic MOS support digestive health.

SPILLERS Gro N’ Win Change the Recycled & recyclable Stud Balancer is rich in amino acids including bottles to Excellent repeat business lysine, methionine and Not just for feed merchants threonine to support Just because you don’t sell feed, don’t rule out stocking safe, even growth and supplements. For one thing, the margins on supplements tend muscle development. It to be much more lucrative than on conventional sacks of feed. has probiotic live yeast to support digestive Supplements – and some balancers – come in small health and a high level of vitamin E to containers designed to look good on the shelf. They don’t take support muscle and up too much room in-store either. immune health.

Most of the suppliers of the various brands of supplements SPILLERS Supple + are brilliant at providing lively, informative point-of-sale Senior Balancer provides materials and promotional sales aids. Many also have proactive nutrients to balance reps who are only too keen to help you decide what to stock a forage-based diet and how to merchandise it. alongside joint, digestive and immune And of course, supplements are one of the most talked-about support. High levels of vitamin E and added product sectors, making them a great stock item when it comes vitamin C support immune health, while to engaging with customers. probiotic live yeast and prebiotic MOS Consumers are constantly seeking to enhance their horses’ support digestive health. It also contains wellbeing and performance; and it’s within these areas that omega 3 alongside glucosamine to support supplements can often be as helpful as a new bit or bridle. joint health.

Why stock...

30 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

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Photo: Jon Stroud

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ETN | SMALLHOLDINGS AND PETS

Animal magic

Horse owners lucky enough to have their own land often keep hens and other livestock too. And no stable yard is complete without our canine companions.

KEEPING BORED BIRDS BUSY

When hens are kept indoors – as became compulsory during the recent avian flu outbreak - feather pecking, foot sores or poor nutritional uptake can happen.

The Hen Pecker from Battles Poultry is a tasty, seed packed pecking treat to keep bored birds busy. It also contains grit to help with egg shell production and comes with a plastic hook for hanging.

When outdoor sources are not available, Battles Poultry Mixed Grit contains oyster shell and flint to help with digestion and strong shell production.

And when birds are confined, it’s vital to keep housing clean and free from disease. Battles Poultry House Disinfectant & Cleaner comes in a one litre spray bottle to protect against common bacteria as well as making the coop smell fresh.

Traditional poultry remedies from the Battles Poultry brand include Red Mite Powder and Poultry Louse Powder, both of which can be used without affecting egg or meat production.

Then there’s Poultry Stockholm Tar containing a natural antibacterial ingredient. Applied with a small brush after feather pecking incidents, it seals the affected area and helps repel further attacks.

Golden opportunity Already widely used for humans, horses, dogs and cats, specialist turmeric supplements bring the same benefits to goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, alpacas and poultry, says The Golden Paste Company.

The active compound in turmeric is known as curcumin. Many smallholders use TurmerAid, a turmeric supplement, to support healthy joints, aid digestion and promote a healthy skin, coat or fleece.

Formulated with key ingredients for maximum absorption and bio-availability, this turmeric pellet contains a minimum 5.1% curcumin, yucca, black pepper, linseed and apple cider vinegar.

Many smallholders also add Golden Paste to their animals’ daily feed. This too contains at least 5.1% curcumin.

FUEL FOR WILD BIRDS

The Henry Bell Wild Bird Collection offers a range of feeds and accessories to encourage garden birds’ wellbeing.

Its best-selling Superior Seed Mix is packed with nutrition and energy for wild birds throughout the year.

Made from a unique blend of whole wheat, red Dari, kibbled maize, black sunflower, white millet and soya oil, it’s suitable for use in seed feeders, bird tables and for ground feeding.

The product is available in 1kg (RRP £1.99), 2kg (RRP £3.99), 4kg (RRP £6.99) and 12.55kg (RRP £12.99, zero-rated VAT) size packs, with packaging made from recyclable material and featuring an attractive design for maximum shelf appeal.

32 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Pick-me-up for poultry Life-Guard from NAF is formulated to address the daily requirements and challenges faced by hens.

It’s ideal for healthy hens to retain a bright outlook, ex-battery hens and those that require a targeted approach to their health and lifestyle.

Life-Guard is simply added to hens’ water supply to enable them to receive the benefits daily. RRPs are from £13.65 for 250ml.

EQUINE BRAND LAUNCHES CANINE RANGE

Science Supplements, best known for its equine products, has launched a canine collection.

It includes supplements to support canine joint health, digestion and gut health, skin and coat conditions, plus a behavioural and calming range.

“Having developed a trusted and scientifically backed range of supplements for the equine market, we have been constantly asked by customers for the same calibre of supplements for dogs,” said David Mitson, group CEO. “After three years of trials and research, I am delighted to be able to add this range to our brand.”

Science Supplements’ canine products are packaged in compostable pouches. They are available to the trade from Westgate.

The launch coincides with the introduction of a new Science Supplements website where a ‘Knowledge Hub’ hosts research papers and articles.

For best dressed dogs The Bucas Freedom Dog Rug has a waterproof, breathable, rip-stop outer and 50g insulation.

Adjustable stomach protection keeps dogs dry and clean underneath, while rear elastic straps help keep the rug in place.

Reflective strips add a safety element.

A versatile wide neck accommodates all shapes and sizes of dog, and the rug’s collar has an opening for the lead to come through.

The Bucas Freedom Dog Rug is available in classic navy or the new seasonal colours of spicy pink and sweet blue. There’s a choice of sizes and the RRP is around £30.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

SMALLHOLDINGS AND PETS| ETN

A PAIN IN THE PAW…

Rescued greyhound Blue had always suffered from corns.

A common problem in this breed, corns initially present as a tiny dot on the dog’s pad – but if left untreated can grow large and become extremely painful.

Having adopted Blue two and a half years ago, Gerarde and Lisa Manley decided to try everything they could to solve the problem.

Blue’s corns were surgically removed twice by vets; but they kept coming back, limiting his daily walks as he struggled to put weight onto the affected paw.

After trying a number of homeopathic remedies, Gerarde began researching corns on Greyhound forums – and came across a number of posts reporting good results using Animalintex.

The poultice and wound dressing, commonly used to draw out equine hoof abscesses, is also licensed to treat dogs.

Not wanting to put Blue through surgery again, Gerarde decided he had nothing to lose in trying Animalintex as a manageable and cost-effective way to treat the corn.

After soaking Blue’s paw for around five minutes, Gerarde secured the soaked Animalintex onto his paw using a cohesive bandage.

“The Animalintex was very effective at

removing the corn and, along with applying a soothing balm, it has been by far the most successful treatment,” said Gerarde.

“Once the Animalintex lifted the corn to the surface, I could literally pull it out of the pad without Blue even realising.

“The good thing about using Animalintex is that it isn’t an invasive treatment; and as the corns always come back even with more expensive veterinary intervention, this offers a solution that I can use anytime alongside continuing to moisturise Blue’s paws.”

Animalintex is sold as a 41cm x 21cm dressing which can be cut to the size and shape needed. The RRP is around £5.50.

New flavour for pearly whites The oral hygiene supplement ProDen PlaqueOff is available in new peanut butter and banana flavour.

From the brand’s Mini Dental Care Bones range, these dental chews are designed for small and toy breed dogs under 10kg.

The bones, which contain ProDen PlaqueOff powder, can be added to an oral hygiene routine to help with bad breath, plaque and tartar.

Says managing director John Leonard: “It’s great to see our range of oral hygiene products expanding. Since their launch in

ALL SNUGGLED UP

Dengie Fresh Bed for Chickens was developed in association with the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) to provide a clean and cosy bed for hens.

Ex-battery hens are often not used to roosting on a perch and prefer snuggling into a nest of bedding, says the BHWT. Dust-free Fresh Bed for Chickens is made from straw with a pine oil coating providing anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. It helps absorb moisture, droppings and smells, as well as providing cushioning for hens’ feet.

The bedding can be used to line nest WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

2018, our Dental Bones have seen an 86% increase in sales.”

boxes to keep hens comfortable when laying and to protect the eggs.

Fresh Bed for Chickens is easy to dispose of being 100% biodegradable.

It produces great compost too.

Available in 100 litre bales and easyto-handle 50 litre bales, every sale helps to raise funds for the BHWT. The bedding is also suitable for ducks, geese and pheasants.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 33

ETN | SMALLHOLDINGS AND PETS

Every dog has his day…

Whatever the life-stage of your customers’ dogs, NAF’s sister brand Natural Vetcare has useful products.

More than just a blend of oils, Dog’Skin offers nutritional support for skin health, soothing itchy or sensitive skin, helping with skin repair and balancing the immune system. The RRP is from £9.99 for 75g.

Ageility is a senior supplement providing support for older dogs. Its unique blend of ingredients effectively supports stiff joints and maintains a healthy heart and an alert mind. The RRP is from £9.99 for 75g.

Mobility is a joint supplement for dogs with stiff joints or those with an active lifestyle. Providing joint care for working dogs, it’s particularly recommended for dogs who want to feel good and stay active. RRPs are from £9.99 for 75g pellets and £19.99 for 500ml liquid.

PERFECTLY PACKAGED

Nettex Poultry won the Packaging Application and Delivery award at the 2022 Veterinary Marketing Association (VMA) Awards with its Total Hygiene Pack.

The pack contains three key products from the brand’s mite and pest control range: Total Mite Kill Aerosol, Total Mite Kill Ready to Use Spray and Total Hygiene Powder.

It enables chicken owners to purchase and trial these bestselling products in cost-effective volumes, prior to committing to purchasing larger pack sizes.

The new, fully recyclable, plastic free outer package has cut-out egg shapes on the front, to display the products. The pack, which has a handle, also offers consumer-friendly tips on why and how to use the products inside.

DIARY DATE

The first Smallholding & Countryside Festival since 2019 takes place on the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, on 21/22 May. Celebrities taking part include garden expert and TV presenter Charlie Dimmock. There are also horse and pony classes during the show.

Working dog food is VAT free VetSpec Working Dog Food, Adult Formula, and VetSpec Working Dog Food, Puppy & Junior Formula, are VAT free.

Both are made with 44% chicken with added rice, vegetables and herbs.

VetSpec Working Dog Food, Adult Formula includes Veterinary Specification Healthy Dog Adult supplement in a super-premium dog food. Specialised supplements include biotin, and other associated nutrients to improve the coat and promote a supple skin for dogs.

Prebiotics in the supplement help to maintain a healthy gut in dogs with sensitive stomachs. The formula also contains a joint supplement.

VetSpec Working Dog, Puppy & Junior Formula contains supplements to ensure optimum growth and development of young dogs from four weeks through to 12 months of age, after which they can be transferred to VetSpec Working Dog, Adult Formula.

Employ me, employ my dog The majority of dog owners are more inclined to accept a job if they can bring their dog into the workplace.

A third of would-be employees would even accept longer hours in return for permission to bring their dog in, according to research by dog food brand Butternut Box. While most dog owners still prefer to work from home, two-thirds said they’d be swayed by a job offer in a pet-friendly office More than half of those questioned would like to see paid for doggy day care or dog sitting services and private veterinary care as part of their employment package.

And a third of dog owners said they would pass over an offer of promotion if it meant spending less time with their pets.

HELPING THE HOMELESS NOAH (National Office for Animal Health) is supporting StreetVet as its charity of the year.

StreetVet provides free veterinary care to homeless people’s animals across the UK. Since 2016, the charity has helped over 1,200 dogs and 100 cats.

34 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

CPD FEATURE | ETN 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

A GROWING EGGISTANCE

By Griselda Beaumont BSc (Hons) ANutr (Animal)

A poultry offering in retail means a rounded service for your customers.

T

he experience with COVID-19 has led to a rise in individuals keeping poultry. Today there are over 1.2 million domestic chickens in the UK - up from 400,000 in 20191 - making them the fourth most popular pet.

There is a clear cross-over with our equine customers which means having a poultry offering in retail will help provide a more rounded service to your customers.

THE COOP

Eating eggs are a popular reason for keeping chickens, an excellent source of protein and plenty of vitamins and minerals, supporting our immunity and supplying the body with vital nutrients.

Droppings are high in nitrogen and a fertiliser for gardens but they are also a proven asset for biogas production2, supporting renewable energy.

For those keeping less than 50 chickens, it is legal to offer eggs at the farm gate; but check with your supplier if you use or may use Flubenvet 1% Medicated Premixture as that is permitted for use in chickens producing eggs for domestic consumption only.

For those keeping over 50, it is a requirement to register with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) covering England, Wales and Scotland, and, take out a CPH (county parish holding number)3. If the intention is to sell into shops, the business has to register as an egg packing centre and the regulation continues.

An ‘Egg Inspector’ visits sites regularly to examine eggs, premises and records, ensuring the birds’ welfare and eggs are fit for human consumption. Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter and E. Coli are four commonly known zoonotic diseases4 that primarily manifest themselves in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and, as with most species, a healthy GI tract results in a healthy system.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 35

ETN | CPD FEATURE

Chickens are now the UK’s fourth most popular pet

Hens come in many shapes and sizes

EGGS-PLORING THE INTESTINAL TRACT

A water tonic can help influence the right dietary intake.

Observe a chicken eating, and they peck at food which disappears into the beak. Without the presence of teeth, the beak is used to break the food into smaller pieces making it ready to swallow.

As an omnivore, chickens eat layers pellets, mixed corn as well as meat such as worms and plants like grass.

The pecked up food travels down the oesophagus (gullet) to the crop, a muscular bag at the bottom of the neck which can store food for around 12 hours. The stomach (gizzard) allows food to trickle in from the crop and mixes digestive enzymes along with grit to grind the foodstuff into a digestible size.

Once ground, the foodstuff continues to the small intestine where key nutrients can be absorbed. Undigested foodstuff continues through the GI tract, stopping in the ceca where bacteria takes action on anything that remains undigested.

The large intestine absorbs water and dries undigested food before meeting at the cloaca crossroads which is capable of eliminating the waste material. This material is a mixture of faeces (brown) and urine (white matter), any variations on this colour are abnormal, for example, yellow can be a common disparity which could be a sign of parasites such as Coccidiosis, a well-known poultry parasite which attacks the gut.

their life to help retain healthy digestive function and prevent the individual suffering from ‘Sour Crop’.

DON’T EGG-NORE THE SIGNS

Offering garden and kitchen scraps results in variable nutritional values; it is advised to stick to leafy vegetables and avoid offerings such as rhubarb leaves, these can cause liver damage.

When the crop is full, it will need to empty before taking in any more feed, it is important that consumption of the right feed fully supplies the system for the next 12 hours. In many cases the diet lacks in vital nutrients. This is when poultry keepers can turn to the water supply to influence the right dietary intake.

WATER OF LIFE

When chickens are under stress or suffering from a nutritional deficiency, drinking rate increases. It should be around 500ml/day.

A quality water tonic fortified with nutrients provides balance to the diet without having to monitor the individual’s feed intake.

The right tonic will supply:

DINNER EGG-SPECTATIONS

Nutritional demands increase for a productive egg layer, eggs are high in protein and need the right balance of vitamins and minerals to support quality and production.

Traditional ‘layers pellets/mash’ are suitable for hens around 18-20 weeks old – this is the time of their ‘point of lay’ when they have high protein and energy requirements. Mixed corn is low in protein but high in energy, great to support heat production or should the individual require more condition, it does not contain the essential vitamins and minerals required to balance the diet and promote efficient laying.

‘Growers pellets’ help optimum growth from 6 weeks old, with a low protein content to focus on correct growth without succumbing to fat stores. As soon as chicks hatch, they require ‘Chick Crumbs’ which are small particles to make it easy for the chick to peck up and digest to encourage natural growth.

Most pick up grit naturally but specific forms can be introduced to chicks early in order to establish the gizzard’s natural function.

All chickens should be offered a good source of grit throughout 36 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Digestive support • Pre-biotics support growth of bacterial populations and maximise the rate of absorption

Respiratory health • Address the 9 air sacs that need to retain elasticity for clear passage and protection as they are susceptible to threat WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

CPD FEATURE | ETN Skeletal strength • Weak bone strength and joint stress may lead to immobility; retaining skeletal strength will help to sustain the vital organs within and promote mobility

RAMA CP Questio D (avian) ns SELECT YOUR ANSWERS AND SUBMIT May THEM AT WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS. 2022 ETN

RAMA CPD QUIZ COM UNDER THE CPD SECTION

Egg Production and Quality • Strong shell quality and healthy yolk colour • Promote production and quality offering targeted nutrients

Moulting • Renewing feather results in vast nutrient requirements, this usually ceases the laying process. Supplying the right nutrients to support the individual throughout the moult can ensure nutrient stores are not depleted and body systems remain strong

1. How many chickens can you keep before you are required to register with APHA? 15 a. b.

30 c.

50 d.

100 2. Name two zoonotic diseases that manufacture themselves in the GI tract? a.

Sour Crop b.

Bumblefoot c.

Campylobacter d.

Salmonella 3. How long can the crop store food for? a.

2 hours b.

2 days c.

12 hours d.

12 days 4. What is another name for a chicken’s stomach? a.

Gizzard b.

Gullet c.

Ceca d.

Cloaca 5. In the Ceca what happens to undigested food? a.

Returns to the gizzard b.

Bacteria breaks down undigested matter c.

Moves down the gullet d.

Held in storage

Toxin stress • Antioxidants help to support the natural defences against harm from free radicals

6. Eggs are high in…? a.

Zinc b.

Carbohydrates c.

Starch d.

Protein 7. At what age should hens have ‘layers pellets’? a.

6 weeks b.

2-3 weeks c.

14 weeks d.

18-20 weeks

Fertility / Reproduction • Heat stress and fat deposits can lead to sub-fertility, look for fertility enhancing ingredients to support healthy reproduction Targeting the water supply helps to fully restore the individual even through times of stress, when food intake may be reduced.

With so many environmental threats influencing the health of chickens, topping up with the right water tonic provides a lifeguard.

About the author: Griselda Beaumont BSc (Hons) ANutr (Animal) is a nutritionist from NAF. References 1. Statista, 2022.

2. Oyewole, O.A., 2010. Biogas production from chicken droppings.

Science World Journal, 5(4).

3. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/poultry-includinggame-birds-registration-rules-and-forms 4. Transmitted from species to species

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

8. What should be offered to support against “Sour Crop”? a.

Warm water b.

Grit c.

More layers pellets d.

Chick Crumbs 9. Water tonics can offer ‘Pre-Biotics’, how do these function? a.

Apply a nice taste to the water b.

Develop an appetite c.

Support bacteria population growth d.

Increase their drinking rate 10. The respiratory system is often under threat; how many air sacs does a chicken have? a.

2 b.

4 c.

5 d.

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

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 37

ETN | ETN REPORTING

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 May 2017, ETN reported:

In May 2012, ETN reported:

In May 2002, ETN reported:

In May 1992, ETN reported:

 Countrywide Farmers was considering selling off more of its 53 Countrywide stores.

The group had closed 14 of its retail outlets earlier in the year, after reporting a loss after tax of £9.9 million to the end of November 2016.  HRP Equestrian said it was writing FIVE to “a number of YEARS manufacturers” AGO... regarding illicit copies of its Wing saddle pad.  Horseware Ireland’s founder Tom MacGuinness qualified to represent Ireland in endurance riding at the sport’s upcoming European and world championships.

“It was tough,” he said after completing a 160km ride in Spain.  TV presenter Clare Balding was campaigning for dog owners to adopt a flick-and-stick approach rather than over-using poo bags.

 BETA set up a Trade Stand Holders’ committee.

Representing retail and trade members attending equestrian and agricultural shows, the aim was to focus on conditions for traders and provide a voice to air their concerns to show organisers.  Amerigo appointed Zebra Products as UK distributor 20 for its saddles and YEARS bridlework. Swiss saddle AGO... designer Peter Menet had established the Italian-made brand four years earlier. Show jumper Jan Tops and eventer Lucinda Green were among the famous names already riding on Amerigo saddles.  Co-operative group Hay & Brecon Farmers launched Castle Feeds, a range of 16 products to be distributed throughout Wales and the English borders.  Nico Katan of Shico, supplier of Equitector boots, warned riders to check the relative width of their boots and stirrup irons. He was concerned about riders’ feet becoming lodged in the stirrup in the event of a fall, causing them to be dragged.

“Because the chunkier look has become fashionable, more people now ride in boots that are too wide for standard stirrup irons,” he explained.

38 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

 Former event rider Joanne Smyth opened a new retail outlet called Snaffles Saddlery near Ripley in Derbyshire.

Unusually for a tack shop, the store had under floor-heating.

“It’s all part of creating a warm, welcoming environment,” said TEN Joanne who was offering a bit YEARS and massage pad hire service.

AGO...  Hickstead Horse Feeds was included in the deal when ForFarmers acquired food group BOCM Pauls for a reported €8 million.  Matchmakers International took a trade stand at Badminton for the first time to sell Harry Hall, Caldene, Masta and Cottage Craft products directly to the public.  Online retailer EquestrianClearance.com was awarded the exclusive licence to develop the British Showjumping range.

The deal with the sport’s governing body initially covered clothing, with horsewear to follow.  A fitting system enabling riders to adjust their own Bates and Wintec saddles was introduced to the trade by UK distributor Weatherbeeta.

 ETN reported “consternation in the trade” when the Italian brand Pariani was named official saddle supplier to the British equestrian teams for that summer’s Barcelona Olympics.

“Nothing short of shameful” was the reaction of esteemed 30 YEARS saddlery expert Elwyn AGO...

Hartley Edwards. While David Seipel, managing director of Walsall based saddle manufacturer E Jeffries, commented: “What must our overseas customers think if the British team doesn’t use a British saddlery company when Britain is the home of fine, traditional saddlery?”  A trader who was fined £300 for dismantling his show stand before the event had ended took the organisers to court – and won. The court said the show had no right to penalise him, even though he had signed an agreement not to pack up his stand before 5pm.  Halifax based horse clothing manufacturer Elizabeth Greenwood was named Britain’s best small business exporting to Europe. The competition was sponsored by Barclays Bank and The Sunday Telegraph.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

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August 25-28, 2022

The WESA Trade Shows offer the most comprehensive trade experience for retailers of the Western/ English Industry. Spread out over 30,000 square feet of exhibit space and featuring almost 600 product lines, WESA’s International Apparel and Equipment Markets are where the savvy retailers shop to be educated and inspired.

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

THE IMPORTANCE OF FORAGES FOR REDUCING THE RISK OF EGUS

– WHAT’S THE LATEST ADVICE?

By Katie Williams M.Sc. (Dist) R Nutr, Technical Manager at Dengie Horse Feeds • Feeding 2g/kg BW starch per day or 1g/kg BW per meal more than doubled the risk of a horse having ulcers.

SO IF TOO LITTLE FORAGE IS A RISK FACTOR, HOW MUCH FORAGE SHOULD I FEED?

O

ver the last decade, studies have increased our awareness and understanding of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome but there is still much to learn. We know there are two distinct diseases which affect different areas of the stomach: Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD). Whilst a recognised aetiology and recommended management regimes exist for ESGD, less is known about EGGD.

SYMPTOMS OF GASTRIC ULCERS IN HORSES

Symptoms are not always very easy to distinguish from other issues or diseases but some common ones include weight loss, dull coat, biting when being girthed and intermittent colic. However, it is important to consider that good doers and those that look healthy on the outside can have ulcers too. It is also apparent that there is no link between the severity of ulcers and the symptoms – some horses are clearly very stoic and can have grade 4 ulcers with no obvious clinical signs.

There are some practices that are known to increase the risk of horses having ulcers: • Feeding too little fibre – chewing fibre produces more than double the amount of saliva than chewing concentrates.

• Feeding 1% of bodyweight as grain resulted in a marked increase in ulcers in non-exercised horses.

40 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Ad lib forage is the simple answer assuming the horse isn’t overweight. Horses will typically consume between 2 and 2.5% of bodyweight per day as forage when offered ad lib access. Ponies may consume more so it is important to watch for weight gain as a result.

In fact, the challenge of feeding enough forage to reduce the risk of ulcers without promoting weight gain was a key issue for many of the 650 horse owners that participated in a survey about managing good doers in 2021. Around 20% of horse owners mentioned they can’t limit access to pasture and a third of respondents said they didn’t want to stable for longer. The use of muzzles was also not an option for about a third of horse owners too, either because they didn’t like the idea of using one or they felt it wasn’t safe to do so with their horse or pony.

Clearly in many cases we do have to limit our horses’ access to grass to manage their weight and so what do we replace it with to find that balance between reducing ulcer risk but maintaining digestive health? Grass hay or haylage can still be too much for some good doers especially if fed ad lib and so restricting the amount fed is often necessary.

Achieving consensus and a clear directive on the minimal dry matter intake for maintaining optimal digestive health has been confused by different studies which can be open to interpretation and differ in the timeframe the advice is recommended for.

The work of Dugdale et al (2010) is regularly cited as they restricted intake to 1% of bodyweight dry matter which achieved significant weight loss without adverse effects on the welfare of the horse. However, the criteria used to measure welfare in this study related to behaviour and the time that ponies spent in three major behavioural categories (eating, resting and play). There is no reference in this study to the incidence of gastric ulcers and the study lasted 12 weeks which is a relatively short timeframe.

The increasing frequency with which ulcers are being diagnosed may account for why the recommendations for minimal dry matter intake tend to increase in more recent studies. Morgan et al (2016) WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

CPD FEATURE | ETN state they initially recommended 1.5% of bodyweight in fresh weight of hay but adjusted if necessary, depending on response and Rendle et al (2020) cite 1.5% dry matter which is the level most equine nutritionists would work to for the long-term management of good doers. The veterinary perspective in some cases may be to restrict intake to below 1.5% in the acute scenario to deal with significant obesity, hyperinsulinaemia and acute laminitis but this is often getting lost in interpretation and communication.

There are other potential issues aside from EGUS to consider too. It has been shown in trials in mice for example, that a low fibre diet increases the permeability of the gut – a phenomenon known as leaky-gut syndrome. When fibre is fermented in the hind gut, one of the volatile fatty acids produced is butyrate and this is the energy used by the colonocytes (gut cells) themselves.

Insufficient fibre and therefore butyrate, can compromise the health of the cells creating bigger gaps between them which allows contents of the gut that shouldn’t pass through, to do so.

Therefore, the better strategy for feeding to maintain gut health without promoting excessive weight gain is to feed a lower calorie forage so that more can be fed.

CAN STRAW BE FED TO HORSES WITH ULCERS?

Back in 2009, a study that looked at the incidence of gastric ulceration in a population of horses found that those that were fed straw as the sole or predominant fibre source were more likely to have ulcers. The reasons given related to the structure of straw and the fact that straw contains low levels of calcium and protein.

This makes sense given that it is alfalfa’s naturally high protein and calcium levels that are thought to make it a superior buffer.

However, the key here is that straw was used as the sole or predominant fibre source which is not typically done in the UK. Recognising that straw can be useful as a low-calorie forage source for good doers, a follow up study has been published investigating the safety of feeding 50% wheat straw to replace haylage. The study by Jansson et al (2021) found no ill effects and specifically looked for gastric ulcers. Some simple calculations show that if straw replaces 1/3 of the weight of an average hay, a reduction in energy intake of 16% is achieved. Obviously replacing half the haylage ration will achieve an even greater reduction.

FORAGES FOR THOSE THAT AREN’T GOOD DOERS

The more stereotypical horse with ulcers is one that doesn’t hold weight and looks in poor condition. In these scenarios the challenge is promoting weight gain without increasing starch intake. The first step to achieving this is to use as digestible a form of forage as possible and feed plenty of it.

CAN I USE HAYLAGE FOR A HORSE WITH ULCERS?

The concern about using a true haylage for horses with ulcers is that the fermentation process used to conserve the forage produces acids. It is logical not to feed a forage that has increased levels of acidity to a horse with an issue related to increased exposure to acid.

However, a more accurate description of many so-called haylages would be wrapped hay as they are often very dry which has meant that little or no fermentation has occurred. This means the levels of acidity are no different to a normal hay which can be seen in table 1. A possible benefit of using wrapped hay is that it may well have been harvested earlier and so is likely to be more digestible meaning that the horse will do better on it.

Forages containing more moisture and cut earlier are often softer and so may be easier for horses with ulcers to manage and are often more palatable which is useful for poorer doers who may not have a big appetite. For poor doers, feeding forage ad lib is ideal as there is no reason to restrict them.

Hay

Wrapped Hay

Haylage

Silage

Dry matter %

88.4

70-80

57.7

30.9

WSC % (sugar)

10.1

10

6.9

2.6

Lactic acid g/kg

0

0-0.5

2.6

31.8

(Product of fermentaion)

Table 1 A comparison of different forages

SHOULD MY ULCER PRONE HORSE HAVE A BUCKET FEED?

Whilst the significant majority of any horse’s diet should be forage, even good do-ers can benefit from a bucket feed to provide a balanced diet. UK pastures lack a number of key trace minerals including zinc, copper and selenium and these nutrients are important for many different functions such as energy breakdown and utilisation and as part of the body’s antioxidant defence system. Topping up these nutrients by adding a broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement or balancer to a low calorie chopped fibre feed to act as a carrier helps to ensure a balanced diet is supplied.

Feeding a double handful of a chopped fibre feed in the 20-25 minutes before exercising is also recommended to help prevent ‘acid splash’ in the non-glandular region of the horse’s stomach.

The fibre ensures the stomach isn’t empty and suppresses the movement of the acidic contents when the horse moves.

For poorer doers and those in harder levels of work, forage may not be sufficient to keep them in an acceptable condition and so the bucket feed is an important part of the ration. There are a range of feeds with the BETA approval mark for horses and ponies prone to EGUS which range in ingredients and type. Many contain alfalfa to a lesser or greater extent but its suitability for those prone to ulcers has caused some confusion.

CAN I USE ALFALFA FOR HORSES WITH ULCERS?

The simple answer is yes you can. Studies back in the early 2000s (Nadeua et al, 2000; Lybbert et al, 2007) showed that alfalfa was more beneficial for horses with ulcers (ESGD) compared to grass forages, as the high levels of calcium and magnesium it contains act as natural buffers to acidity.

WHY DOES ALFALFA CONTAIN MORE CALCIUM THAN GRASS FORAGES?

Alfalfa has really deep roots – about 3 to 4 metres – and the calcium at this depth in the soil is more available for absorption.

This means that alfalfa plants can take up more calcium than grass – chopped alfalfa contains between 30 and 50% more calcium than grass forages. Early studies suggest that omeprazole is reducing calcium absorption in the horse as is seen in humans and in Swanhall et al’s (2018) study, they recommend using bio-available calcium sources in the diet to help counteract this effect. Plant based sources of calcium such as alfalfa are much easier for the horse to absorb than inorganic sources such as limestone flour.

HOW MUCH ALFALFA SHOULD BE FED?

Researchers suggest adding around 200grams, which is about half a Stubbs scoop, when cereals are fed to help counteract the increases in acidity generated by the starch. In many cases, high quality fibre sources can be used to provide the horse with sufficient energy for the work they are doing reducing the need to feed cereals and thereby reducing starch intake. In these situations, the feeding rates would be higher than 200grams so it really depends on whether the alfalfa is being used as the main energy source or alongside other feeds.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 41

ETN | CPD FEATURE

WHY IS ALFALFA SO LOW IN STARCH?

Like other plants, alfalfa makes sugar when photosynthesising but it stores any surplus sugar as starch in its roots – the part that horses don’t eat! Grass plants tend to store sugar as fructan in leaves and the stem which is why they supply the horse with more sugar.

SO WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT FEEDING ALFALFA?

Some people look at the percentage of protein in a pure alfalfa feed and are put off as they don’t consider how much is being fed and therefore the actual amount of protein the horse is consuming.

For example, one large Stubbs scoop of a pure alfalfa feed containing between 12 and 14% crude protein supplies 48 grams of protein which is about 6-8% of a 500kgs horse’s daily maintenance needs.

There has also been a study published that has caused confusion about the use of alfalfa. It explored the incidence of ulcers in foals and used the weaning process to induce ulcers.

The researchers then compared groups fed alfalfa chaff or alfalfa pellets or hay. Foals were fed 3kgs (7.5 Stubbs scoops) of alfalfa chaff (way more than is typically used or what would typically be recommended for foals), 2.7kgs of oats and 0.25kgs of soybean meal. It’s also important to note that the alfalfa chaff used was 40% lower in calcium than the alfalfa pellets used.

Foals fed the alfalfa chaff had higher ulcer scores at the pylorus than those fed alfalfa pellets or hay but none showed any clinical signs. The same research group have recently published another study comparing grass and alfalfa hay in adult horses. The horse with ulcers at the start of the study no longer had ulcers after being fed the alfalfa hay.

SO WHAT CAN WE CONCLUDE?

• There have been no negative effects in the squamous region of the stomach in horses of any age from feeding alfalfa.

• The only group where an effect with alfalfa chaff has been seen is weaned foals but it was fed at much higher levels than is typically done – there were no issues associated with feeding alfalfa pellets which would still provide some natural buffering from the calcium they contain.

• Alfalfa chaff or chop is generally considered beneficial for adult horses at risk of or prone to EGUS due to its natural buffering potential.

References 1. Dugdale et al (2010) Effect of dietary restriction on body condition, composition and welfare of overweight and obese pony mares. Equine Veterinary Journal, 42 (7) 600-610.

2. Jansson et al (2021) Straw as an Alternative to Grass Forage in Horses—Effects on Post-Prandial Metabolic Profile, Energy Intake, Behaviour and Gastric Ulceration. Animals. 11.

3. Lybbert, T. et al (2007), Proceedings of Annual Convention of the AAEP, Orlando, Florida, 2007.

4. Morgan et al (2016) Treatment of Equine Metabolic Syndrome: A clinical case series. Equine Veterinary Journal. 48. 422-426.

5. Nadeau, J. et al (2000) Evaluation of diet as a cause of gastric ulcers in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research.

Jul;61(7):784-90.

6. Rendle et al (2020) Tackling obesity and related laminitis in equine patients. Veterinary Times Equine, 6 (1) 6-9.

7. Swanhall et al (2018) Mineral and Vitamin Supplementation Including Marine Derived Calcium Increases Bone Density in Thoroughbreds. Proceedings of the Australasian Equine Science Symposium 42 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

RAMA CPD QUIZ

RAMA CP Questio D (nutritio ns n) 2022 E May TN

SELECT YOUR ANSWERS AND SUBMIT THEM AT WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM UNDER THE CPD SECTION 1. What is the minimum amount of forage intake most equine nutritionists would work to for the long- term management of good doers?

1.5% as fed a. b.

1.5% dry matter c.

1% as fed 2. Which medication is known to reduce calcium absorption in humans and appears to do so in horses too? a.

Omeprazole b.

Bute c.

Aspirin 3. What does alfalfa’s really deep roots mean it can access more effectively from the soil than grass? a.

Starch b.

Sugar c.

Calcium 4. Which volatile fatty acid is used as an energy source by colonocytes? a.

Propionate b.

Acetate c.

Butyrate 5. What is the typical dry matter of a wrapped hay? a.

20-30% b.

70-80% c.

80-90% 6. How long before exercise should fibre be fed to try to reduce acidsplash in the horse’s stomach? a.

20-25 minutes b.

1 hour c.

3 hours 7. What is used as a marker of fermentation in forages? a.

Calcium b.

Lactic acid c.

Fibre 8. Where does alfalfa store starch? a.

Leaves b.

Stems c.

Roots 9. What does the S stand for in ESGD? a.

Sulphur b.

Squamous c.

Starch 10. What percentage of a 500kg horse’s daily protein maintenance requirement does a scoop of a pure alfalfa chop provide? a.

18-20% b.

45-50% c.

6-8% SUBMIT YOUR ANSWERS ONLINE AT WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM UNDER THE CPD SECTION.

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ETN | PADDOCK, STABLE AND TACK ROOM

Will my horse heal?

Keep this feature handy for next time a customer asks your advice…

Veterinary nurse Tara Evans explains how to manage wounds in horses

A

nyone who knows horses knows they get wounds. Most commonly on their lower limbs, wounds can occur in all shapes and sizes, anywhere on the horse’s body.

Indeed, wounds often leave owners scratching their heads and asking: “How…?”

The aim of treating a wound is to avoid infection and promote healing to get the horse back to full function as quickly, and with as little cosmetic damage, as possible.

Wound healing is mainly influenced by initial management and, while some wounds are more severe than others, basic principles for approaching and managing wounds always apply.

With any wound, the first thing to do is to stop the bleeding. In most cases, this can be done by applying pressure. Try not to use a tourniquet and instead opt for firm pressure with a clean towel, gauze or gamgee.

If the bandage soaks with blood, apply more fresh material on top. Avoid removing any soaked material, as this can dislodge 44 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

blood clots and prolong bleeding times.

If a vein or artery has been nicked, bleeding can take up to 2030 minutes to stop, and sometimes these vessels require suturing.

In these instances, it’s best to call a vet straight away, continuing to maintain firm pressure on the wound until they arrive.

If there is a foreign body in the wound, apply pressure above it, taking care not to press the object deeper into the wound.

TO REMOVE OR NOT TO REMOVE?

The best way to remove a foreign body depends on the location of the wound. For example, a nail is penetrating the foot, try not to remove this as your vet may want to take an x-ray to check how deep it has gone and to see if any underlying structures have been damaged.

It’s advisable to leave most foreign bodies in place until the vet arrives, to avoid risk of excess bleeding on their removal.

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PADDOCK, STABLE AND TACK ROOM | ETN

WHAT NEXT?

Once bleeding has stopped, the wound must be cleaned. This should be done gently and carefully so as not to cause more harm than good. When it comes to wound management, the old adage ‘dilution is the solution to pollution’ rings true and using a cold hose on a gentle flow can help to reduce bleeding and clean the wound of any debris.

Tap water irrigation should be limited to ten minutes though, any longer than this will have an adverse effect as it will damage the tissue.

Once the debris has been removed, the wound can be further cleaned with a dilute disinfectant. Use 25ml of 2% chlorhexidine (Hibiscrub) mixed with 975ml of water, or 10-20ml of povidoneiodine 10% solution mixed with 1 litre of water.

At this stage, if you feel confident the horse doesn’t require veterinary attention, as the wound is simple and not overlying any important structures, and provided the horse isn’t lame, you can then move on to dressing the wound.

If on the lower limb, a bandage can be applied. Use a non-stick dressing, followed by cotton wool or gamgee and a self-sticking bandage.

Wounds above the knee or on the body and face are not suitable to bandage, and these should be left open and clean.

Using a wound cream, such as Omnimatrix, helps to promote healing and can protect the wound.

WHEN TO CALL THE VET?

Many wounds are minor and can be safely managed at home by an observant owner and a well-stocked first aid kit. Others require veterinary assistance; so when do you call the vet?

• If the wound is very large or deep • If the wound is bleeding profusely • If the wound is near or over a joint or tendon sheath • If the wound is involving the eye • If the entire thickness of the skin has been broken • If the wound edges gape or if there is a skin flap • If there is a penetrating foot wound • If there is a large foreign body • If underlying structures such as muscle and bone can be seen • If the horse is lame A vet’s time is never wasted when it comes to wounds. Treating a wound appropriately and promptly is always better than the ‘wait and see’ method. If there is ever any doubt, always call the vet!

Wounds that need stitching heal much better if they are stitched within four hours of injury versus being left longer. Likewise, the initial few hours following injury are the golden window for removing infection, and wounds that have been left to become infected are far harder to manage.

Depending on the type of wound and its location, your vet may take x-rays, stitch, bandage or refer the horse to help to ensure the best possible outcome.

HOW BEST TO MANAGE WOUNDS

Whether the vet has been called or not, wounds require both initial treatment and aftercare. A well-stocked first aid kit is essential for this. It is important regularly to check first aid kits to make sure they are complete so that, if and when the time comes to use it, everything needed is on hand.

A good first aid kit will include • Cotton wool • Gamgee roll • Gauze swabs • Scissors • A small bottle of disinfectant, such as Hibiscrub (use 25ml of 2% solution mixed with 975ml of water)

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• Sterile non-stick dressings (a selection of sizes is recommended - 10 x 10 cm and 20 x 10 cm) • Self-sticking bandages – such as Vetrap and Elastoplast • Non-sticking bandages – clean stable bandages • Poultice, such as Animalintex • Saline solution • A wound cream, such as Omnimatrix • An antibiotic spray • Disposable rubber or latex gloves • A digital thermometer Minor wounds should heal well, with little complication. If a wound doesn’t appear to be healing – or if there is proud flesh – call your vet.

WHY DO HORSES GET PROUD FLESH?

One of the trickier aspects to manage in horse wound healing is ‘proud flesh’ or exuberant granulation tissue. Proud flesh protrudes from the wound’s margins and prevents the skin edges from healing.

Wound healing occurs in three phases: the inflammatory phase, the cell proliferation phase and the remodeling phase.

Horses have a slow inflammatory response and, because of this, the initial inflammatory phase lasts longer than in other species.

During this phase, the body makes excess tissue which can result in granulation tissue.

Reducing inflammation as much as possible – by reducing movement and removing infection, helps to limit granulation tissue formation.

Proud flesh should be managed by a vet and may include debridement and the use of topical steroid creams to control.

WHICH BANDAGES AND DRESSING?

When dressing a horse’s wound there are three bandage components – 1. The primary layer – the dressing that is placed directly onto the wound.

2. The secondary layer - such as gamgee or cotton wool to provide padding.

3. The tertiary layer – the top layer that keeps the bandage in place, such as Vetrap or Elastoplast.

As there are many different types of wounds and several different stages of healing, there are numerous dressings available, each being suitable for a certain stage of wound healing.

Dressings such as Melonin (a permeable non-adherent dressing) and Alleyvn (a hydrocellular foam dressing) are often used, although it is important to always be guided by the vet as to the most appropriate dressing.

The use of topical creams can be helpful in wound healing, although care must be taken to use the correct product. Zinc oxide has been shown to have positive effects in wound healing, so creams which contain zinc oxide, such as Omnimatrix, can be helpful.

Medical grade manuka honey can also be applied topically and has prolonged antibacterial effects. Care should be taken to ensure normal honey is not used, as this can have adverse effects to wound healing.

Remember if kept clean and immobilised with a continuous healthy blood supply, your horse’s wounds should heal well. Of course, there will always be challenging cases, but ensuring the correct steps are taken initially will help set you up for success.

About the author: Tara Evans, RVN is from Vita Animal Health.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 45

ETN | PADDOCK, STABLE AND TACK ROOM

Hay nets: friend or foe?

Horse owners shouldn’t hate the humble hay net but make it work in their favour, says Ellen Chapman, founder of Trickle Net.

H

ay nets are an effective method of carrying, measuring and feeding forage while bringing the benefit of less waste and convenience of feeding while travelling. So why are some owners so against their use?

Perhaps you’ve heard that hay When eating from small holed hay nets, horses select forage with the nets can cause unnatural muscle lips and pluck with the incisors, development and tension in the just as they do in the field. neck and back?

There is plenty of research to support this, and it commonly points towards two main factors. Hanging nets too high and hanging nets consistently in the same place.

The net’s position may contribute to a negative postural effect on the back and neck, but we can alleviate this risk with careful management. Hanging a net at chest height keeps it safely away from shoes, while allowing the horse to eat in a more relaxed position. Though check those rug buckles; always clip on towards the chest.

Some studies suggest feeding at chest height may be beneficial as the horse can stand squarely with better weight distribution on the forelimbs, as opposed to favouring one side when eating from the ground.

As horses are browsing animals, it is recommended to provide forage at various heights. Rather than having one net in the same place every day, alternate opposite sides of the stable, or better still use two or three nets around the stable to encourage various eating positions.

LOW FEEDING TIPS

There are safe ways to use nets low too. Tying a slow feeder net, such as a Trickle Net, onto the wall behind a Hay Bar, or onto a tie ring within a fixed plastic tub will provide a safe barrier to prevent shoes catching on nets while giving the horse all the benefits of grazing simulation.

This is a great alternative when Hay net design has come a long grass is not available. way since owners were obliged A study By Maria Yabsley to double-net to slow forage consumption.

(Writtle University College) used acoustic myography to observe muscle activity while comparing four different forage presentations; a slow feeding net (Trickle Net), a regular hay net, loose hay from the floor and a Hay Ball.

Findings showed that the muscle activation while using a Trickle Net was most similar to that while grazing naturally. Even more so 46 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Hay nets can be hung at a relaxed height to alleviate equine postural issues.

than feeding loose from the ground. There are certainly ways to limit risks associated with using hay nets, while improving equine management and wellbeing.

EASY NET FILLING

For many, filling hay nets is the number one most loathed job on the yard; made even worse when pulling hay off a round bale rather than dropping sections into a net.

Here’s a tip. Take a plastic dustbin and cut out the bottom to create a big plastic tube. Put this into the net and fill the tube with hay. Pull the net up, while lifting the tube and shaking down the hay. Hey presto, two minutes of furious net stuffing saved.

DESIGN EVOLUTION

Hay nets have come a long way since we made them from baling twine as kids. Advances in polyethylene and polypropylene (PE and PP) manufacturing mean a better choice of stronger, more robust materials.

It’s the use of these advanced materials – initially developed for the aquaculture industry - along with skilled labour, which has enabled the evolution in hay net design. And it’s led to the most important job for our hay nets today.

OBESITY EPIDEMIC

An epidemic in equine obesity and laminitis, and its implications for equine welfare, has created a need for new methods to address and resolve over-feeding.

Our research discovered the ideal aperture size for forage intake regulation is 25mm; much smaller than the traditional hay net hole.

At this size, we see an important change in how the horse eats forage. Rather than grabbing with the teeth, as they do with large hole nets, the horse will graze. That is, they select with the lips and pluck with the incisors, just as they do in the field.

This natural grazing method, and slow trickle of small amounts of forage through the digestive system is essential to equine health. The physical benefits bring better gut function and weight management, while the act of grazing releases endorphins in the horse and the psychological benefits can be surprising.

FAVOURITE PIECE OF KIT

We now see vets, nutritionists and even physiotherapists regularly ‘prescribing’ small holed Trickle Nets to owners as an effective method to reduce and regulate forage intake without having to leave horses for long periods with nothing to eat.

Love them or loathe them, hay nets are adapting to meet the challenges we face in equine health and nutrition. To many owners, they have become an essential management tool, even a life saver in some cases.

So, where the benefits outweigh the risks, and management is appropriate to the individual horse, the modern hay net could actually become your customers’ new favourite piece of kit.

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PADDOCK, STABLE AND TACK ROOM | ETN

A tack room to savour…

In an extract from her book The Tack Room, Paula Sells takes us behind-the scenes of The Saddle Room at Milton Hall, Peterborough.

T

he Milton Hall saddle room stands proudly within an imposing courtyard, a jewel in the crown of equestrian architecture. This unique, two-storey octagonal building was so perfectly planned to fit the 18th century courtyard that it radiates a sense of satisfaction and well-being.

Milton Hall in Cambridgeshire is home to the Naylor-Leyland family whose Fitzwilliam antecedents bought the estate in 1502.

Sir Philip is currently Master of the Fitzwilliam (Milton) Hunt, one of the great ancestral foxhunting packs in England. The stable courtyard was built in 1690 by William Talman and extended in 1720. The two-storey buildings provide for carriages, some twenty horses, hay lofts and staff accommodation and are built of a pale limestone, probably from the local quarries of Ketton or Marholm.

The yard itself is of granite setts. The building’s octagonal design in the centre of the courtyard is as practical as it is handsome, allowing easier movement of horses and carriages around its facets, so avoiding the hazardous corners of a square or rectangle.

Stirrups for the hunt saddles, all clean and ready to go – just as they have been for at least two hundred and fifty years.

The octagonal saddle room at Milton Hall set in the 17th century courtyard and built of local Cambridgeshire limestone. Architectural detail of the period such as the ‘oeil de boeuf’ oval windows can be seen in the staff accommodation wing behind. The original carriage bays are to the left and stabling along the south and west wings completes the quadrangle.

This historic place has seen many changes. The stable yard clock tower was recently repaired, and several bullet holes were found in the weather vane. These were from a pistol shooting range in the nearby kitchen garden used during World War II by the Czech army who were stationed in the stable courtyard. The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was also here in 1944 before D-Day preparing for Operation Jedburgh, a plan to co-ordinate the resistance network in Europe prior to the allied invasion. The author Daphne Du Maurier used to visit Milton Hall as a child and is said to have based her description of the interior of Manderley in her novel Rebecca on Milton Hall.

I visited the saddle room on a bright April day after the hunting season had finished so all was quiet. I opened the heavy door and sunshine flooded in. I was unprepared for quite such an exceptional and beautiful room; it was not just a service area for a busy yard but more of a monument intended to venerate the past and to celebrate the Fitzwilliam Hunt. It was built with confidence in the future.

It has an innovative heating system which originally extended out to the surrounding stable wings. The coal-fired boiler in the cellar still heats a huge central pipe which, like a ship’s mast, runs up through both floors of the tack room, the top floor being the main drying room for rugs and hunting equipment.

The ground floor houses the hunt saddlery. Light streams in through large Georgian sash windows and gleams on the red and black floor tiles. Around the wood-panelled walls are forty spotless saddles, stripped of girths and stirrup leathers which are hung separately below.

These are traditional English leather hunting saddles of various makes. The bridles are of typical hunting-weight leather with curb or snaffle bits, cavesson and drop nosebands and running martingales. On one broad window sill are all the stirrups, on another there is a pageant of old hunting equipment: a collection of leather cases to attach hunting horns and wire cutters to the saddle. Bowler hats, old receipts on a wire hook, a map of the hunting country and photographs are reminders of the long history of this distinguished hunt.

A sun-yellowed copy of the poignant ‘The Prayer of a Horse’

by Milton Bode is pinned to the wall. It is printed ‘With the compliments of Day, Son & Hewitt Ltd.’, a manufacturer of animal medicines (including ‘the Black Drink’ an equine tonic in 1833) awarded the Royal Warrant by both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. Among the fittings is an elegant saddle horse with panelled storage cupboards below, made of a polished hardwood, on cast-iron wheels. It was probably custom-built to support driving saddles for the carriage horses while they were cleaned; the unusual concave top would fit their padding better than it does a riding saddle. No maker’s name is evident but movable saddlehorses of this fine quality are rare.

CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 47

ETN | PADDOCK, STABLE AND TACK ROOM

Home truths

The stable yard not only provides home comforts – it needs to be equipped and ready in case of a first aid emergency too.

CARING COMBINATION

A smart array of saddlery at Milton Hall. A long-handled, two-pronged steel fork is used to put up and take down the saddles.

Musgrave of Belfast produced portable saddle horses around the 1900s of excellent design. These are sought after by collectors, particularly from Europe, and are seldom seen in British tack rooms now. They have a cast-iron frame on wheels and a pitch pine body. The A-shaped top which supports the saddles opens out to form a flat working surface – the stable staff probably had their lunch and played cards on this while the horses were out before quickly folding up the sides to receive the saddles as soon as they returned. On some models the top was detachable and when reversed supported the saddle upside down so that its underside could be cleaned. There are drawers at one end and a cupboard for cleaning materials at the other.

This saddle room is likely to have seen the transition from stag and hare hunting to fox hunting and has remained unaltered, keeping an unbroken continuity from the early 18th century to the present day. In the tradition of British hunts, the Fitzwilliam activities are interwoven with the local community and the busy hunt calendar continues year-round with point-to-point racing, hound and horse shows, conservation work, fallen stock disposal services for farmers and fund-raising for a wide range of charities.

About the book: Paula Sells shows how the tack used in 27 different disciplines has become specialised for each one. She describes the tack rooms and their contents, conversations with the owners, meetings with Master Saddlers and the history and current challenges of each discipline. The hardback book is available from Merlin Unwin Books (£20).

48 | EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022

Silver Honey from Absorbine combines manuka honey with MicroSilver BG. Suitable for use on minor wounds, it supports new skin cells by nourishing and conditioning. It also creates a barrier to soothe and protect.

MicroSilver BG is a powder of micro-sized pure medical-grade silver particles. It clings to the skin and hair follicles to guard against germs.

The manuka honey in Silver Honey is made from manuka tree pollen from New Zealand. As well as cleansing, it maintains a hydrated, healthy minor wound environment.

Silver Honey comes as a spray gel or ointment.

MUCKING OUT MADE EASIER

The Eternity shavings fork is super lightweight and has an unbreakable head, says supplier Vale Brothers.

The prongs are set closely together to help to sift through the bedding and reduce unnecessary waste.

Each fork is fitted with a hollow aluminium handle and a comfortable grip, making the daily muck out so much easier.

The Eternity comes in grey, orange or purple, with handle lengths of 95cm or 115cm.

VERSATILE SKIN CREAM

Omnimatrix from Vita Animal Health is a unique skin cream.

Formulated with zinc oxide and nine herbal extracts, it can be safely used in all stages of wound healing. It supports granulation and repair.

This versatile cream also works as a barrier when applied to skin areas which are repeatedly aggravated, such as the girth area.

Once opened, Omnimatrix has a three-year shelf life, making it a firm favourite for first aid kits. It’s suitable for all types of wounds, across all species.

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PADDOCK, STABLE AND TACK ROOM | ETN NEW BLACKCURRANT FLAVOUR

SUPAlyx Original from Nettex is now available in a new blackcurrant favour.

The tasty vitamin and mineral lick supplies protein, minerals, trace elements and vitamins.

It also includes Diamond V, a fermentation product with proven prebiotic function to help nurture hindgut health. Biotin and zinc feature to aid hoof quality.

A removeable handle makes it easy to move the lick from stable to field.

ACTION STATIONS!

Your customers can be ready to deal with most emergencies when they keep their first aid kits well stocked.

EquiCleanse is the latest addition to NAF’s veterinary support range, NaturalintX. Designed for safe, effective wound management, it’s formulated from grapefruit seed extract. Used either neat or diluted in water, EquiCleanse can be used for cleansing minor wounds or caring for superficial skin irritations.

The NaturalintX poultice is a highly absorbent, multi-layered dressing impregnated with the natural poulticing agent tragacanth and the mild disinfectant boric acid. Tragacanth becomes active when wet, drawing any dirt and debris from the wound, while maintaining a moist, clean environment to support natural healing.

Arnica Gel is a smooth, cooling gel to soothe minor strains, sprains and bruising following muscular exertion, knocks or blows.

Lanolin based MSM Ointment provides a protective barrier to minor wounds while supporting the skin’s natural healing process.

Wound Cream from NAF supports the healing of minor cuts and wounds. It comes in a convenient tube for easy, hygienic application directly to the wound

HEADCOLLAR HAZARDS

Accidents with headcollars are more common than you might think.

One in three owners have had a horse injured because of a headcollar accident, according to research by Dr David Marlin.

The Stellar Field Safe Headcollar from Equilibrium Products has been scientifically tested to ensure the headpiece releases when poll pressure is applied at an average 83kg of downward force.

Dr Marlin’s research indicates that this is strong enough for safe horse handling, but low enough to prevent serious equine injury in the event of an incident.

WWW.EQUESTRIANTRADENEWS.COM

BEAT THOSE FLIES

The Paddock Likit is a cost effective, easy way to provide horses and ponies with vitamins, minerals and trace elements in a convenient, palatable lick.

It can be used in the paddock or stable to balance the deficiencies in forage and grazing.

An added bonus is that the inclusion of pure garlic oil helps combat the problem of biting insects during the summer months.

Likits are available from Trilanco or Battles.

LESS SCARRING, FASTER HEALING

Vetalintex Wound Hydrogel is a must for any first aid kit, says supplier Robinson Animal Health.

The clear, viscose, starch-based hydrogel has a gentle cleansing action and promotes wound healing by maintaining a moist environment.

Vetalintex can help wounds heal quicker as the hydration it creates allows the damaged tissue to repair.

And scarring is reduced too because scabs don’t form; while the nerve endings are cushioned by the moisture which also eases pain.

Overall, wound hydrogels provide a controlled wound environment. They act by gently debriding wounds and rehydrating necrotic tissue which will then be removed from the wound surface.

Vetalintex is presented sterile in 15g tubes for optimum infection control. It should be applied liberally before using an appropriate secondary dressing such as Skintact, also from Robinson Animal Healthcare.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MAY 2022 | 49

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