Nettex Fly Repellent wins ‘Best in Test’ & 'Best Value

Nettex Fly Repellent has won ‘Best in Test’ in the 2013 in the Your Horse tests. Compared to other fly products Nettex Fly Repellent was the judges favourite. As Your Horse commented;

"...this lasted the longest and was deffinitely the most effective. It contains DEET, a common chemical ingredient which is effective at repelling but not killing insects. Nettex adds moisturisers and conditioners to reduce evaporation, and they obviously do the trick because even in hot weather we didn't need ro reapply any more - just once in the morning before turnout. It had a light and lemony scent and left the horse's coat looking clean and shiny. This was definitely our favourite and we'll be using it again."

Plus Nettex Fly Repellent Wipes won 'Best Value' in the July 2013 issue of Horse & Rider who said;

"Each wipe contains enough product to cover a fairly large horse, despite being quite small. The effects are strong enough to provide instant relief from flies without irritating the skin - it was gentle enough for riders to use on themeselves too. They come in a handy container that seals to keep them moist. A great product."

Nettex fly repellent available in two sizes 250ml and 500ml

http://www.hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=29_221_178&products_id=732

Wow-Real Talent

Lean Logistics Eventing Team's video.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=221694074694097

Paste the link into your browser

Pasture management for horse fields

                               Every now and then, your fields need rejuvenating. You can do that by completely seeding
                                after ploughing the fields or by reseeding the existing grassland.
                                  Following are some tips and advice on grassland maintenance for your fields, separated i                               into maintenance and fertilising.

                                Maintenance of the fields
                               The following points are important for keeping your fields in good condition:

                              1. Seeding / re-seeding of the fields                                  Try to renew your grass every 10-15 years, by completely redoing the fields or, at least,                                    by re-seeding. After ploughing and rolling and before seeding the new grass, you

should carry out a repair fertilising. This is very important. You need a soil analysis to find out the deficiencies of the soil. After adding the required ingredients, you can go ahead with the seeding. Use grass seed for horse pasture and not for cattle pasture.
If you decide to re-seed, then the grass seeds need to go onto the existing grassland. The best time for seeding is autumn or spring. Summer is less suitable.

2. The grass seed mixture: suitable for horses

There are some standard seed mixes commercially available for horse fields in England. It consists of perennial ryegrass (3 to 4 varieties), meadow fescue, Timothy (2 varieties), creeping red fescue and smooth stalked meadow grass. You need around 14 kg per acre.
Ryegrass is less suitable for horses as it grows very fast and overgrows the finer grasses, which horses prefer. Ryegrass also contains a high level of protein, which is good for cows (milk production), but not required for horses. Horses need a more structure rich type of grass.
Creeping red fescue is one of the best grasses for horse fields and it is recommended to put a mix together yourself without any ryegrass. A standard mix should contain creeping red fescue (4 kg/acre), crested dogstail (2 kg/acre), Timothy (1 kg/acre), smooth stalked meadow grass (1 kg/acre) and cocksfoot (0.5 kg/acre). Ideally you would add some herbs and wildflowers. Pavo has developed grass seed for horses.
3. Grazing and topping

It is recommended to top the fields every now and then between periods of grazing. This will maintain the good quality of the fields.

4. Remove droppings from the fields

Every horse owner knows this, but it is not always done: droppings should be removed every day. Especially to prevent worm contamination, but also to avoid the rough vegetation appearing in the latrines (areas used by horses for both urinating and manuring).

5. Pasture maintenance

It is recommended to top the fields every now and then to get rid of the rough vegetation and to harrow the fields at least once a year.

Fertilising the fields

In general, fertilising the fields is not getting the attention it deserves. It is an exception that the owner of the fields takes soil samples to find out what the state of the soil is and to put a fertilisation plan together. However, it is important for the quality of the fields and the health of the horse to provide the soil with the correct fertiliser. Below are a few tips and advice.

Limit the amount of organic manuresOrganic manure, from animals, has an excellent fertilising value. The benefit is that organic manure releases the effective ingredients slowly, so that the fields benefit for the whole grazing season. In general, 10 cubic meters is sufficient for 2.5 acres. The reason is the high percentage of potassium in organic manure. Too high a percentage of potassium in the soil prevents grasses from absorbing magnesium and other minerals which are important for horses.
Provide a steady level of nitrogen

A lot of field owners spread an artificial fertiliser in the spring. The fertiliser used normally contains Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium. The nitrogen releases within a few days and causes the grass to grow very quickly. As a result the grass contains high levels of protein, not wanted for horses!!
A few years ago aspecial fertiliser for horse fields came on to the market, which contains a special nitrogen combination, which releases the nitrogen slowly (normally 2 to 3 months). This type of nitrogen is called ENTEC-nitrogen and is manufactured by BASF. The benefits are that the grass grows well, but the protein levels stay low. It also does not dissolve easily in rainwater, so it does not flush away and is better for the environment.

Phosphorus supplement in spring

Phosphorus is important for the initial growth of the roots, which the young grass uses to collect the nutrients from the soil. Weeds and unwanted grasses find it difficult to grow in a good phosphate environment.
Also, phosphorus is an important building block for the development of the bones in a horse. The phosphorus present in the soil is difficult to obtain by the young grass, so it is important that the fertiliser contains phosphorus: for the grass root development and for the healthy bone growth of the horse.

Magnesium is often overlooked

Magnesium is an important building block for the development of green leaves. Also, the magnesium requirement of horses is quite high. In general, the levels of magnesium in the soil are low or the potassium levels are high, so it is difficult to absorb magnesium. Therefore it is important to add magnesium to horse fields.

Agricultural salt on a horse field?

Sodium plays an important role in the attractive taste of grass. It does not increase the growth, but makes the grass attractive to horses. Horses who work a lot need a lot of sodium (salt). By spreading a limited amount of agricultural salt on horse fields you improve the taste and give the horses a bit of extra salt.

Spreading lime in the autumn

Most soil samples of horse fields show a very low pH value. The soil is acidic. In an acidic field, it is more difficult for plants to absorb nutrients. You can repair an acidic field by spreading lime from September to November. The pH of the soil will then be neutral again in spring when the grass starts to grow.

Summery

• Grassland renovation: seed or re-seed every 10-15 years
• Use a grass seed mix suitable for horses
• Top the fields between periods of grazing
• Remove droppings from the fields
• Organic fertiliser (animal manure) is excellent for the field, but limit the amount
• Use a fertiliser with slow releasing nitrogen which keeps the protein level low
• Pay attention to the magnesium and sodium levels in the fields
• Control the pH value of the fields by spreading lime in the autumn

Hartpury Saddlery offer Henrys horse and pony grass seed mixture & suregrow fertilisers For more info Call.  01452 700 800

Dressage back at Royal Windsor Horse show

Dressage back at Royal Windsor Horse show

We love this show here at Hartpury Saddlery and attend every year, We are thrilled by the news, and wanted to share with you guys.

Royal Windsor Horse Show (RWHS) is implementing a raft of changes for 2014 — including free admission on Wednesday, 2 new 3-star dressage classes and a return to evening sessions.

Visitors will be able to attend the show free with the introduction of “Windsor Wednesday” on 14 May.

Organisers hope free entry will encourage a new audience.

This year RWHS also introduces new international 3-star showjumping and dressage classes, with prize-money boosted to £250,000 — up from £87,000 from last year. It will be the only UK event to host international competition in 4 disciplines— jumping, driving, endurance and dressage.

“The only way for Windsor to go was to take it up a notch by introducing international competitions,” said organiser Simon Brooks-Ward.

“We expect to attract some top international riders. This year we are 3-star, but we would like to maintain the growing success and achieve 5-star status one day.”

Ticket prices — from £16 on Thursday to £25 on Saturday/Sunday — are slightly up from last year but are to include evening sessions this year.

The last international dressage competition held at Windsor was the European Championships in 2009. This year a CDI3* FEI dressage grand prix and CDI3* FEI freestyle will be included in the royal show.

15 competitors will be invited to take part — 5 from the UK and 10 from abroad.

Richard Davison told H&H it was “exciting news” for dressage in Britain.

“The facilities are fantastic, so it’s a great showcase for the sport and a good experience for up-and-coming horses and riders,” he said. “Obviously it will take time to grow on the international calendar, but the more 3-stars we have in the country the better.”

On Wednesday, there will be an advanced medium freestyle dressage championship, places for which are determined at the winter championships at Hartpury.

Organisers hope to attract top showjumpers too, with the CSI3* King’s Cup — worth £53,000 — on Saturday and CSI3* Alltech grand prix for the Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy, worth £35,000, on Sunday.

Originally published on horseandhound.co.uk 21st February 2014

Please Help your local business

Have your say ! Your local shop is 

expanding the collections on offer,

 would you like to see your favorite item 

or brand you use all the time, in stock

 all year round,

 pop along to Hartpury Saddlery 

this Friday 7 pm and tell us !

£5 voucher to spend on the night


01452 700800

New training courses for the new year

By Charlotte Ricca-Smith on 16th-Jan-2014

Stock image © SXC

If the new year’s diet has already failed and you’ve yet to step inside the gym, how about making a resolution to expand your equestrian knowledge?

Equine nutrition

Saracen Horse Feeds and the British Horse Society have joined forces to provide a training series on equine nutrition.

The course has four separate modules, which will be presented by Lizzie Drury, the senior nutritionist at Saracen Horse Feeds who helps keep the likes of Valegro and Uthopia on winning form.

Informed decisions

Topics include feeding the performance horse and the nutritional requirements for youngstock. The sessions, which run from March to June, will be held at the BHS headquarters at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, and are £25 per module or free if you are a BHS registered groom.

According to Fiona Lawrence, the head groom for Carl Hester and ambassador for the BHS grooms register, the courses are "invaluable".

“Being able to make informed decisions about feeding and nutrition is essential for any horse owner and a must for professional grooms," she said. "It is our job to keep top level sports horses in peak health and condition. Knowing how to spot warning signs, knowing which type of feed will suit a particular horse or just how much to give will make looking after the horse a much easier job.”

For more information or to book a place please email the BHS training department.

Vet taster course

Meanwhile, the University of Edinburgh is running a five-week taster course to give prospective vets an idea of what it is like to study veterinary medicine.

The online course consists of five lectures, each around one hour long, providing general information on the profession, as well as an introduction to body systems, basic animal care, and veterinary professional and clinical skills.

‘Do you have what it takes to be a veterinarian?’ is free and takes place in May. You simply need tosign up and get studying.

Be Safe

Be Safe out there !

We all know the importance of safety when it comes to enjoying our horses, however how many of us understand what we are buying and if it meets certain safety Criteria ?

Why I hear you cry, Life is short, surly a reflective jacket is a reflective jacket !

Ah i'm afraid not and as for why you might want to look a little closer, apart from the obvious safety issues of some "Less reflective" products. You could end up invalidating your insurance should you be involved in an accident, costly in more than one way.

So lets take a quick uncomplicated look at what you should be looking for in the most common safety products out there at the moment.

Reflective Products- 

EN471 is represented by an aqua-colored label. This is
suitable for professional use,such as by grooms exercising horses out on the roads.

EN1150 is represented by a royal-blue label.
This is suitable for non-professional use by leisure riders.

EN13356 is represented by a navy-blue label. This is suitable
for hi-viz accessories, including detachable belts, arm and hat
bands.

CE Mark 

The CE Mark is neither a quality mark nor a standard in itself but is a mandatory declaration under EU law by a manufacturer to show compliance with essential requirements of all relevant EU Directives.

BETA High Visibility Certification Scheme Members

Safety helmets

BSEN 1384 1997 with CE mark- This is the basic minimum standard for almost all forms of riding. 


PAS015: 2011 with BSI mark -This stands for Product Approval Specification and deals with new areas of protection than the last one, such as crush resistance and protection against injury when landing on
an edged surface.

Snell E2001 -This is the newest standard, developed in America by the Snell Institute. It is a higher
performance standard which includes all aspects of ASTM (A lower standard american classification) and PAS 015 but with a sharper
horseshoe anvil

The Kitemark -

The Kitemark is the registered trademark of the British Standards Institute and
can only be affixed to products certified by them. As well as complying with
the requirements of the relevant standard, e.g EN1384 or PAS 015, the mark
indicates that the company complies with a rigorous system of regulation
and testing. Companies are required to provide the BSI with unrestricted
access to their offices and factories and allow regular testing of randomly
chosen samples through batch and audit testing. Hats are only released for
sale once batch testing is completed, thus avoiding product recall.

Legal Requirements 

By law children aged 14 years or younger must wear a riding hat to at least EN1384 when riding on the road.

For more detailed information on these and other safety subjects, the British Horse society and BETA provide further reading.

Thank you for reading.

Stacey Dunne
Hartpury Saddlery
01452 700 800
www.hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk

Refer a friend for money off your feeds and supplements

Refer a friend and receive FREE loyalty stamps to put towards your horse feed & supplements.

How it works –

1)                    Refer a friend to Loyalty card scheme

2)                    They fill their card & hand it in

3)                    You receive 4 FREE Stamps

Please help us improve

Hi

We are conducting a Market research survey to improve our services to you in 2014, we would be so great full for the feed back, which we will then use to improve your community shop and our on-line offerings.

As a little incentive all surveys FULLY completed will go in a draw and the winning one (at random) will receive £45 worth of vouchers to spend at Hartpury Saddlery.

The survey is split into 2 sections, you must complete both sections below,  to be in with a chance of winning, They should only take 5-6 Mins to complete in Total.
(Please paste/click  each link separately and complete thank you)

Section 1) https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PG9GKTL

Section 2)https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P6ZC787

Thank you for your time.

Stacey Dunne
Hartpury Saddlery - helping riders everyday.
01452 700 800
www.hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk

Feeding Advice from the experts

Worried about condition ? Not sure your getting the best from your feeding ? Or just want some reassurance, why not ask the experts SARACEN horse feeds work closely with Kentucky equine research and are on hand to help, follow the link and fill in the form for your personalised feeding plan from the experts used by the experts.

http://www.saracenhorsefeeds.com/feed-check?utm_source=KER+Newsletter&utm_campaign=fb31eca5fc-ker-horse-nutri-saracen-horse-f-01_08_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0d95781dfc-fb31eca5fc-283021

We are Local Saracen Stockists: 01452 700 800
stacey@hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk

Welcome to Cashjumping™

 Cashjumping™

Designed for all show jumpers whatever their level and will provide

 fair competition for all with reasonable entry fees, decent prize money

 and good facilities.                                         http://www.cashjumping.co.uk/

Riders and their Horses or Ponies compete in Classes from 60cms up to 1.40M, with

 entry fees from £10 and 50% of the entry fee being placed in the prize fund pot, and 

distributed amongst the winners. This provides a decent entry fee to prize money

 ratio. Membership is set at £10 for the first horse or pony a rider registers and £5 for

every subsequent horse/pony registered.

Winnings are recorded in National League tables available here and the top 50 riders 

in each class will qualify for the National Cashjumping finals in September.

Our Local venue participating in this are....http://mooresfarmequestrian.co.uk/

www.hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk

01452 700 800

Spanish Highlight from Olimpia

For those of you that didn't make it to Olympia,
thank you to Jo Hansford photography who did make it
and produced some amazing pictures of the Spanish Andalusian
school horses, plus a rendezvous from the amazing Charlotte Dujardin
and valegro in the collecting ring,
and an appearance from Ben Cohen (wish u were there !!!!!!)

Check it out here....http://www.johansfordphotography.com/blog/?p=3395#more-3395

Newsletter

Hartpury Saddlery Newsletter 2013/2014

Hi, Welcome to our end of 2013/beginning of 2014 edition of the Hartpury Saddlery newsletter

We want to start of with a massive thank you to all our wonderful customers ( you know who you are) that have supported us over 2013, we love you guys and are going to be working really hard in 2014 to bring you even better and more exciting new products at great value and excellent service. As a sneak peek we have included a few of our planned new lines for the new year below!!!

NEW PLANS for 2014

A shop makeover is on the cards, so do keep an eye out for this, we have some nice plans to enhance your shopping experience and don’t forget we have a coffee machine and seating area in shop for your to sit and enjoy some time out (and browse our extended collections available to order)

New stock lines for 2014

 Topic talk evenings-

 Every last Wednesday of the month we hold a topic talk evenings, these are FREE to attend and include refreshments, we have talks planned from local vets, physios, natural horsemanship, sports therapists and more so do join up if you fancy attending any of interest, and we will send you information, e-mail Stacey@hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk and quote.  " Topic talk "

Blog & top tips

If you are a techno person, you might be interested in our regularly blog updates on important issues such as breathing problems, weight issues, lameness, nutrition, training, local services,  and more, plus they include out top tips on the best products out there for the job, essential reading for anyone into horse care, management or competition, Found here, on face book, twitter and on our website

https://www.facebook.com/groups/189859204175/

Thank you again and here’s to a great 2014 for everyone

www.hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk

Stacey@hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk

Easy Breathing

Breathing problems in the horse can be a worrying problem for horse owners with sometimes obvious symptoms and a not so obvious diagnosis.

However there are some things to look out for and some easy preventative measures you can take to ensure your horse or pony stays well this time of year and avoids breathing issues.

To Provide a bit more detail into this subject we have enlisted the help of Global Herbs supplements, a range of quality herbal supplements researched and produced by vets, who have put together a fact sheet of information and what you need to be aware of.

Check it out here:
http://globalherbs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Global-Herbs-Breathing-Booklet-DLversion.pdf

Hartpury Saddlery recommends: Airways plus-easy breathing to offer respiratory support

http://www.hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=3_110_111&products_id=410

Golega Portugal- The capital of the horse

Some of may have been aware that we closed the shop over a few days this

month, well we would like to let you know what we got up to, with the help of

Jo hansford phtography (her pictures are stunning) and her blog,

(who we met out in golega, portugal) we would like to share some of the

amazing things to see in the place known as the "capital of the horse",

 please check it out.

http://www.johansfordphotography.com/blog/?p=3214

Thank you Jo.

Hartpury Saddlery Top Tips- Rug Cleaning

Rug Cleaning- The Facts !

              By Hartpury Saddlery 

                  01452 700800

      www.hartprysaddleryshop.co.uk

Have you ever stopped to think?

                               IS MY RUG CLEANING COMPANY USING 

                            THE SAFEST METHODS FOR MY HORSES SKIN?

You may think cleaning is cleaning; however there are factors to consider

 when thinking about the longev- ity and hygiene of your rugs,

 and exactly what you are paying for ? 

Have you ever thought about what happens to your expensive rugs

 when you drop them off for cleaning and more importantly RE-PROOFING? 

 As a horse owner myself, I have spent a lot of money on rugs over the years

 and want to ensure they are looked after and treated professionally 

when I send them off for cleaning. 

So with this in mind Hartpury Saddlery has undertaken research 

to bring you not only the best rug cleaning service around but the facts

 behind the dirty job too.

Detergent-free washing- cleaning your horse rugs detergent free ensures

 a thoroughly clean rug with no risk of an itchy reaction for your horse &

therefore avoids skin conditions, plus it is totally environmentally friendly.

Disease prevention is important to all horse owners, and  it is essential that

 your rug cleaning service has methods in place to prevent any spread. 

Good storage practices, separate areas for clean and dirty rugs and no old bags should ever be taken from customers for transportation

 and defiantly not returned in them.

Reproofing is an important part of ensuring the long life of your rugs 

and keeping your horse dry and comfortable.

 It is essential that the right product is used to do this. 

we only use Nikwax aftercare treatments.

"The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation claim that Nikwax 

are the only manufacturers of aftercare products that contain no 

fluorochemicals, Fluorochemicals are able to enter human tissue,

 which can have harmful effects on fertility and hormones. 

They are also known to spread environmental pollutants into water

 and the air So when we use Nikwax we know it is safe to 

You, Your Horse & your rugs.

Hartpury Saddlery recommend for the longevity of your rugs 
to have them re-proofed at least once a season, or twice for very heavy use. 

Revolutionary

ABOUT HYPOCARE

"PEOPLE USE HYPOCARE TO CLEAN & FLUSH WOUNDS AND INJURIES AS WELL AS STUBBORN FUNGAL INFECTIONS"

WHAT IS HYPOCARE?

Hypocare is a revolution in infection control. It is a topical application that mirrors the body’s own immune system. Working naturally with the body, it rapidly kills bacterial, viral and fungal infections. In the equine world Hypocare is used to clean and flush wounds and injuries as well as stubborn fungal infections, such as Ringworm, Mud Fever and Thrush.

HOW DOES HYPOCARE MIRROR THE BODY’S OWN IMMUNE SYSTEM?

The active ingredient in Hypocare is Hypochlorous acid, which is produced naturally by the body’s own immune system. When a wound or infection occurs in the body, neutrophils, a type of white blood cell are deployed to the site of infection. The neutrophils then engulf the invading pathogen and produce Hypochlorous acid which kills the bacteria.

HOW POWERFUL IS HYPOCARE?

Hypochlorous acid is amazing.

Hypochlorous acid is between 80-300 times more effective at killing pathogens than hypochlorite or bleach. Although its disinfecting powers are unrivalled, it is kind to healthy tissue and has a skin neutral pH, ensuring that it will not slow down the healing process.

"HYPOCHLOROUS ACID IS BETWEEN 80-300 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE AT KILLING PATHOGENS THAN HYPOCHLORITE OR BLEACH"

DOES HYPOCARE STING?

NO. Hypocare will not sting when applied as it has been formulated to emulate a skin pH, which means it works in harmony with the body.

WHAT ANIMALS CAN HYPOCARE BE USED ON?

Hypocare can be used on any Mammal. In the domestic pet world, it is frequently used because of its ability to help maintain healthy and itch-free skin. It is also safe if ingested, so you won’t need to worry about your pet licking the affected area.

WILL HYPOCARE HARM HEALTHY TISSUE?

No. Because Hypochlorous is a chemical that the body produces naturally, it is completely harmless to sensitive areas such as around eyes, cuts and open wounds.

"UNLIKE ANTIBIOTICS, PATHOGENS CANNOT BECOME RESISTANT TO HYPOCHLOROUS."

CAN PATHOGENS BECOME RESISTANT TO HYPOCARE?

No. Unlike antibiotics where overuse has resulted in resistance, pathogens cannot become resistant to Hypochlorous.

IS HYPOCARE COMPETITION SAFE?

YES. Hypocare contains none of the banned substances disapproved by the FEI.

WHY HAS IT NOT BEEN AVAILABLE BEFORE?

It has long been acknowledged that Hypochlorous is highly effective at killing a wide range of microorganisms and that it is safe for users and has no environmental implications - unlike traditional chemical sanitizers or disinfectants. Until now however, it has not been possible to produce high strength Hypochlorous with a shelf life of more than a few hours.

"HYPOCARE IS GROUND BREAKING TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL CHANGE HORSEMANSHIP AND ANIMAL CARE FOREVER"

GROUND BREAKING TECHNOLOGY

Hypocare is a ground breaking technology developed by a British company that has succeeded in making high strength, stable Hypochlorous acid that will change horsemanship and animal care forever.

 To purchase-http://www.hartpurysaddleryshop.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=848

BIOCIDAL TECHNOLOGY

Hypocare® is a biocidal product designed for cleaning and flushing for hygiene purposes and is not a veterinary treatment. Hypocare does not claim to have any medical effect on the conditions listed.

                Hartpury Saddlery Topic talks Evening

Natural horsemanship talk by Samantha Bolam

& Sports massage demos by Dynamic human and equine sports massage

4th Dec at 7pm

A fun and informative evening learn more about communicating with your horse and improving your partnership, plus the benefits of sports massage for you and your horse.

Limited spaces book now !

01452 700 800