August 2012 issue

BUSINESS

MONTHLY

EQUESTRIAN

Bringing buyers & suppliers together

AUGUST 2012 ISSUE 125

FIBRE & FORAGE: Essential Feeding See Page 12

BEDDING & STABLE HYGIENE BLOGGING ADVICE DEAL OR NO DEAL?

www.ebmonthly.co.uk

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 5 NEWS

27 LAUNCH IT

9 SPOGA PREVIEW

28 RUG CARE

9 ON THE WILD SIDE

31 LET’S TALK PRODUCTS

The latest industry news Getting ready for the fair Suzanne Wild talks trade

New products

Cleaning & repairs

Winter rugs

10 CLIPPERS

Understanding the product

36 ON THE MARKET The industry’s finest

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37 AT THE SHARP END

FORAGE & FIBRE Essential feeding

Mike Potter gets down to business

37 ASK THE EXPERT

Your questions answered

38 CURRENT AFFAIRS Discount & comparison websites

39 BUSINESS ADVICE Blogging basics

40 STOCK TAKE 18 BEDDING & STABLE HYGIENE EQUESTRIAN

BUSINESS

41 SECRET SURFER New websites on show

MONTHLY

Changing demands

Retailers’ top selling products

Editor: Kirsty Whittle editorial@ebmonthly.co.uk

Advertising Sales & Production Tel: +44 (0)1953 852946 advertising@ebmonthly.co.uk

Design: Carra White carra@whitehousemedia.co.uk Equestrian Business Monthly, The Old Dairy, Watton Road, Hingham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 4NN, UK Tel: +44 (0)1953 850678 Fax: +44 (0)1953 851936 enquiries@ebmonthly.co.uk www.ebmonthly.co.uk Disclaimer Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the information and reviews contained in this magazine are both accurate and up-to-date, neither Equestrian Business Monthly nor its contributors accept any liability to any party for loss or damage incurred by reliance on the information contained in this magazine or through omission or errors, howsoever caused.

If you have a Smart phone, iPhone or Android phone, all you have to do is download a QR code reader app and scan the barcode and it’ll take you directly to the Equestrian Business Monthly website where you can access the latest news stories, features and products on the market.

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

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Comment EDITOR’S

All change It was such a relief to be able to share the new design with you all after keeping quiet for so long, but even better to hear such complimentary views.

I am thrilled with the feedback that we’ve received about the new look EBM. It seems that many of you have noticed the changing content and feel that the design now reflects the modern direction in which the publication is heading. Over the coming months I will be taking time to rediscover exactly who reads Equestrian Business Monthly and finding out if there is anything that we can do to further improve the content. If you are an EBM veteran and would like to see something appear in print, then please get in touch: kirsty@ebmonthly.co.uk.

Continuing the positive news, the government has announced a seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS) for start-up businesses, which aims to offer fledgling firms a financial boost by encouraging investors to provide funds by offering large tax saving incentives. Investors putting the maximum £100,000 in to new companies with assets of less than £200,000 can reduce their income tax by 50% and grab a further saving of 28% capital gains tax if they raise the investment from disposing of other assets this tax year.

For every £100 invested, the government will underwrite 78%. The SEIS scheme was announced in the Budget 2012 by Chancellor George Osborne as a way of funnelling extra cash in to start-ups. Tory MP and former government whip and private equity investor, Brooks Newmark met with firms, investors and advisers as part of a government campaign to kick-start

FORWARD FEATURES September Let’s Talk Products: Winter jackets Winter feeding Horse & rider Hi-viz

October Let’s Talk Products: Body protectors Worming Olympics review What to stock for Christmas Spoga review

November Let’s Talk Products: Short boots & half chaps Media Guide Treats, licks & toys

Let us know what you think!

Why visit the site:

Throughout 2012 we’ll be introducing new features both in the publication and on the website and we want to know what you think. The latest inclusion is our new social media blog and the introduction of the QR code. If you have a Smart phone, iPhone or Android phone, all you have to do is download a QR code reader app and scan the barcode and it’ll take you directly to the Equestrian Business Monthly website where you can access the latest news stories, features and products on the market.

❖ Trade directory ❖ Web banners ❖ News & blogs ❖ Advertise jobs ❖ View latest issue online

Follow us on Twitter: @EBMonthly and keep us upto-date with your news and opinions by emailing: editorial@ebmonthly.co.uk 12

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small businesses that need vital funds for research and development. While this will not help everyone, it is a positive move and could make a difference to many companies hoping to bring their ideas to the table this year.

Upon writing my editor’s comment, Ofcom released research that recognised that people in the UK are more likely to text than to make a phone call.

The average UK consumer now sends 50 texts per week while fewer calls are being made on both fixed and mobile phones. Stats revealed that 39% of adults now own a smartphone, a 12% increase on 2010, with 42% of these saying that their smartphone is the most important device for accessing the internet. Of those, 42% regularly admitted to using social networking sites and 51% using e-mail on their phone. While we are all very much aware that we are teetering on the edge of a technologically advanced world, the equestrian industry is still fairly behind the times. A selection of tweets that I recently sent asking for retailer’s opinions received little response despite being tweeted several times at different hours during the day. This got me thinking about whether retailers are lacking the information and understanding to enter this era or whether they are choosing to stick to their ‘traditional’ roots and possibly losing business along the way.

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EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

UK NEWS A round-up of the UK’s equestrian trade news

If you have some news you’d like to share email us at : editorial@ebmonthly.co.uk or tweet @EBMonthly

Pfizer helps The Pony Club

Equine sector at a loss T O

ne in three companies in the UK equine products & and supplies industry is making a loss according to research carried out by Plimsoll.

The research: Equine Products & Supplies, reveals how many of these 104 loss making companies have simply had an isolated bad year and how many are burying their heads in the sand.

“More and more companies are making a loss for the first time in their history,” says David Pattison, author of a new market report into company performance in the market. “Many can rightly claim to be victims of difficult trading conditions. A quick refocus on

profitability would ensure this an isolated occurrence” However, overall conditions are no excuse for a band of serial loss makers in the market. “50 companies are making a loss for the second, even third year running and are simply selling at prices their business cannot sustain. They have put off making the painful decision that more prudent companies made a while ago. No one wants to trim costs, lay off staff, cancel dividend payments and the like but carrying on regardless is now unviable. They can no longer bury their heads in the sand,” says David.

“I congratulate management

teams that have made the often difficult and unpopular decisions.

They have cut their cloth according to the market conditions and are more stable for it. Those failing to do so are running out of time and cash. Without a big increase in demand they cannot support their pricing strategy much longer. Watch out for a number of failures among the companies we have identified”.

The analysis provides an assessment of 296 companies in the market. Readers of Equestrian Business Monthly are entitled to a £50 discount. Call: 01642 626400 for further details and quote reference PR/LI18.

Young Scientist of the Year named L

esaffre Feed Additives Celtic’s (LFA Celtic) Equine R&D manager has been awarded the title due to her work on laminitis and forage digestibility.

Catherine Hale, was named Young Scientist of the Year at the recent European Workshop on Equine Nutrition (EWEN) conference, held in Lisbon, Portugal.

Catherine presented part of her PhD data, which has centred around increasing the digestibility of forages in horses. Her work has uncovered exciting new findings relating to laminitis, one of the

major health problems in horses.

She has found that animals with a previous history of laminitis appear to have compromised fermentation within the hind gut.

Catherine’s paper concentrates on the different fermentation profiles of bacteria taken from normal healthy horses and those with a history of laminitis. Catherine found that horses with a history of laminitis, fermented starch significantly faster than normal horses, and fermented hay significantly less than normal horses.

BETA takes export mission to China

T

Keratex launches charity campaign

T

he company has launched a campaign to raise the profile of equine charities worldwide.

Beginning with several large and on-going donations of product and care items to charities, Keratex is also raising awareness of the charities by using media, social networking and website coverage.

“Some of these charities are trying to make ends meet in the current

economic climate and now need more help than ever,” says Rosie Fell of Keratex. “Not only have charities’ costs increased, but animal owners all over the world are poorer, and this results in more cases where quite significant and often expensive charity intervention is required.”

The campaign begins with spotlights on SPANA, World Horse

he Pony Club has introduced a Worm Control Achievement Badge, designed in conjunction with Pfizer Animal Health. The new badge, is being very well received with 300 Badges already ordered by Pony Club branches and centres around the UK. “Years ago it all seemed easy with the old-fashioned method of routine worming every 6 – 12 weeks but as scientific knowledge evolves and the threat of wormer resistance increases, the experts now advocate using a more targeted approach to tackle a specific worm burden at a given point,” says Ben Lacey, a vet at Pfizer.

The Worm Control Achievement Badge covers the key points to help Pony Club Members make informed decisions about worming.

To help Members study for the badge an accompanying ‘badge buddy’ book is also available with brilliant illustrations and clear learning points. ”We are really pleased to have Pfizer’s input into the Worm Control Achievement Badge syllabus and buddy book,” comments Judy Edwards, chief executive of The Pony Club.

Welfare and Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land.

The Keratex charity awareness campaign is launched in memory of Keratex founder Dr John Irving, who passed away last year. His love of animals and life-long desire to improve their lives is the driving force behind the idea for this campaign. To put forward a charity email info@keratex.com.

he British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has secured funding to support a trade mission to the China Horse Fair in Beijing on 16th-18th October.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) funding of £1,800 is available to eligible companies for allowable expenses.

“With the rise in living standards and a changing attitude towards [horse] sport, riding has become more affordable and more fashionable than it has ever been before,” says BETA’s executive director Claire Williams.

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

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UK NEWS

Eventing Cinema proving popular B

udding filmmakers are sparking up their creativity to take part in British Eventing’s online YouTube campaign ‘Eventing Cinema’. The campaign was launched in May to celebrate the sport of Eventing in its centenary Olympic year and offers the chance to win £1000 in photographic equipment plus the winning film will be shown at the Burghley Horse Trials on the big

screens.

The winning entry will be selected by a celebrity eventing panel including former Badminton winner Paul Tapner, Burghley director Elizabeth Inman, BE’s Chief Executive and international course designer Mike EtheringtonSmith, as well as Social Media expert Liam Killen, the man behind the Page Play Equestrian Social Media Awards.

Full terms and conditions for competition entry can be found on www.britisheventing. com/eventingcinema <http:// www.britisheventing.com/ eventingcinema> Submissions so far can be found on the Eventing Cinema playlist on www.youtube.com/ britisheventinggb <http://www. youtube.com/britisheventinggb>

New SEIS scheme to benefit businesses T

he new seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS) for start-up businesses aims to offer fledgling firms a financial boost by encouraging investors to provide funds by offering a large tax saving incentives.

Investors putting the maximum £100,000 in to new companies with assets of less than £200,000 can reduce their income tax by 50% and grab a further saving of

28% capital gains tax if they raise the investment from disposing of other assets this tax year.

“For every £100 invested, the government will underwrite 78%.

You are only on the hook for 22%,” says Tory MP and former government whip and private equity investor, Brooks Newmark.

“This is the most difficult area to get money. We need to get angel investors to invest as much money

as they can.

“This is not going to solve the problems of everyone who needs money. It’s a niche area. This is not something you are able to flip but instead it is to be used to build a business. In return, the government is lowering the risk.

“There is a lack of liquidity in the market. The point is that businesses are finding it difficult to get hold of capital at the moment.

Dengie offers placement

CONSUMER CORNER PHOTO COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED The ‘Hunting under the Act’ photo competition winners were announced on the Countryside Alliance’s 15th birthday on 10th July.

The amateur photo competition, which was launched in February, aimed to show that hunts are still together future the the Hunting Act. One of the winning photos will now appear on cover of the Countryside Alliance’s Autumn magazine, due out in September.

The joint winners were Wynnstay Hound and Child by Tracy Broadbent and A February morning with the Axe Vale by Lewis Gillingham.

“Thanks to everyone who took part in this competition, we had hundreds of entries and the calibre was very high,” says Countryside Alliance executive chairman Barney White-Spunner, who led the judging panel.

“As judges we were impressed to see so much encapsulated in the entries, from hunting’s tradition to the beauty of the animals and landscapes and, most importantly, the enjoyment and passion that hunting

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“The taxpayer has bailed out the banks but the banks have not been doing their bit.”

The scheme was announced in Budget 2012 by Chancellor George Osborne as a way of funnelling extra cash in to start-ups.

Newmark met with firms, investors and advisers as part of a government campaign to assist small businesses that need vital funds for research and development.

E

mily Brown has joined the nutrition team at Dengie Horse Feeds for a one-year work placement after gaining a degree in equine sports therapy from Writtle College, Essex.

A keen rider, Emily owns two German Warmbloods, Mikki and Pepe, with whom she competes at medium level dressage.

Emily is to be mentored by Dengie senior nutritionist Katie Williams, who is delighted to welcome her aboard.

inspires in its followers. These photographs remind us that hunting is here to stay and I hope people enjoy them as much as we do.”

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY |August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

NEWS New company IN BRIEF launched BIG PLANS FOR TRILANCO

H

orseRadar.co.uk will launch in October at the Horse of the Year Show.

With over 18 months of planning, the website has worked with developers to improve the whole online experience of its end users and advertisers.

With advanced functionality horseradar.co.uk will be able to simplify the search process and offer clear navigation to the user, leading them to the perfect new equine partner, service or product.

In addition the site has dedicated a section to actively offering free video training advice, celebrity interviews and updates from leading riders, trainers and owners from all disciplines creating the ultimate equestrian community.

“We have invested a lot of time researching, designing and developing the new site, we want to offer an uncomplicated service of excellence that brings together the equestrian community and answers their every need,” says Daniel Storey from HorseRadar.

In preparation for the launch, a comprehensive advertising campaign will be seen across all mediums supported throughout the next 12 months by rider bursaries, competitions, master classes and giveaways.

Trilanco has acquired additional space increasing the company’s warehouse and office space to 50,000 ft.². “We are dedicated to providing our customers with the best service and stock availability, and our new warehouse will increase our pallet storage by 500 pallets. We will be carrying more of the products our customers require when they need them, which allows us to provide a truly exceptional service,” says Martin Balmer, managing director of Trilanco Ltd.

FARM SECTOR APP

Aberystwyth University has developed the first commercial app for the farm sector which will be officially launched at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells on Tuesday 24 July at 9am.

MORE BAD NEWS

Gatcombe, The CLA Game Fair and the Great Yorkshire Show are the latest events to admit defeat with harrowing weather conditions continuing to hit the country, creating impossible ground conditions. “I am extremely sad to say the heavy rain in the run-up to this year’s CLA Game Fair has left us with no choice but to take the heartbreaking decision to cancel the show,” said CLA director general Helen Woolley.

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

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SPOGA HORSE AUTUMN

UK NEWS

PAVING THE WAY

From 2nd to 4th September, the equestrian trade will head to Germany to present the latest products and innovations from around the world.

The trade will head to the Cologne Exhibition Centre to exhibit a selection of equestrian equipment, including saddlery and leather goods, healthcare and feeding items. Organised by Koelnmesse GmbH, the event is tipped to be a success following on from the spring fair, which is fast becoming the “more international” option for the industry. Last year the fair attracted 376 companies from 30 countries, with a total of 78% coming from abroad, bringing a truly universal audience.

For those new to the event, the fair is open to producers of: Clothing for horses and rider, equestrian accessories, horse care and health, feeding, saddlery and leather goods, products for stable, pasture and transport, gifts and those in the horse riding industry or service provider business. The event has spent years honing on a specific market and attracts visitor target groups such as warehouses, retail trade, specialised wholesalers, discounters, mail order businesses, department stores and buying associations for equestrian sport.

Last year’s event saw a substantial increase in visitor numbers, however whether this year’s event will follow in the footsteps of our own British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) and see a decrease in footfall but an “increase in interested customers” remains to be seen.

MOBILE EXHIBITOR GUIDE The Mobile Exhibition Guide is the interactive and mobile trade fair guide that unities three useful functions in one innovative download application: 1 Mobile exhibitor catalogue users can search for exhibitors and product groups quickly and easily via your mobile phone.

2 Current information – users can check out the current information concerning trade fair visit.

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3 Innovative navigation – users will be guided through the halls, directly to the desired exhibitors.

The guide is suitable for iPhone, Blackberry, Java, Windows Mobile and Android phones.

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Business trips need not be all work and no play, especially when in Germany. Parallel to the exhibition is the City of Cologne, which attracts many visitors due to its vast array of sights and entertainment. Cologne has many attractions to help busy exhibitors to unwind and network in a more relaxed environment including a ‘thriller dinner’, the Noah’s Ark – Europe’s first swimming Bible theme park, the ‘Farina’ Fragrance Museum (Duftmuseum), the ‘Sonderbundausstellung’ (Exhibition of the Special League and even concerts by Lady Gaga and Coldplay. Information on all of the above can be found on the Spoga website or: www.cologne.de.

OPENING TIMES For visitors

Sunday: 9-6 pm Monday: 9-6 pm Tuesday: 9-6 pm For exhibitors Sunday: 8-7 pm Monday: 8-7 pm Tuesday: 8-7 pm Venue: Cologne Exhibition Centre, hall 4.1 and 4.2 Day ticket: Advance: £21,00 Box office: £33,00 Two day ticket: Advance £30,00 Box office: £43,00 Season ticket: Advance: £45,00 Box office: £53,00 The advance sale price only applies to Ticket Shop orders received on or before 01.09.2012. Orders can be placed at the Ticket Shop on or before 04.09.2012. Once the trade fair starts, the box office prices also apply to the Ticket Shop

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

Inventor of Woof Wear boots dies L

ouise Woof who was in her 50s and had MS, died on Thursday 5th July.

In 1981, Louise pioneered the ‘Woof Boot’ – the first brushing boot to be made from neoprene.

This was a major innovation compared to the traditional leather boots available at the time.

From her experience of working on a yard, local girl Louise knew exactly what riders required for the day-to-day handling of horses, which made her invention so suc-

cessful.

With help from agent Tiger Davies, who introduced the boots to the trade, and endorsement from international eventer Ginny Leng, the brand became a household name.

Louise sold the business to Gul International in 1994 for around £1 million.

Woof Wear is now owned by John and Ali Felton who acquired the brand in a management buy-out in 2009.

The Future of Farming A

drive to get more fresh talent into agriculture has been unveiled by Farming Minister Jim Paice.

The Future of Farming Group will look at how to break down barriers preventing more young people from making careers in farming.

Fewer young people are going into agriculture, while other related industries such as manufacturing are struggling to fill high-skilled posts in engineering and science.

“The future of farming is important – and it needs to be addressed right across the sector,” says Jim Paice while unveiling the initiative at a National Federation of Young Farmers event. “As the Green Food Project has demonstrated, the industry offers an important career if we are to continue to feed ourselves sustainably.

“A career in farming isn’t only an option to people who come from

farming families. British farming is highly skilled and if it is to maintain its high standards, we need to ensure that everyone has the right skills, knowledge, and support to take on this challenge.”

The Future of Farming Group will be chaired by David Fursdon, current chair of the South West Rural and Farming Network and former president of the Country Land and Business Association.

“The challenge of producing more food in this country in a sustainable, profitable and affordable way is huge,” says David. “The farming industry will need all its skill and expertise to do so.

“This will mean attracting new blood into agriculture as skilled workers, managers, tenants and owners, and adopting the best methods and business structures.

This group will build on work which is already being carried out within the farming industry.”

Suzanne Wild is Designer and Managing Director at Fuller Fillies.

Walk on the

Wild Side I

wonder what Shakespeare would make of the current debacle centered on the banking industry? The works of William Shakespeare are an accepted insight into the history of the time so I don’t doubt that in the late 16th century the perceived wisdom was that both lending and borrowing were less than desirable.

My Mother held a similar viewpoint. I can still recall the Thursday morning scramble on our street when ‘the man from the provident’ was due; now an established lender but in 1969, to my five-year-old mind at least, it appeared to be some kind of extortion racket. My mother was always quite superior on Thursdays, “If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it.” And for almost 25 years I embraced her thinking.

A degree in fashion wasn’t exactly a guarantee of a job so in 1984 I had my first stab at self-employment, and for the first time I was faced with the prospect of meeting with the bank manager. He was revered and distinguished in those days and I felt humble in his presence. He didn’t authorise the loan but it didn’t matter; I sold my car to get off the ground. A valuable lesson even if it didn’t seem that way at the time.

Fast-forward to 2005 and with solid backgrounds in business consultancy we had quite an arsenal of funding ideas for Fuller Fillies. We decided to distribute via a well-established wholesaler. Their stock holding, which was half of the commitment we had to make to the factories, would fund our whole obligation. Unfortunately a merger shortly after we had made our commitments

brought with it a new voice that demanded higher margins and lower stock holding. We needed the bank…

Our appointed ‘bright young thing’ knew how to read a business plan. When they promoted her six months later, her replacement couldn’t even spell business plan!

I recall our FD talking to him about our ‘import facility’, “we’re going to change it to a short-term loan,” announced cloth-ears, “because you will be in a position to pay it back within a month when the stock sells.” We were rather thinking of continuing beyond the one import of course although it was clearly not worth us trying to educate him. I wrote to his superior, “I could run a psychometric diagnostic and charge you £650 but experience alone tells me he is thick – don’t ever send him back!”

I began to view the banks with disdain; it seems their remit is purely to rake in the money – and if that puts you out of business then so be it… and all the better if you have given director’s guarantees because the sale of your assets will help repay their debt to the government.

The popular theory is that after September, when the debt is repaid, the banks will begin to lend again. Too little, too late I fear. Perhaps ‘the voice of the equestrian industry’ would consider a forum on alternative sources of funding? The lack of funding for good, solidly researched businesses with excellent prospects will ensure that only the ‘same old’ names will be left standing and the Industry will stagnate…And that really wouldn’t be good.

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

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Clippers

MAKING THE MOST OF IT Fred Koeller from Andis answers some very important questions on getting the most out of clippers.

Prim & proper Clippers, although essential to most equine owners are expensive and often a big buy for customers. Ensuring that they are buying the right product is important and certainly an area where retailer knowledge will be required.

EFFECTIVE SELLING Ensuring that staff are correctly prepped and aware of the manufacturer’s advice and guidance for each product is vital. Retailers should work closely with manufacturers to ensure that they are up to speed on new advancements and useful selling information. “We would advise that retailers speak to customers about the quality of the Heiniger brand, knowing its Swiss engineering excellence,” says Susan Goodfellow from Cox Agri. “We also offer a two year warranty and a spare set of blades with every clipper.”

With such a variety of clippers on the market it’s easy to become confused over the ‘type’ of clipper that is necessary. “When purchasing a clipper it is important to clearly understand what you require from the machine,” says Nicky Darling from Wahl. “Customers should consider how many horses need to be clipped, what type of coat they have and how clean it is, how much coat needs to be clipped, what weight and size of clipper is comfortable for the user, what power supply is accessible, is the horse sensitive to clipping

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noise, vibration, or confined spaces. One of the biggest mistakes we see is customers purchasing a trimmer, usually because it is cheaper, and expecting it to be as effective as a large clipper. There are some very clear differences in both looks and capabilities when examining the equipment in the market place.”

Large, heavy duty machines: Ideal for clipping multiple horses, predominantly mains operated with large blades (usually approximately 75mm wide). The clipper is generally much bigger and heavier than other products on the market. Noise level and vibration can be significant with these machines, although they will generally clip through any coat in any condition. Most models of heavy duty clippers require the blades to be tensioned and there can be issues with blades becoming hot. General pricing of these products will start at around £300.00 and go up to around £500.00.

Lightweight clippers: More suited to the single horse owner who wants to clip their horse or pony, or small yard owner. Some of these machines are available as battery powered, thus eliminat-

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

ing the need for a mains power supply. Alternatively some may be powered from a vehicle battery.

Most of these clippers will be quieter and operate with much less vibration, thus reducing stress for both horse and user. The compact design makes them easier to hold and the marginally smaller blade can allow improved precision when clipping legs, elbows and the more difficult to reach areas.

Market leaders in this sector also offer snap-on blade systems to eliminate tensioning and cool running technology so no more hot blades. Power is often reduced in these smaller products so coat type and cleanliness are important considerations. Prices range from around £160.00 to £260.00.

Trimmers: Whether the requirement is to remove a few cat hairs around the chin, trim and tidy the ears or trim fetlocks, face and bridlepaths, there is a trimmer in the market designed to do all these jobs. Trimmers by their nature are less powerful than clippers and the majority are battery powered or cordless. This allows significant freedom and can be less stressful for the horse. Prices range from £10.00 to £140.00.

When and how should blades be oiled?

Blades should be oiled before, during, and after each use. If clipper blades leave streaks or slow down, it is a sure sign they need to be oiled. Brush the loose hair off the blade. Position the clipper so the blade is facing towards the ground to keep the oil from travelling back into the clipper.

Place a few drops of clipper blade oil on the front and side of the clipper blade, where metal rubs metal. Run the clipper for a few seconds. Wipe excess oil off blades with a soft dry cloth.

What things will be checked during a service?

When a clipper is serviced it receives a thorough going over.

A proper servicing will include inspecting the clipper, blade and cord for damage. Make sure that the blade is included, especially if there has been a problem with the clippers. The technician will clean the internal workings of the clipper (hair, grease, dirt), make adjustments and replace worn parts as needed. Depending upon the manufacture and model of clipper, internal lubrication may be required before reassembly. Before being returned to the owner the clipper will be safety checked to make sure there are no shorts allowing electrical current to pass through any exterior metal parts.

How often should blades be sharpened and replaced?

A blade that is well cared for will last easily a year or more between sharpening for most hobbyists. A professional horse groom should be able to do 15 to 20 horses.

The best way to prolong the life of the blade is rooted in proper blade maintenance and usage.

How well you prepare the horse prior to cutting is the key. Bathing the horse prior to the clip is advisable. Regular oiling will flush out hair and grit that is between the upper and lower blade. This will keep the blade sharp and running cooler.

Blades can be re-sharpened several times. The number of times depends on what condition the blade is in. ■

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Heavy duty

Top quality

Extra quiet

Dana Boyd-Miller, the world’s foremost professional horse groomer, uses only the Andis Super 2-Speed detachable blade clipper in her practice. Dana uses the T-84 blade for complete body clipping on a wide range of horses from world class Hunters, Jumpers, and Polo Ponies, to everyday riders.

Dana has this to say about the Andis Super 2-Speed clipper: “Clipping 600-700 horses annually, I have to use a clipper that cuts fast, clean, and is highly reliable. Cutting horses all day long is far less taxing with the Andis Super 2-Speed clipper. I enjoy using a clipper that is lightweight, easy to handle, cool running, and extremely quiet.”

Hot off the factory production line, Heiniger has launched the Saphir Style and Saphir Cord. High quality Swiss engineering and technology meets a fashionable finish to complement the customer’s tack box.

Both feature A5 type detachable blades to allow the depth of cut, with alternative blades, to be changed at any point during clipping and powerful but quiet, low vibration motors which aid clipping of nervous horses.

Whether customers would like to clip cordless with the original Saphir and Saphir Style or save some money but get the same quality engineering with the Saphir Cord, Saphir meets every discerning groomer or owner’s needs.

Conscious of the needs of today’s equine enthusiasts, Wahl offer the Avalon and Adelar within the equine range.

Compact, well balanced and lightweight, both offer quiet, low vibration operation, perfect for use around young or nervous horses.

The Wahl ‘cool running’ Snap-On blade system eliminates the need for blade alignment and tensioning and ensures ease when cleaning, oiling and changing blades.

Avalon operates from a compact battery, offering 2.5 hours of clipping and is fully recharged in just three hours. RRP: £199.99.

The Adelar is quiet and each battery provides 60 minutes operation and effectively removes hair from legs, head, face and ears.

RRP: £98.33.

Andis: +1 8005 589441 www.andis.com

Cox Agri: +44 (0)8456 008081 www.coxagri.com

Wahl: +44 (0)1227 www.wahl.co.uk

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

740555

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Forage & Fibre

Natural

to adapt to so many different changes as it is used to digesting grass during the summer.”

FEEDING THE LAMINITIC

Fibre is an essential part of any equine’s diet, making up 70% of the horse’s energy requirements at rest.

Equestrian Business Monthly spoke to those in the know to find out about the benefits of feeding fibre.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FIBRE “As horses and ponies are grazing animals, hay and grass are essential in the diet, as they provide the fibre necessary to generate energy,” says Rachel Parrott BSc (Hons) at Allen & Page. “Over 70% of the horse’s energy requirements at rest are provided by fibre, so if fibre is lacking in the diet, the horse or pony will start to lose weight.” Fibre feeds are increasing in popularity as owner become aware of their horse’s requires.

Suitable for fizzy or overweight horses and ponies, these feeds provide an essential source of fibre. “Fast Fibre is an excellent feed to keep in stock as it is an ideal fibre source for all types of horses and ponies and is also suitable for those prone to laminitis.

It is barley and molasses free and is ideal for the good doer or for horses that tend to be excitable even on low energy feeds. It can be fed as a partial or complete hay replacement if required and is balanced with essential vitamins and minerals.” Fibre is very important to keep the digestive system healthy and functioning correctly. xxxxxxxxxxxx

WHAT’S ON OFFER

With choice often being down to preference and phrases such as ‘because I’ve always used it’ all the justification that customers need, manufacturers have to work hard to create items that fulfil buyers’ needs. “We use our own home-grown and locally

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sourced conservation grade oat straw,” says Rachel Haigh from HoneyChop. “This is important because it is softer and tends to be more palatable than other straws.

Oat straw also has a lower lignin content which is easier for horses to digest. Using conservation grade oat straw means we commit 10% of our farmed area to create conditions for wildlife to flourish.

Honeychop ensures that every ingredient is as natural as it can be, prepared under quality BETA UFAS NOPS controls. Sourcing only the best quality ingredients from approved suppliers, with full traceability – from the packaged product right back to the field where it was grown.”

For customers looking to make up the level of forage in the horse’s diet without increasing calorie content significantly or over exciting the horse, products with no additives are available. “Most chaff products tend to be straw and molasses based and are often used to bulk out feeds,” says Joanne Smales from ReadiGrass. “ReadiGrass is pure dried grass with nothing added – no straw, molasses or other additives. “ReadiGrass is a very versatile product and can be fed in many different ways. It can be fed in a similar way to chaff or as a complete or partial hay replacer. If perhaps hay is of poor quality or in short supply then ReadiGrass can be used instead to provide the required nutrients and fibre. It can also be used to complement the forage ration of horses on box rest or those with limited grazing or turnout which

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

is so often the case for most horses in the winter.” Due to the natural content of Readigrass, it can be fed throughout the year, even to those that are prone to excitable behaviour or digestive upset.

“Some horses will get digestive upsets – If the horse is fed ReadiGrass throughout the winter the digestive system will not need

Laminitis is one of main causes of lameness and disability amongst the UK’s equine population. Many events can provoke laminitis, but the most common cause among horses in this country is obesity and overeating.

Grass is the main source of dietary sugar for most horses, and for this reason it is important to restrict the laminitic horse’s grazing, particularly in the spring and autumn. Sugars (otherwise known as non-structural carbohydrates) are produced by plants to use for growth via photosynthesis, with any surplus stored as fructans (polymers of fructose molecules) in the leaves and stems and as starch in the grains.

The small intestine is able to digest simple sugars and an amount of starch, but fructans and excess starch pass into the large intestine.

An overload can cause potentially harmful bacteria in the hindgut to

multiply, producing acid that kills off the beneficial bacteria. This releases endotoxins, which, if the lining of the gut is damaged, can enter the bloodstream, activating enzymes in the laminae and triggering laminitis.

Contrary to popular belief amongst horse owners, horses suffering from laminitis should not be starved. It is vital that the horse continues to receive a good level of fibre in order to keep the gut healthy, together with the required intake of vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, horses that are starved are at risk of developing hyperlipeamia, where high levels of fat are released into the bloodstream. To avoid this, owners of laminitic horses should instead feed a diet low in starch and sugar, but still containing high levels of fibre.

Molasses is traditionally added to feeds to improve palatability and to bind the feedstuffs together.

However, as molasses is high in sugar, in high quantities it does not make a suitable addition to the diets of laminitics. Instead, owners of laminitic horses should look to feeds that use a low-sugar molasses extract or are completely molasses-free. Low starch feeds meanwhile contain little or no cereal grains, often with alternative energy sources provided through digestible fibre and oil.

A CHANGE IN ATTITUDES There is a worrying obesity trend among British horses today. In 2010 Blue Cross reported that 40% of the horses taken in were overweight or obese. With some effects, irreversible, the charity launched a scheme: Fat Horse Slim in an attempt to educate owners on the dangers of over feeding. The campaign focuses on encouraging regular weighing of horses and body scoring.

Customers may think that they are being kind to their horses by feeding them bucket loads of feed but the risks can be fatal. Horses and ponies will eat the equivalent of 2% - 2.5% of their bodyweight per day in total, including grazing.

This can be reduced to 1.5% of bodyweight per day to promote weight loss as long as adequate fibre is provided to maintain healthy gut action.

Horses gain weight in exactly the

HAYLAGE VS. HAY

Hoof boots

When the summer is wetter than usual, farmers may have decided that haylage is the way to go. Hay requires plenty of sunny, breezy, drying weather, so if this is inconsistent then haylage may be a better bet.

Haylage requires less drying time and can be baled and wrapped relatively quickly, leaving it less time to be ruined by the weather. Good quality haylage is an excellent fibre source for horses, but can also be quite fragile as it needs to be completely sealed to prevent mould and spores getting in and ruining it. Any split plastic must be patched quickly and care must be taken when stacking, handling and delivering the bales.

Lindsay Thompson from Silvermoor explains the benefits of haylage.

When it comes to feeding forage, hay vs. haylage is a hotly debated subject. These types of forage vary greatly in nutrient content with haylage having a considerably higher nutritional content than hay.

Haylage is closer in matter to the horse’s natural diet of grass, as it is wetter than hay and more palatable.

High quality haylage is typically baled when the moisture content reaches 30-35%. The high moisture content of hay

means that it is more palatable and easily digested.

Haylage is the best forage for horses with dust allergies or breathing disorders as it is considered to be dust free and can ease symptoms including coughing. The high moisture content of haylage makes it an ideal forage choice for veterans as it is more palatable and can make chewing easier.

The high nutritional value of haylage makes it a more popular choice for horse owners due to cost effectiveness. As it contains high levels of fibre, nutrients and vitamins, the amount of hard feed can be reduced – this further reduces the cost per day of feeding.

Bulk buying is another way to reduce cost. As haylage is stored in sealed bales it can be stored outside, whereas hay must be stored indoors/under cover.

Haylage is not a heating forage, but as it is a higher quality, less must be fed in accordance. When feeding, an important fact to consider is that the input of feed must equal the output of energy. If these are off kilter then weight gain and excitable or ‘fizzy’ behaviour is sure to follow. This is the case with any feedstuff including haylage and hard feeds.

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Forage & Fibre

same way as humans, by consuming more calories than required for the work being done. This could be fairly easily done by a well-meaning horse owner and is often a matter of ignorance or misjudgement: the horse owner could be unaware of the nutritional content of the feed they have chosen and the fact that it may be unsuitable. They may also overestimate the amount of work their horse does. The packaging may read ‘for horses in moderate to hard work’ and the horse owner’s idea of moderate to hard

most weekends. The difference in energy requirements is huge. If the metabolism of the horse is also taken into account – for instance native ponies are frequently very good doers and require far less food – it is easy to see how a horse could get fat.

One of the most effective weapons to win the war on equine obesity is feed helplines. At the forefront of education and information, these services are excellent for helping people understand the true dietary needs of their horses. By asking for the horse’s body weight

“In 2005 big bale hay was worth £33 per tonne, this year it is fetching more like £80 per tonne” work may be very different from the feed manufacturer’s idea.

For instance, the horse owner could believe that hacking four times a week and doing dressage a couple of weekends a month may be moderate to hard work, but the feed manufacturer may class moderate to hard work as hacking twice a week, schooling for an hour three times a week and novice level eventing or hunting

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and work load, the nutritionists can help the owner understand the importance of correct and regular weight and condition measurements as well as the true definitions of light, moderate and hard work.

Feed retailers are also part of this, so providing accurate information about each of the brands and ranges stocked is important. Retailers should ensure that if asked

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for advice they are armed with the correct information – and this provides an excellent opportunity for further sales – if the customer does not know their horse’s body weight it is high time they bought a weigh tape!

HARVEST TIME Once again this year the harvest season has been marred by unseasonably damp weather, affecting hay harvest across the country and limiting the hay available to the consumer. Rising prices may initially look like a good thing for the farmer – with more profits made – however, if supplies cannot fulfil demand then profits are lost as customers seek alternatives for their animals this winter.

It is interesting to track how prices for hay have changed over the years. DEFRA publishes a chart of hay prices every year, measured in pounds per tonne from the field.

In 2005 big bale hay was worth £33 per tonne, but this year it is fetching more like £80 per tonne and rising. Baled meadow hay

has gone from £44 per tonne in 2005 to £115 per tonne in January of this year and incredibly baled seed hay has risen from £55 per tonne to a whopping £142 per tonne! These prices are passed directly onto the consumer, forcing them to pay more. If a farmer has managed to harvest and bale some good quality hay this year the demand is high and prices correspond. However, consumers will be looking around at alternative fibre sources for their animal so the balance is a fragile one. Retailers must be sure to stock plenty of forage.

As high temperature dried short chop forages are consistent they can offer better value for money as less is wasted. Using two or three kilograms alongside other forages not only makes the hay last longer but research has shown that it is beneficial to the horse as it allows him to move between forages, exhibiting more of his natural browsing behaviour. Why not put up displays using large tub trugs and buckets showing how much short chop a horse owner can feed? Many horse owners are

Forage & Fibre

conditioned into thinking that the ‘bucket’ feed should be small so they are often worried about feeding more. What they don’t realise is that fibre feeds are safe to feed by the bucketful – think of them as an additional hay net not a ‘bucket’ feed.

SUPER FIBRE Horses should ideally be fed a bare minimum of 1% of their body weight in ad lib forage daily – with 1.5% to 2% preferable dependent on the type of horse. However, many horses will require additional sources of fibre alongside traditional sources such as grasses, hay, haylage or straw.

Such animals may have increased requirements for energy due to their higher workload, may be a poor doer requiring additional calories without becoming too ‘hot-headed’ or may even be an older horse struggling to chew or digest long-fibre forage. These animals may benefit from the addition of a feed containing ‘super fibre’ to their ration.

Fibre can be found in lots of feed materials to varying degrees.

Horses are able to use this fibre to produce energy, and the more digestible the fibre, the more easily this process can occur. Fibre consists of three main substances: namely cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The organic compound lignin – which gives plants their rigidity – cannot be digested by the horse. Better quality, early cut hay does not contain as high a level of lignin (as lignification occurs over time) and will thus be more

digestible. ‘Super’ fibre sources such as sugar beet however are considered even more digestible as the type of fibre they contain is more easily broken down in the gut and lacks the presence of lignin.

Sugar beet pulp, soya hulls (the seed coats of soybean seeds) and sometimes legumes such as alfalfa can be referred to as ‘super fibres’, and are highly digestible. Being more easily fermented in the gut, they allow for high levels of volatile fatty acids to be released, thus generating good levels of slow-

releasing energy. Being higher in calories than most forages, but lower in calories, starch and sugar than cereal grains, these ‘super fibres’ can be fed as a large part of the fibre portion to provide energy without the digestive problems that increasing the cereal ration may cause.

As well as providing a healthy source of energy, feeding super fibres is a great way of maintaining digestive health, buffering the acid in the stomach and helping to create a more neutral pH. These types of fibre will also help sustain

fluid and electrolyte levels in the hindgut – especially important in preventing depletion during exercise. Super fibres can therefore benefit many types of performance horse, particularly those working in a mainly aerobic fashion, such as endurance horses. Super fibres will also assist horses that cannot tolerate a diet too high in starch.

As sugar beet has been found to increase the digestibility of other forages fed alongside, it may also make a particularly useful addition to the diet where the forage provided is of lesser quality. ■

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

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FOLIAGE & FIBRE PRODUCTS PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Fibre for all

Conditioning feed

Fast Fibre is barley and molasses free and is ideal for the good doer or for horses that tend to be excitable even on low energy feeds. It can be fed as a partial or complete hay replacement if required and is balanced with essential vitamins and minerals.

For horses with higher energy requirements the Allen & Page Barley & Molasses Free Range caters for all. By moving up and down the range customers can make sure horses or ponies are getting the right amount of energy as needs fluctuate throughout the year.

The Barley & Molasses Free Range includes Fast Fibre, Cool & Collected, Ride & Relax, Veteran Vitality, Calm & Condition and Power & Performance.

A super fibre conditioning feed, Fibre-Beet is a formulated blend containing all the benefits of the original Speedi-Beet product with added high quality Alfalfa for optimum condition, and to provide quality protein for muscle tone and function.

Ideal for horses prone to digestive upsets and very palatable for fussy eaters, Fibre-Beet has added biotin for hoof quality and is approved by The Laminitis Trust. Soaked and ready to feed in only 45 minutes in cold water or 15 minutes in hot water.

It is available from all leading wholesalers in easy to handle 20kg bags and costs around £10.90.

Allen & Page: +44 (0)1362 822900 www.allenandpage.com

British Horse Feeds: +44 (0)1765 680300 www.britishhorsefeeds.com

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Hay alternative

Home grown

HaySoft is a quality, bagged haylage that is produced using the highest quality grass. The premium HaySoft haylage is dust free, so no soaking is required. HaySoft has recently released a chaff range, giving horse owners the option to feed additional forage in hard feed. The two chaffs in the range are HaySoft Hay Chaff and HaySoft Oat Chaff, both of which are extremely high quality and can be fed in place of hay – perfect for horses that are away from home competing. The traditional oat chaff is high in nutrients but low in calories making it the perfect way to ensure that good-doers receive enough forage without gaining excessive weight.

The Honeychop range is different from any other. The company uses home-grown and locally sourced conservation grade oat straw as standard rather than wheat or barley straws, which means it commits 10% of its farmed area to create conditions for wildlife to flourish. Honeychop ensures that every ingredient is as natural as it can be, prepared under quality BETA UFAS NOPS controls. Sourcing only the best quality ingredients from approved suppliers, with full traceability – from the packaged product right back to the field where it was grown.

The company currently produces five chaffs which include: Original, Plus Garlic, Plus Herb, Plus Apple and Chopped Oat Straw.

Haysoft: +44 (0)1277 375647 www.haysoft.co.uk

Honeychop: +44 (0)1359 230823 www.honeychop.com

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Quality assured

Slowly does it

Forage is the most important part of the horse’s diet and this is why at HorseHaylage we are committed to manufacturing the highest quality forage, giving you the retailer confidence to sell a really good product you and your customers can trust.

We nurture the product at every stage from planting the seed, right through to packaging the end product. HorseHaylage is available in two varieties to suit all needs. The convenient bale size and weight makes HorseHaylage popular for the one or two horse owner and the competitor.

The highly compressed bale size is extremely storage efficient and is available on pallets of 56.

Trident Supabeet is a cost effective, flexible and traceable British feed available in 25kg bags. Highly palatable and suitable for feeding to cattle, sheep and goats as well as horses, this molassed sugar beet pellet is high in digestible fibre and sugar and releases energy steadily over time. Ideal for promoting gut health, suitable for fussy eaters and horses and ponies with poor condition or digestion. It is easy to use, the only preparation required is the soaking of supabeet for a minimum of 24 hours before use.

HorseHaylage: +44 (0)1562 770088 www.horsehaylage.com

Trident Feeds: +44 (0)1733 422214 www.tridentfeeds.co.uk

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EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

PRODUCT

Suitable for all Mollichaff Extra is a high fibre, molassed chaff combining high quality, chopped wheat straw blended with a lighter coating of molasses and a broad spectrum of mineral and vitamins.

It also contains limestone and salt, and the added minerals and trace elements are copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, iron and iodine.

It is dust-extracted to help maintain a healthy respiratory system.

Each kilogramme of Mollichaff Extra provides at least 25% of the daily trace element and vitamin requirements of a 500kg horse.

Together these benefit the condition of all horses and ponies, especially breeding and young stock and those on a low concentrate/high forage diet.

HorseHage: +44 (0)1803 527257 www.horsehage.co.uk PRODUCT

Grass replacement Made exclusively from British pastures, the unique low temperature drying process of ReadiGrass removes the water but leaves the fragrant grass aroma, vibrant colour and most importantly the high nutrient value of fresh grass. This gives a feed that is more nutritious than hay yet still contains the digestible fibre essential for every horse’s health. ReadiGrass can be fed to complement or completely replace your horse’s current forage ration making it the ideal choice to maintain weight, add a little sparkle and relieve the boredom of stabled horses through the darkest of winter months.

Readigrass: +44 (0) 1302 700220 www.friendshipestates.co.uk PRODUCT

Spoilt for choice If you’re looking for a reliable, high quality forage look no further than silvermoor haylage. Silvermoor is well stocked to offer a continuous and reliable supply throughout the year protecting the horse’s diet from unsettling changes. Each pack has been nutritionally analysed to ensure it meets the high quality standards silvermoor pride itself on.

The three varieties mean there is a haylage suitable for all horses and ponies from high performance competition horses through to laminitis prone ponies. Silvermoor lite has received fantastic feedback since its launch in October, designed to suit good doers and laminitics it has proved invaluable this season with the abundance of grass.

Silvermoor: +44 (0)1665 602 587 www.silvermoor.com

Bedding & Stable Hygiene RELEVANT RESEARCH Producers of shavings for 12 years, Bedmax has dedicated time to research in order to understand what it is that customers want from their bedding. Managing director, Tim Smalley explains the company’s findings.

The latest bedding surveys

by BETA and Horse & Hound (October and November 2011) indicate that shavings are now the most popular type of bedding in the £400m UK horse bedding market. Our own surveys of customers tell us why – and what their priorities are when choosing the best bedding.

Squeaky

CLEAN

Today’s customer priorities

As the wet summer continues, customers may be spending more than usual on bedding, and neglecting seasonal tasks such as disinfecting stables and rubber mats. With hygiene such an important factor in horse healthcare, it is important for industry professionals to remind owners of the need to retain a clean and happy environment for their horses.

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS In an ever-increasing ‘green’ world, taking steps to reduce damage to the environment and increase efficiency is an everyday task. “Eco ComfyBed is a completely natural horse bedding produced from seasoned hardwood and softwood fibres,” says Mel Western from Eco ComftyBed.. “As an alternative to shavings, wood fibre is a slightly heavier bedding providing a firm and supportive base which hardly moves without reducing absorbency and improves economy due to less wastage.”

Reducing the amount of waste products or the amount of shavings needed per horse is a constant battle for equine owners. With such a selection available, making an informed decision can be challenging.

Additional properties such as environmentally friendly packaging may sway the opinions of some. “Not only is the product good for the environment, but so is the packaging which is made using 100% recycled plastic,”

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says Mel. “Listening to feedback from our stockists, our improved bags are now stronger and more manageable for the end user.” Others have followed suit.

“We have found ways of using less material in our Polythene packaging without compromising on its strength, durability and overall presentation,” says Rachel Lambert from Ardent Wood Shavings. “The Polythene packaging is also recyclable.”

Michele Griffiths from Verdo Horse Bedding agrees. “We believe that horse owners in the UK are looking to reduce their stable costs and also be greener to the environment too,” she says.

Many shavings now offer a blend of materials for ultimate efficiency. “Safemix Equestrian bedding is a unique product due to its blend qualities; it consists of two types of successful equestrian bedding materials namely, shredded soft woodfibre and the highest quality wood shavings,” says Rachel.

Aside from ‘politically correct’ bedding, some brands also offer additional health benefits within their products. One particular

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

brand offers an anti viral and anti bacterial bedding that protects against spores. When used in conjunction with other products on the market, customers can reduce the risks without any additional physical work.

“Consumers can be confident in the knowledge that while they go about their normal routine the KBF99 products will actively kill any potentially harmful bacteria, fungus and algae found in the stable environment,” says Stacy Coates of Vale Brothers. “The products will therefore reduce the risk of horses contracting diseases including Strangles, Ringworm and E.Coli.” Infectious diseases can spread between horses like wild fire and can be hugely detrimental to working establishments such as riding schools, event venues and dealer’s yards. Ensuring that stables are cleaned regularly with appropriate disinfectants that will not harm the horse should be a compulsory part of equine management. “The bonus to using KBF99 products is that there are no chemicals involved,” says Stacy. “Our products contain

Over the past 18 months we have received survey responses from over 4,000 horse owners telling us what their top priorities are when choosing bedding. The overwhelming priority is the health and wellbeing of the horse, but today’s owners are clearly more cost conscious than before: Dust in bedding is a major cause of respiratory disease among stabled horses, and a dust free bed was the most important factor by some margin.

Cost emerged for the first time as a top-buying driver, but customers understand the need to balance cost, quality and value.

Absorbency remains number three after ten years of surveys.

Protection for hooves and joints is a priority. Owners put a premium on comfort and cushioning.

Quality and consistency are still crucial.

Ease of use is important to hardworking owners.

Value is different to cost Bedmax is running three independent trials in yards around the UK, comparing the performance and cost of large flake pine shavings against other branded and unbranded shavings.

So far, the results show: Purpose made, dust free shavings come top in dust levels, comfort and quality.

Smaller, ‘dust extracted’ shavings still contain high levels of dust.

Larger flake, purpose-made shavings can last significantly longer than by-product shavings.

At retail prices, large pine shavings perform better and are cheaper to use overall than smaller shavings.

In the present climate – economic and meteorological – owners clearly need top value. But when it comes to choosing bedding, the vast majority of owners clearly still put their horses’ welfare first.

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Bedding & Stable Hygiene RESPIRATORY HEALTH

an additive which is introduced to the plastic at the production stage. This means that KBF99 products do not release any chemicals making it totally clean and safe. This also prevents bacteria building up immunity or resistance.”

Chopped straw and shaving mixes can help to save cost while discouraging horses from tucking in to their beds, however Michele feels that these types of bedding may be limited. “This year may be a particularly difficult year for straw bedding type crops due to the amount of rain fall,” she says.

With the wettest April to June on record, followed by more heavy rain to come, there has been widespread and repeated flooding.

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An alternative or addition to common types of bedding such as shavings, straw or newspaper, many customers opt for rubber matting. Providing an extra layer between the concrete floor and the horse, the matting can help keep stables warm, avoid nasty scrapes, save money and assist those with respiratory complaints. Available in a range of thicknesses and sizes, the mats will feature an anti slip pattern on the upside and deep ridges on the reverse to assist with the draining of urine and other liquid that seeps through to the floor.

Cleaning rubber mats can be a daunting task as due to the weight of them – roughly 40kg per 6’ x 4’ size mat – it can be more than a one-person job. However, a regular clean will help increase the life span of the mats and ensure that bacteria aren’t breeding underneath. “Mats can be cleaned using any disinfectant that you are happy to use around your horse, however no bleach or abrasives,” says Julia Tabiner of Equimat.

Cleaning both sides of the mats is important to achieve a clean and hygienic stable. “It’s a good idea to number the mats with a felt tipped pen to ensure you lay them back in the same order,” says Julia. Ensuring correct placement while drying will save you hassle later. “Don’t leave the mats in strong sunlight to dry and let them

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT

Ridding a property of a pest problem is not just a legal requirement, but also an essential part of hygienic management for any business. Nic Blaszkowicz of PelGar talks about the importance of spotting a problem.

How quickly can a rodent problem spread?

Rat and mouse infestations can develop very rapidly. Female rats will on average carry five litters a year with an average of around eight pups per litter, which, in ideal conditions, can reach sexual maturity themselves in just five to six weeks. House mice reproduce at a similar rate, though as the name suggests live indoors so may have more favourable conditions to increase their numbers more readily. It is easy to see therefore how numbers can very easily escalate to problem levels.

How should an infestation be dealt with?

When an infestation is identified it is important to act quickly. It is so much easier to get rid of a small infestation than it is a plague.

Rats and mice will not only feed on and contaminate feed, but also cause considerable damage and spread disease. While sometimes using of rodenticides is a daunting proposition, it is often the most effective route to control. Not only that but it is relatively simple and more cost effective to do yourself. Act quickly and most small infestations can be cleared up in just a few weeks.

What advice can you give property owners to avoid reoccurring problems?

Once you have managed to get rid of an infestation there are a few steps that can be taken to make the environment less attractive and accessible to rodents. Keep feed in metal bins, or at least keep the feed off of the floor away from walls. Clear up any spillages to reduce the amount of food available to rats and mice.

Limiting the amount of free water by turning off taps and fixing leaks will also help. Clear away rubbish, empty fed sacks and stored goods from the side of stables as this also helps to limit the places rats and mice like to travel and live.

Taking these steps will not necessarily keep rodents away for good, but it will help to reduce the scale of infestations and allow you to identify problems more quickly and deal with them more efficiently.

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

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Bedding & Stable Hygiene dry flat,” she says. “Leaning them against a wall to dry might result in them developing a kink if left for too long, something which will be a pain to flatten when you put them back in.”

Since the domestication of horses, owners have been increasing stable time dramatically. Naturally left to tackle the elements and terrain minus rugs or shoes, horses are fairly robust and stabling them for too long can cause problems. A horse’s respiratory system is adapted for its natural environment: open pasture and limitless fresh air so restricting this is unnatural, especially when the horse’s breathing zone is surrounded by bedding and forage containing ammonia, dust and fungal spores.

The use of rubber matting alone, along with items such as hayracks can assist respiratory health.

“The Hay Bar is recommended by veterinary professionals as the feeding position slows down the intake aiding digestion and helping to alleviate cases of colic,” says Raylia Dugmore of Hay Bar. “The position also helps to keep hay seeds out of the eyes and

22

ensures that sinuses are draining correctly. As the bar is fitted slightly above the floor it also ensures correct ventilation.”

TIDY TOOLS Mucking out a stable can require a range of tools, especially when dealing with multiple stables or different types of bedding. While tools are fairly robust and have been designed to work under strain from lifting heavy bedding, modern technology has seen the creation of tools that work with the user to make the task easier.

“Our Ergonomic Shavings-Fork has been specifically designed to reduce the strain on the user’s back when mucking out,” says Rebecca Ball from Eazitools.

“Ideal for cutting through either dry or wet bedding, it features an extra grip handle and doublecranked shaft to minimise leverage and improve posture, as well as specially sharpened and rounded prongs, which lift and cup with additional ease.” Another company that has spent time developing its range is Speedskip.

“Extensive and in-depth field

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trials led to the ergonomically designed Speedskip which we see today,” says Elaine Pickering of Speedskip. “At first it was challenging to introduce a product which had a shorter rake as people were used to only using a long rake. This was because historically, there was no other option available. However, the shorter rake has proved to release stress on wrist, elbow and shoulder joints, and to reduce back strain.”

Customer feedback is a vital part of growing any range and

Eazitools know this. “We always listen to customer feedback and recently introduced a plastic range of tools, which are even more lightweight as well as a longer version of the Rag-Fork which is more suitable for taller users and further helps prevent back strain.

In addition to this, we’re always looking for better ways to help retailers display our products in store by constantly improving product packaging to make it more informative and providing eye catching P.O.S stands and marketing material.” ■

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

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BEDDING & STABLE HYGIENE PRODUCTS PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Special blend

Quick composting

Safemix Equestrian Bedding, produced by Arden Wood Shavings, is a blend of specially selected woodshavings and shredded soft woodfibre. It is proving very popular with all equestrian disciplines and is endorsed and used by Robert Smith for all his horses. This consistently high quality, affordable bedding solution is ultra-clean, soft to the touch and due to its fibrous nature, provides a safe footing for stabled horses. Safemix has exceptional absorbency properties so that bedding stays drier for longer. It undergoes meticulous screening and sanitisation, as well as two thorough dust-extraction processes. Easy to muck out, Safemix does not cling to manes, tails and rugs. Available nationwide. Opportunities available for new stockists.

Aubiose, the original hemp bedding, differs from other hemp brands as it boasts a consistently high quality product. From a retailerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view, it offers a higher profit margin than other brands, and is available from most wholesalers, if it is more appropriate to order by the pallet or bale. The company also has active sales support for the retailer through advertising, advice and open days. Aubiose is virtually dust free and is ideal for use in stables. It can help prevent respiratory problems as well as helping those who already suffer.

The crops are also grown without the use of pesticides and hemp is composted quicker than other bedding, keeping muck heap size to a minimum.

Arden Wood Shavings: +44 (0)1675 443 888 www.ardenwoodshavings.co.uk

Aubiose: +44 (0)7739 165083 www.aubiose.co.uk

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Predominately pine

Ultra safe

Virtually dust free, Bedmax is a completely natural bedding with no additives and is the original shaving made specifically for the purpose of bedding all stabled horses.

Absorbent and extremely easy to use, Bedmax is made in controlled conditions ensuring the same high quality in every bag. Screened to remove dust that causes respiratory problems the flakes are designed to produce a deeper more aerated bed, increasing drainage, and offering far more cushioning for the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feet and joints.

The shavings are made predominantly from British Pine.

Bedmax has a Royal Warrant of appointment to Her Majesty The Queen, for the supply of shavings to the Royal Stud at Sandringham.

BedSoft bedding is a high quality, dust-free chopped straw bedding that contains the bio-security treatment, Trus-STEED. Trus-STEED helps to reduce the instances of bacteria, viruses and infections within animal bedding while maintaining a pleasant aroma and repelling insects. This is an ideal bedding for horses that are regularly away from home at shows, or at busy yards.

The fragranced treatment also helps to discourage bed eating.

BedSoft bedding is packaged into bagged bales making in easy to store at home and at shows.

The available products in the BedSoft range are: BedSoft Original, BedSoft Bio, BedSoft Blend and BedSoft BioPlus.

Bedmax: +44 (0)1668 213467 www.bedmaxshavings.com

Bedsoft: +44 (0)1277 375647 www.bedsoft.co.uk

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Suitable solutions

Lightening the load

The Black Mat is a cost effective stable mat that offers a plethora of features, it is made from top quality, custom designed 100% rubber compound, which has an anti-slip surface and ribbed underside designed to aid drainage.

The mats are durable and hardwearing, and lie flat on slightly uneven ground. The custom design makes the stable more hygienic and dust particle intake is greatly reduced in comparison to other forms of bedding.

The Black Mat will significantly reduce mucking out time and soiled bedding. It also provides a safer environment for the horse, as it protects against stable injuries, and also acts as an insulator.

When it comes to moving bedding the Twin Wheel Stable Barrow is a winner. With an enormous 200 litre capacity it is superbly balanced for easy tipping and steel centred roller bearing wheels mean that it is a dream to push. Available from Earlswood Supplies in either assembled or unassembled form this quality wheelbarrow at a very economical cost is sure to be a certain seller this autumn. Contact the company now to become a stockist of the wide range of stable equipment, tools, hardware and electric fencing.

The Black Mat Company: +44 (0)1536 513456 www.theblackmat.co.uk

Earlswood Supplies: +44 (0)8450 171351 www.earlswood-supplies.com

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BEDDING & STABLE HYGIENE PRODUCTS PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Something different

Helping hand

Brought to you from one of the UK’s leading suppliers of alternative animal bedding, easibed is a break through in dust free wood fibre equine bedding. Made from clean recycled wood, easibed provides a comfortable, free-draining and economical bed for horses to live on and a healthy environment for horse lovers to work in.

And now easibed has been joined by a sister product – easichick for people with hens at home.

Also made from clean recycled white wood, easichick is organically treated making it bio-secure.

Available in 10kg bales, easichick is an ideal product to add value to your bottom line and is proving popular with the growing poultry market.

The Ergonomic Shavings-Fork has been specially designed by experts to reduce the strain on the user’s back when mucking out. Ideal for cutting through dry or wet bedding, it features an extra grip handle and double-cranked shaft to minimise leverage and improve posture, as well as specially sharpened and rounded prongs, which lift and cup with additional ease. The prongs also curve at the back to help sift shavings and reduce waste. Exceptionally lightweight whilst featuring a high-tensile steel shaft for extra durability, it’s a must for any yard!

RRP: £26.99. Available to buy direct or from leading wholesalers.

Other tools in the eazitools Equestrian range include the award winning Rag-Fork.

Easibed: +44 (0)1613 702360 www.easirange.co.uk

Eazitools: +44 (0)1427 884394 www.eazitools.com

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Environmentally friendly

Antibacterial options

An all-natural, eco-friendly alternative to shavings, ComfyBed is a high quality wood fibre horse bedding that is both economical and practical. Produced from seasoned hardwood and softwood fibres, ComfyBed is virtually dust-free meaning it is great for horses that suffer from RAO (COPD) and those that require a clean, dust-free environment. Designed to create a firm and supportive bed without reducing absorbency, ComfyBed hardly moves with horses on it which saves time whilst mucking out and reduces wastage. Packaged in substantial 25kg bales, ComfyBed offers value for money and comes from a reliable and completely recycled wood source.

Equimat has recognised the need for a clean and hygienic stable and has developed a new and innovative anti-bacterial mat offering even more protection. Equimat Plus uses Silver Ion technology to safely destroy the bacteria which cause infections. Silver is a natural antibacterial that works by killing bacteria, fungi and yeast by interfering with the metabolism necessary for respiration of these microbes. Equimat Plus (available in a clean and fresh shade of green) is supplied in 28mm supersoft thickness to give the horse the ultimate in comfort and protection. Equimat Plus could prove especially beneficial for horse with injuries or on box rest.

ComfyBed: +44 (0)1202 593601 www.ecocomfybed.co.uk

Equimat: +44 (0)1536 513456 www.equimat.co.uk

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Light work

A helping hand

Equine Speedskip offer an innovative stable product that is quick and easy to use, and minimises the amount of bedding or arena surface that can be lost during the process. The specially designed rake is excellent at removing only the manure, and the skip with its large holding capacity means less trips to the wheelbarrow. The Equine Speedskip is an essential piece of stable equipment. It is a quality British made product and comes in five colours: black, blue, green, pink and purple. RRP: £26.50.

The variety of tools to clean out stables has increased considerably over the last few years, in response to the growth of new types of bedding.

Although the Fyna-Lite Shavings fork is still the most popular choice, other tools in the company’s extensive range are becoming more popular. People are now using forks specific to their type of bedding, such as the innovative Rubber Matting fork and the Multi Mucka range, which is designed to work on different types of bedding. The company offers a product suitable for all bedding types, which is a unique achievement.

Fyna-Lite products are available from all good equestrian distributors. Contact the company If you require further information or a catalogue.

Equine Speedskip: +44 (0)1989 769435 www.equinespeedskip.com

Fyna-Lite: +44 (0)1789 764848 www.fynalite.co.uk

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BEDDING & STABLE HYGIENE PRODUCTS PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Respiratory assistance

Brush up

Dust and spores are the enemy and so a dust free stable is very important. Hay Bar will contain the forage and help to stop cross contamination with the bedding. Feeding position and keeping the environment clean is essential. Hay Bar is widely recommended by the veterinary profession to help alleviate some of the problems found in caring for a horse with RAO (COPD).

Hay Bar is designed with hygiene and safety paramount. It is manufactured from HDPE which is a robust material which cleans easily and quickly returns to its brand new appearance. It is widely used in veterinary hospitals, not only because of the feeding position but because it also aids hygiene.

Herbies is the sole importer of the fantastic Quickie brooms which make sweeping up a breeze!

The super-lightweight Quickie Super Bulldozer broom has a patented TightGrip bracket ensuring that the handle never comes loose. Durable with a longer length handle and a superb flick-action, it really is the best broom by a yard – it even comes with a five-year guarantee!

Also available, the Wheelbarrow Booster increases the capacity of a wheelbarrow by 300%. An elasticated fitting will fit to almost any barrow, saving trips to the muckheap and preventing hay and bedding blowing over the yard.

Hay Bar: +44 (0)1723 882434 WWW.haybar.co.uk

Herbies Yard Supplies: +44 (0)7876 741349 www.herbiesyardsupplies.co.uk

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Small and mighty

Extra absorbent

Littlemax shavings are produced specifically for horse owners who prefer a small flake shaving. The shavings are dust free, very durable and absorbent and easy to use. Littlemax is produced from primarily British pine, cut specifically for shavings and not as a bi-product.

Once cut, the shavings are dried to a controlled moisture level and screened to remove dust. The shavings offer the anti-bacterial properties of pine. Extensive stable trials have been conducted with all sectors of the equine industry and horse owners, who took part, liked the way it looked in the stable and praised its quality, low dust levels, ease of use, and absorbency Littlemax branded in distinctive in 20kg green and cream bags is available throughout the UK.

PelletBeds is the new super absorbent, eco-friendly, equine pellet bedding made from natural wheat, rape and miscanthus straw.

The pellets are made for bedding and offer superior absorbency, low dust and compost quickly. PelletBeds offer an advantage over wood pellets, as they do not require watering before use. They say this is because wood pellets are primarily made for fuel, from sawdust; so are harder and will become dusty when they breakdown, hence water has to be added, which further reduces the absorbency. Pellet Beds source all feedstock in Britain and believe products not only function better, but will reduce the carbon ‘hoof’ print as trees are not felled to produce their bedding.

Littlemax: +44 (0)1668 213467 www.littlemaxshavings.com

Pellet Beds: +44 (0)1789 761333 www.pelletbeds.com

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Continuous Infection Control

Used by professionals

Stables, horseboxes and trailers are excellent for transporting and sheltering horses from the elements, unfortunately, the warm moist conditions are also an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and fungi. Microcleanse is lethal to 99.999% of all bacteria and viruses. Microcleanse kills dangerous microbes 50% more efficiently than alternative treatments. Left to dry naturally, Microcleanse leaves an invisible Protective Barrier on any surface it comes in contact with. This barrier remains deadly to microbes 24 hours a day, seven days a week – for up to 90 days per application!

1 x 5 Litre tub makes 55 Litres of solution. RRP: £55, Trade: £25.81+VAT (Min order: 8 Units).

Plevin is a family-owned company best known for the Snowflake and Woodpecker brands. Plevin understands that bedding is an important part of horse health and wellbeing, which is why the company is committed to producing sustainable, high-quality bedding that is 100% softwood, dust extracted and manufactured to the highest possible standard. The equestrian products are subjected to rigorous quality control checks. Plevin is the exclusive bedding supplier to several prestigious equestrian events included trailblazers, Hickstead and the Plevin British Showjumping Scope Festival. The company also supplies bedding to Team GB Olympic showjumpers Ben Maher and Matthew Wright.

Pro Mats: +44 (0)121 308 6662 www.pro-mats.co.uk

Plevin: +44 (0)8707 500805 www.plevinproducts.co.uk

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LAUNCH IT PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Safety first

New to the UK

The Box System from Stable-Safe provides a cost effective, permanent solution for stall safety, maintenance, sanitation and upkeep whilst giving as much as 40% savings in bedding. Manufactured from 6mm shatter-proof polypropylene it fits any stable. Totally sealed around the perimeter it does away with the need for banking significantly reducing labour, materials and dust. Greater safety is inherent, as the robust material absorbs impact from low level kicking; a contributory factor in damaged hocks, stress fractures and Laminitis. Curved panels almost entirely eliminate the risk of a horse becoming cast.

Polypropylene is simple to clean and repels bacterial growth. The system eliminates the problematic interface between floor and wall reducing the possibility of infection.

Equibed is new for this summer following the completion of its brand new State-of-the-art plant Equibed is a stable mate for Equisorb and both products will be sold through www.horsebedding.co.uk, which is shortly to be an e-commerce site where both products can be purchased on-line.

The purpose-made shaving uses a smaller and finer flake than has previously been associated with purpose-made shavings.

The finer flake has an improved absorbency and an increased level of biodegradability ultimately providing better composting in the muckheap.

Equibed is fully dust extracted and the bedding is palletised in combinations of 42, 48, or 54 x 20kgs bales.

The joint use of Equisorb and Equibed is an effective bedding combination. The bales are not mixed, but users are encouraged to use both due to the advantages each provides the other, however this in no way detracts from the fact that either product can be used on its own.

Stable Safe: +44 (0)7500 091650 john@stable-safe.com PRODUCT

Improve Biosecurity With diseases such as Strangles affecting the equine population horse owners have a part to play in the prevention and control of disease. Reducing the risks is now easy with the new KBF99 range of feed and stable equipment which incorporates the KBF99 additive to actively kill bacteria, fungus and mycotoxins*; improving biosecurity.

The products are chemical free and can reduce harmful bacteria and fungus.

Prices start from ÂŁ5.99. The KBF99 additive is effective for a minimum of three years and all products feature a best before date.

A KBF99 grooming range is also available. * Testing was conducted at Coventry University and effectively killed 99% of the bacteria test culture (Strangles, Ringworm and E.Coli).

Vale Brothers: +44 (0)1239 614648 www.kbf99.co.uk PRODUCT

Economical options Verdo Horse Bedding is a wood pellet bedding manufactured in the UK, using locally sourced soft virgin timber. With two plants, one in Hampshire and the other in Grangemouth, each produce 100,000 tonnes per year. Verdo believes that horse owners in the UK are looking for economical, dust free bedding, as an alternative to expensive wood shavings. Also, the company believes many horse owners are experiencing difficulties in sourcing enough shavings at a reasonable price for their stable requirements. Shavings at the cheaper end of the price list are of lower quality and often packed less densely. Verdo wood pellets are completely natural.

Verdo: +44 (0)1264 342 009 www.verdorenewables.co.uk

Horse Bedding: +44 (0) 1467 585973 www.horsebedding.co.uk

Rug care

a 17kg capacity machine for rugs.

Even if you can get a rug into a domestic machine, it won’t clean properly and with all the belts and buckles it will create an out-ofbalance load. A domestic washer will simply shake itself to bits in no time like this. Commercial washers are designed up to 15 heavy loads every day for many years; domestic machines are only designed for a few, much smaller loads per week.”

RUG REPAIR

up Scrubbing

Rugs are a fundamental yet expensive part of the equine wardrobe, and have to endure whatever the weather, and horse, can throw at them. Proper care and attention is therefore essential to ensure their effectiveness and longevity. Professional rug washing companies can be found across the UK, and some retailers are seizing the opportunity this presents to enhance their services provided.

T

hough there are a number of good products on the market that enable the customer to clean and repair their rugs at home, from a practical perspective this can sometimes be difficult, as large damp rugs are heavy and hard to handle. Finding a suitable place to dry them is also tricky – for example the excess moisture from wet rugs can rot leather so hanging them in a tack room is not a good idea.

The metal fittings on rugs as well as excess hair and dirt can damage

28

domestic washing machines, and can often invalidate the machine’s warranty. The weight of rugs is also an issue, and for this reason, commercial machines – which empty by gravity and not by a pump – can be the best solution, particularly for larger or heavily soiled turnout rugs.

Using a professional rug washing company may at first seem like an expensive option, but as well as being time and labour saving guarantees that the proper equipment and products are used,

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

whilst also offering the chance to utilise repairing and re-proofing services at the same time. Many equine retailers are joining forces with professional rug washers to enhance their services, acting as a drop off, pick up and information point for customers. “You can’t wash a horse rug properly in a domestic washing machine, even if you can actually get it in,” says Peter Marsh, managing director of Girbau UK. “The largest domestic machines have a 8kg capacity, whereas we recommend

Rugs can often become damaged or worn as a result of horse play, but due to cost customers may want to repair the damage themselves rather than buying a replacement. Retailers can offer advice and suggest products that may be used to help.

Firstly, it is important to stress that before any repairs are made the rug must be cleaned and dried thoroughly using products designed specifically for this purpose.

When assessing the damage to a rug, look to see whether it is just the outer layer that is damaged or whether the inner lining or filling has been torn also, as this will affect how a repair can be made.

An iron-on patch can be used to mend small tears in coolers, fly sheets or light stable rugs, whereas sewing is a better method to repair a larger tear on a rug with multiple layers such as a medium or heavy weight turnout or stable rug. Sewing from the bottom or underneath the rug means that any knots should be hidden, and stitches should be kept tight without allowing it them to bunch.

If the damage is very extensive or has gone through to the inner layer – or if surcingles, buckles or straps have been torn – the horse owner should seek professional advice. This is especially true for waterproof rugs as a bad repair could cause moisture to trap in the inner lining, and the wearer may suffer health problems as a result.

ACCESSORISE Though rugs tend to be an occasional purchase due to their cost, there are a multitude of accessories that can be stocked alongside them to supplement sales.

Rug rub can be a common concern – particularly for clipped animals or those with sensitive skin – and there is a wide array of anti-rub

“A large collection of bulky rugs will mean that retail and storage space is reduced and becomes harder to organise” bibs on the market in a variety of fabrics from stretchy to fleecy to deal with this problem. Neck covers and hoods in lycra, cotton, fleece or waterproof material are a good item to stock, and all-over versions are also available, covering the face, neck and belly, which can be used to keep the horse clean on show days or as an under garment during the colder weather. Some of these all-over ‘suits’ have been designed specifically to protect the horse from flies, and can also guard against sun exposure as well as mud and dirt.

For very broad horses, a chest extender accessory can be used to improve a rug fit by fastening on to the existing straps, whilst rollers – designed to prevent the horse from rolling over fully – can also be stocked for horses prone to become cast in their stable. It is important also to provide a good supply of spare leg straps, breast straps, clips, surcingles and fillet strings, as these items can undergo quite a bit of wear and tear.

Horse owners will sometimes use bailer twine to replace a broken rug strap, but this is not ideal!

Rug storage bags and boxes pro-

vide a solution for horse owners wanting to keep their rugs tidy and clean when not in use, and rug wash bags allow people to wash their rugs at home without allowing excess hair to damage their washing machine.

It is perhaps surprising that many rugs become invisible as soon as the sun sets, and with the days getting shorter horse owners trying to catch their charges may struggle to find them! Retailers could recommend their customers affix additional reflective strips to their rugs to improve visibility – also an important safety feature should the horse get out on the road.

KEEP COSY The inner layer of a rug is crucial in determining the warmth and comfort of the horse. Inner linings are available in a selection of materials, with polycotton, nylon, and fleece-like wicking material the most common.

Breathable nylon is useful as it won’t absorb moisture, and thus won’t be as susceptible to rot when stored away. Some nylon linings

DISPLAY SOLUTIONS Rugs are valuable pieces of equine kit, and represent large investments on the part of the consumer, particularly during times of recession. It is therefore vital that any display of rugs within a store is eye-catching and easy to navigate in order to attract – and keep – the customer’s attention, whilst at the same time protecting the merchandise from dust or damage.

Areas to consider when designing a retail space include clear signage, lighting, packaging, merchandising and point of sale displays. Many retailers however struggle to find ways of displaying their rugs to the best advantage. Often they are piled high and look untidy, and are then difficult to identify as to their type and size. Without assistance customers tend to open bags and remove rugs which are notoriously difficult to then re-pack, and can be put off by the challenge of finding

the size and brand they want.

Retailers need to think practically and put themselves in the mind of the customer. A display that looks unprofessional – be it dirty, inaccessible, or confusing – will only be off putting and may drive business elsewhere.

If rug storage is lazy or inadequate, these valuable pieces of merchandise can easily become damaged.

A large collection of bulky rugs will also mean that retail and storage space is reduced and becomes harder to organise. Retailers should stock three or four brands within different price brackets to avoid bamboozling customers.

Keeping rugs in order by brand and then size makes stocktaking and reordering much easier.

Finally, a horse manikin dressed in the latest seasonal rug-wear can make an attractive window display as well as being practical, and may entice more business into the store!

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

29

Rug care have anti-static properties, which help draw dust away from the horse’s coat, and nylon can also have a polishing effect and will keep the hair smooth.

Cotton is a natural fibre that is soft, cool and comfortable and can have anti-wick properties, though is not considered to be as hardwearing as synthetic fibres.

Like cotton, fleece is soft and breathable as well as being warm and cosy, and polar fleece lining can feature a ‘hydrophillic’ quality that helps draw away excess sweat and moisture through the fabric. A fleece rug on its own makes a good cooler, travel or under rug, and is can be re-enforced with nylon to provide greater strength in key areas.

Some inner linings have been designed specifically as ‘anti-

“You can’t wash a horse rug properly in a domestic washing machine, even if you can actually get it in” rub’, using soft padding such as fleece or even satin fabric over the shoulder area to prevent pressure and friction. Care should be taken with nylon linings to ensure it does not cause friction or inhibit movement.

Some horse rug manufacturers advertise a tricot fabric lining. Tricot is made from natural or synthetic fibres specially woven in a unique pattern to be smooth on one side and textured on the other. Tricot can be manufactured using cotton, rayon, silk, wool or nylon, or a combination of fibres. It is durable and will hold its shape, whilst at

PRODUCT

the same time being lightweight and breathable.

INSULTION Polyfill is a synthetic material used as a layer of insulation between the outer shell and the inner lining, and is measured in grams per square metre. In general, the heavier the weight, the warmer the rug, with 300 to 400 grams of fill meaning that the rug should be suitable for the coldest of weather.

A median weight rug of around 200 grams is a flexible option for cooler nights in spring and au-

tumn, and can be boosted with an under rug to make it warmer during the winter. Rugs with little or no fill make good summer sheets or under garments.

A new high-tech type of insulation is Flectalon, a thermal material designed to reflect body heat and therefore trap warmth. Lightweight, durable and breathable, the material features multi-layers of fine reflective fibres made from aluminised polypropylene. The thermal qualities are maintained even after repeated washing.

Thinsulate is another synthetic material used in horse rugs. The fibres are thinner than those of polyester and so can be packed more densely into a given area of fabric, providing for greater warmth without adding bulk. ■

PRODUCT

Easy cleaning

Perfect for all

LPD is the only appointed members of BETA and for a number of years has been working closely with horse owners, livery yards, equestrian centres and rug washing companies in order to provide a sensible solution in washing horse rugs.

The Warwick horse rug washers are big enough to take the largest of rugs but also robust enough to withstand heavy use. They are available in three sizes 30lb (13kg) 40lb (18kg) and 50lb (23kg) all with special equine laundry programmes built in exclusive to the Warwick range of machines. All machines have the flexibility of being self heating or simply hot water fed, no special electrics required as they can work on industrial 3 phase or domestic 1 phase.

The Girbau MS-617 washer is perfect for cleaning all types of horse rugs. Very energy efficient, its high capacity (19kg) means that water reaches all parts of the rug for consistent, clean results. A large door allows easy loading and unloading of bulky and heavy horse rugs, while the steel door seal won’t be damaged by tags and buckles. Sarah Armstrong proprietor of Equicare uses an MS-617 washer for her successful equine laundry service: “I’ve been really impressed by the Girbau machine and our customers are delighted with the way it cleans rugs. Investing in a professional washer that is really up to the job makes such a difference!”

Laundry Parts Direct: +44 (0)1215 800880 www.lpdlpd.co.uk

Girbau: +44 (0)1462 427780 www.girbau.co.uk

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Healthy rugs

Rug Repair Kit

Rugwash is formulated specifically for the removal of ground in dirt and greases. Rugwash along with Rugproof, which can be washed in or sprayed on, provide the ideal complete treatment for the best care of rugs for both turnout and stable use.

Storm Rugwash and Rugproof are designed to be convenient and easy to use for either the domestic user or for the stable and commercial supplier. Also available from Storm is a full collection of aftercare for all, garment, footwear and saddlery aftercare.

For further information email sales@stormwaterproofing.com.

The kit contains everything needed to make a quick repair to most rips and tears in rugs; it has both printed instructions and links to video demonstrations on youtube, so customers can see just how easy it is to repair even a substantial rip in both the top material and the inner impermeable layer. There are special self-adhesive patches for small leaks and rips. There are patches (which go under the rug so you do not even see them) and two tubes of Stormsure Flexible Repair Adhesive, for either small holes or a large rips. There is even plastic gloves and a glue spreader to make life easier and keep hands clean.

Storm: +44 (0)1773 521309 www.stormwaterproofing.com

Stormsure: +44 (0)3333 441500 www.stormsure.com

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LET’S TALK PRODUCTS WHAT TO STOCK FOR SUCCESSFUL SALES

POLYTEC PRO-COMFORT STABLE RUG Belstane Maketing The rug provides effective protection against rubbing.

The entire inner chest and wither area is lined with soft mirco fibre which is great for the horse’s coat, and the soft inside can be turned over to the neck and held in place by a hook and loop fastening. It is available with a light Molton lining or with a thick 360g filling.

Sizes: S-XXL Colours:Navy, chocolate Materials/bindings: MicroFibre Fill/weight: 360g

£195

5’-7’2 CELTIC MEDIUM Sizes: Colours: Navy/grey, Navy tartan Materials/bindings: STABLE RUG Polypropylene, Stay-Dry lining

Bucas

WINTER RUGS During winter horses are likely to be rugged up continually so ensuring that rugs are breathable and suitably warm is vital.

E

nsuring that rugs are a good fit is important all year around, however in winter when rugs are heavier and must protect horses from harsh weather, a secure fit is essential.

Shoulder gussets allow the horse to move freely without causing restrictions or rubbing. Wither relief pads will also help to keep the horse comfortable. Winter turnout rugs feature a waterproof outer and often a form of rip preventing technology which will stop a small nick from becoming a gaping hole.

Turnout rugs have large tail flaps to block the wind and protect the tail. Reflective strips are increasing in popularity, especially for horses that are field kept all year around. Measured in denier for density, a rug with a higher denier

will be made from fabric that has been tightly woven and is therefore stronger. The filling, referred to in grams for both stable and turnout rugs for the coldest months can vary between 300g500g, with rugs costing anywhere between £60-300 – and possibly more depending on brands.

The option to buy a combo rug with built in neck or opt for a separate detachable neck that can be attached as required, is mainly down to customer preference.

Having both in stock is necessary.

Displaying rugs adequately is vital for successful sales. Often attracted to a brand name or colour, presenting all options on a display rack will give customers a chance to feel the rugs and have a good look at varying factors.

£122

Fill/weight: 0g, 150g, 300g

The Bucas Celtic Stable range offers superb performance, strength, durability and quality. These stable blankets are made using a Polypropylene outer fabric and Bucas anti-bacterial Stay-Dry lining. This results in blankets that can dry a wet or sweaty horse extremely fast. The blanket can be put on a wet horse the same way as a sweat rug. The anti bacterial lining helps to keep the rug fresh.

Sizes: 3’6-7’ IRISH Colours: Black/gold, blue/silver Materials/bindings: Rip-stop, TURNOUT

nylon

Bucas

Fill/weight: 50g, 300g

This range offers good performance, value and flexibility to suit the particular requirements for the horse.

There is a choice of Classic Cut and High-Neck rugs in two weights, light and extra.

The Turnout Light has a 50g layer of polyester wadding between the lining and outer fabric and the extra has 300g of polyester wadding.

The High-Neck offers the extra protection that the high neck line provides.

£97.0

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

0

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LET’S TALK PRODUCTS

POWER TURNOUT EXTRA Bucas

SMARTEX TURNOUT

Sizes: 5’-7’ Colours: Silver Materials/bindings: Nylon, Stay-Dry lining Fill/weight: 50g, 300g

Bucas

£221

This range offers the best possible strength, durability and quality. The Stay-Dry lining in combination with the heat reflective aluminium coating and the silver outer extends the temperature range at which the Power Turnout can be used. It provides perfect comfort and protection at both lower and higher temperatures than other rugs of similar weight. The rug can be put on a wet horse the same way as a sweat rug.

The Bucas Smartex Turnout range offers strength, durability and quality. The Stay-Dry lining offers perfect comfort and protection at both lower and higher temperatures than other rugs of similar weight. It has a Click’n Go closure system with a patented stainless steel buckle that can be closed and opened in one easy movement.

FALPROVIKING HEAVYWEIGHT TURNOUT

FUNNELL SUPREME TURNOUT

Tagg Equestrian

Sizes: 5’9-7’3 Colours: Black, silver Materials/bindings: Nylon, Silver Interactive lining

£317

.50

The Viking is tough and offers a layer construction with a the separate duvet liner and absorbent blotting layer next to the outer shell making the rug completely waterproof and eliminating condensation and maintaining breathability. The silver interactive technology provides dynamic temperature control by addressing the heat transfer mechanisms. The anti-microbial agent eliminates bacterial and fungal micro-organisms that can lodge in the rug.

Available in 40gm, 200gm and 400gm.

AMIGO BRAVO 12 Horseware

Sizes: 5’6-7’3 Colours: More than five Materials/bindings: Polyester Fill/weight: 0g, 100g, 250g, 400g

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EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

Tagg Equestrian

0

£186

Sizes: 4’9-7’ Colours: Dark raspberry Materials/bindings: Rip stop nylon, polycotton lining Fill weights: 250gm

£84.9

The rug has a 600 denier rip-stop outer which is fully waterproof with no back seam, polycotton lined throughout with non-rub rayon lining at the shoulder, chest and along the crest of the neck. All Funnell turnouts have fully adjustable quick release front fastenings, shoulder gussets for ease of movement, cross surcingles and detachable leg straps.

RAMBO OPTIMO

£90.0

The rug has a 1200 denier polyester outer with polyester lining. It has a classic cut and is compatible with the Horseware liner system. The hood is sold separately. Wash at 30 degrees. Do not tumble dry, hang dry.

Sizes: 5’-7’2 Colours: Black, blue, chocolate Materials/bindings: Nylon, Stay-Dry Fill/weight: 0g, 150g, 300g

Horseware The Horseware Ireland Rambo Optimo turnout rug is the very latest in horse rug technology. Horseware has looked at the way nature designed the horse and has produced a rug that works with the way a horse’s body moves. The Rambo Optimo has been designed to follow the horse’s movements with the introduction of the articulated pivotal dart.

Sizes: 5’6-7’3 Colours: More than five Materials/bindings: Nylon Fill/weight: 400g

£350

5

LET’S TALK PRODUCTS

HORZE AVALANCE WINTER RUG Oy Finntack

This high-necked winter rug with a dart creates the perfect fit. The gusset is moved forward to release pressure on the shoulders. Includes a double front closure with snap hooks, elastic at the ends of the X-surcingles, and detachable elastic leg straps.

£89.7

FOUR SEASONS ECO TURNOUT RUG IV Horse

The ECOnomical, recessionbeating turnout rug at an unbelievable price.

Features include cross surcingles, action gussets, twin buckle front fastening closures, nylon lined, twin removable leg straps and tail flap. Fitted with D-rings.

GREENWOOD RAIN SHEET IV Horse Waterproof nylon construction is lightweight yet strong and comfortable. Single front buckle fastening with integral rear fillet string loops.

Available with single, double or fancy rope binding.

Sizes: 115-165 Colours: Black, eclipse Materials/bindings: Nylon Fill/weight: 300g

HORZE AVALANCHE STABLE COMBO RUG Oy Finntack

5

£97.3

Sizes: 125-165 Colours: Black, eclipse Materials/bindings: Polyester Fill/weight: 350g

0

Extra-warm combo stable rug with a new design that covers the front hole normally found in combo rugs.

Includes: A neck with hook and loop straps, two front buckles with quick releases, gussets, x-surcingles with elastic, elastic leg straps and tail flap. Filling 350g Fabric: 300D polyester. Materials: 300D polyester, 350gsm polyester filling. Machine washable at 40°C. Do not tumble dry.

FOUR SEASONS TURNOUT RUG WITH NECK

Sizes: 5’0-6’9 Colours: Bronze Materials/bindings: Nylon, Rip-stop Fill/weight: 0g, 100g, 200g

£59.1

IV Horse

0

Sizes: 2’9-7’3 Colours: More than five Materials/bindings: Nylon Fill/weight: 0g

£31.7

With free neck cover, the breathable double rip stop fabric, sprung cross surcingles, removable leg straps, generous gusseted tail flap, all nylon lined with quality fittings make a perfect winter rug. Unique and innovative features combine to create this well fitting, comfortable and protective turnout rug.

5

GREENWOOD STABLE RUG IV Horse

Sizes: 5’0-7’3 Colours: Navy Materials/bindings: Rip-stop, nylon Fill/weight: 0g, 200g

£118

.35

Sizes: 2’9-7’3 Colours: Navy, red Materials/bindings: Nylon, polyester Fill/weight: 300g

£73.3

5

Available with standard neck or combo neck.

The single front buckle fastening with integral rear fillet string loops.

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

33

LET’S TALK PRODUCTS

JHL HEAVYWEIGHT COMBO STABLE RUG £ Westgate EFI

Sizes: 5’6-7’ Colours: Red, black Materials/bindings: Polycotton Fill/weight: 400g

79.99

Offering excellent value for money, this eye-catching stable rug comes in bright red fabric with black binding and white cord trim.

Features include a 600 denier polyester outer, cosy 400g insulation layer, polycotton lining and additional fabric inset at the withers to give extra length in the neck, even when the head is lowered.

Additional colour co-ordinated rugs are available.

JOHN WHITAKER UNION JACK WATERPROOF TURNOUT John Whitaker International Navy durable bonded Polyester lightweight turnout rug with a waterproof coating, lined inside with a thin fleece layer.

Open front with w/ snap and D ring fastenings. Union Jack filled pleat with two surcingles. Completed with a navy and white binding and the John Whitaker signature.

MARK TODD HEAVYWEIGHT COMBO TURNOUT £ Westgate EFI

129.9

9

Sizes: 5’3-6’9 Colours: Navy Materials/bindings: Polyester Fill/weight: 0g

£100

Sizes: 5’6-7’3 Colours: Navy Materials/bindings: Nylon Fill/weight: 350g

This turnout has a Teflon coated 1200 denier ripstop polyester outer shell, plus a warm 350g insulation layer and a nylon lining that leaves the coat shiny. Waterproof and breathable, the rug gives total protection from the elements with the extra long integral neck cover.

Other design features include shoulder pleats, cross surcingles, removable leg straps, quick release adjustable breast fastenings, a generous pleated tail flap.

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EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

JW 450G UNION JACK STABLE RUG John Whitaker International The rug comes as a 300g or 450g filled traditional navy stable rug. Snap and D ring surcingles, designed to add warmth.

Completing the design with the John Whitaker signature along the neckline, hind quarters and surcingle straps.

LOVESON ALLPRO COMBO TURNOUT Tagg Equestrian The medium weight combo rug is made from a 600 denier rip-stop outer fabric which is durable, waterproof and breathable. It has a 200 gm filling with a polycotton lining, with a nonrub rayon at the neck and shoulder and along the mane in the combo version to prevent rubbing. The rug has cross surcingles, leg straps and a buckle and strap front fastening.

MASTA AVANTE 340 TURNOUT Matchmakers International

Sizes: 5’3-6’9 Colours: Navy Materials/bindings: Polycotton Fill/weight: 300g, 450g

£120

Sizes: 5’-7’ Colours: Navy Materials/bindings: Polycotton, polyester Fill/weight: 200g, 400g, 0g

£56.9

5

Sizes: 4’6-7’3 Colours: Graphite, cerise/graphite Materials/bindings: Polyester Fill/weight: 340g

£62.9

The Avante 340 Turnout, a heavy weight turnout rug made from a 600 denier Oxford polyester outer fabric which is fully waterproof and breathable with taped seams. The rug has been designed without the need for gussets and still offers sufficient flexibility for complete freedom and comfort.

All Avante rugs benefit from twin front surcingle fittings, low cross surcingles, fillet string, polyester lining and tail flap.

9

LET’S TALK PRODUCTS

THERMATEX SHR £1 Thermatex

03.50

Sizes: 4’6-7’3 Colours: Brown, beige Materials/bindings: Wool, acrylic blend

Weatherbeeta Ltd

Thermatex rugs are very versatile; not only are they extremely effective for cooling a hot horse down, they are also ideal for use as a day, travel, show rug. The wide selection of colours (and 19 binding colour options) gives owners the opportunity to create a unique colour scheme. The SHR is manufactured from a single section of knitted fabric – this enables the rug to mould perfectly around the shape of the horse.

GENERO 600D COMBO HEAVY Weatherbeeta Ltd

Sizes: 5’6-7’0 Colours: Red/navy, new royal/ black Materials/bindings: Polyester, Ripstop weave Fill/weight: 360g

9

Weatherbeeta quality at an affordable price, the 600D heavyweight rug with combo neck has new colours for 2012 and is durable for cold winter conditions with a standard size tail flap for protection.

Weatherbeeta Ltd

Original rugs include traditional features that ensure a comfortable fit and quality weather protection. Features include a larger tail flap that provides protection from the weather and won’t flip up over the horse’s back in windy conditions. A large reflective logo badge ensures the horse can be seen at night and easily found in the field at bringing in time.

Sizes: 5’6-7’0 Colours: Black/grey Materials/bindings: fleece lining, stretch fabric Fill/weight: 360g

£139

.99

49.99

Sizes: 5’6-7’0 Colours: Black, silver Materials/bindings: Nylon, teflon Fill/weight: 300g

The rug features three in one versatility with a removable 300g fill liner and 100g fill in the outer shell. Features include the Snug Fit fleece neck cuff, which is waterproof and seals off the neck. The Forward Positioned Gusset and Cupped Shoulder Dart allow freedom of movement and the Full Wrap Tail Flap is shaped to harness the wind and wrap around the horse’s quarters for further protection.

£74.9

NEW ORIGINAL 1000D STRETCH COMBO HEAVY

FREESTYLE 1680D DETACH A NECK HEAVY £2

ORIGINAL600D PONY STANDARD NECK MEDIUM Weatherbeeta Ltd

Sizes: 4’0-5’3 Colours: Navy/red/white, rainbow paint ball Materials/bindings: Polyester, Ripstop weave Fill/weight: 220g

£69.9

New for 2012, the rug is designed to fit the shaping of the rump, neck and leg area to optimise fit and comfort. The rug is a durable medium weight with a standard neck for milder days. Features include a side gusset to aid the horse’s natural movement and a larger tail flap provides protection and won’t flip up over the horses back in windy conditions.

9

Contacts Belstane Marketing T: +44 (0)1335 372600

Matchmakers International T: +44 (0)1274 711101 maketing@belstane com www.matchmakers.co.uk

Bucas Oy Finntack Ltd T: +353 21 43 12200 T: +44 (0)7824 387643

www.bucas.com

www.horze.co.uk

Horseware T: +(353) 4293 89000

Tagg Equestrian T: +44 (0)1636 636135

corey.casey@horseware.com

www.taggequestrian.co.uk

IV Horse T: +44 (0)1888 544261

WeatherBeeta T: +44 (0)1295 226900

www.4horse.co.uk

www.weatherbeeta.co.uk

John Whitaker International T: +44 (0)1706 340500

Westgate EFI T: +44 (0)1303 872277 www.wefi.co.uk

www.johnwhitaker.com

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

35

ON THE MARKET PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Sitting comfortably

Fancy feet

The HyPerformance Men’s Breeches are made from Agate Cool Fabric containing 30% Polyamide, 63% Cotton and 7% Lycra, with stretch leather knee patches.

They are traditionally styled with a pleated front, side pockets with a stud closure and back pocket with stud closure. Machine washable at 40C. Leg Length: Regular.

Available in sizes 28-38, the breeches come in beige or steel grey and retail at: £59.99

From Tagg Equestrian in the Loveson range is a paddock boot carrying the Funnell brand. The boots are made from full grain leather with broguing detail, with a non slip PVC sole. Styled with a rounded toe, they are front zipped with a top popper for extra security with selfcoloured elastic sides. New for 2012 is a laced front boot with a zipped heel with a press stud top for easy access.

RRP: £69.95

Battles: +44 (0)1522 529206 www.battles.co.uk

Tagg Equestrian: +44 (0)1912 650032 www.taggequestrian.co.uk

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Calm Down

Extra help

Blue Chip’s instant calmers are a great hit.

The bold, bright, colourful counter display boxes will catch the customer’s eye, making them a real impulse purchase when displayed on the counter, especially with the calmers containing three concentrated measures or ‘calms’ and being well priced at just over £4.00 per calm, with a syringe retailing at £12.50.

92% of horse’s that took part in the extensive trials became more relaxed and settled.

Professional riders, including Danielle Heath, Henry Boswell and Geoff Billington have all been using Carrotcalm and Applecalm to great effect, helping their horse’s to focus on the job.

Mud-X syrup or powder is for everyday use and Mud-X Cream is for when extra help is required.

It can be applied before turnout to keep skin safe for considerable periods.

It is specifically designed to be used in conjunction with Mud-X food supplement.

It can be used on heels and greasy areas It can prevent other minor skin irritations RRP: 200g - £14.54.

Blue Chip: +44 (0)1142 666200 info@bluechipfeed.com

Global Herbs: +44 (0)8001 694709 www.globalherbs.co.uk

PRODUCT

PRODUCT

Healthy hooves

Shooting style

Farrier’s Formula provides the needed nutrients to build healthy hooves, and is recommended by veterinarians and farriers. A strengthened hoof wall means less shoe loss, reduced hoof sensitivity, and increased comfort on hard ground. Positive results can be seen within eight to ten weeks. For the Ultimate Hoof Care Combination, add either The Right Step Hoof Conditioner to protect the hoof from excessively wet or dry environmental conditions or apply Life Data Hoof Dressing to protect from the hoofeating microbes that are associated with cracks, white line disease or thrush. EU Sales Representative: Karen Zetsche.

Tayberry’s Carlton Technical Green Shooting Jacket is windproof, waterproof and breathable…perfect for the country gent. The jacket has a fluorescent safety armband, back shoulder gusset for comfort, removable braces, hand warmer pockets with pull-out straps to hold lower pockets open, inner pocket cartridge carrier and a lined game pocket.The jacket is longer in length and has back shoulder gussets for comfort.

The jacket is machine washble at 30 c.

Life Data Labs, Inc.: +44 (0)7535 151022 kzetsche@lifedatalabs.de

Tayberry: +44 (0)1507 524816 www.tayberry.co.uk

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EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

sharp end At the

Mike Potter provides sales & retail on mpotter@talktalk.net training for equestrian retailers. Contact him

W

henever I talk to business people about selling I generally hit the same two misconceptions: That customer service is selling and that marketing and advertising is selling. Now both have an impact on a sale, people buy from people they like and it’s always a benefit to have people approaching you with a view to possibly buy your product.

But neither is actually selling.

It’s a bit like a game of football, passing the ball to the striker is crucial but it’s the striker who actually scores the goal. The sales person is the striker.

I once had a colleague who was totally charming; she could strike an instant rapport with everyone and the customers loved

her. The sales manager was less keen on her, for the simple reason that she never sold anything.

She could not make the link between the conversation and what she was trying to achieve i.e. sell something.

It’s a particular problem in our trade because we have a mutual interest, horses, but all too often the sales person forgets what they are employed for and jabbers on about their horse. Now if they jabbered on about the customer’s horse they would at least be going in the right direction, but equally if you fail to control that conversation you can be there an hour hearing all about Dobbin without any benefit.

experts Ask the

EBM seeks out the answers to your questions

Q

What is the process for becoming a qualified saddle fitter? If the newly qualified fitter owned a tack shop and wanted to run a fitting business alongside, what advice would you give on types and brands of saddles to stock initially?

Hazel Morley, The Society of Master Saddlers

A

It takes a minimum of three years to become a Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter and they will then hold the Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified Saddle Fitters Certificate when they are successfully assessed.

The route to becoming a Qualified Saddle Fitter varies depending on each individuals’ background and their start-

ing point, but everyone is required to attend a two-day Introductory Saddle Fitting Course run by the Society of Master Saddlers.

This is followed by a requirement to complete three year’s experience, preferably working with a Qualified Saddle Fitter.

The Society of Master Saddlers’ four day qualification course is then the final stage to be taken before the assessment is undertaken. To maintain the qualification a refresher day organised by the Society of Master Saddlers must be attended every two years.

When it comes to types of saddles and brands it very much depends on the individual, their location and the general requirements of horse

All sales people can talk to people, it’s the ones who know how to subtly guide and control the conversation towards where they want it to go that are successful. So selling is not just customer service.

Most days on my journey to work I pass one of those large awning vans with the words ‘you looked so this worked’. I’m always tempted to ring them up and point out that as I have not bought anything it has not worked at all. And that’s the limitation of marketing and advertising – it’s about getting people to notice and that’s not the same thing as getting them to buy it. Now don’t get me wrong correctly targeted marketing and

owners in the area. Before going out and buying stock the fitter should carry out some research into what brands people in the region favour, what horse sports are the most popular and whether there are any demographics available showing if horses or ponies are more prevalent. Considering whether the fitter is based in an affluent area or one where money is fairly short is also an important consideration.

Before going out and buying thousands of pounds worth of stock, start to build up good working relationships with a number of suppliers and brands. Fitters might even find that the owner will want a

advertising is crucial, but only if there is a sales person at the end of the process to actually close on the order, otherwise all you are generating is lots of browsers.

It’s the same with hits on a website, it’s great to have ten thousand people look at the site, but if no one actually bought anything it’s not actually got you anywhere has it?

Exposure and awareness and profile etc. are all very well, but they don’t pay the bills.

If you want to make sure that your expensive campaign gets results make sure there is a salesperson somewhere.

A un PC analogy I often use is ‘it’s a bit like modern warfare’.

The air force believes that they can win a battle alone, but some poor soul always has to go in at bayonet point and take and hold the ground. In the business battle that’s the sales person.

bespoke saddle made for their own horse or pony. If this is the case it is then the fitter’s job to put forward a number of saddles, styles, fittings and brands to help the customer in their decision making process.

Even if the owner wants a new saddle making, the fitter is still required to turn up at the yard with a number of saddles that will be suitable for or will assist with the saddle fitting and their requirements. A range of UK manufactured saddles and a good selection of General Purpose saddles is key in a wide range of widths and sizes.

Information about the SMS can be found at: www.mastersaddlers.co.uk.

If you’ve got a question that you want answering, let us know at:

editorial@ebmonthly.co.uk August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

37

CURRENT AFFAIRS CURRENT AFFAIRS CURRENT AFFAIRS CURRENT AFFAIRS Exclusive

DEAL OR NO DEAL?

Discount and comparison websites have rapidly increased over the years.

Equestrian Business Monthly found out why this lucrative sector is a roaring success.

Boom or bust?

Everyone loves a bargain, especially when it comes to horses as the sheer cost of keeping them is the equivalent to a small mortgage.

However, with so many discount and comparison sites out there, are these sites really benefiting the user?

The obvious benefits are that the customer can access a variety of information from various providers in one place. While this may seem that the operators of these sites are offering the customers a helping hand, there are often underlying stipulations that are either not exposed or not mentioned until the point of purchase. “In terms of consumers, it’s a jungle out there full of websites selling and promoting products and services,” says Caroline Almgren from Get the Gallop. “By signing up to these types of sites, customers have made sure to have most of them covered, including hearing about

new products and services that they perhaps would have missed otherwise. Caroline goes on to stress the opportunities brought by the sites. “There are a lot bad examples of discount websites and so called daily deals sites,” she says.

“In today’s tough business climate it’s good to have options and be able to try different and new things without having to spend more money.”

and purchase it there and then.

For those unable to visit a shop during the week, this can be a huge benefit as the item can be delivered straight to the door.

Many operators will gather specific ‘top deals’ and send them directly to those who have signed up to receive the newsletter. While users may receive 10 emails that are irrelevant, the eleventh may result in a deal for the retailer that the

“Our job is to build tools and features that draw horse owners to our site, we can then use our channel to create a buzz around products, brands etc. and help retailers, service providers and consumers find each other” Another plus of these seemingly helpful sites is the simple experience offered. Once the customer has located the item that they wish to purchase they can click straight through to the retailer’s website

customer would not have otherwise gone in search of.

Benefits to retailers Customer reviews are often a feature on price comparison sites.

Being able to read other people’s experiences can help make the decision process easier. Furthermore, because retailers understand that their service is going to be scrutinised sites, they are more likely to pay close attention to customer service and guarantee a superb service every time. As a business opportunity these websites offer suppliers access to a target market that is

and consumers find each other.”

With prices of products so easily comparable using sites like these, retailers are encouraged to keep their prices as competitive as possible, leaving customers feeling as though they have received a good deal.

Gathering information Comparison websites can feature an array of products so accurate information gathering is essential.

Equine Compare has up to 50,000 products from 78 retailers at any one time. “Equestrian Products – our automated software, extracts the details from shops at a frequency controlled by shops (typically three or seven days) to keep up-to-date with prices,” says Brett. “Our retailers don’t need to do anything. However with horse insurance both ourselves and the insurers need to manually keep offerings up-to-date.” Get the Gallop’s deals are put together by the merchant or business exclusively.

“The merchants use the deals to promote their product and hopefully generate additional sales,” says Caroline. Many sites are unregulated – something that has caused upset in other industries.

“We go through the deals together with the merchant and make sure they are attractive and of interest to the consumer,” explains Caroline.

“We are not regulated because we do not make recommendations or get directly involved in the sale of products or insurance...” actively looking to buy, a low cost and low effort method of reaching that target market, the opportunity to push promotions and drive impulse sales and the option to build a good reputation through review pages. “We don’t consider Equine Compare to be a price comparison site, less than 10% of our visitors order search results by price,” says Brett Jackson, co founder of Equine Compare. “Our job is to build tools and features that draw horse owners to our site, we can then use our channel to create a buzz around products, brands etc. and help retailers, service providers

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EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

“Once the deal is finalised we publish it on the site for a limited time.

The products and services that are featured on the website will adhere to the merchant’s terms and conditions.” Kelly explains that Equine Compare is also unregulated. “We are not regulated because we do not make recommendations or get directly involved in the sale of products or insurance, we simply show ads and act as a search engine,” says Kelly. “If we recommend insurers or directly accepted data as part of an insurance sale we would need to be registered and regulated by the FSA.”

BUSINESS ADVICE

BLOGGING

If you’ve just expanded or business is booming we’d love to hear about it:

FOR YOUR BUSINESS Within the marketing and public relations ‘melting pot’ sits blogs, or weblogs – fantastic tools with which to promote businesses. Kathy Carter discusses the dos and don’ts of these mediums.

W

e know that blogs can be beneficial to professional profiles, but do we really utilise them to our best advantage? Blogs are commonly seen within a company website (perhaps entitled ‘news’, ‘company blog’ or something more personal like ‘thoughts from the MD’), or on a stand-alone platform like Blogger or Wordpress. Personally, I see no reason not to have both – a blog within a company website as well as a third party site. A web designer can easily incorporate a blog page into the company website, and setting up a third party blog is very simple. My blogging platform of choice is Wordpress – it is very user

PR consultant and copywriter Kathy Carter writes blog articles for equestrian and country lifestyle businesses on all subject matters, whether business to business, or business to consumer.

Visit www.blogs4biz.com

friendly and has many professional templates. Choose either the free hosted version, pay a small annual fee to Wordpress to have your own URL that they host for you, or host your own blog by registering the domain name and paying an annual hosting fee yourself. If the latter isn’t within your remit, a web designer, or a copywriter with blogging experience, should be able to assist.

This website has some useful information – http://en.wordpress. com/features The big question from business owners, aside from ‘when would I have time to update a blog?’ (and the answer is always, ‘make time’!) is ‘what do I write?’. When I write blogs for clients, I aim to inform the reader. This could be an article about industry news; opinionbased pieces about products or legislation; or more humorous posts that people come back to regularly, in order to be entertained.

Top tips for blogging ● Consider what search terms people use online when searching for products and services in the sector, for example, ‘equestrian wholesaler’ or ‘children’s socks’. Incorporate these regularly into posts in a flowing fashion – blogs should read well, and not as if written by an excitable, search engine optimisation (SEO)obsessed robot. Use questions if you are struggling to fit your search terms in – such as ‘are you looking for an experienced equestrian wholesaler?’ or ‘why not check out our latest range of cotton-blend children’s socks?’

editorial@ebmonthly.co.uk

● Use content-rich copy that is relevant to the industry and your products. For example, if you distribute outdoor footwear, blog about the types of boots used for different outdoor activities, or choosing and fitting boots for children. ‘How to’ articles are always useful; such as how to select boots for your riding discipline, or how to clean your boots. ● Post new blogs regularly – even if it is just once a week, make sure you keep up the momentum. The more you post, the more Google will recognise the fact you are using fresh content. A good blog will come up in the search rankings on page one when key terms are searched for. ● Utilise video, photographs, media cuttings and anything else to make the posts interesting. If the company is involved with a sponsored rider, update the blog with details of their competition schedule, news, photos and testimonials. ● Beware of ‘pushing’ your products too heavily – but intermittently include info that informs readers and potential purchasers about your product or service.

have strong opinions, voice them (providing they are not sensationalistic, or put your brand in a negative light). ● Utilise your blog posts on the company’s social media platforms, and encourage customers, clients and friends to share the content. ● Include links in each blog post to relevant pages of your website, for example, product pages. If you’re writing about bridles, include the URL for your tack and accessories web page in the article. ● Try to ensure your copy is correctly spelled and grammatically suitable – consider writing it in a Word document first and copying and pasting it over to the blog, for peace of mind – but don’t obsess too much about this. A blog can be relaxed and personal, and developing your own voice or style is as good thing. ● If writing isn’t your forte, consider delegating the blog writing to a trusted colleague or employee who is more suited to this medium, or contact a copywriter with blogging experience to update it for you.

● Try to position your brand and its representatives as experts in your field. If you August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

39

STOCK TAKE

In our new tried and tested feature we hear from retailers directly about their top selling products and why they continue to stock them.

Caprice Riding Boots

“

NAF Off Citronella Tag

The boots are made of gorgeous soft leather, which instantly feels ultra comfortable. The crocodile detail on the badge tab and spur guard add a stylish touch of detail, while the boots remain traditional enough to be worn in any equestrian discipline. They are also available in a wide range of calf and foot sizes, increasing the chance of finding the perfect fit for each customer. A huge range of colours are available too, so customers can have pink patent detail if they wish – making this a fabulous boot for those who like something a little different.”

BRAND: NAF STOCKED FOR: This season RATING: 8/10 RRP:: £9.99 (x2 tags)

£449

“

I think these have been popular as they are an innovative new product. Although we haven’t been too troubled by flies yet, people are getting ready. The tags can be attached to either the bridle, a head collar or tied into the mane so they’re pretty versatile. The packaging is bright, they’re easy to display and they’re reflective so if it falls off while riding it should be fairly easy to spot.”

Jennie Hughes Equiport

Julie Pickering Crossways of Ellingham

BRAND: De Niro STOCKED FOR: Two and a half years RATING: 10 / 10 RRP: £449.00

Shannon teen jacket

Sparkle

“

We keep in stock about 90% of the Supreme Products range, the majority of our customers are riding club type owners who do quite a lot of showing locally and some Nationally.

The producers and larger scale yards tell me they like the product because it really does what it says on the tin.

But I do have a couple of customers who are maybe pony club mums with several ponies to get ready for a show and not enough time to wash for every show and they find that it gives the impression of an immaculately preened pony as well as giving a silky mane and tail, and at least one customer has shown Champions at county level using sparkle without having to Shampoo.”

£12.

99

Mairi Anne Cormack Hilltop Horses

BRAND: Supreme Products STOCKED FOR: One year

9

£9.9

RATING: 9/10 RRP: £12.99

BRAND: Pikeur STOCKED FOR: Less than a year RATING: : 9/10 RRP:: : £165.00

£165

“

The Shannon is a junior show jacket and has been very popular, especially with the show jumpers. A few customers have commented on the long length of the sleeves and the give, which make it comfortable to jump in. As Pikeur products are quality, the jacket is very flattering and blingy making it quite unique. Overall the product sells well, however if I could change something it would be the way that it is provided by Pikeur. The company doesn’t supply any jacket bags or hangers, which is a shame when customers are spending so much money.”

Rosslyn Boggis, RB Equestrian

To tell us about your top selling product email: editorial@ebmonthly.co.uk.

40

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

File

SECRET SURFER

WEB REVIEWS

If you have a new website and would like to feature on these pages then email: editorial@ebmonthly.co.uk

Equestrian Business Monthly speaks to those who have recently improved their online facilities to find out exactly how.

SHEARWATER INSURANCE www.shearwater-insurance. co.uk Launch date: June What’s new about it?

The website offers a user friendly, easy to navigate, fresh design which is appealing and professional. Shearwater Insurance now provides both new and existing personal and commercial customers with a library of essential information, from FAQ’s and downloadable forms to all the latest company news and direct links to social media platforms.

How will the new site benefit the end user more so than before?

The easy navigation means that all customers will be able to find all they need on the website to help make choosing their policy simple, as well as offering information to those already making a claim. The website now reflects the comprehensive services on offer.

Which areas have been developed?

The whole website has been totally re-designed and re-developed. From the up-to-date news section to the comprehensive drop down menus that illustrate the many forms of insurance available.

SECRET SURFER: The site is vibrant, yet clear and well categorised. The product search is thorough and clearly displayed on the home page. Users have a choice of language options as well as a clearly visible choice to speak with an expert.

CARROTS EQUESTRIAN

PLEVIN PRODUCTS

Launch date: May

Launch date: May

What’s new about it?

The site has been totally re-designed to offer a fresh and fun approach, with easy navigation, beautiful imagery and a unique trade section enabling retailers to have direct access to all the information and images they need in order to sell Carrots products efficiently.

What’s new about it?

This is the first time Plevin has had a dedicated products website, showcasing all bedding lines together. The creation of the site is part of a strategy to promote the brands under the Plevin umbrella, and increase awareness of the Plevin name within the equestrian market.

How will the new site benefit the end user more so than before?

The end user now has a visually more appealing landing page and can easily find their way to the different sections, including specific areas focused on the popular licensed characters that Carrots have become well known for. In addition they have an up-to-date news section.

How will the new site benefit the end user more so than before?

The emphasis has been on creating a site that is truly interactive. It is designed to encourage participation. The site contains detailed information on each of Plevin’s animal bedding products, and also gives users tips on how to use them for best results. There is also an ‘ask the expert’ section enabling visitors to put any questions about Plevin products they may have to a representative. The site is unrivalled in terms of the detailed product information on offer to pet owners.

www.carrotsequestrian.co.uk

Which areas have been developed?

Product information is now more in depth, end users can view the whole collections on one page making it easy to compare designs and styles, and coordinated items are linked to relevant products making it easy for customers to ‘match’ their purchases. Trade users now have fast access to check prices and can download any point of sale material they may need.

SECRET SURFER: The site is bright and filled with pink, which appeals to the target market. The use of bunting on the ‘home’ page is a nice touch and works well with the background. The ‘news’ page has been recently updated, as has the Facebook page. Overall the site is easy to navigate through.

www.plevinproducts.co.uk

Which areas have been developed?

The site allows users to upload photos of their horse, win products, search for stockists and follow the company’s social media pages.

SECRET SURFER: The page uses a good selection of imagery to gain the user’s attention. The use of colour is kept to a minimum, which works well. The ‘news’ section has been recently updated and contact details are positioned on the ‘home’ page.

August 2012 | EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY www.ebmonthly.co.uk

41

SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY Abbey Diagnostics +44 (0)1638 552122

Clipper Sharp +44 (0)1823 681076

Fuller Fillies Ltd +44 (0)1977 625 025

www.abbeydiagnostics.co.uk a

www.clippersharp.com

www.fuller-fillies.co.uk

ComfyBed +44 (0)1202 593601

Future Forks (by Aubiose) +44 (0)1293 416759

Abbey Saddlery and Crafts Ltd +44 (0)1565 650343

www.abbeysaddlery.co.uk

Andis Company +1 262 884 2600 www.andis.com

Animal Health Company Tel - 01787 476400 www.equinehealthandherbal.co.uk

Animalife +44 (0)1527 857 920 www.animalife.co.uk

Arden Wood Shavings +44 (0)1675 443 888 www.ardenwoodshavings.co.uk

Asmar Equestrian +1 604 601 2028 www.asmarequestrian.com

Aubiose (Future Forks) +44 (0)1293 416759 www.futureshavingsfork.co.uk

Aubiose +44 (0)7739 165083 www.aubiose.co.uk

B2B +44 (0)870 7510605 www.btoblinks.net

B Jenkinson & Sons Ltd +44 (0)1924 454681 www.elico.co.uk

Baileys Horse Feeds +44 (0)1371 850247 wwwbaileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

Barnsby +44 (0) 1922 621676 www.barnsby.com

Black Country Saddles +44 (0)1543 578 243 www. dles.com

Bolla Bags +44 (0)8456 430777 www.bollabags.com

Brinicombe Equine +44 (0)8700 606206 www.brinicombe-equine.co.uk

British Horse Feeds +44 (0)1765 680300 www.britishhorsefeeds.com

Brogini +44 (0)1706 514 230 www.brogini.com

Buffera Ltd +44 (0)1707 852244 www.buffwear.co.uk

Burlerrow Farm Miscanthus +44 (0)1208 841264

www.ecocomfybed.co.uk

Cox Agri +44 (0)845 600 8081 www.coxagri.com

www.futureshavingsfork.co.uk

Fynalite +44 (0)1789 764848 www.fynalite.co.uk

D&H Animal Husbandry +44 (0)845 270 6691270 2224 Gabriella Shaw Ceramics www.dandhgroup.co.uk +44 (0)1730 821101 Dodson and Horrell +44 (0)1832 737300 www.dodsonandhorrell.com

Dog Rocks +44 (0)1628 822 243 www.dogrocks.co.uk

Duralock +44 (0)1608 644988

www.gabriellashawceramics.com

Girbau UK +44 (0)1462 427780 www.girbau.co.uk

Global Herbs +44 (0)1243 773363 www.globalherbs.co.uk

Hucklesby Associates +44 (0)1362 696309

My Day Feeds

+44 (0)845 6023782 www.hucklesbyassociates.co.uk www.mydayfeeds.co.uk

Hunter-Outdoor (K & K CLOTHING) New Equine Wear +44 (0)1172 303700 +44 (0)121 555 8334

www.stable-safe.com

Innovacyn / Vetericyn Europe +353 91 796896

Osmonds +44 (0) 1948 668100

Starkie’s +44 (0)116 2592022

www.vetericyn.com

www.osmonds.co.uk

IV Horse +44(0)1888 544261

Parkgate Equestrian +44 (0)1306 631374

www.4horse.co.uk

www.parkgateequestrian.co.uk

Jack Murphy +44 (0)1768 867590

Pellet Beds +44 (0)1789 761333

www.jackmurphy.co.uk

www.pelletbeds.com

John Whitaker International +44 (0)1706 340500

PelGar +44 (0)1420 80744

www.johnwhitaker.com

www pelgar.co.uk

Pfizer Animal Health +44 (0)1304 616161

GollyGaloshes gollygaloshes@btinternet.com

www.katenegus.com

www.wormingyourhorse.info

Earlswood Supplies +44 (0)8450 171351

Grays of Shenstone +44 (0)1543 483344

Keratex +44 (0)1373 827649

Polybarrow +44 (0)800 0855 509

www.earlswood-supplies.com

www.graysofshenstone.co.uk

www.keratex.com

www.waterandoil.co.uk

Eazitools Equestrian +44 (0)1302 746077

Groomers Limited +44 (0)845 230 7997

Kevin Bacon’s +44 (0)1296 662473

Polly Products +44 (0)1636 636132

www.eazitools.co.uk

www.groomers-online.com

www.kevinbacons.co.uk

www.pollyproducts.co.uk

Emvelo +44 (0)1494 875848

Gumbies Ltd +44 (0)1258 839100

Lets Talk Horses + 44 (0)1953 850678

PressPoint +44 (0)1953 851513

www.emvelo.co.uk

www.gumbies.co.uk

enquiries@letstalkhorses.co.uk

www.presspoint.co.uk

Equimat +44 (0)1536 513456

Halley’s Feeds +44 (0)1738 840830

Life Data Labs Inc +1 256 3707555

Pro Mats +44 (0)121 308 6662

www.equimat.co.uk

www.halleysfeeds.co.uk

www.LifeDatalabs.com

www.pro-mats.co.uk

Equine Speedskip +44 (0)1989 769435

Harold Moore +44 (0)114 2700513

Likit For orders Westgate EFI +44 (0)1303 872277

Puffa Country Sports Ltd +44 (0)115 9424265

www.equinespeedskip.com

www.haroldmoore.co.uk

www.likit.com

www.puffacountry.com

Equivet +44 (0) 808 1084995

Haybar +44 (0)1723 882434

Limpet Saddle Pad +44 (0)1432 508944

Robinson Animal Healthcare +44 (0)1909 735000

www.equivetanimalcare.com

www.haybar.co.uk

www.limpetsaddlepad.co.uk

Equestrian Supplies +44 (0)1254 831645

HaySoft +44 (0)1277 375647

Littlemax +44 (0)1668 213467

www.haysoft.co.uk

www.littlemaxshavings.com

Heavenly Horse +44 (0)1724 721872

Litovet +44 (0)1452 524012

www.heavenlyhorse.co.uk

www.litovet.co.uk

Hilton Herbs Ltd +44 (0)1460 270700

LPD Tel: 0121 580 0880

www.hiltonherbs.com

www.lpdlpd.co.uk

Honeychop Horse Feeds +44 (0)1359 230823

LS Sales (Farnam) Ltd +44 (0)1608 683855

www.honeychop.com

Santé Franglais Ltd Magic Brush + 44 (0)1858 464550 info@magicbrush-online.com

EquiAmi Ltd +44 (0)1584 891049 www.equiami.com

Equistro +44 (0)1280 814500 www.equistro.co.uk

Equine Management +44 (0)1825 840002 www.equineman.com

Equisafety Ltd +44 (0)1516 787182 www.equisafety.com

Faulks & Co. +44 (0)1455 848184 www.wmfaulks.com

Horse & Jockey Ltd +44 (0) 1981 550467 www.capcover.net

www.lesliesutcliffe.biz

www.magicbrush-online.com

Horsebedding.co.uk Ltd. Tel: 01476 585 973

Marie Bridgwater Equestrian PR & Media Consultant +44 (0)7795 416511

www.horsebedding.co.uk

www.mariebridgwater.com

Horsefair +44 (0)1264 811425

Maxavita +44 (0)8450 752754

www.horsefair.co.uk

www.maxavita.com

Horse First Ltd +44 (0)2830 848844

Mears Country Jackets Ltd +44 (0)1922 476930

www.robinsoncare.com

Rockall +44 (0)121 5558334 www.rockall.info

Rockies +44 (0)1606 595025 www.rockies.co.uk

Rowen Barbary Horse Feeds: +44 (0)1948 880598 www.rowenbarbary.co.uk

Ryder Saddles +44 (0)1922 616578 www. rydersaddles.com

www.aloeride.com

Saracen Horse Feeds + 44 (0)1622 718 487 www.saracen-horse-feeds.co.uk

Seaquim +353 (0)8623 64609 www.seaquimequine.net

Cabotswood +44(0)117 9669944

Finest Brands International (Toggi and Champion) +44 (0)113 270 7000

www.cabotswood.com

www.toggi.com

www.horsefirst.net

www.mearsjackets.com

Charles Owen +44 (0)1978 317777

Fly Away +44 (0)1384 877857

Horse Haylage +44 (0)1562 770088

Measom Freer +44 (0)116 2881588

www.charlesowen.co.uk

www.flyaway.ltd.uk

www.horsehaylage.com

www.measomfreer.co.uk

Childs Farm +44 (0)1264 736 772

For Riders +44 (0)1865 377853

Horses with Attitude +44 (0)1274 852139

Merial Animal Health Ltd +44 (0)1279 775858

www.childsfarm.com

www.ivriders.com

www.horseswithattitude.co.uk

www.merial.com

Solocomb +44 (0)1235 511358

Clarendon Equestrian Ltd +44 (0)1825 733361

Frank Baines Saddler

Horse World Live +44 (0) 1580 860 988

Natural Animal Feeds +44 (0)800 373106

www.horseworldlive.com

www.naf-uk.com

Spartan Equestrian Products +44 (0)1474 705065

www.burlerrowfarmmiscanthus.co.uk

+44 (0)1922 640847 www.clarendon-equestrian.com www.frankbaines.com

Classic Showjumps 0161 765 2010 / 2014

Friendship Estates +44 (0)1302 700220

Horslyx +44(0)16973 32592

Nicholson Machinery +44 (0)1366 377444

www.classicshowjumps.com

www.friendshipestates.co.uk

www.horslyx.co.uk

www. nicholson-machinery.co.uk

42

EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS MONTHLY | August 2012 www.ebmonthly.co.uk

Stable Safe +44 (0)7500 091650

www.newequinewear.co.uk

www.duralock.com

www.equestrianvision.co.uk

www. sportsmark.co.uk

www.rockall.info

Kate Negus +44 (0)1249 740590

Equestrian Vision +44 (0)1403 865320

Sportmark by Signam +44 1926 417300

Sherwood Forest Ltd +44 (0)1159 424265 www.sherwoodforest-uk.com

Silvermoor +44 (0)1665 602587 www.silvermoor.com

Smart Grooming +44 (0)1823 681076

www.solocomb.co.uk

www.starkiesbeeswaxcreams.com

Stormsure +44 (0)3333 441500 www.stormsure.co.uk

Stuart Canvas +44 (0)1925 814525 www.stuartcanvas.co.uk

Studsafe +44 (0)28 406 22658 www. studsafe.com

Taurus Footwear and Leathers Ltd +44 (0)1328 851432 www.taurusfootwearandleathers.co.uk

TBK +44 (0)1580 292632 www.tbkltd.com

The British Horse Society +44 (0)8450 777692 www.bhs.org.uk

Top Paddock +44 (0)1469 563995 www.top-paddock.co.uk

Trelawne Equine Ltd +44 (0)8442 578585 www.trelawneequine.co.uk

Tuffa International Footwear +44 (0)1953 880914 www.tuffaboots.com

Uncle Jimmy’s Brand Products +1 866 965 4669 www.jimmysballs.com

Unicorn Leather +44 (0)1883 382310 www.unicornleather.co.uk

V-Bandz +44 (0)8450 956810 www.v-bandz.co.uk

Vale Brothers +44 (0)1239 614648 www.kbf99.co.uk

Verdo +44 (0)1264 342 009 www.verdorenewables.co.uk

Virbac Animal Health +44 (0)1359 243243 www.equimax-tabs.com

W F Young, Inc +001 413 526 9999 www.absorbine.co.uk

Wahl +44 (0)1227 740555 www.wahl.co.uk

Westgate EFI Ltd +44 (0)1303 872277 Westgate Labs +44 (0)1670791994 www.westgatelabs.co.uk

Wicked or What +44 (0)1285760656 www.wickedorwhat.com

Worklite Ltd +44 (0)1279 418052 www.work-lite.com

Your Gift Horse +44(0)1454 202033

www.spartanequestrian.com

www.yghtrade.com

Spoga + Gafa +44 (0)208 6818166

Zilco +44 (0)1844 338623

www.spogagafa.com

www. zilcoeurope.com