etn - equestrian trade news - march2012

March 2012Volume 36, No 3 MonthlyT h e Vo i c e o f t h e E q u e s t r i a n I n d u s t r y

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PRODUCTFOCUSFly controlWeight watchingCompetition gear

Who won BETA Business Awards?

• Show report• Award winners• Review and reactionETN is the official mediapartner of BETA International

201219-21 February 2012NEC, Birmingham, UK

BETA INTERNATIONAL2012

PLUS:

... the magazine for the industry, about the industry, by the industry

BETA International 2012 made it feel like the Olympiccelebrations have well and truly kicked off.

There were patriotic products in red, white and blue plusaudiences with Olympic riders past and probable; whilestands were reporting top performances from seriousbuyers.

BETA International 2012 also reminded us that, just like insport, the days of getting away with being amateurish inbusiness are over.

No longer do we see hordes of jodhpur and rubber ridingboot clad ‘retailers’ wandering about having a day out withtheir mates. In their place are well-prepared professionalsspending two or three days at the show executing carefullyplanned buying campaigns.

Talking of the Olympics, ETN strapped a pedometer to onemember of the organising team during build-up and thethree-day show itself. The grand total covered by one personwas 26.6 miles, the equivalent of a marathon.

Yes, a top quality BETA International 2012 deserved a goldmedal.

FOLLOWING a generally mild winter, there will be plenty of fathorses about this spring. According to a newly released study[see News], more than one in four will be obese.

The reputable feed companies are weighing in with somesound advice. Read more in our ‘weight watching’ feature frompage 43.

You could say that low calorie equine feeds are an anomaly -akin to the low fat chocolate mousse. If a horse is too fat, giveit less food and more exercise...

But life isn’t that simple. Horses need to trickle feed. And,sadly, we can’t all ride ours for six hours a day; nor can they liveas Nature intended, roaming free on the open prairie.

As ever, compromise is required. And with their generousmarketing budgets, the feed companies are well placed asequestrian educators. Retailers and merchants just need to getin on the act – and there’s plenty of cost-effective support onoffer for everything from stockist open days to point-of-salematerials.

When you’re selling feed, steadfast nerve is required to satisfya generation of owners who have only ever seen fat, under-worked horses. But take heart...

For a couple of years now, the wormer market has beengoing down the ethical route, due to concerns about resistanceto existing drugs. And if the major pharmaceutical companiescan make commercial sense of a ‘less is more’ approach,perhaps the equine feed industry can too?

Liz Benwell

CONTENTS MARCH 2012

CommentNEWS .......................................................4

OPINIONOn the Derby House CVA ...........................10

PRODUCT NEWS.......................................12

WHAT’S ON ..............................................14

BETA GALA DINNERHow the trade partied ...............................16

2012 BETA BUSINESS AWARDSHigh achievers rewarded ..........................18

FLY CONTROL FEATURE ............................20

PEOPLE...................................................23

DOGS AT WORK ........................................24

BETA INTERNATIONAL 2012 REPORT All the action from the trade fair ................29On the catwalk .........................................33Horse&Rider Innovation Awards ................34Best stand awards ....................................36

SMS ANNUAL NATIONAL COMPETITIONSSaddlery skills on show ............................36

COMPETITION GEAR Rider ranges revealed ..............................38Product gallery ........................................40Dressing for dressage...............................42

WEIGHT WATCHING Products to fight the flab...........................43Feeding for good feet ................................46Helping worried owners............................48

COUNTY COURT JUDGMENTS ....................50

FRONT COVER: The peopleand products that made

headlines at BETA International2012. See ETN’s full report on

page 8 and from page 29.

4 MARCH 2012 EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS www.equestriantradenews.com

Agrihealth inc. Eddie Palin .....................................22Airowear ...............................................................13Allen & Page .........................................................46Animalife ................................................................3Asmar Equestrian ....................................................7Bailey’s Horse Feeds ..............................................47Barnsby ..............................................................OBCBarrier Animal Healthcare.......................................22Battle Hayward and Bower.....................................41Belstane ................................................................10BETA International .................................................24Bridleway Equestrian ...............................................8Brinicombe Equine.................................................22Classified...............................................................49Dodson & Horrell Limited .......................................45Equetech...............................................................42Griffin NuuMed .....................................................39Horka......................................................................8Horslyx..................................................................23Life Data Labs Inc ..................................................44Maxavita Equine Health Care ...................................9Merial Animal Health Ltd .......................................15Jack Murphy..........................................................11Natural Animal Feeds .......................................25-28L S Sales (Farnam Ltd) ............................................21Sherwood Forest Ltd ..............................................31Snowhill Trade Saddlery........................................IBCSouth Essex Insurance Brokers..................................5Tagg Equestrian.....................................................21TopSpec ................................................................32Torq Fitness ...........................................................14Virbac Animal Health Ltd .......................................IFCW F Young Inc.......................................................20Web Directory .......................................................50www.britishequestriandirectory.com.......................48

ADVERT INDEX

Equestrian Trade NewsStockeld Park,Wetherby,West Yorkshire LS22 4AWTel: 01937 582111Fax: 01937 582778 – SalesEmail: sales @equestriantradenews.comWebsite: www.equestriantradenews.com

Publisher:Equestrian Management Consultants Ltd

Editor:Liz BenwellEmail: [email protected]: 0845 6185007

Advertising Sales:Nicki LewisEmail: [email protected]: 01937 582111Fax: 01937 582778

Advertising Copy:Nicki LewisEmail: [email protected]: 01937 582111

SubscriptionsDistributed on a controlled-circulation basis to theretail trade. Paid-for annual subscriptions are £39.95(UK), £73.00 (Europe), £86.00 (rest of the world).

The magazine is independent of all groups. Editorialviews expressed in ETN are not necessarily the officialview of any organisation or group.

Copyright:All material is copyright Equestrian ManagementConsultants Ltd.

Design & Print:G.H. Smith & Son,Market Place, Easingwold,North YorkshireYO61 3ABTel: 01347 821329Fax: 01347 822576Email: [email protected]: www.ghsmith.com

ISSN 1462-9526

TEQUE-STYLE PerformanceWear has been acquired byPremier Equine International,best known for its Buster rugs. Nikki Smart, who foundedTeque-Style ten years ago, willstay on as in-house designer. The range will continue to bemanufactured in the UK andmade available to the trade. Teque-Style riding shirts wereamong the first to use technicalfabrics and have since been wornby riders across the disciplines. “Premier Equine can finance,warehouse and distribute thegrowth that is planned over thenext five years and beyond,” saidClive Davies, managing directorof Premier Equine.“Teque-Style was the perfectacquisition for us and a hugeleap forward into a top end clothing sector where we want to be with the right brand and image.”

Premier Equine buysriding shirt brand

IN the February issue of ETN, a worming feature enabled SQPs to earn two CPD points by correctly completing a quiz. AMTRA is required by the Veterinary Medicines Regulations toensure its SQPs undertake CPD. The current training periodends on 30 June 2013 – and not 2012 as published in lastmonth’s feature. The next SQP CPD feature appears in the June issue of ETN.

AMTRA CPD deadline

PAID-FOR equestrian consumermagazines saw a slight fall incirculations last year – althoughnothing like the dip of 2010.

ABC (Audit Bureau ofCirculations) figures revealedlast month (16 February) andcovering January to December2011 show average sales perissue as follows (2010 figures inbrackets):

Horse&Hound 49,324 (52,176)Your Horse 28,126 (28,577)

Horse 14,451 (15,430)British Horse 68,092 (65,526)

H&H, Horse and Your Horseare more than 99% activelypurchased ie. bought byconsumers from a newsagentsor on subscription; BritishHorse, the British Horse Society(BHS) membership magazine, isdefined by ABC as 0% activelypurchased and is the only title torecord an increase in circulation.

The decline in sales ofconsumer titles can be seen bycomparing the new statisticswith those from 2008, when Jan-Dec ABC figures were:Horse&Hound 61,445, Horse18,268, Your Horse 33,052 andBritish Horse 62,162.

However, with ABC confirmingthat Horse&Hound’s new paid-for digital format magazine willcount towards its circulationfigure, all might be set to changeif others follow publisher IPCMedia’s lead.

Magazines cling on to readers• Horse & Hound is now availablein paid-for digital format.

In what’s believed to be a UKequestrian publishing ‘first’, theweekly title can be accessed bycomputer or tablet immediatelyupon publication each Thursday.

The price, including VAT, is£89.99 for a year's subscription,matching the cost of a printsubscription. Individual issuescan also be purchased.

Digital magazine sales cancount towards a title’s AuditBureau Circulations (ABC) figure,recognised as the industrystandard measure of circulation.

“If a digital magazine is paidfor and the content is an exactreplica or similar to the printedversion and the advertising is thesame, then it can count towardsan ABC figure,” Ben Wignall ofABC told ETN.

“This is, of course, providedthe publisher can prove thenumber that have been paid-forand distributed in the same wayas it must for a print magazine.”

According to Horse & Houndeditor Lucy Higginson, offeringdigital subscriptions willovercome the challenge ofselling a news weekly via postaldelivery to an internationalaudience.

“Now a reader in Sydney orSeville can read the new issuefirst thing on a Thursdaymorning,” she said.

www.equestriantradenews.com

THE 2012 edition of spoga horse spring, held in Cologne,Germany on 5 – 7 February, hosted 209 exhibitors from 26countries.

The organised reported attendance of more than 4,000visitors.

As well as apparel for horse and rider, exhibitors wereshowing equestrian sports equipment, saddlery andleather goods plus care, health and feeding products.

In equestrian wear, gold emerged as the ‘on trend’colour for the coming season. There were breechesadorned with golden, ornamental seams and embroideriesplus a new collection from Italy with glittering detail.

For those riders with more conservative taste, earthyand blue tones such as espresso, nutmeg, indigo, nightblue and sand, often jazzed up with red or orange, werethe theme.

Rider safety was a hot topic; Isabell Werth endorsed anew dressage safety helmet while body protectors foundnew prominence.

Visitors could also see a saddle made with a modularconstruction and another with panels shaped to helpdistribute the rider’s weight evenly.

A new pad for horses’ legs, containing magnets andceramic fibres and emitting long-wave infrared radiation,was claimed to improve the healing process.

In the spoga horse arena, companies were allowed 100seconds to present their new products in a fresh featurefor 2012.

Winner of the Best Equestrian Retailer 2011 Award wasPferdesport Hintermayer in Forst, South Germany.BG-Pferdeshop Boris Gruber in Rot a. d. Rot was awarded BestSmall Tack Shop.

spoga horse autumn takes place on 2 – 4 September2012.

Safety, saddles andapparel headlinein Cologne

EQUIPORT opened a retailoutlet near Knutsford inCheshire last month.The ribbon on theshowroom style shop at 1 London Road, Allostockwas cut by eventer OliverTownend and workinghunter specialist LouiseBell (both pictured).

More than 500 attendedthe launch day which sawspecial offers and a freeprize draw.

The retail storeshowcases Equiport’s ownbrand ranges ofcompetition jackets, showrugs, saddle cloths andstable apparel which is allmanufactured in-house.

Other brands stockedinclude Gersemi, HV Polo,Veredus and Equipe; while

Equiport opensshop in Cheshire

Design Headwearjoins WEFIDesign Headwear, the manufacturer ofGatehouse riding hats, is to come underthe Westgate EFI (WEFI) banner. The company, owned by WEFI joint MD,Bruno Goyens (pictured wearing theGatehouse HS1 jockey skull), will becomepart of WEFI. The distributor’s brandsalready include the Mark Todd Collection,Jumper’s Horse Line, Coolex andSaddlecraft.

Technical director Bill Vero staysinvolved with Design Headwear, whileKate Taylor remains national salesmanager for the Gatehouse range. WEFI’sreps will also promote the Gatehousebrand.

the store offers a fittingservice for the likes of DeNiro and Parlanti ridingboots and Samshield hats.

For Equiport’s managingdirectors Ashley and PamGaynon, the opening is thecompletion of their vision tocreate a luxury equestrianstore more akin to a designerfashion boutique than aconventional tack shop.

Trading for nearly 20years, Equiport haspreviously focused on mailorder, website trading andthe show circuit, all of whichare to continue alongside thenew shop. • Equiport has beenappointed exclusive UKdistributor for the KentuckyHorsewear range ofprotective horse boots.


TUFFA Boots has launched a new Irishwebsite www.tuffaboots.ie to createdemand for its products in the country.

“It includes the lines we currently haveavailable, the prices in Euros and theability to order online should aninterested party be unable to find a localsupplier,” said Michelle Girling of Tuffa.

The site also features a sale itemsection, offering a number of styles atreduced prices.

Boot maker has Irish website

ABBEY England has purchased Catras Leather from long-standingbusiness associate Richard Stevenson who has retired.

Catras Leather is renowned for its bespoke and hand-finishedcommemorative brass plaques collected by steam rallyenthusiasts. The company also produces marathon medals,horse brasses, door knockers and leather martingales.

“The purchase of Catras Leather will help maintainproduction in the West Midlands,” said Peter Philips ofAbbey England.

“We are able to manufacture bespoke brassware forcustomers with the design and supply of moulds headedby our specialists at the Walsall foundry.”

SUPPLEMENTS and horsecare supplier NAF has defended itsdecision to introduce an online shop to its website.

The e-commerce facility, launched on 10 January, replacedNAF’s list of ‘approved internet retailers’.

ETN has received a number of calls from retailers who did notwish to be named but were unhappy about the development, soasked NAF to comment.

“Our loyal consumers expect us to deliver not only greatproducts, but also a great service,” said UK sales managerLorna George. “And so, in the digital age when everyone expectsto purchase anything they wish on line, we are compelled tooffer this facility.

“We have done so with a great deal of thought. Our freephoneadvice line is very busy and once advice has been given to aprospective consumer, they are advised of their closest NAFstockist. However, should that customer wish to purchase therecommended product immediately, they must be able to do soas this is now generally expected.”

Lorna added that consumers also want to purchase NAFproducts whatever the time of day or night. Larger sizes ofproduct, which are available from the online shop but not alwayscarried by stockists, are also popular with those on a budget.

“We will not be heavily promoting our online shop facility,which has been discretely added to the front page of ourwebsite,” said Lorna. “We will be selling all sizes of everyproduct at full, recommended retail price and postage andpacking will be charged for.”

A postcode finder service has also been added to the NAFwebsite, enabling consumers to find their nearest stockist.

NAF launches online shop

NEW additions to the Baileys Horse Feeds range will belaunched through 2012 as owner, F H Nash Ltd,rationalises and rebrands its Badminton Horse Feedsrange.

F H Nash acquired the Badminton brand in May 2010 and hasbeen running it alongside its long-standing Baileys label.

Fibre Plus Nuggets (pictured), the first addition to the Baileysrange, is launched this month. Like all Baileys products, it can beordered from Baileys’ Braintree or Fordingbridge offices.

Retailing at around £9, Baileys Fibre Plus Nuggets is a way toincrease the overall fibre content of horses’ diets. Being lowenergy and non-heating, it’s ideal for good-doers.

Baileys to “rationalise andrebrand” Badminton range

K C Sports Ltd, the company that developed and manufactured theRodney Powell brand of body protectors, has ceased trading.

In a letter to customers, director Roger Cooper said: “HMRevenue & Customs have taken possession of the company’sassets for sale at auction to recover overdue tax and therefore wecannot continue in business.”

Ed Vant, joint managing director of Westgate EFI, told ETN hiscompany had “picked up the Rodney Powell body protector brand”and would be working with its rider namesake.

K C Sports ceases trading

A SURVEY has suggested thatequine obesity remainsworryingly high – even at theend of the winter.

The study, conducted by theUniversity of Bristol’s AnimalWelfare and Behaviour Groupin collaboration with theWaltham Equine StudiesGroup, looked at horsesspending at least six hoursout at pasture daily.

More than a quarter werefound to be were obese at the

end of the winter months -suggesting that well-meaningwinter managementstrategies such as ruggingand a reduction in exercisecould be having a welfareimpact on the UK’s horses,researchers concluded

Interestingly the study tookplace in February 2011, at theend of a much harsher winterthan 2011/12.• See the weight watchingfeature in this issue of ETN.

Too many horses fat in February

A SPOGA spring horse exhibitorhad most of its samples stolenfrom its stand the day beforethe German trade show openedin Cologne last month.

“All of the Horze collectionand half of our BVertigo rangewere removed from the stand,smuggled into a truck anddriven away,” said aspokesman for the companythat’s finding favour in the UKwith its Scandinavian styledclothing collections.

Security was called but it hasnot been able to ascertain the

whereabouts of the goods, headded.

Horze, meanwhile, was leftvery short of samples on itsstand. “With a great deal ofhelp from our enthusiastic staffand sales team, we had ournew samples in place when thedoors opened,” said thespokesman.

“I knew our products werepopular - but this exceeds allour expectations!”

A re-stocked Horze UK wasdue to exhibit at BETAInternational.

Horze samplesstolen at spoga

Abbey acquires Catras Leather

TANGERINE Group - owner of Carr & Day & Martin and Day, Son& Hewitt - has been named ‘One to Watch’ in 2012 according toBest Companies, the people behind the Sunday Times list of ‘100Best Companies to Work For’.

Each year, Best Companies receives thousands of applicationsfrom businesses around the UK. ‘One to Watch’ accreditationrecognises firms that best look after their workforce.

Tangerine Group chairman David Haythornthwaite said theaward reinforced his company’s commitment to providingrewarding careers. “We plan to rank within the top 100 list in thevery near future,” he added.

Tangerine Group is good to work for


IT HAD the theatre of War Horseplus celebrity of Olympic ridersand ITV newscaster AlistairStewart. But mainly BETAInternational 2012 was aboutdoing business.

“BETA international provedthat this country can still run thebest exhibition in terms of goodquality footfall, orders writtenand brand exposure,” saidKrishan Sohal of SherwoodForest and best stand awardwinning Puffa.

“There’s energy andexcitement at BETA International- and it’s left an imprint oneveryone who has come here.”

Each year, BETA Internationalups the ante in terms ofpresentation. “What a fantasticstatement about our industry,”said Richard Lawrence, chairmanof the BETA Trade FairCommittee. With 93 newexhibitors this year, the showalso met retailers’ demand fornew ideas.

At outdoor clothing brandRegatta, returning to BETAInternational after 16 years,

Lorraine Hoose said theexhibiting experience had been“very positive with lots ofenquiries.”

Gillian Neill of Horslyx, backafter a year away, said: "We hadseveral good export enquiriesand overall found that customersthat attended were there to buy."

Buyers on the hunt for theunusual found it at Loo Prints,home of loo seats decorated withBryn Parry’s country sportscartoons and cheeky captions.

Technology was to the fore inboth retailing aids such as EPOSand equestrian products. TaggEquestrian, for instance, waspushing the boundaries withNanosphere self-cleaning rugs.“Our tables have been filled mostof the day, every day, withserious buyers,” said ElaineWelsford.

New faces in country clothingincluded Commando Knitwearwhose Alan Pearce reported “areally good first day, we’ve beenagreeably surprised” in his questto find new UK retailers to stockthis range in pure British wool.

‘Energy and excitement’at BETA International 2012


The patriotic theme continuedat Matchmakers Internationalwith a limited edition Harry HallLegend riding hat. “Qualityvisitors was what we’d hoped for,and that’s what we’re gettingthrough the door. We’ve beennice and busy,” said RichardLawrence.

Footwear was big news acrossequestrian and country clothing.At Kanyon Outdoor, MarkBurman reported that “peoplehave been placing orders andspending money.”

At Scandinavian inspiredHorze, Andrew Courageconfirmed the fast-growingbrand had “shot past last year’ssales record” by Tuesdaylunchtime. Softshell jackets andbelted quilts were a huge hithere.

Promoting her recruitmentwebsite Equine Careers for thethird year, Emma Dyer said theshow had been “our mostproductive yet with lots of newenquiries.”

Emma Bedford, new associatepublisher of Your Horse andHorse Deals, said she wasimpressed by her first BETAInternational: “I’ve been to lots oftrade shows and this one isbigger than I expected and verywell organised. There’s a lot ofbusiness going on.”

Carr & Day & Martin launcheda new cooling/heating effectLiniment. The brand alsosmashed last year’s total sales bythe end of Monday, according tonew sales manager GeraldineShannon who added “there’s somuch potential in this industry.”

Regular exhibitors’ newlydesigned stands were a talkingpoint. “Serious buyers aren’tintimidated by a closed stand,they’ll always come and see newproducts,” said Monty StuartMonteith from Belstane’s newlook stand. Proving his point,there was huge interest in theFree Jump stirrup system andSamshield hats shown byBelstane.

Interesting exhibits includedRacewood’s £40,000 jumping-horse simulator and sports utilityvehicles from SsangYong. “We’vehad some serious punters on thestand,” said Steve Gray from thecompany that also supplied BETAInternational’s courtesy vehicles.

Chatting to visitors at theTopSpec Coffee Shop and KBF99Champagne & Seafood Bar, thePuffa Fashion Show was widelypraised along with the SQPseminars hosted by main sponsorVirbac’s Callum Blair in theSherwood Forest HorseDemonstration & Seminar Arena.

Demonstrating its NT-Dry heeland frog maintenance product paidoff for Equus Imports. “So manypeople came to the standafterwards that this was our bestshow ever,” said WarwickBloomfield, a farrier.

New exhibitor Racing BlueStorm left BETA International withan innovations award for its feedsupplement – and surprised athow cost-effective the experiencehad been. “We were amazed thatto come here cost less than anadvert in a big magazine,” said JonDunnett.

Another debutant, Fullolife, had“a solid response [to its oilsupplements] with leads from bothUK retailers and export markets.”Meanwhile at Classic Showjumps,Giles Fielding confirmed interestfrom Australia, Japan, France andthe Czech Republic. The exporttheme continued at Your Gift Horsewhere Christina Jones metinterested parties from Japan,Scandinavia and Germany.

BETA International is run for thetrade, by the trade. “We’re thrilledwith the help and support thatBETA International gives us,” saidSarah-Jane Fedarb of FinestBrands International whose Toggibrand supplied the organisingteam’s shirts and waistcoats.

BETA International 2013 takesplace on 17-19 February at theNEC, Birmingham.

More from BETA Internationalfrom page 29.


CVA: good or bad?

We all worry about doing business with people whomight not pay us. Yet with limited liability, companiescan frequently run up debts - sometimes through nofault of their own - and potentially walk away from

them. I’ve little sympathy with the suppliers of those businesses; it’s a

commercial risk we take every day in giving other firms credit and it’sfor us to manage that risk. I do have huge sympathy, however, withcustomers who may be let down and lose money as a result.

There’s recently been an increase in well known businesses gettinginto trouble with some household names going to the wall. Onemethod sometimes used hopefully to breathe life back into suchailing businesses is the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

Basically this means a company is in trouble and cannot pay itsdebts, so it does a deal with its creditors to accept either a reducedamount or payments of a period of time or a combination of thetwo.

This is great for the company with a sound business model but, asa result of some freak event, has run in to difficulty. For thecreditors, it might also be great – or at least better than being facedwith a liquidation under which they may get nothing.

The problem with the CVA and other forms of insolvencyarrangements is that frequently customers [consumers] remainunaware of it, which might unreasonably expose them to a risk theywould not wish to take. The other problem can be to the industrysector as a whole.

Heavy discountingSometimes companies fail because they have a flawed business

model; this is very common with retail businesses which focus onheavy discounting. The business model is built on volume andoperating at very low margins, something that can be successful asvolume can create better buying power which hopefully enables thebusiness to make better margins in the future.

The problem often hits these sort of businesses when either fixedcosts such as wages and rents grow quicker than sales - and also ifsales growth slows.

Frequently a retailer can keep making losses so long as the salesvolume grows, because they get their money off the customers todaybut don’t pay their suppliers until sometime later, by which time theirsales have gone up.

The problem is that if a company takes market share by heavydiscounting and not making profits, it has the effect of a. taking

As reported in last month’s ETN, the creditors of troubled retailer DerbyHouse have agreed to a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) with thetroubled retailer. Jonathan Russell looks at the implications for our industry.

market away from other retailers and b. driving down margins acrossthe board. It’s a recognised model, but one that needs to beadequately financed.

If a business trades in this manner and gets into trouble, it fails andeveryone returns to normal. But if there is a CVA, it may be that thebusiness is able to continue doing exactly what it was before anddamaging many other retailers as a consequence.

A CVA may help the people who are owed money, but frequently itmay be short sighted. There’s a finite amount of business out there

and if people are buying, they are going to buy. If a player goes out ofthe market, others will take up the slack and they will seek outsuppliers. If the failure was a result of a heavy discounting model, theneverybody’s margins get pushed down which, in the long run, is badfor the whole industry.

The equestrian industry has for many years been underperformingas regards margins compared with equivalent sectors; maybe, with theeconomy not growing, people will start to concentrate more on theirmargins and overheads rather than just chasing revenue.

Sales volumeRecently Derby House managed to get its creditors to sign up to a

CVA. I don’t know why they were in such difficulty, and don’t wish tosuggest that they might be in the heavy discounting club, because

ABOUT THE AUTHORJonathan Russell is an accountant with ReesRussell LLP(www.reesrussell.co.uk) who writes on business and financial mattersand occasionally comments for Sky News. His daughter is a dressagerider and in his professional capacity, Jonathan has acted for anumber of trainers, riders and yards. He is also a 30% shareholderand finance director for online retailer and distributor CountrySmiths,a role he describes as ‘a holiday from my accountancy practice.’Jonathan has no connection with Derby House or any of its creditors,although he has been a personal customer in the past.

I ask the question of those creditorswho agreed to the CVA for Derby House: Have you really secured your future?

their margins did not appear too bad - but something was clearlywrong with their business model.

Their accounts on public record show a sale volume for the each ofthe three years ending 28th February 2010 of approximately £9 millionwith only very little growth but losses before tax over the three yearstotalling over £8 million over the three years, with the latest year alonebeing over £4 million.

In 2010, substantial extra share capital was put in (£8 million) butthis was not enough to make the business solvent back then. There isno more recent information on file, though it’s interesting looking atthe performance of the earlier subsidiary Derby House Saddlery Limitedwhich no longer trades having sold its trade to Derby House did notseem to be profitable either.

I therefore ask the question of those creditors who agreed to theCVA for Derby House: Have you really secured your future?

At least at the moment, the consumer is getting some really cheapdeals from Derby House. I hope they don’t get stung and I hope forthe industry of equestrian retailing the CVA works for Derby House.

If it fails, then it’s the industry as a whole that will suffer.


RED BULL FOR HORSES?AT a time when the market isawash with calmers, the AnimalHealth Company has launched anutritional product that couldn’tbe more different.

Alert is promoted for use “whenconcentration is essential.” Themakers are also allowed to saythat Alert helps horses to maintainhealthy brain function and focustheir minds. It can improvememory, promote energy, improvecirculation, increase blood supplyand stimulate the body.

What they can’t say is that it gives horses wings -just like Red Bull. Yet that’s what some users arereporting.

Alert is a combination of Panax ginseng, cat'sclaw, glucosamine, MSM and vitamin C which isblended using the Therminfusex method, unique tothe Animal Health Company. This method naturallyproduces an optimal amount of biological activitywithout the need to add alcohol or chemicalcomponents to the formulation.

New Alert for equines follows Alert for canineswhich is already popular, particularly for workingdogs. In both species, a side benefit is said to besuperb coat condition.

So who’s using Alert? The original trials weredone in Germany where the product was snappedup by show jumpers looking for a way to sustaintheir horses during gruelling, multi-day shows.

In the UK, a number of hunting yards are using it.Until the snow came, 2011/12 was an open and veryhard season for a two-day a week hunter!

ETN hears that the best way to use Alert is tokeep horses on a maintenance level, increasing itwhen needed for a big show or event. A junior showjumper who has been using it on her laid-back ponyreports that Alert doesn’t make him ‘nuts’ - justadds sparkle. Alert is available in one, 2.5 and 5 litres. One litrehas an RRP of £19. t The Animal Health Company 01787 476400.

What your customersreally want...

Dodson & Horrell quizzed thousands of horse owners about whatthey’d like to add to their horses’ diets and why - then launched anew range to meet that need.

The resulting streamlined collection of nine supplements and 15 herbalblends has been the subject of prominent ‘teaser’ advertisements, with thecampaign set to continue post launch.

The new range also comes with a merchant promotion of 25% off boxesof four units until the end of this month (March).

Dodson & Horrell’s research into products that address everything fromstiff joints to itchy skin and low immunity went further than surveyingconsumers.

“We also collaborated with Nottingham Vet School,” said the company’sIsla Boxall-Loomes. “This research revealed that many people are looking forherbs and supplements specifically for joints and mobility, plus performanceand behaviour issues.

“Our new ranges have been developed to help horse owners and riderslocate these relevant herbs and supplements quickly and easily with ourproducts being consolidated into ranges such as Behave, Move andPerform.”

Power vs pelletsIsla added that Dodson & Horrell’s new range represents a ‘spring clean’.

“We’ve abandoned some products, improved formulations and revisedothers.”

The distinction between herbs and supplements had been retained, shesaid, to appease what Dodson & Horrell’s research showed was consumerdemand for either a natural or scientific option.

In another new move, Daily Vitamins & Minerals, Digestive Support, HoofSupport, Joint Support and Performance Vitamins & Minerals are nowavailable in pellet format.

“The change of some of our supplements from powders into pellets is abig improvement for horse and owner,” explained technical director ChrisGordon.

“Our trials found that the pellets are more acceptable to the horse as theyhave a pleasant smell and taste. Pellets improve flexibility of use too as theycan be fed on their own as well as within a horse’s daily feed.

“There’s also less wastage from the pellets aspowders can often be difficult to handle, canblow away or get stuck to the sideof a feed bowl – pellets will help toprevent this from happening.”

The range of nine supplementsincludes products such asDigestive Support, which containsyeast, pre-biotics and psyllium forthe nutritional maintenance ofthe digestive system; andVitalise, a supplement forpromoting performance andvitality.

The 15 herbs and herbalblends include Stroppy Mare,which is aimed at hormonalmares and Mobility, which hasbeen formulated to soothe jointand muscle conditions.

Dodson & Horrell has a teamof dedicated area representativeswho can tell you more.

T Dodson & Horrell01832 737300.

LIGHT UP YOUR STORETHESE LED light boxes from Artillus IlluminatingSolutions are ideal for retail display.

At just 18mm deep, the new Magnetite model isbelieved to be one of the slimmest available. Theneat styling enables quick poster changes simplyby lifting off the front cover with a plastic sucker.

The light boxes are available in standard ‘A’ sizesfrom A4 up to A0 and come with pre-drilled fixingholes, 12v PSU transformer mains cable and UKplug.

There’s also an economy Diamante version. The20mm deep light box has a 25mm clip frame frontwith rounded corner inserts. t Artillus 01604 678410.

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS MARCH 2012 13www.equestriantradenews.com

HEALS FROM INSIDEINSPIRED by humanwound caretechniques, EquineSepti-Clense WoundGel from Net-Tex is abarrier gel thatadheres to thehorse’s skin encasingcuts and scratches.

Once the wound iscleaned and dried,the gel is appliedwithout need forantiseptic creams. Itmagically begins tohelp the wound heal from theinside, says Net-Tex.

The gel is formulated with anti-bacterial and cleansing agents. Italso keeps the wound moist andin a perfect environment for swifthealing and hair re-growth.

Thanks to its flexible propertiesonce applied and sealed, it’sperfect for difficult areas such ashocks, knees and fetlocks.Equine Septi-Clense Wound Gelcomes in 250ml with an RRP of£8.80. t Net-Tex 01474 813999.

BECAUSE HORSE OWNERSLOVE DOGS

PET accessories supplier Ancol has a newrange of leather dog collars and leads toappeal to the equestrian market.

The Vintage collection includes a paddedleather collar with heavy duty buckles anda Big Dog leather collar decorated withchrome plated, silver-dome studs.

A Vintage padded lead comes in fullleather or as a chain lead with paddedhandle. Collars and leads come in chestnutor russet.

“More than 70% of horse owners alsoown dogs and they recognise andappreciate good quality leatherwork,” saidSarah Lane of Walsall based Ancol.

Eland Lodge in Derbyshire is alreadystocking Ancol’s products. “The Vintagerange of collars and leads is proving hugelypopular with our customers, especiallythose with Labradors or hunting dogs,”said sales assistant Helen Aram. t Ancol 01922 402428.

THE HEAT IS ON...EXO2 is the name behind an innovativerange of heated clothing for horses andhumans.

Utilising the brand’s own, non-wiredheating element FabRoc, EXO2 productsrun off rechargeable batteries that comewith a lifetime guarantee.

EXO2 launched the new functional andfashionable Exoglo range at BETAInternational, as well as displaying otherheated products including the HeatWaveback support and the HeatSole heatedinsoles.

International show jumper GeoffLuckett has been trialling the EXO2 rangesince last winter. “I find the StormWalkerjacket an invaluable bit of kit to help keepme warm and my muscles loose,” he said.

“I now use the Exoglo rug on all myhorses prior to riding them in the winterto ensure they are properly warmed upand help reduce the risk of muscleinjuries. I’ve also used it with greatsuccess on horses that are on the lorry allday at shows; the older horses come offthe lorry noticeably freer and theyounger, nervy horses are generallycalmer. ”t EXO2 07778 790806.


Tuesday,13 – Friday, 16 March...Top class National Hunt racing at The Cheltenham Festival.

Welcome to ETN’s guide to upcoming shows,events, training courses and conferences ofinterest to the trade.

HOW TO GET LISTEDETN welcomes submissions to What’s On from allorganisations, commercial companies, shows and events.Please include your dates, venues, contact details and whyyour fixture/event/training is of interest to the trade.

Wednesday, 21 March...Lanes Health, the company behind the equinejoint supplement LitoVet, and the BritishHorse Society (BHS) present the inauguralEquine Lameness Awareness Conference atHartpury College, Gloucestershire. There willbe presentations from Liverpool University’sProfessor Peter Clegg (pictured) who is anorthopaedic specialist, independent equine nutritionist DrCatherine Dunnett, sports remedial therapist Gillian Higginsand a demonstration from dressage trainer Adam Kemp, aFellow of the BHS, and dressage rider Matt Frost.

Tickets are £10 per delegate. To book, contact EmmelineHannelly on (02476) 840517 or [email protected]

Sunday, 13 May...the seventh annual Equetech'Canter for a Cure' SponsoredHorse Ride at Milton KeynesEventing Centre,Buckinghamshire, in aid ofMedical Detection Dogs.

Last year, more than 250horses and riders completedthe course to raise over£15,000 for cancer research.Medical Detection Dogs is acharity dedicated to trainingdogs in the detection and recognition of human disease byodour.

Equetech traditionally encourages riders to wear pink for theevent, but this year to celebrate the London Olympics, thetheme is red, white and blue. “We hope riders will get carriedaway with the invitation to be patriotic,” says Liz Hayman,director of Equetech.

For application forms to ride or to support the event withtombola prizes etc, tel Liz Hayman on 01296 688966.

Friday, 4 – Monday, 7 May...Badminton Horse Trials will be particularly exciting with teamselectors getting the chance to see Olympic probablecombinations in action at four star level. It was following alacklustre British performance at the last London Olympics, in1948, that the Duke of Beaufort offered Badminton as aninternational eventing venue – to improve the home team’sresults in future. This year’s Badminton sees dressage days onthe Friday and Saturday, cross country on Sunday and showjumping for the record first prize of £65,000 on the BankHoliday Monday.

Sunday, 25 March...British Summertime begins, enabling more of your customersto ride after work.

Sunday, 8 April...New event, the New Forest Spring Fair, takes place at NewPark, Brockenhurst, Hampshire with displays, country activities,trade stands and animals. Details from the New Forest Showoffice, tel 01590 622400.

Saturday and Sunday, 24/25 March –Kent Game & Equine Festival at the Kent Showground, Detling,Maidstone is expected to attract more than 8,000 visitors, saysorganiser Contour Exhibitions.

Star turn will be Australian horseman Jason Webb, plusbreed parades, Pony Club show jumping and around 100tradestands. There’s also a clay shoot, terrier and lurchershows, fly-casting demonstrations, archery and ferret racing.For exhibitor enquiries, tel 01392 421 500.


The team from RB Equestrian – in no particular order – Katherine Jaqued, Dawn Bardsey, RoslynBoggis, Ted Boggis, Martin Greaves, Sally Greaves, Tia Partington, Kelly-Anne Davis, Jessica Davis,Kirsty Sheath, Sophie Aziz and Sam Wuczake.

Mini Me? Claire Mistry from

TC Feeds & Tack Haven shares with the

camera her (rather fetching) caricature,

which was drawn during dinner.

The equestrian trade knows how to have a good time...

South Essex Insurance Brokers(SEIB) treated the 400 gueststo pre-dinner drinks.How the trade partied!The 2012 British Equestrian TradeAssociation (BETA) Gala Dinner waswidely praised as the best yet.

A new layout in the packed ballroom atthe National Motorcycle Museum createdan inclusive atmosphere for the occasionon which the industry salutes its starsand lets its hair down too.

Following a drinks reception, supportedby South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB)and three-course dinner (with snazzyserviettes courtesy of Virbac), guestsraised more than £1,100 for Riding forthe Disabled with a raffle. There werespot prizes to be won during the evening,

too, in the shape of model ‘Joey’ horsesfrom War Horse courtesy of Hornby,Breyer’s new UK distributor, pluschocolates and amazing jumping,whinnying horses from HKM.

During dinner, caricaturists’ drawingscaused great hilarity around the tables.After the 2012 BETA Business Awardspresentations, some guests danced thenight away, while others tried their handat fairground attractions such as ‘hook aduck’, Tin Can Alley and a coconut shy.

BOB HOOK captured the evening’shighlights on camera for ETN.

Love is in the air... former BETA field officer Norma

Smithson and her husband Harold enjoy a moment

together before catching up with old friends.


Enjoying Dengie’s big night out were, back row from left, Sheena Mycroft, Trevor Rees, Chris Allen,Ian Hassard and Ryann Walker; front row, from left, Laura Dolphin, Andrea Watson, Michael Glover,Katie Williams, Ann Priestman, Lisa Wilson and Kim Dyer.

,

Sneak peek: Ed Bracher from Riding

for the Disabled, the Gala Dinner’s

chosen charity, reveals his caricature.

Belles of the ball: from left, Wendy Hartley, Rachel Hartley, NicolaBirch, Cassie Hartley and Gemma Cullen from Black Country Saddles.

Deep in concentration:

Janet Blackburn of Just Saddles tries to hook a duck at the fairground.Louise Ainge (left) from Shires with Carolyn and Tim Barton

of award winning Wadswick Country Store.

SEIB Retailer of the Year nominees Carol and Alan Whitefrom Alan’s Ark chat with Claire Williams, executivedirector of BETA.

Irish eyes were smiling at the Horseware party. Here are, from left,

Gerard Boyle, Sarah Jane Colhoun, Mel Morgan, Caoimhe Derham

and Siobhan Molloy.


BETA Business Awards honouroutstanding contributions

HAYGAIN NUTRITIONALHELPLINE AWARDWinner: TopSpec Equine, Thirsk,North YorkshireRunner-up: Allen & Page,Thetford, Norfolk

With an increasing amount of feedsand supplements on the market,giving the trade and consumer morechoice than ever, BETA wished tohighlight the importance of reliableand accessible nutritional advice.

Nominations were invited fromretailers and consumers, and thefinal judging was based on theseand mystery callers posing questionsdesigned to challenge each helpline.TopSpec wins this award for thesixth time!

One nominator said: “The advice Iwas given was very detailed, with

suggestions for a feeding regimefully explained.” An incognito judgeadded: “The diet recommended wasexplained step by step, they alsowent through all the ingredients andI was given a time-frame forimprovements.”

EQUINE CAREERS SALESREPRESENTATIVE OF THE YEARWinner: Stephen Neale, Battle,Hayward & Bower, LincolnRunner-up: Jonathan Canty,Natural Animal Feeds, Monmouth

This award, presented by EquineCareers, recognises excellence inproduct knowledge and service toretail customers. Nominations werereceived from retailers, followed byan interview with the finalists.

One of Stephen’s nominatorspraised his excellent productknowledge and enthusiasm: “He’s aterrific ambassador for his company.If it can be done, it will be done.” Ajudge added: “Out of all the calls wemade, this one was one of the mostprofessionally handled.”

HARRY HALL RETAILEMPLOYEE OF THE YEARWinner: Caraleen Light,Brendon Horse & Rider, Brighton,East Sussex

This award is given to the retailemployee showing initiative,excellence in customer service, goodproduct knowledge and acommitment to retailing. Caraleenhas worked for her employers forfive years.

“Caraleen deals with riders in aprofessional manner and she hasextensive product knowledge,” saida nominator. The independent judgeadded: “If I were looking for amember of staff, I would be veryhappy if she was selling for me.”

JOULES EQUESTRIANEVENT OF THE YEARWinner: South West ChristmasEquine Fair, Contour Exhibitions

This award acknowledges the event(at which trade stands are present)that best works with its exhibitors

and takes their requirements andviews fully into consideration.

Nominators and judges agreed:“The facilities are excellent and theorganisers are first-class. The SouthWest Christmas Equine Fair is thebest of all the events we haveattended.”

ETN TRADE SUPPLIEROF THE YEARWinner: Trilanco, Poulton-le-Fylde,LancashireRunner-up: Shires EquestrianProducts, Leominster, HerefordshireJudged by the retail trade, thisaward goes to a manufacturer,distributor or wholesaler that offersthe best delivery, customer service,product knowledge and awarenessof retailer requirements.

“They are an easy company todeal with – they have good stocklevels and excellent customerservice, and friendly staff with a can-do attitude,” said judges andnominators.

SEIB RETAILER OF THE YEARThis award is divided into fourcategories – large, medium, smalland mail order/Internet retailers. It ispresented to those retailers that offeroutstanding customer service. Finaljudging took suppliers’ votes intoaccount, as well as visits by mysteryshoppers. The award received morethan 4,000 nominations for over300 companies.LARGE RETAILERWinner: Wadswick CountryStore, Corsham, WiltshireRunners-up: Robinsons CountryLeisure, Basingstoke, Hampshire,andAivly Country Store, Ringwood,HampshireJudges and nominators praised

2012

Richard Lawrence of MatchmakersInternational presents the HarryHall Retail Employee of the Year

award to Caraleen Light of BrendonHorse & Rider.

Tom Joule presents Sandra Palmerof Contour Exhibitions’ South West

Christmas Equine Fair with theJoules Equestrian Event of the

Year Award.

Katy Mickle of TopSpec ispresented with the Haygain

Nutritional Helpline Award byBrian Fillery.

Stephen Neale of Battle. Hayward &Bower is presented with the EquineCareers Sales Representative of the

Year Award by Emma Dyer.

Lisa and Martin Balmer receive theETN Trade Supplier of the YearAward from NIcki Lewis and

Liz Benwell.

Members of the equestrian industry gathered to honourtheir own at the 2012 BETA Business Awards. Theprestigious business accolades, designed to recogniseand celebrate outstanding contributions to the trade,

were presented to winning individuals and companies at theBritish Equestrian Trade Association’s Gala Dinner, at the NationalMotorcycle Museum, near Birmingham, on 19 February.

More than 400 guests enjoyed a champagne reception,sponsored by South Essex Insurance Brokers (SEIB), on arrival,before they settled down to dine. This year’s raffle, in aid of Ridingfor the Disabled, sported prizes such as a pair of tickets to see thetheatre production of War Horse in London, a gold listing in thenew British Equestrian Directory and membership tickets for theLand Rover Burghley Horse Trials. Everyone was in a generousmood and raised almost £1,200 to boost the charity’s coffers.

Caricaturists circulated among the tables, creating much mirthand amusement as they sketched away. After dinner, fairgroundgames were the order of the day, with a disco for those whowished to dance into the small hours.

“The BETA Business Awards are eagerly anticipated by all sectorsof the equestrian industry,” said BETA executive director ClaireWilliams. “They are surrounded by a strong spirit of competitionand a keen desire to win. The standards of achievement,professionalism and enterprise have been extremely high and Iwould like to congratulate all the winners and everyone whomade it through to the finals.”

The winners of the 2012 BETA Business Awards, announced byPhilip Ghazala, are:

down by traditional materials anddesigns.

On returning to Ireland afterworking as a missionary in SouthAmerica, he completed his BHSStage 2 exam and took up eventing– influenced by the fact that hisfamily owned a riding school. Whenthis was forced to close in tougheconomic times, he decided to setup his own business as a rugmanufacturer.

Tom and his wife began makingthe rugs from his parents’ basement.First off this small “production line”was the Rambo Original – a newline in rugs, with a smaller,improved neck and a money-backguarantee to build customerconfidence.

Although horse owners needed alittle persuading to try the rugs,within a few years the RamboOriginal had proved its worth andbecome something of an industrystandard – as well as a massiveseller. Tom has continued toinnovate in design, fabrics andproducts, and he and his companyhave come a long way over the past27 years, transforming a dormantsector of the equestrian industry intosomething radically different from itsjute and canvas origins.

Horseware survived a hurricanestrike to its operation in NorthCarolina and a fire that devastatedthe offices and manufacturing plantin Dundalk, Ireland – leading to acomplete rebuild in 2001.The past10 years has seen massivedevelopment, with factories in Chinaand Cambodia, and a newwarehouse to cope with extrademand.

Tom has a special relationshipwith Just World International, anorganisation that works with localpartners in the developing world toprovide basic education, nutrition,hygiene and vocational programmesfor children in impoverishedcommunities, including the localcommunity in Cambodia.

Following a trip to Argentina, Tomhas recently become hooked on poloand, in the true Tom style of neverdoing things by halves, the Dundalkpolo team was born!

MAIL ORDER/INTERNETRETAILERWinner: SupplementSolutions, Preston, LancashireRunner-up: RobinsonsCountry Leisure, Ashton-in-Makerfield, LancashireA genuine interest in customerqueries, fast delivery and apersonal service were some of thepoints highlighted by a judge andnominator. “They are so helpful –they really have a winningformula,” they said.

TSM RIDER AWARDWinner: Beverley BrightmanThis award acknowledgessponsored riders who make thegreatest contribution to the tradeand work hard for their sponsors.An independent panel of judgesselected Beverley Brightman asthis year’s winner. She issponsored by Horsehage, HempTechnology, Sue Carson Saddlesand Gravenhorse Feeds.

Beverley started her career asan event rider and worked herway up to 4-star level. Shesuffered a horrific riding accidentbut was determined to get backin the saddle, so took updressage. She now rides at GrandPrix.

“Beverley is keen to helpdevelop new products,” said anominator. “Through herdiligence, professionalism and herundoubted people skills, wecontinue to enjoy an excellentsponsorship arrangement.”

UKTI EXPORT AWARDWinner: Bedmax Shavings,Belford, Northumberland.This award recognises a companythat has generated a substantial andsustained increase in export activityover a period of at least three years.

“Bedmax was one companywhich – in the Olympic year –shouted ‘gold medal’,” explainedone judge. “They havedemonstrated a model approach tointernational business, excellent useof support services and a realisticbut ambitious attitude to marketingwhat is clearly a terrific product.’”

BETA TRADE WEBSITEAWARDWinner: MatchmakersInternational, Bradford, WestYorkshireThis award celebrates the websiteconsidered to be the mostinformative and useful to retailers.Nominations were made by thetrade and the winner, MatchmakersInternational, was selected by anindependent panel of judges.

The company’s website waspraised for being colourful,energetic, up to date and easy touse – the ideal tool to see newproducts and offers.

BETA LIFETIMEACHIEVEMENT AWARDRecipient: Tom MacGuinnessThis award is presented by BETA tomark an outstanding and significantcontribution to the equestrianindustry over a long period of time.

When Tom MacGuinness set uphis business, Horseware Ireland, in1985, few could have foreseen whatimpact this company was destinedto have on an industry weighed


Wadswick Country Store for itsbeautiful presentation and prompt,helpful advice. “They have a fabulouscollection of things for horse and rider– there are well-displayed goods andthey provide service with a smile,”they said.MEDIUM RETAILERWinner: R B Equestrian, MiltonKeynes, BuckinghamshireRunner-up: Tower Farm Saddlers,Rugby, Warwickshire“I wish it was my local store,” said ajudge of R B Equestrian, which alsowon the award last year. “The staffare extraordinarily helpful, friendly andprovide knowledgeable service, andthey go that extra mile,” added anominator.

SMALL RETAILERWinner: Iron Horse EquestrianSupplies, Doncaster, South YorkshireRunner-up: Equicraft of Backwell,SomersetThis is the third time that Iron HorseEquestrian Supplies has won thisaward. It was described as a “greatshopping experience” and a judgeadded: “They were attentive, but notpushy, and really knew their stock.”

Beverley Brightmancollects the TSM RiderAward from Tim Smith.

Elizabeth White, Katie Hest andHannah Wild of Supplement

Solutions collect the SEIB MailOrder/Internet Retailer Award

from Nicky Mackenzie.

Jo Hopgood, Vanessa Townsend andJean Waterworth of Iron Horse Supplies

collect the SEIB Small Retailer of theYear award from Nicky Mackenzie.

Ted Boggis, Roslyn Boggis andKatherine Jaqued of RB Equestrian

are presented with the SEIBMedium Retailer of the Year Award

by Nicky Mackenzie.

Tim and Carolyn Barton ofWadswick Country Store are

presented with the SEIB LargeRetailer of the Year Award by

Nicky Mackenzie.

Peter Forster of Bedmax collectsthe UKTI Export Award fromJane Holderness-Roddam.

Richard Lawrence of MatchmakersInternational receives the BETA

Trade Website of the Year Awardfrom Jane Holderness-Roddam.

Tom MacGuinness of HorsewareIreland receives the BETA Lifetime

Achievement Award from JaneHolderness-Roddam.


Fly free feedTHINK Fly from Brinicombe Equine is said to bethe first commercial feed product designed toreduce fly nuisance.

When consumed, it creates an invisible shield-like effect over the horse, providing 24/7 comfort.

Think Fly granules contain the herbal fly dispersant, Repel-Ex, which alsooffers essential oils, MSM, zinc and trace elements for a healthy skin and coat.

While the granules can be added to the daily feed, Think Fly also comes asa solid lick (pictured) – an useful idea for horses that live out and don’t getbucket feeds. t Brinicombe Equine 01363 775 115.

Stop that buzz!Flies are the horse owner’s numberone pest during the summer months.So stock up now with the controlsolutions your customers need.

Repels from withinGARLIC Horslyx offers a simple and cost effectivemethod of feeding this powerful, natural flyrepellent.

The product also offers a vitamin, mineral andtrace element package in the same tub.

Sulphur compounds found in garlic are releasedthrough the horse’s skin via natural body secretions such as sweat. Thisproduces an odour which flies find repellent.

Garlic is also said to offer natural antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Garlic Horslyx is available in 5kg and 15kg weatherproof tubs, RRParound £12.85 and £24.90 respectively. t Horslyx 01697 332 592.

One for the grooming kitSUPREME Products’ Fly-Off is perfect for your customersto pop into their grooming kits this summer.

Thanks to its unique formulation, Supreme Fly-Off can- in some situations and applications - give protectionfor a few days. It’s effective against irritating wasps,flies and insects, leaving horses comfortable and happy.

Available in 500ml, the RRP is £10.99.t Supreme Products 01377 229050.

Powerful marketing campaignNAF’s two best-selling fly repellents are set to be the subject of a hard-hitting consumer marketing campaign designed to boost stockists’ sales thisSpring.

In a repeat of last year’s special offer, each750ml spray of NAF Off Deet Power and NAFOff Extra Effect comes with a free 200mlmini spray. The offer is supported byothers within the range.t NAF01600 710700.


Effective against horseflies LEOVET Power Phaser is one of Europe’s best selling equinefly repellents.

Spraying it on forms a defensive shield which isactivated particularly well when the horse sweatsduring strenuous work.

Power Phaser reliably protects against horseflies,ticks and all biting and non-biting flies. It containsgeranium oil, cade oil from juniper and pennyroyal oil.

This popular product was previously available fromUK distributor Eddie Palin whose business has beenacquired by leading animal health wholesaler Agrihealth. t Agrihealth 028 3831 4570.

Watch out, flies!WHOLESALER Battles has a veritable armoury ofproducts designed to wage war onannoying insects.

The Hy Guardian Fly Rug and FlyMask come in a new colour for thisseason; the polyester silver, close weavemesh gives protection against all flyinginsects.

This rug, which also reflects harmfulUV rays, has a cleverly designed neckthat fits over the ears to prevent itslipping down. There are alsoelasticated Velcro neck straps plus abelly flap with adjustable, elasticated straps.

With anti-rub lining on the mane, tail and shoulder, the rug comes completewith a fly mask and sports a Hy reflective logo. Sizes are 4’6” to 7’3”t Battles 01522 529206.

FLY control products are ‘graband go’ items – because they’realways needed now!

As soon as pesky insects startirritating horses, theirconscientious owners will beheading for your store in searchof a solution. So it goes withoutsaying that a good selection ofstock is essential.

If you haven’t got what theywant in this category, yourcustomers will quickly headelsewhere. There’s also asurprising amount of personalpreference at play here,especially when it comes to flyrepellents. Some owners preferwipe-on applications to sprays;while others are guided by aproduct’s scent.

It could also be the case thatdifferent repellents work betterin different environments such asforested areas versus marshymeadows or light, arable landversus moorland.

Back in store, an effectivedisplay that sets out what’savailable clearly and quickly willsmooth the way towards a sale.Clever merchandising can also

remind customersthat fly control doesn’tnecessarily come in a spray canor bottle.

Consider setting out flycontrol products in groupsunder the three main categoriesinto which they fall, namely:

Repellents: liquid or gel tobe wiped or sprayed onto thehorse to ward off flies. Someproducts claim to kill insectstoo. These are relatively cost-effective, easy to apply and nonpermanent; however, some canevaporate with sweat.

Barriers: these are rugs,masks and hoods that blockflies’ access to the horse’s body.This is a more expensive optionthat requires correctmanagement, but a semi-permanent solution forvulnerable animals.

Dietary supplements: thehorse consumes these productsand then secretes, usually viasweat glands, an aroma thatdeters flies. Garlic is well-known for this effect andcommercial alternatives areavailable.

RETAILTIPARE YOU READYFOR THE RUSH?


New 24/7 protectionTHE new Falpro Midge Ultimate Rug is designed to be worn for a 24 hourperiod to alleviate continuous irritation.

Fully adjustable, the rug is available in five sizes. It’s made from a fine meshwhich is light and breathable, and iscontoured for a good fit.

With a belly section for full closure,the front and hind leg straps arepadded for extra comfort. A big tail flapand a face mask complete theprotection.

The FalPro Midge Ultimate Rugcomes in sizes XS to XL at a trade priceof £45.t Tagg Equestrian 01636 636135.

Award winningformulaSUPER Plus Fly Repellent from BarrierAnimal Healthcare was the 2011 YourHorse magazine Gear Award winnerin its category.

Free from prohibited substancesunder current horse sport and racingrules, it’s suitable for organic farmingsystems and Health & Safety Executive (HSE) approved and licensed.

Super Plus Fly Repellent defies all blood sucking and nuisance flies includingmidge, bot, horsefly, house, stable and black flies. It can be applied to pink,exposed areas to help soothe and calm irritation and the effects of midgebites.

High in vitamins A, D & E to condition and nourish the skin, it’s alsoavailable as Super Plus Fly Gel and Enhanced Formula Fly Repellent which isspecifically designed to protect against and soothe the effects of midge bites. t Barrier Animal Healthcare 01953 456363.

Whisk ‘em awayMOORLAND Rider’s Fly Whisk has a rubbergrip handle and synthetic hair swish tokeep the flies off the horse’s head, neckand rump – and the rider too

Better still, it doubles as a whip, sothere’s no need to carry both when riding.

The UK made product is available inblack, navy, silver, purple, red or brownand retails at around £13.95. t Moorland Rider 01782 397796.

• Shelley Bacon is the new tradestandsco-ordinator for Blenheim PalaceInternational Horse Trials (6-9September). She was previously involvedwith the organising team for Blair CastleHorse Trials and has worked forMusketeer Event Management.

Following a review of Blenheim’s sitelayout and event schedule, Shelley plansto change the retail village to improvethe shopping and event experience forvisitors. “Tradestand enquiries for 2012have been flooding in, but there are still afew places available,” she added.

• Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has appointed DeniseRobertson as head of therapy. Having studied the therapeutic benefitsof RDA activities, she will use this evidence to improve training forvolunteers and to raise the profile of this aspect of the charity’s work.Denise joins RDA from NSPCC/Childline, where she was assistant director.

• Sarah Bee is the new Allen & Page area salesmanager for Norfolk. She’s been working for thefeed company for almost two years as anutritionist, something she will continue to doalongside her new role.

“I’m excited at the prospect of working withmore of our customers and stockists in our homecounty of Norfolk,” said Sarah, a graduate whospent an internship on a Thoroughbred stud inKentucky, USA.

• Zilco Europe has appointed SteveBlackmore as general manager of its UKbased European office. As well asinternational sales and managementexperience, Steve has been involved withcarriage driving for many years.

• FORMER head of the UK Field Army,Lieutenant General Sir BarneyWhite-Spunner, has been appointedexecutive chairman of the CountrysideAlliance (CA) and director of theCountryside Alliance Foundation,taking on overall responsibility for theorganisation. Kate Hoey MP remainschairman of the CA Board.

Barney lives in Dorset with his wife and three children, and is a longterm supporter of all country sports. A regular contributor to The Fieldmagazine, he’s a former editor of Baily’s Hunting Directory and presidentof the Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles.

He commanded British forces in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq andthen took over as the Army Commander in 2009. He left the Army inDecember 2011. “I owe so much in my life to the countryside and I’mnow really looking forward to giving something back,” said Barney whois pictured with US President Barack Obama.

• The CLA Game Fair has named AndrewCrawford as director following the retirementof David Hough.

Andrew, whose appointment saw the GameFair team move to the CLA’s head office inLondon, said it was “a fantastic opportunity totake this great event forward and furtherdevelop it as a blue-riband brand.”

Prior to joining the CLA, Andrew ran his ownestate and lettings agency and propertyconsultancy before taking on a sales andoperations role at the Newark and Nottinghamshire AgriculturalSociety, running more than 500 events for over one million visitorseach year.

The 2012 CLA Game Fair takes place at Belvoir Castle,Leicestershire, from 20 to 22 July.

• Stephanie Godfrey, a graduatewith British Horse Societyqualifications, has joined VeterinaryThermal Imaging and is coveringOxfordshire. Thermography detectsabnormal heat patterns usingcameras that can pick up ‘hotspots’ and ‘cold spots’. Theseimages are then interpreted usingspecialist software. Saddle fitting isone area in which the system isincreasingly used [see ETN January2012 issue].

• Small Business Solutions (SBS), a company headed by former PoniesAssociation (UK) director Sarah Chapman, has taken on theassociation’s administration. A former top show pony rider, Sarah nowproduces young horses and has been a judge. From her office in Wales,she is focusing on new technology, with innovations including a new-look interactive website and discounted fees for entries made online.


Dogs at workHow would we manage withoutthem? Meet some more charmingcanines gainfully employed in theequestrian trade.

LATE FOR THE OFFICE: Jeff,MirrorMePR's office junior, rushes intowork after a good, long run in thewoods. During the day he’s busyhelping his boss Ashley Rossiter byheralding the arrival ofclients/couriers/postman and shreddingpaperwork.

Six year old Jeff, a Jack Russell/quarterChihuahua, is related to top dressagerider Amy Stovold's dog, has modelled inan equestrian clothing catalogue andstrutted his stuff on the catwalk (a wordhe dislikes) for SKY TV.

ON GUARD: Here's Mini-Me,loyally guarding a tasty morseluntil his owner Sandra arrivesback at her desk at Your GiftHorse. The little Jack Russell isloved by everyone in the office,except the delivery drivers.“His favourite trick is to hide hisdog biscuits in boxes in thewarehouse,” says Your giftHorse’s Christina Jones, “so if you have ever opened a deliveryfrom us and wondered why there was a biscuit bone in it...now you know.”

COUNTING SHEEP: It’s a tiring oldbusiness working in retail...here’sDarcey sound asleep with Seamusthe sheep in the middle of theshop floor at Field & Style fromFor Riders in Stow-on-the Wold,Gloucestershire. “Ladies keptpopping in to see if she was real,”says proprietor Heather Sumner

CREATIVE CANINE: Pencil at theready, here’s Bob the Shitzhu - part-time designer and full-time charmerat creative and PR agency GraphicEvidence. “He especially enjoys working ondog treat projects and he likesnothing more than walking acrossthe fields at lunchtime forinspiration,” says Bob’s colleagueHelen Stock.

Do you have a dog at work?Tell ETN about the dog in your shop, office, warehouse orwork vehicle. Email [email protected] love to see photos too!


Reasons tocelebrateETN catches up with the people andhappenings that gave BETAInternational 2012 such a feel-goodfactor in Olympic year.

•Visitors were enchanted by the chance to get a closeencounter with Topthorn from the War Horse stage play.

•On the Friday before the showopened, Charles Owen receivedcertification for The 4 Star,allowing the world’s first fourstandard riding helmet toappear. Meeting the Snell, SEI,CE and PAS015:2011 standards,it’s been two years indevelopment. “Designingadvanced products will keep [UKmanufacturing] ahead becauseno-one can copy us,” said RoyBurek.

Charles Owen also concluded adeal to acquire body protectorspecialist Airowear on theThursday before BETAInternational. Roy told ETN: “I’ve bought the company but intendto keep the two operating independently. Both are great brands.In three months, I want people to say ‘so what’s changed?’”

At Airowear, exhibiting as usual at BETA International, ChrissieBeattie reported: “We’ve been really busy; it’s our best show foryears.”

•Virbac Animal Health is tobe main sponsor of BETAInternational in 2013 for athird year. Pictured are ClaireThomas, commercialmanager of show organiserEMC, signing the agreementwith Tom Blacklock, Virbacequine product manager.Virbac’s Callum Blairpresented SQP CPD seminarsduring the trade fair.

“We have a proud history in forging strong partnerships withthe trade and promoting innovative products to build business,based on sustainable principles of worming management,” saidVirbac marketing director Chris Liggett. “Sponsorship of BETAInternational, along with our approach to CPD and the VirbacEquine SQP of the Year Award, are integral to our commitment tosupporting the trade.”

Claire Thomas, commercial manager of BETA Internationalorganiser Equestrian Management Consultants, added: “Virbac’sdecision to remain as main sponsor is a wonderful endorsementof the show.”

•The winner of the ETN prize draw for £1,000s worth ofproducts from exhibitors and ETN advertisers was retailer KarenMatthews who runs Manefaire in Bishop’s Stortford, Herts.

•To mark London 2012, a series of audiences was held withOlympic riders past, present and future. From left, here’s BETAInternational’s resident Phillip Ghazala with para-dressage riderNatasha Baker, eventers Mary King and Emily King and AmandaBond from British Dressage.

•Master of innovation: Tom MacGuinness gets to grips with oneof Horseware’s many new products. With its various areas fordifferent brands and a friendly, open feel, the new Horsewarestand was reminiscent of a small Irish village. A key feature wasthe Innovations Lab where visitors could learn more about thetechnology behind the company’s latest launches usingsophisticated audio visual presentations.

Louisa Williams, inventor of the Ice Vibe which won aninnovations award for Horseware, thought of the idea when shewas working in a NH yard as assistant trainer to Charlie Swan.Having studied vibration therapy, and desperate to keep a GrandNational runner sound, Louisa adapted a vibrating car seat coverto use on the horse’s legs. Said horse went on to be placed in thebig race – and Louisa got a job with Horseware.


•Visitors to Ariat saw fresh ideas alongside perennial favourites.The new and evocative Team apparel builds on the success ofAriat’s Stable collection of core, all-year-round clothing, “Itslaunch is timely and follows on from Ariat’s WEG clothing,”explained Phil Duff of Ariat Europe (pictured with ETN editor Liz Benwell).

Also at Ariat were a new luggage collection and the new AriatBromont waxed black boot (which Phil is holding) with highprofile, Spanish-style top. Ariat’s laced, field boot style is nowfavoured by everyone from foxhunters to show jumpers. A waxedchocolate brown Bromont was also well received.

•Barnsby, which won aninnovation award for its I-Tree,was among the busiest stands.An eminent saddler fitterwhispered to ETN that thiscompany was set to makesignificant strides in 2012.

•The footwear experts atDurango explained the originsof the distinctive ‘harness’ onthe Western style bootsfavoured by Harley Davidsonriders. Apparently, they harkback to the days when spurswere commonplace; the metalshank was abandoned, however,when motorcycles replacedhorses - and the spurs keptcatching on the gear change...

•Ninety-nine year old iconic New Zealand wool clothingbrand Swanndri announced a new UK agency, that of Mikeand Angie Claridge of Pear Sales & Marketing. “People arepleased to see us back,” said managing director Mark Nevinwho hails from Christchurch, NZ.

•At the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) Saddle and BridleMaking Competitions, Sunday’s joint winners were Ruth Wyatt(King’s Troop) and Joanna Heard (Cirencester Saddlers). Mondaysaw second year Capel Manor students Tamsin Raymond andSarah Tate take the honours. On Tuesday, when first-year traineesand students competed, Willem Buntinx from Capel Manor cameout on top. Here’s ITV newscaster Alastair Stewart admiring theirskills.

•At Tagg Equestrian,the Funnell range wasgoing red, white andblue in anticipation ofa big event inGreenwich...From leftare managing directorTom Eastwood withWilliam and PippaFunnell.

•Abbey England, exhibitingits recent Catras Leather andEquus acquisitions, celebrated30th years in business with acake, balloons andchampagne. Pictured, fromleft, Jane Kane, Richard Brownand Peter Phillips.

•Significant savings are offered to companies wishing toexhibit at BETA International 2013, with early commitmentand prompt payment schemes providing a 7.5 per cent cut tostand prices.

To qualify for the early commitment discount and promptpayment rebate, stands should be booked by 16 March 2012,deposits received by 1 October and the final payment madeby 7 December.

“The discount offered is a great incentive for exhibitors tosign up for next year’s show and another way in which wecan show our support and commitment to the equestriantrade,” said Claire Thomas, commercial manager of BETAInternational organiser Equestrian Management Consultants.t James Palmer, telephone +44 (0)1937 582111 or email

[email protected]

•The Redpin Publishing New Product Gallery was the place tohead for new lines.

•It’s a small world! David Harrington, of QRS which runsBETA International’s admission and delegate badge system, isthe father of Kit Harrington, the actor who appeared in theWar Horse stage show.


•The BETA International organising team meets War Horse.

•The winner of the Virbac Equine SQP of theYear was Claire Sellors from Sellors in Calverton,Nottinghamshire. She received her award andprizes, including a VIP trip to the HicksteadDerby meeting, from Alastair Stewart who wasat BETA International talking about his role asBritish Showjumping ambassador.

•Winning a £90 credit note from Grays ofShenstone, one of three daily prizes offered by thegift specialist, must have come as welcome goodnews for Emma Ludwell and Andy Leek fromretailers L & L Equestrian in Carlton, South Yorkshire.Their store had been broken into the previousmonth, leaving them with only a few plaiting bands.The police are investigating. Monday’s winner ofGrays’ prize draw, celebrating the company’s 90thanniversary, was Scotland’s Jet Set Saddlery.

•Westgate EFI has “picked up the Rodney Powell body protector brand”and is working with its namesake to continue to manufacture and market it,according to joint managing director Ed Vant. Other big news at thedistributor’s stand was the re-appearance of Equi-Theme clothing and theaddition of Gatehouse hats. “It’s been unbelievable with not a moment ofdowntime,” said Ed of BETA International 2012.


“A very profitable visit in terms of finding new suppliersand meeting wholesalers,” said Jean Bushell of TamarValley Country Store on her first visit.

Canadian retailer Linda Moore (pictured centre), whoseVancouver store The Carrington Shoppe specialises inEnglish country lifestyle products, told ETN: “I’m veryimpressed with this show. I’m loving Puffa, Jack Murphyand Sherwood Forest. I also like Neue Schule, blingbrowbands and Thermatex rugs. I’ve been here [at BETAInternational] for three days and had some veryproductive conversations. Everyone is so friendly andhelpful.”

“A really good day. I particularly liked the fashionshow,” said Sacha Aldersey of Edgmere in Cheshire.

“BETA International is always nicely presented. WarHorse was great,” said Selina Finneran of MiltonEquestrian in Worksop.

Sealskinz waterproof gloves and socks and CedarClothing caught the eye of Fred Phipps from children’sretailer Statsmart. “A really nice show,” he added.

Mary Todd from Todds The Saddlers in Kendal, Cumbria,was another to be bowled over by War Horse. She wasalso taken with Puffa clothing and Charles Owen’s newfour standard riding hat. “When I come to BETAInternational, I always get good ideas on how topromote things [in my shop] and how to dress themup,” she added.

“A very professionally done show,” was the verdict fromJennie Hughes from the new Equiport equestrianboutique in Cheshire.

Good quality, specialist products is what brought AlexScott to the NEC, Birmingham from First Saddlery, anew outlet that opened at Rowallan Activity Centre inScotland last November. “I’m glad we came for twodays because you can’t take it all in during just oneday,” said Alex who liked the look of Free Jump stirrups.

“A good show but some of the stands are too crowdedand trying to display too many products,” was thecandid response from Mark and Vuokke Denne ofDenne Country Store in Leighton Buzzard inBedfordshire.

RETAILER REACTION


Making a songand dance

Country clothingstepped out in styleat BETA Internationalas the cream of

autumn/winter 2012collections was showcased toa large audience of industrybuyers in the Puffa FashionShow, complete with crystalchandelier and backdrop ofgilt-framed portraits chartingthe brand’s rich heritage.

Casual wear and ridinggear shared the runway asmodels danced their waythrough some cleverlychoreographed and eclecticsets. Ballet shoes andOutlyne body protectorswere worn in the Airowearscene as two dancerspirouetted en pointe in astunning pas de deux beforethe guys got down and dirtyin a range of jazz/funkmoves, wearing their quiltedSherwood Forest gilets andjackets.

Then, just as you thoughtit couldn’t get much better,‘live performance’ was takenup another level as a modelgrabbed the mic to belt out

It’s Not Unusual in aparticularly rousing finale,which ended in rapturousapplause from the audience.

Fashion organiser KarenIrving, of Fashion First, hadsucceeded in taking one ofBETA International’s best-loved special features andmoving it into a new leagueentirely. It was great towatch, highly entertainingand provided the perfectshowcase for some fabulousclothing ranges.

Gilets and polos in cerise,navy and plum arrived onstage to spread Puffa lovethroughout the halls as theequestrian industrywelcomed back this much-loved, iconic brand.

Canadian exhibitor AsmarEquestrian followed with itsAll Weather Rider coat.Sophisticated and with aslightly futuristic appearance,the garment’s clever cut andbody-defining lines werepicked out under lights.

Toggi’s Team GBRcollection in red, white andblue was nothing short of

striking. Jodhpurs, polo shirtsand rugby tops flew the flagfor contemporary design,with a definite nod to fineequestrian tradition.

Sporty cotton blousonswith embroidered flag andbadge embellishments, andstriped waistbands, were keyplayers in Ekkia’s Equithemecollection of coats, poloshirts and jackets.

The Townend Collection,introduced at last year’sshow by none other than thebrand’s namesake, OliverTownend, made a return visitto unleash its stunning rangeof rugby tops, polo shirts,jackets and breeches. Thetechnical garments sportedstripes and logos throughoutthe range, with the familiarTownend appliqué.

Navy proved a capsulecolour for Sherwood Forestas jackets, gilets andjodhpurs were given anairing. Contrasting splashesof cerise cut a handsomedash, with aqua, white, navyand cerise stripes added tospice up and complementthe collection’s clean lines.

Jack Murphy is known forits stylish tweed and furensembles, and no one wasdisappointed when itdelivered another greatcollection centred aroundthese perennial favourites.

Waxed cotton and quiltedfabrics, however, were alsomuch in evidencethroughout the brand’srange of tailored jackets andgilets. Tuffa leather boots

were worn to finish off theultimate country look.

Harry Hall turned patriotic,with Union Jack-trimmedjods and red-and-whiterugby shirts. The range alsofeatured a beautifully styled,cherry-red quilted jacket witha belt to really cinch in thewaist for a gorgeous, hour-glass silhouette.

Horseware Ireland waspositively purring, with aleopard-print fleecy jacketand co-ordinating hat. Furprints have been big on thehigh street for a few seasons,but this was taking things inan entirely different direction.

The brand’s Newmarketcollection moved away fromfamiliar colourways andopened the door to greymarl, plum, black and navy insome fascinating, fluffyfabrics that are bang ontrend for autumn/winter.

Pretty shades of plum,heather, navy and pink wereused to great success in theTottie collection of hoodedsweaters, polo shirts andzipped jackets.

ETN reports on BETA International’sPuffa Fashion Show, where music,song, dance and clothing collectionswere a big hit with everyone


Celebrating extraordinaryinvention

Entries across seven categoriesvied for top spots at the BETAInternational InnovationAwards sponsored by

Horse & Rider magazine. The panel of judges selected for

their standing and experience in eachof their specialist fields were eventinglegend Blyth Tait, Hartpury Collegeequine event director Janet Plant andcurrent world champion farrier StevenBeane.

Also on the judging panel were horseman Michael Peaceof Think Equus, Metropolitan Police Mounted Branchdirector Danny Butler and Liz Benwell, editor of ETN, whichis media partner to BETA International 2012.

“Finding a winner for each category is never an easy task,but this year proved especially challenging." said ClaireThomas, commercial manager of BETA Internationalorganiser Equestrian Management Consultants.

"There was a high standard of entries across the board,demonstrating truly original design, significant levels ofmarket research and quality manufacture."

This year’s equestrian product innovators were applaudedby a packed crowd surrounding the BETA Internationalstage. Presentations were made by Andrea Moffatt ofHorse&Rider magazine. The winners, who earn the right touse the exclusive BETA International Innovation Awardslogo to promote their products, were:

FEED AND SUPPLEMENTSWINNERCompany: Racing BlueProduct: Racing BlueStormAn exciting breakthrough inequine performancenutrition, this dietarysupplement is the result ofextensive publishedscientific research. RacingBlue Storm contains sportpatented beta-alanine toboost the horse’s innate ability to delay muscle fatigue throughimproved management of lactic acid. Judges’ comments: “This supplement is truly innovative andbacked by impressive research, including species specific trials.Without a doubt, it is an extremely beneficial addition to the dietof all performance horses.”

HIGHLY COMMENDEDCompany: Greenans Products Product: Smart BunkerAn innovative feed storage solutionwhich rotates feed to ensure freshness,the sturdy Smart Bunker also eliminateswaste, is fully secure and vermin proofand easy to assemble with a 200kgcapacity. Judges’ comments: “A clever solutionto ensure feed is fresh and free fromcontamination. The locks are a valuablefeature to provide security when in useat competitions or for outside storage, which isappropriate as the Smart Bunker is waterproof.”

HORSECARE PRODUCTSAND EQUIPMENTWINNERCompany: HorsewareProductsProduct: ICE-VIBEA comfortable, neopreneboot which combines coldwraps and vibrating panelsto deliver electronic coldcirculation therapy. Itdelivers vibration therapy,which increases circulation,with cold therapy to reduceinflammation and offerssafe and effective treatment as it allows blood flow to be maintained. Judges’ comments: “The overall presentation of this product wasvery appealing and it has years of research behind it. Not only does itdeliver electronic cold circulation therapy, it can also be used withoutthe cold wraps to boost circulation in the legs. A very versatileproduct for everyday use.”

Horse & Rider Innovation Awards judges Danny Butler, Michael Peace, Steven Beane, Blyth Tait, Liz Benwell and Janet Plant were each presentedwith a bottle of champagne by Horse & Rider editor Alison Bridge (2nd left)and sales director Andrea Moffatt (far right).


HIGHLY COMMENDEDCompany:Propress Equine Product: Flexi-neb Equine NebuliserA portable equine nebulisationsystem that is silent and runsfrom a rechargeable battery. Theflexible mask is comfortable forthe horse and has the potentialto deliver faster treatment. Judges’ comments: “The Flexi-neb has no connecting wires allowingcomplete flexibility when administering treatment to horses. Very easy to useand built to last, this durable nebuliser is leading the way for inhalationtherapy.”

PET PRODUCTSWINNERCompany: Pet Republic LtdProduct: Stop Muddy PawsA barrier rug made from a BFC fibre, whichhelps to remove dirt and is absorbent. It is non-slip, machine washable and available in avariety of fun designs, competitively priced. Judges’ comments: “A very handy product tohelp keep muddy paws at bay. Very nicelypackaged with great eye-catching designs tobrighten any doorway. It is appealing for anypet owner and priced to sell.”

RIDER CLOTHINGWINNERCompany: EquiSapiens Product: Sonnenreiter HalifaxBreechesHighly elastic riding breechesmade from premium EuropeanGebutex micro viscose,incorporating a high qualityartificial full leather seat, uniquepatented leg zip and anti-sliprubber band around the ankle hem. Judges’ comments: “A revelation for riders that have struggledfor years with breeches riding up and more effective andcomfortable than those with traditional Velcro fastenings. They notonly perform well but are also elegantly shaped and very smart.”

SADDLERY AND TACKWINNERCompany: BarnsbyProduct: I TreeA fully adjustable carbon fibresaddle tree used with apatented heating system.Offering advanced technology,the I Tree is manufactured fromaerospace composite material,as seen in Formula 1 cars. Judges’ comments: “This isan excellent development for the saddle fitting industry whichallows adjustments to the tree to ensure the best possible fit forhorses. The pricing is sensible and will allow saddle fitters moreflexibility.”

HIGHLY COMMENDEDCompany: EquiAmi Product: EquiAmi LungeCavessonA modern version of an age-old classic, this innovativelunge cavesson is flatter,lightweight and soft, providinga better fit to minimisemovement which may causepinching or rubbing. Judges’ comments: “The low cheeks and wide nosebandare beneficial adaptations resulting in a comfortable andwell-fitting cavesson. It is user friendly, durable and offersexcellent value for money.”

SAFETY AND SECURITYWINNERCompany: Premier EPOSProduct: I pod PDACutting-edge EPOS software, Ipod PDA allows remote accessfor full business controlanywhere in the world. Judges’ comments: “Thissystem allows the busy retailerto monitor stock levels twenty-four-seven. It also indicatespotential loss due to shop-lifting orinternal security challenges.”

OTHERWINNERCompany: TORQ Product: TORQ Energy Drink– Natural VanillaUtilising the latest scientificresearch, TORQ’s energy drink inNatural Vanilla flavour,combines two naturalcarbohydrates (maltodextrin andfructose) delivering energyeffectively during exercise. Judges’ comments: “The powder is easy to mix, for asmooth energy drink which is delicious and extremely costeffective. The sports science research behind TORQ isreassuring for those demanding optimum performance.”

HIGHLY COMMENDEDCompany: RacewoodProduct: Racewood JumpingSimulatorThe world’s first jumpingsimulator designed specificallyas a training aid, for bothnovice riders buildingconfidence, and experiencedriders honing technique.Simulates jumping whilst in ahigh fidelity cross-country environment. Judges’ comments: “An excellent teaching aidproviding sophisticated feedback and also great forbuilding confidence in novice or nervous riders.The successful result of substantial development.”

BEST SMALL STANDWinner: Gabriella Shaw Ceramics Judges’ comments: This stand was verywell laid out with great usage of space.There were attractive displays of UK-produced products with gifts for all ages,which appealed to everyone – not justequestrians! Members of staff wereextremely knowledgeable and knew theirproducts inside out. They could not doenough for visitors and were extremelyaccommodating.Runner-up: Ella London Judges’ comments: A simple, clearly laidout stand run by people who had a passionfor what they did. Kind, enthusiastic and incredibly keen to become part of the country goods supply chain, they pitchedsalesmanship at the right level and were never pushy.


A competitionof the TitansThis year’s Society ofMaster Saddlers’ AnnualNational Competitionswere a superbdemonstration of outstandingachievements, reports Pat Crawford.

Hosted by TheWorshipfulCompany ofSaddlers in its

elegant livery hall in the Cityof London, eleven classesgave opportunities foreveryone - from apprenticesto Masters – to compete intheir peer group.

The ultimate prize, theMaurice Emtage Trophy forBest-in-Show, was awardedto Catrien Coppens for thesixth time. Achieving thisremarkable record can onlyreally be judged in contextwith understanding thesuperiority – in global terms– of the crafts and skillstandards in the UK saddleryand harness industries. Theevening was truly acompetition of the Titans.

Throughout all theclasses, judges werepresented with some toughdecisions, so high was theoverall standard.

A large percentage of theprize-winners hadundertaken training withMark Romain at theSaddlery Training Centre,Salisbury.

Capel Manor College,which some years agoincorporated Cordwainers‘the leather college’, alsoshowcased the valuablecontribution it makes totraining when its studentstook the first three places ina bridlework class restricted

to those in their first twoyears of training.

One aspect for which theSMS is not automaticallyrecognised concerns theway in which members usetheir craft skills in verydiverse directions. Everyyear the current SMSPresident has opportunity todevise a class of his or herchoice and this year SteveMarks specified ‘a toy orgame made from leather’.

The exhibits throughoutthis large classdemonstrated real ingenuityas well as craft skills, theeventual winner beingHelen Reader with her chessset.

Saddlers and harness-makers from the RoyalMews always feature in theprize list. Headed up byMaster Saddler/MasterHarness-maker Frances Kelly,they are recognised for theiroutstanding ability.

This year’s winner of theBest in Show, CatrienCoppens, works at theMews and other membersof the team carried off aclutch of top prizes.

The SMS introducedAssociate OverseasMembership in 2001 andmembership now circles theglobe. Jan Guldborg madehis trip from Denmarkworthwhile by takingsecond in a class forsaddles.

Standing tall...

Exhibition stands at BETA International 2012 succeededin raising the bar yet again, with quality designs andeffective layouts on display.

Every exhibitor is automatically entered into the BETAInternational Best Stand Awards – sponsored by The Wineand Hamper Company – which recognise and acknowledgethose stands that make a significant contribution to theentire retailer experience.

Factors such as overall shape, accessibility, lighting, stockdisplay and the staff themselves were considered by judgesTony Morley, of The Wine and Hamper Company, and JenniferDixon-Clegg, of the show’s named charity, The FortuneCentre of Riding Therapy, who toured the halls searching forthe winner of the Best Large Stand (32 metres and over) andBest Small Stand (under 32 metres).

“Stands of the calibre we see at the trade fair require ahuge amount of time, planning and consideration,” saidClaire Thomas, commercial manager of BETA Internationalorganiser Equestrian Management Consultants (EMC). “Weare extremely pleased to honour our exhibitors’ efforts in thisway and we have some very worthy winners once again.”

This year’s winners are . . .

ETN reports on who won the coveted BestStand Awards at BETA International 2012.

BEST LARGE STANDWinner: PuffaJudges’ comments: A striking standthat was bold and simple. Staff wereapproachable and extremely clued-upabout their brand, displaying a strongsense of pride and ownership. Runner-up: Horseware Ireland Judges’ comments: An attractivestand with highly professional andefficient staff. The way in which theydealt with customers – even whenextremely busy – was exemplary.

Jennifer Dixon-Clegg, directorof the Fortune Centre ofRiding Therapy, chosen charityof BETA International 2012,presents the Best StandAward (large category) toKrishan Sohal of Puffa.

Gabriella Shaw Ceramicsreceives the Best StandAward (small category)from Jennifer Dixon-Clegg,director of BETAInternational 2012 chosencharity The Fortune Centreof Riding Therapy.


Society of Master Saddlers’ National SaddleryCompetition 2012 resultsCLASS 1Master & Apprentice: A Head Collar and Plain Leather Lead ReinHeadcollar made by the apprentice and Lead Rein by the Master.Winners: Chris Taylor & Abby Nowell, Saddlers DenPremium Awards: Abby Nowell, Lauren Barton & Marian McArdle

CLASS 2President’s Choice: A toy or game made from leather.First: Helen Reader, Individual memberSecond: Chris Taylor, Individual memberThird: Shirley Ball, E Jeffries & SonPremium Awards: Helen Reader, Chris Taylor, Shirley Ball

CLASS 3Open Saddle: Any design of leatherEnglish Astride Saddle suitable for usein an Olympic disciplineFirst: Patrick Keane,

Patrick SaddlerySecond: Lee Jones,

Patrick SaddleryThird: Dennis Townsend, Ryder Saddlery

CLASS 4ATrade Saddle: Any design of Working Hunter or Show Saddle. First: Patrick SaddleryPremium Award: Patrick Keane

CLASS 5Small Business saddle makers who manufacture no more than six saddles a year. Any design of English astride leather saddle.First: Helen LeedhamSecond: Jan GuldborgThird: George MacEachranPremium Awards: Helen Leedham & Jan Guldborg

CLASS 6A Miniature piece of leather riding or driving equipment.First: Jack Hargreaves, Individual member and Royal MewsSecond: Frances Kelly, Individual member and Royal MewsThird: John Flavell, E Jeffries & SonPremium Awards: Jack Hargreaves, Frances Kelly, John Flavell, Jennifer

Roy, Patrick Keane

CLASS 7Open Bridle – Any Riding Bridle suitable for use in an Olympicdiscipline.First: Lisa Hoskins, Individual memberSecond: Jennifer Roy, Individual memberThird: Helen Reader, Individual memberFourth: Julie Yates, E Jeffries & SonPremium Awards: Lisa Hoskins, Jennifer Roy, Helen Reader & Julie Yates

CLASS 2Open Harness – Any Leather Driving BridleFirst: Catrien Coppens, Individual

member and Royal MewsSecond: Jeanette Hutchinson,

Individual member & RoyalMews

Third: Jennifer Roy, Individualmember

Premium Award: Catrien Coppens

CLASS 9Intermediate Bridle – Any design of Girth suitable for use in anOlympic discipline. First: Jack Hargreaves, Individual member and Royal Mews Second: Jeanette Hutchinson, Ind. Member and Royal MewsThird: Myra BeePremium Awards: Jack Hargreaves, Jeanette Hutchinson, Myra Bee and

Keith Dobson, E Jeffries

CLASS 10Trainee Saddle – Any type or size of leather saddle (meeting City & Guilds Level 2 or 3 specification).First: Joanna Heard, Stroud Saddlery & Saddlery Training

Centre (STC)Second: Sharon Church, Individual member & STCThird: Lauren Barton, Stroud Saddlery & STCPremium Awards: Joanna Heard & Sharon Church

CLASS 11AThe first trainee bridle class for those in their first two years oftraining, sponsored by H Webber and Osbourne Tools who suppliedtools vouchers worth £325

Trainee Bridlework – A Snaffle Bridle conforming to Level 2 City & Guilds Skills Assessment specification.First: Ellie Tomlinson, Capel Manor College (CMC)Second: Sarah Tate, CMCThird: Paul Hope, CMCHighly Commended: Tamsin Raymond (CMC), Nina Ball (CMC) & Abby

Nowell, Saddlers’ DenPremium Awards: Ellie Tomlinson

CLASS 11BThe second trainee bridle class for those in their third and fourthyears of training, sponsored by Abbey England who supplied toolsvouchers worth £325

Trainee Bridle – A Show Double Bridle conforming to Level 3 City and Guilds Skills Assessment specification. First: Joanne Heard, Stroud Saddlery & STCSecond: Rachael Davie, Individual member & STCThird: Tanis Brain, Pointings Saddlery & STCPremium Award: Joanna Heard & Rachael Davie

MAJOR AWARD WINNERS• Neil McCarraher Trophy for the most attractive and

commercially viable saddle – Patrick Keane of Patrick Saddlery.

• Tony Byrne Memorial Trophy for the best harness entry by anApprentice/Trainee – Abby Nowell.

• Tony Russell Memorial Trophy for the best harness entry– Catrien Coppens.

• Alf Batchelor Memorial Trophy for the best bridlework entry– Lisa Hoskins.

• Les Coker Millennium trophy for the best entry by anapprentice – Abby Nowell.

• Bruce Emtage Memorial Plate for best in Show– Catrien Coppens.


Eventing legend MarkTodd was the perfectname to start anequestrian range. The

idea came about in 1995 whenhe shared a yard with Belgianrider Bruno Goyens, now jointmanaging director of WestgateEFI.

Bruno was already working inthe industry, so he and Markcame up with the concept ofquality products at affordableprices, with the emphasis onclassic lines and colours. Itworked, too, as Mark Todd rugsare still based on the originaldesigns, although the fabric haschanged with advances intechnology.

“Mark’s a legend so ofcourse having his name onproducts helps enormously,”says Tracey Woods, Westgate’smarketing and productmanager.

“It was a marketing dreamfor us when he came out ofretirement and even more sowhen he won Badmintonagain.”

Since returning to Britainafter time spent trainingracehorses in his native NewZealand, Mark has had extrainput into his range.

“The level of involvementdepends on the product. Hecontributes more with the tackand saddles, for example, thanin choosing fabric and coloursfor clothing,” adds Tracey.

Mark describes himself as a“walking advert” for hiseponymous range.

“The Mark Todd Collection isfeatured on the horsebox,saddlecloths and team kit, andmy website links through to theWEFI site. I don’t sell theproducts myself, as that wouldundermine the retail stockists,but I get involved withmagazine articles andcompetitions organised underthe brand banner, as well asautograph signings at eventsand stockists’ open days. I alsovisit the stand at the BETAInternational,” he explains.

Mark uses his products all thetime. “I don’t have a particularfavourite, but the rugs andtravel boots are really good,” hesays. “We all wear the clothingand footwear, and I like theleatherwork range.”

Tagg Equestrian has the bestof both the show jumping andeventing worlds through itsFunnell range. In fact, this wasone of the main selling pointswhen Tagg took over thebrand.

“William and Pippa’s consentto continue with the newowners was critical to the sale,”confirms Elaine Welsford,Tagg’s PR consultant, who saysthe Funnells are extremelyinvolved in the business.

“Pippa and William play ahuge part in deciding on andtesting the ranges and nothinggoes to the market withouttheir approval. They’re alsoincluded in all our advertisingand promotion in the mediaand in-store, as time allows,”she explains.

Mary King’s clothing brandwas launched by Joules in2009. The top eventer hadplenty of input at the start, butis now happy to leave designmatters to Joules.

“When Joules introduce anew item, they run it by mefirst and before every itemcomes out I’m sent a ‘test-run’pack and give feedback.However, I do trust thecompany and they know whatthey’re doing,” she says.

Does Mary also get plentyfrom the deal?

“Oh yes, very much so - wework well together. It’s not asthough I’m forced to wear theproducts either; it’s clothing I’dchoose to buy anyway,” sheexplains.

Irish manufacturer Horsewarehas had a long association withanother British eventing ‘great’in Lucinda Green.

Lucinda, who describes herclassic country collection as“the clothes I neededdesperately, but couldn’t findelsewhere”, has a high inputinto design and tests and wearseverything herself.

Horseware added anotherbig name to its brand throughlast year’s launch of theRodrigo Pessoa range. Theshow jumper’s family hadproduced own-name tack forsome time, but this was his firstventure into clothing.

One of the latest eventers togo into own-range products isOliver Townend. The idea cameabout at a lunch meetingbetween Oliver andmanufacturer Battles, whichsponsors him through itsLincoln brand.

“We were chatting and theconversation turned to whetherOliver would like his own line.Both sides thought it was afabulous idea and the wholething started from there,” sayscommercial manager AnnaClarke.

Typically, Oliver has thrownheart and soul into thebusiness.

“He sees all the designs andhas loads of input into theproducts that effect ridingperformance, such asbreeches,” says Anna. “He’salso fantastic at supportingretailers. He’s done store visits,signings, talks and even a fewfashion shows.”

So what does Oliver think ofhis new career as anentrepreneur and supermodel?

“I’m absolutely loving itbecause it gives me somethingelse to think about other thanriding horses,” he says. “I’mnot sure I’m a natural model,but my whole involvement hasbeen really exciting.”

Top riders don’t just getinvolved in saddlery andclothing, as Net-Tex has provedthrough its Carl Hesterperformance range and LynnRussell showing collection.

Carl’s range came aboutafter he gave Net-Tex a‘wishlist’ of products he wouldlove to find on the market.

“When we started the range,we had loads of feedback fromCarl and his head girl and we

When a name’s in the frame...When it comes to ‘rider ranges’ it’s easy to assume that themanufacturer develops and designsthe products and the star gets paidfor the use of his or her name. Notso, as Penny Richardson discovers.

It gives me somethingelse to think aboutother than ridinghorses.

Oliver Townend

Mark Todd (left) and Bruno Goyens discussthe finer points of a Mark Todd saddles.


also had to ensure the productswere acceptable for FEIcompetition,” says Net-Texequestrian business managerSerena Kidd. “Carl’s great atpromoting the range. He isn’toverly pushy, but he believes init and tells people so.”

Carl is now happy to takemore of a back seat.

“The range seems to runitself and has become a hugehit, so I leave it to the experts atNet-Tex,” he says. “We useeverything ourselves and findthe calmers really useful,particularly for young horses.”

Lynn Russell agrees, saying: “Iuse my range all the time: athome, shows and clinics. Infact, I don’t use anything else,as the products work.”

Lynn’s association with Net-Tex started five years ago, whenthe company looked for aleading showing namesynonymous with grey horses.“Lynn and her cob Polaris fittedthe bill perfectly,” says Serena.

Some leading riders havechosen to cut out themiddleman and start a familybusiness to carry their own

ranges. A case in point isAustralian eventer ClaytonFredericks, who owns SouthernStars Saddlery with his brotherKelvin.

Clayton and wife Lucinda areinvolved in saddle design andtesting and the family has nowintroduced a Team Fredericksclothing line.

Another famous name withher own business is Dutchdressage star Anky vanGrunsven, who launched AnkyTechnical Casuals (ATC) in 1998.The clothes are manufacturedby The Tack Factory, a companywhose head office is based atAnky’s yard.

“I found most riding clothesuncomfortable andunfashionable, so I wanted tostart a line that combinedtechnical materials with comfortand quality,” explains Anky, whohelps with the design and teststhe collections every year.

The idea certainly worked.ATC is now producing clothesfor other sports and is sold in30 countries worldwide.

Around the same time Ankyhad her original idea, show

jumper John Whitaker and hiswife Clare were discussingstarting their own saddlery andclothing business. They gottogether with an old friend,Ginette Brogan, and JohnWhitaker International wasborn.

“I’d always been involvedwith designing my own tack ina small way and Ginette wasthe perfect person to go intopartnership with,” says John.“She’s fantastic at the buyingand selling part and we do thetesting and have ideas for newproducts. Everything comes tous first as samples and we orthe grooms make sure theywork well before they go onsale.”

John Whitaker Internationalranges are named aftermembers of the Whitaker familyor their horses and some 12years later the company’sproducts are among the topchoices for UK show jumpers.

“We started off in areasonably small way and thebusiness just kept growing. Ireally enjoy the involvement,”says John.

Carl Hester gave Net-Texa wish-list.

Oliver Townendhas thrownheart and soulinto his range.

Lucinda Green’s range comprisesclothes she needed but couldn’tfind – until she teamed up with

Horseware.

A name to inspire.

Lynn Russell uses ‘her’ rangeall the time.

Pippa and William Funnell’scontinued support was critical

to the acquisition of the Funnellbrand by Tagg Equestrian.


When performance matters...EQUETECH has launched a new performance fabric calledHexatec.

Featuring a honeycomb knitted design, it regulates thehard-working body’s temperature and wicks away moisture.

Hexatec appears in seven new Equetech shirt designs, DiamanteCompetition, Show shirts, Men’s Competition, Junior Sleeveless Competitionand Boys’ Competition shirts. Colours are white and buttermilk with RRPs from£25.95

With a relaxation of dressage jacket rules, there’s bound to be a rush fornew acquisitions this season.

Equetech offers more than 15 different shades and fabrics, includingpinstripes and stretch shell fabrics. The jackets are UK made (with made-to-measure service available) and include standard riding jackets, waistcoats andcutaway styles. Tail coats feature wipe-clean tails linings.

Amy Stovold, Emile Faurie and James Burtwell are among the professionalriders converting to Equetech.

Foundation wear is often forgotten by riders – until it rubs!Equetech has tops and briefs with padding and seams in all the right places.

Made in cotton/Lycra for support and comfort, the whole range is UK made.RRPs are from £9.25.t Equetech 01296 688966.

Handy competition companionCARROTS’ Competition Gloves offer comfort and protection via a lightweight,stretchy and durable fabric.

The four way stretch fabric – plus leather reinforcement at fingers andthumbs - also allows for flexibility and close rein contact,while keeping hands cool and dry in warm weather.

Carrots Competition Gloves are in black, brown,cream or, new for 2012, navy. RRP is around £15.t Carrots UK 01245 445362.

Products that earn a red rosetteSNOWHILL Trade Saddlery can help you kit out horse andrider ready for the competition season, whatever yourcustomers’ favourite horse sports.

Stylish Rhinegold Competition Breeches are made fromcomfortable cotton / Lycra stretching material. They feature afull Clarino seat and a handy front zip pocket.

Available in beige, black, navy, white or grey and sizes24” to 34”, with regular and long fittings, you’re sure to findthe ideal pair for every customer and need. Trade pricesbegin at £24.90 for volume orders.

Rhinegold Sport Competition Boots are a durable and excellent value stapleto stock. Featuring handy Velcro fastenings, they are available in black orwhite, with sizes small to extra large. They are priced at £15.50 to the trade.

The Rhinegold German Leather Comfort Double Bridle is handcrafted fromselected German leather and features a comfort design headpiece. Softpadding around the ears plus a clever design removes pressure from thehorse’s head.

Stainless steel fittings round out this product’s comprehensive specification.Available in black or havana finishes and sizes from Pony to Extra Full, theRhinegold Comfort Double Bridle represents astonishing value at £42.50 to thetrade.t Snowhill Trade Saddlery 01243 672323.

Top riders’ choiceWALSALL based Barnsby has been makingsaddles and bridles for more than 200 years.

Working with respected internationalcompetitors is one way in which the companykeeps in touch with the requirements of topcompetitors from different disciplines.Currently they include eventer Mary King and show jumper Guy Williams.

Mary has worked with Barnsby for a number of years and one of herfavourite pieces of kit is the Xtreem Cross-Country Saddle. Built on alightweight carbon fibre tree, its ultra-close contact design prompts Mary tosay: “I wouldn’t go cross-country in any other saddle.”

Guy likes to compete in the Schockemöhle Jump Saddle. It features extra-large knee and calf blocks for security, while allowing freedom of movementfor optimum balance over a fence.

With a tree designed to accommodate the jump rider’s forward position,there’s a choice of hand-crafted felt and latex foam or natural wool flockedpanels.

“I have 100% trust in Barnsby and the equipment I use,” says Guy. t Barnsby 01922 621676.

Cheekily named breechesNEW Pimplebum breeches from Tagg are stylish on the outsidewhile secretly helping rider security.

Available in canary or beige, they have an inserted seat of‘puff print’ self -coloured dots for seat security in all weathers.

With a neat, flat front and a low waist with belt loops,Pimplebum breeches are made in knitted, stretch, 95% cottonfabric which is easily washed at 40 degrees.

The Pimplebum range comes in ladies’ sizes 24” to 34” at atrade price of £15.95, with children’s styles at £12.95 (trade).t Tagg Equestrian 01636 636135.

Gearing up to winOn the eve of the outdoor show season, ETN looksat products to get your customers into the ribbons.

Winning saddle padsWITH more than 40 styles to choose from,NuuMed has a saddlepad to fit most saddles acrossthe equestrian disciplines.

Favourites for dressage are the HiWither Everydaysaddlepad and the HiWither half wool saddlepad.

For jumping, the close contact and forward cut versions of the HiWitherEveryday and half wool saddlepads are ideal. For those that preferring anumnah, the HiWither Close Contact numnah with half wool lining is a goodchoice

New from Griffin NuuMed for 2012 is a smart range of half woolsaddlepads and numnahs with natural wool collars.

The company uses high quality British materials, in particular British wool -the number one material to put on a horse’s back. All products are designedand made in NuuMed’s factory in Somerset.t Griffin NuuMed 01458 210324.

Dazzling detailIF you want to stock something individual this season,check out Pikeur Felina breeches.

Part of the Next Generation collection, they featuregorgeous applique diamanté decoration.

Distributed in the UK by Belstane, Felina breeches athree-quarter patch seat, slanting front pockets, rearjeans pockets and a new stretch leg closing feature.

The material is 66% cotton, 27% polyamide and7% elastane with sizes XXS to XL. Colours availableare black, night blue and white. t Belstane Marketing 01335 372600.

It’s the tops!THE Ariat Aptos Show Top is made from lightweight,stretch poly pique - designed to keep the wearer cool anddry during strenuous activity.

With a white mock collar, stock tie loop and hidden snapclosure, it comes in short sleeve style, at an RRP of £32.50in white, pink or navy eclipse.

There’s also a sleeveless style at £29.99, in white ornavy eclipse. t Ariat-Europe 0845 600 3209.

The dressage rule that’s hit theheadlines has been therequirement for riders atAdvanced level and above to

wear up-to-standard hats. Eventer Emily Llewellyn was

recently left red-faced when shecompeted in a beagler hat in anaffiliated Preliminary test, thusbreaking the new rule.

In short, BD’s revised clothing rulesare as follows:

Advanced tests and aboveTail coats are commonly worn at thislevel, and BD states they must be in aplain, conservative, dark colour: ‘Forexample navy, bottle green or charcoalgrey, etc.’ (This is a change from thepreceding rules, whereby only blackand dark blue were allowed). A shortjacket may alternatively be worn.

Both jackets are worn with acorrectly tied white/cream stock or tie.Either up-to-standard protective hats ortop hats are allowed in Advanced tests.Military uniform may be worn, alongwith a protective hat or uniform cap.

Introductory to AdvancedMedium TestsAt this level, military uniform, a shortjacket or a tweed coat with correctlytied stock, white American collar orshirt and tie, and up-to-standard hatare deemed suitable. Tweed coatsshould not be brightly coloured, orhave loud patterns.

HatsProtective hats [to current standards asdefined by BD] must be worn by allriders at all times when mounted at aBD competition, including exercising,warming up and competing.

Top hats and uniform hats arepermitted as an exception to this ruleonly for Advanced to Grand Prixclasses (including FEI Young Riderlevel) but only for the warm up directlyprior to the competition and thecompetition test itself.

Protective hats may be worn inplace of a top hat at Advanced toGrand Prix and with both short jacketand tail coat. Hats and hat covers mustbe predominately black or navy blue orof a conservative dark colour thatmatches the rider’s jacket.

Breeches/JodhpursLeg wear must be plain white, creamor beige, except when worn withofficial uniform, when they may be ofthe uniform colour.

GlovesGloves must be worn, and white,beige or cream gloves are stronglypreferred.

BootsThese must be plain black or brownand may be top boots or jodhpurboots. Gaiters may be worn, providingthey are of identical leather to theboots. Neither boots nor gaiters mayhave any decoration of any sort,except discreet manufacturer’s logostuds.

Rider jewelleryBD makes no stipulations in itsrulebook about jewellery, howevercompetitors agree that simple,understated jewellery such as studearrings are acceptable dressageattire.

Common pitfalls1. Non-regulation headwear:Beaglers, or any similar types of hatswithout chin straps, are not permittedfor affiliated dressage now, andorganisers are promising to ‘clampdown’ on the new ruling that becamemandatory on 1st December 2011.

Organisers will eliminate unsuitably-dressed competitors..A BDspokesperson states that: "[Dressage]judges have been notified that from1st January, any leniency over the ruleshould cease.”

2. Blingy boots: Dressagecompetition boots may not havedecoration of any sort, except fordiscreet logo studs, so boots withprominent diamante or similarembellishments would be an unwiseinvestment purchase for customerswanting to do pure dressage, althoughthey are fine for jumping contests.

3. Bold tail coats: Until recently,only black and dark blue tailcoats weresanctioned, however ‘conservative,dark colours’ are now allowed. BDadmits that pin stripes are a ‘slightlygrey area’, but a BD representativestates that pin stripe is allowed, if it issubtle. From a distance, you shouldhardly be able tell it is pin stripe. “Boldpin stripe is not permitted,” arepresentative from BD clarifies.

4. Breeches with logos: Dressageleg wear must be plain, so breecheswith obvious logos are not allowed.Again, such items are more suited tojumping contests.


Dressing for dressageGoverning body British Dressage (BD) is notoriously vigilant about maintaininga classic look in the arena – so how can your customers look and feel fabulouswhile avoiding a dressing-down when they dress up for dressage?

Dressage is all aboutpresentation – but turnoutmust stay within the rules.

CASE STUDYCanada-based high-fashion clothing manufacturer,Asmar Equestrian, recently launched a Dressage TailCoat, RRP around £400, in two colourways – black ornavy-pin stripe.

And it is allowed under BD rules. “The pin stripesare a grey tone and sit well with the coat, giving asubtle appearance,” a BD spokesperson stated.

The coat also features false points showing underthe cut-away front of the garment, to simulate the lookof a waistcoat, in plum, pewter, deep red andtraditional golden yellow.


Fighting the flabETN gathers together the latest productsto help your customers beat that perennialequine problem of Spring weight gain –and its associated health problems.

Laminitis watchTHE Spring flush of rich grass can spell danger for horsesand ponies prone to laminitis.

“Many customers will come into your shop asking forfeed advice and seeking low starch, low sugar, laminitis-friendly feeds,” says Allen & Page’s marketing managerClara Baillie-Lane. “However, it’s equally important toadvise the horse owners who aren’t seeking thisinformation.

“Many horse owners are easy to sell to as they arealready on the lookout for warning signs. It’s the owners who are unaware ofthe risks of weight gain and laminitis that you may need to advise at this timeof year.”

The best way to make customers aware of the dangers of laminitis is tocreate an eye catching display - perhaps a seasonal window display.

Allen & Page nutritionist Rachel Parrott suggests the following wording on asign:

Laminitis should be treated as a veterinary emergency. Call yourvet immediately if you believe your horse may have laminitis.

Your local veterinary practice should be contacted if you wish to includemore detailed information about the condition. Perhaps you could reciprocateby including their contact details?

“You can also make sure you provide information on feeds that can help toavoid the condition in the first place,” added Rachel.

“High fibre, low sugar and low starch feeds are the best option. Create anin-store display with a selection of laminitis-friendly, fibre feeds such as FastFibre and ‘L’ Mix, alongside weigh-tapes for purchase, feed helpline phonenumbers and a body condition scoring chart.”

The inclusion in ‘L’ Mix of fibre in the form of alfalfa and chaff ensuresincreased chewing time. It also contains vegetable proteins and unsaturatedoils, providing essential nutrients plus yeast providing a natural source ofvitamins and minerals.

The feed also contains premium grade herbs, specifically for hoof health, tohelp support the laminitis-prone horse or pony. t Allen & Page 01362 822902.

Help them stay safe“WHILE some causes of laminitis are harder toavoid, nutritionally induced laminitis is theeasiest to prevent,” says Clare Barfoot ofSpillers.

“We suggest merchants stock low starch,high fibre feeds such as chopped fibre feedsapproved by The Laminitis Trust or a low caloriebalancer that will balance the nutrients in aforage- based diet without providing high levelsof energy or starch,” added Clare.

Spillers Happy Hoof, a low calorie, short-chop forage which can be used asa complete feed, is a handy line to keep in stock. Containing all the vitaminsand minerals the horse needs to stay in good health, it’s designed to extendeating time.

Spillers Happy Hoof was the first complete chopped fibre feed to beapproved by the Laminitis Trust.

Spillers High Fibre Cubes, meanwhile, are low in starch and high in fibre,with high levels of vitamins and minerals, making them a safe choice forhorses and ponies prone to laminitis. They can also be soaked to form a mashfor veterans that can’t manage long fibres.

With a whole cereal-free, low starch, non-heating formulation, Spillers LiteBalancer is ideal for overweight horses and ponies and those prone tolaminitis. It’s designed to be fed alongside a low calorie, compound feed or aforage only diet.t Spillers Care-Line 01908 226626.

Net profitsELIM-A-NET is a haynet which slows down therate at which greedy horses get thought theirforage – thanks to an inner net that alters thesize and shape of the holes.

The additional time and trouble horsesexpend reaching their grub also means Elim-a-Net is a great boredom buster.

Another advantage is that it’s highly unlikely ahorse or pony could get its foot through a hole in this haynet, making it muchsafer than some to leave in the stable or lorry or trailer while travelling.

Elim-a-Net is well made, too, with sturdy rings and a properly strong tying-up rope. It comes in Pony, Cob and Horse sizes with RRPs from £9.99.t Parell Products 07715 172 470.

The Spring flush of rich grasslooks glorious, but can spelldanger to the laminitis proneequine, warns Allen & Page.

Introducing ‘diet’ haylage SILVERMOOR Lite is said to be the first haylage product with a guaranteedsugar content of less than 10%.

Grown and bagged in Northumberland by Ralph Thompson and his family,the haylage is produced from special ryegrass leys with good-doers in mind.

Safe to feed to laminitics, Silvermoor Lite has less than 9% protein, is dust-free and high in fibre. t Silvermoor Farm 07929 561717.

Laminitis research underwaySANTÉ Franglais, the companybehind Aloeride, is currentlyundertaking research into thebenefits of feeding aloe vera inrelation to laminitis.

Aloeride is a pure, certified,organic aloe vera supplement which is known to offer a number of positivehealth benefits; early trials have indicated a benefit in the recovery of laminitichorses and ponies. These initial, empirical findings are being furtherinvestigated.

Aloeride is available in one-a-day sachets, is taste-free, has a long shelf lifeand requires no refrigeration. 30 sachets (1 month’s worth) contain 12 litres ofaloe vera juice. The RRP is £55.20.

Aloeride has been tested by an accredited Newmarket laboratory and doesnot contain any synthetic compounds, making it the ideal supplement forhorses undergoing treatment or daily medication.t Aloeride 01858 464550.


Long term supportTHINK Laminitix from Brinicombe Equine is asupplement that aims to make life easier for ownersof laminitis prone equines.

Selected ingredients provide essential vitaminsand minerals along with key nutrients such asbiotin and zinc for healthy hooves. A combinationof antioxidants, chelated magnesium and cinnamonworks towards a healthy immune system and helpin stabilising blood sugar levels for long termsupport.

The palatable, granular product can be mixed with a suitable high fibrefeed. A 2kg container (RRP £34.95) will last a horse for up to 40 days.t Brinicombe Equine 08700 606206.

Cutting grass intakeGRAZING muzzles have become a popular way ofrestricting fat equines’ grass intake without theneed for constant stabling.

This Deluxe Grazing Muzzle from KM Elite ispadded and comes in small pony through to extralarge sizes. t K M Elite 01403 759659.

Five star protectionA favourite with farriers, Pro Feet fromNAF offers concentrated, fast actingnutritional support for good quality hoofgrowth.

It also supports the function of theliver, an influential organ when it comesto hoof health.

Pro Feet offers optimum daily levels ofbiotin, a daily measure of MSM, a broad blend of amino acids,essential fatty acids plus vitamins and minerals. New hoof growthshould be seen within a month to six weeks of feeding it, says NAF.

One litre of Pro Feet has an RRP from £27.95.t NAF 01600 710700.

For hoof integrityFARRIER’S Aid from GWF Nutrition is acomplementary feed for all horsesdesigned to maintain hoof integrity andgrowth.

Containing a blend of 12 specificnutricines and trace elements, it providesall the elements needed for this importantfunction.

A 5kg bucket of Farrier’s Aid has an RRPof £30.t GWF Nutrition on 01225 708482.

Something to stand on PLATFORM is a hoof supplement fromDay, Son & Hewitt that supplies thenutrients needed to support strong,resilient hoof growth.

Containing high levels of biotin, otherkey ingredients include methionine,lysine, magnesium, horsetail extract, zincand copper

Consumer Julian May from Long Melford reported: “A year ago,Royal City’s hooves were so brittle, it would have been difficult to seehim race this year; but months on, his hooves are in great health.

“Our farrier could see the difference in the new hoof growth afterjust two months of feeding Platform.”

The product, supplied in Day, Son & Hewitt’s acclaimed sachetformat, has an RRP of £37.50 for one months’ supply for a 500kghorse.t Day, Son & Hewitt 01253 797450.

Hoof it!As the sodden ground dries up, horses’ hoovesface new challenges. Meanwhile, overweightequines and laminitis are forever linked – so itmakes sense to review the hoof care productsyou stock at this time of year.

Improve the diet NAF’s Laminaze has been reformulated for increasedbenefits.

As well as supplying natural nutrients, some of whichsupport the health of the hoof, it has a rich antioxidantcontent. Laminaze now offers additional nutritional supportspecifically targeting the health of the gut too.

Your customers who own laminitis prone equines canmake an important contribution towards improving theirdiets by ensuring new Laminaze is part of the daily feed, says NAF.

In fact, the company recommends using the product well in advance of thefirst flush of fresh grass to set up natural defences from within.

RRPs are £18.95 for 375g (15 days supply) and £30.95 for 750g (30 dayssupply). Larger sizes are available.t NAF 01600 710700.

Feeding for good feet and more...Such is the strong link between feed and hoof problems that Karen Zetsche,EU sales representative for Life Data Labs – the American manufacturer ofFarrier’s Formula – was asked to speak at last year’s Farriery Focus event inthe UK. Here’s what she had to say...

Open any equestrianmagazine today andyou will find a host ofadverts urging horse

owners to feed this or thatsupplement or perhaps acomplete ration containingeverything the horse needs.

But while it is true thatvitamin, mineral and nutrientdeficiencies can cause seriousequine health problems,feeding supplements to excesscan be equally detrimental to ahorse’s health. Hoof problems,for example, can result from anexcess of selenium, vitamin A,phosphorus, or sulphur in thehorse’s diet.

It is wrong to think that allvitamin and mineral excessescan simply be excreted withouta cost to the horse’s metabolicsystem. And there are somenutrient excesses that can leadto toxicities and severe healthproblems.

There is no hard and fastrule as to how to feed a horse,but one very good principle isto keep it simple, rememberingthe horse’s natural diet. Quiteoften today we seem to havelost sight of how the horseevolved and of its naturalhabitat.

In the wild, the horse wouldbe grazing for 18 to 20 hoursa day, eating forages and grassseeds. It is because we havedomesticated the horse,restricted its grazing, asked itto perform tasks it would notnaturally do and cultivated thepastures it grazes thatnowadays we often need to

feed supplements.Pastured horses can usually

maintain their weight fromgrazing if allowed unlimitedgrazing time on good pasture.Factors that can affect thisgeneral rule includeovergrazed, poor qualitypastures or limited grazingtime. As grazing time becomesmore limited the offering ofhay should increase, with thestabled horse ideallyconsuming a grass hay freechoice. Horses that are proneto obesity may need limitedgrazing time and less leafy andmore ‘stemmy’ hay.

The horse’s digestive system

It’s important tosupply caloriesseparately fromother nutrientrequirements

is complex and sensitive, andso we need to be careful,especially when changing thefeed regime. The microbes inthe hindgut live in a delicatebalance. This balance can beeasily upset when nutrients,especially carbohydrates, aresuddenly introduced into thehindgut pouch.

The horse that requirescalories in addition to pastureand hay should be fed acalorie source that containsstarches that are easilydigested in the foregut longbefore reaching the hindgut. Agrass seed similar to what awild horse would consumeduring natural grazing typically

contains easily digestiblestarches.

Whole oats are an exampleof a grass seed, and areappropriate for horses thatneed extra calories in order tomaintain proper bodycondition. The requirement foradditional oats is reduced byfeeding a concentratednutrient source designed tobalance hay and pasture diets.This supplemental nutrientsource should also supplyrequired daily nutrients.

Because no two horses havean identical metabolismand workload, it isimportant to supply caloriesseparately from othernutrient requirements.Obesity is detrimental tothe horse’s health, withligament damage, jointproblems, metabolicdisease and insulinimbalance a frequentresult.

Ideally, we should aimto add a single,balanced supplementto a basic feed ration,

giving each horse the essentialvitamins, minerals and aminoacids it needs in the rightquantities. Owners who opt tofeed several supplements riskover-supplementation.

In our eagerness to avoidvitamin and mineraldeficiencies we can easilyoverdo and end up with ahorse with feed-related hoofproblems.

• This article first appeared inDecember 2011 issue ofForge magazine.

Hoof problems can result from an excess ofselenium, vitamin A,phosphorus, orsulphur in the diet.

Farrier’s Formula:what’s in it?• This complementary

feeding stuff for horsesprovides nutrients such asphospholipids, omegafatty acids and importantamino acid ‘proteinbuilding blocks’ thatenable horses to buildstrong structural andconnective tissue proteinsimportant for healthy hoofstructure and growth.

• Over 30 years of equinenutritional research,clinical trials and fieldtesting have gone intoevery cup.

• A glossy, more deeplycoloured coat and anemerging new band ofhoof growth will appearwithin weeks.

• For more information, visitwww.lifedatalabs.com


HELP!Managing laminitis should be a team effortbetween owner, vet, farrier and feedmerchant. Nicola Tyler of TopSpec, suggeststhe advice a merchant can contribute.

• Always have fresh cool water available.

• Feed late-cut meadow hay at 1% of bodyweight per day. Thiscan be increased to 2-3% of bodyweight once it has beenanalysed and declared suitable and if the pony is notoverweight. For example, a Section A mare weighingapproximately 300kg needs 3kg hay which is approximatelyone large flap from a small bale. Divide this up over a 24hour period.

• The hay should have a low sugar content and until this canbe confirmed or otherwise by a laboratory. The hay should besoaked in a generous amount of fresh, cool water for 8-12hours before feeding as the consensus of research is that thiswill lower the sugar content.

• Feed a pelleted multi-supplement that provides a five-wayapproach to supporting the recovery of a laminitic. 1) Thelevel of biotin (15mg/500kg horse/day) that is scientificallyproven to improve hoof quality, plus the levels of methionine,

cysteine, lysine, calcium, zinc, copper,iodine, and vitamin A known toimprove the efficiency of biotin alone.Chelated sources of copper and zincwill improve its effectiveness further. 2)High levels of a pure, protected yeast tohelp maintain near-neutral (normal andhealthy) conditions in the hindgut. 3)Additional MOS (mannanoligosaccharides) to augment the effectof the yeast. 4) A top specificationbroad-spectrum supplement, vital forponies on a restricted diet.5) Generouslevels of anti-oxidants includingvitamins A, C and E plus selenium toneutralise the excess free-radicals that have been increasedby stress. The multi-supplement should be bound onto ahighly digestible, high-fibre ‘supplement carrier’ to stimulatethe fibre- digesting bacteria in the hindgut. The carrierformula should be formulated without cereal grains and verylow in sugar and starch. TopSpec AntiLam meets all thesecriteria. A small native pony weighing 300kg would need150g of this multi-supplement twice a day.

• Also feed an unmolassed, low sugarchop twice daily. If the pony isunderweight then choose a chopbased largely on alfalfa e.g. TopChopAlfalfa or Dengie Alfa-A Molasses Free.If the pony is the correct weight oroverweight then feed an alfalfa/strawcombination such as TopChop Lite orMollichaff Hi-Fibre Alfalfa. Although itadds to their forage allowance it isbeneficial to supply a generousamount of chop during the first weekor so following a laminitic attack as theknown low-sugar forage is an important source of fibre tore-stabilise the microbial fermentation in the hindgut.Recommend 1.5kg of chop be fed per day to a 300kg smallnative pony, this would equate to approximately five Stubbsscoops of chop spread throughout the day. A substantialproportion of this chop can be replaced by hay once the hayhas been analysed and approved by a nutritionist, providingthe pony concerned is not overweight. If it is overweight astrategy for weight reduction, possibly including limitingforage intake, will need to be followed.

• Continue to amend the feeding and management routine asadvised by your vet and nutritionist until the pony is soundand returned to work. Particular care must be taken overreturn to pasture, making all changes very gradually.

• Permanently avoid all high sugar and/or high starch feedssuch as cereals, mixes, cereal-containing compound feedsand molassed chaffs. Feeds containing high levels ofsugar/starch can not only disrupt the bacterial fermentationin the hindgut, risking laminitis, but they can also provokehigh levels of insulin in the blood. Recent research has shownthat raised insulin levels can directly cause laminitis. If yourpony is a chronic laminitic, or diagnosed Insulin Resistant,also search out low-sugar hay for use each winter.

t TopSpec helpline 01845 565030.

My pony has laminitis!


MR WILLIAM McKAY t/a MARTIN GRANGE RACING, MARTIN COMMON,BAWTRY, DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKSHIRE DN10 6DD £19,746

NORTHERN RACING LTD, R/O 12C LANCASTER PARK, NEEDWOOD, BURTON-ON-TRENT,STAFFORDSHIRE DE13 9PD £207

ROB LLOYD RACING SYNDICATIONS LTD, HAYCROFT FARM, PECKFORTON HALLLANE, SPURSTOW, TARPORLEY, CHESHIRE CW6 9TP £437

MISS HANNAH HAVARD, HAVARD STABLES, TREWRIDDYG FAWR, DINAS CROSS,NEWPORT, DYFED SA42 0SR £511

MR STUART CORNFORTH T/A CORNFORTH ANIMAL FEEDS, INTAKE GRAINSFARM, INTAKE LANE, ACASTER MALBIS, YORK YO23 2PL £86,548

DARROW FARM EQUESTRIAN SUPPLIES, DARROW WOOD FARM, SHELFHANGERROAD, DISS, NORFOLK IP22 4XY £106

MR LLOYD HELM, LHH ANIMAL FEEDS, SLOEMANS FARM, WHITEWEBBS ROAD,ENFIELD, MIDDLESEX EN2 9HW £6,266

MR R POPPE T/A ENGLISH COUNTRY PURSUITS, 1 RUSSELL STREET, TAVISTOCK,DEVON PL19 8BD £770

COMPLETE HORSE & PET SUPPLIES LTD, THE MILL, KINGSLEIGHTON ROAD,NEWTON ABBOT, DEVON TQ12 2QA £1,594

MR SIMON CHAMBERLAIN T/A COUNTRY AND GAME, 11 RIVERSIDE COURT,CAMBRIDGE ROAD, OLD HARLOW, HARLOW, ESSEX CM20 2AD £804

MR ANDREW CROWTHER T/A CROWTHERS EQUESTRIAN, SPRING GREENNURSERIES, PONTEFRACT ROAD, CROFTON, WAKEFIELD, WEST YORKSHIRE WF41LW £948

MR ANDREW CROWTHER T/A CROWTHERS OF WAKEFIELD, 39 OAKENSHAWLANE, CROFTON, CROFTON, WAKEFIELD, WEST YORKSHIRE WF4 1SE £1,343

County Court Judgments from Englandand Wales and the Scottish version,which are called Court Decrees. The judgments listed are those recorded by the RegistryTrust Ltd and appear to be of a commercial nature.Judgments/Decrees can be for damages rather than debts,and their listing here does not imply an inability to pay.

T h e Vo i c e o f t h e E q u e s t r i a n I n d u s t r y

Eque

stri

anTr

ade

New

s

• Supplementary help – supplements and balancers to stock.

• Paddock, stable andtackroom essentials– including first aid

• The trade celebratesthe Olympics – making the most of London 2012.

MAY ISSUEComing soon in ETN. . .

List your website hereFor more information call 01937 582111

Editorial for consideration should be received by 1 April. Telephone: 01937 582111 Email: [email protected]

Trade openings and amendsETN tracks newly opened retail outletsor those with changed details. NEWThe following are new outlets, or new to us:Online for Equine, 87 Dartmouth Avenue,Cannock, Staffs, WS11 1EQ.Tel 0845 519 9087.

Orchard Farm Equestrian,Barkestone Lane, Plungar,Notts, NG13 0AJ.Tel 01949 861433.

etn - equestrian trade news - march2012

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