By Roger Dixon, BVM&S CertAVP(ESM) MRCVS Ashbrook Equine Hospital The lifespan of the average horse is approximately 20 years. However, this varies tremendously between breeds and individuals. Whereas 20 years may be considered a ‘ripe old age’ for a thoroughbred, many ponies are still competing into their late teens and early twenties and live well into their thirties. Caring for older horses and ponies can be a challenge. This article will discuss how their day-to-day husbandry requirements change with increasing age, and outline several clinical conditions common in veteran horses and p ..read more

Alison Sweetman from Preston was thrilled to be announced as the lucky winner of a brand new Equi-Trek Apollo trailer, having entered a competition on the Equi-Trek trade stand at The Great Yorkshire Show. Horses have been a massive part of Alison’s life since she begged her parents for a riding lesson at the age of five and enjoyed her teenage years riding her own pony before going off to university, which meant she had to sell her pony. As life became busy Alison took a break from riding but her passion for horses was still as strong as ever and seven years ago a special horse came into her ..read more

With the excitement of looking for a new horse, and multiple viewings under your belt, there are so many things to consider.  Once you’ve made the decision to find your new, perfect partner (in a horse!), the search begins in earnest.  When beginning the search for a new horse, initially the list is incredibly comprehensive and very exacting.  However, as the search goes on, there is often a slow realisation that there are compromises to be made at every turn – sadly, the perfect horse does not exist.  It’s also important to remember that perfect for your friend is not nece ..read more

I am going to explore some simple things in this blog which might help some riders out there who need help keeping calm when facing down some of the many challenges we can often encounter when riding. Some real life riding solutions for some real life riding situations that are not easy.      Staying calm and looking calm on a horse take a lot of hard workLet’s start with a question; Are you always calm when riding? This is a question all too easily brushed over with too a quick reply, either yes I am or no I am not, the problem is people need to be honest with themselves, I kno ..read more

Equi-Trek is now offering ‘Flexi-Tow’ on Apollo horse trailers to give customers ultimate flexibility for just £200 plus vat a month on a rolling contract requiring only one month’s notice to cancel. Yes, it is that simple, you get a brand-new horse trailer for as long as you want it, for a simple monthly fee and nothing more than one month’s commitment that includes the following: Lifetime warranty All servicing and maintenance costs (excluding tyres) Insurance (Ts&Cs apply) In the uncertain times we now live in, Flexi-Tow has been introduced to provide customers with peace of mind tha ..read more

Hoof abscesses are more common during the winter months as the wet conditions result in the feet becoming softer, making it easier for dirt or foreign objects to penetrate the foot. Animalintex® Hoof Treatment is suitable for rapid treatment of foot conditions and is the only VMD licensed multi-layered absorbent poultice available in the UK. The hoof shaped dressing has been designed to offer easier preparation while still maintaining the high standard of efficiency of traditional Animalintex®. Advantages of Animalintex® Hoof Treatment Easier and quicker to prepare, as there is no need to cut ..read more

British Horse Feeds has launched a FREE downloadable guide to help offer advice around winter feeding and management. The guide is packed with nutritional information and expertise, and looks at potential problems that the cold winter weather can bring. There are tips to help maintain your horse’s core body temperature and reduce energy expenditure, as well as ways to make feeding more cost-effective and while ensuring your horse or pony maintains condition during the colder months. The new feeding guide also looks at how British Horse Feeds products can enhance forage supplies throughout the ..read more

Chris Taylor has been appointed as the new President of the Society of Master Saddlers, a position he also held in 2018. Well-known throughout the industry and with a successful career running Saddlers’ Den in Southport, Merseyside, Chris is a Master Saddler and has run the business for 26 years. Chris will work closely with the Chief Executive, Hazel Morley, and the Executive Committee, along with the sub-committees over the coming year. New President – Chris Taylor Chris takes over from Helen Reader, with Karen Schlotter moving into the Vice President’s role.  A former computer analyst ..read more

The British Equestrian Trade Association’s (BETA) Executive Director, Claire Williams, has been invited to judge EQUITANA Melbourne Business Awards this year. The awards have been created to promote and reward equestrian businesses in the Australian market for their innovation. The awards are free to enter for people exhibiting at EQUITANA Melbourne, which takes place between 10-13th November this year. There are four categories: Equestrian Rider Innovation, Vet/Feed Innovation, Saddlery/Horse Innovation, and Technology Innovation. All entries are initially judged through written submissions ..read more

The British Equestrian Trade Association’s (BETA) Executive Director, Claire Williams, has been invited to judge EQUITANA Melbourne Business Awards this year. The awards have been created to promote and reward equestrian businesses in the Australian market for their innovation. The awards are free to enter for people exhibiting at EQUITANA Melbourne, which takes place between 10-13th November this year. There are four categories: Equestrian Rider Innovation, Vet/Feed Innovation, Saddlery/Horse Innovation, and Technology Innovation. All entries are initially judged through written submissions ..read more