The British Equestrian Trade Association’s (BETA) Feed Fact Fortnight is back again for Spring 2024! Running from Saturday 30th March until Sunday 14th April, this great event aims to dispel feeding myths and help to improve your equine nutrition knowledge on improving and maintaining your horse’s weight and condition. What’s On Throughout Feed Fact Fortnight we will have trained representatives from a wide range of equestrian feed and supplement brands visiting our Totnes Store, who will be on-hand to offer you FREE advice and guidance. So if you’ve been wondering how to give your horse more energy with no sugar, or want to check what you are feeding your horse is really what he needs, make sure you pop in! DateTimeBrandAbout The BrandTues 2nd AprilTBCSpillers‘Your partners in care.’ For over 60 years, Spillers have continued to lead research, innovation & development in horse feed products & equine nutrition. Fri 5th April9.30am – 1.30pmDengieDengie are devoted to creating the best & healthiest horse food that your horse or pony may require for every season, activity or event.Mon 8th April10am – 3pmHorsehage(Mollichaff)Official forage supplier to the British Equestrian Team, HorseHage have a wide collection of forage & fibre based horse food to suit your horse & their dietary requirements.Tues 9th April11am – 3pmSaracenWith a heritage that spans over 200 years, Saracen’s founding values of trust, integrity & quality are coupled with research & innovation to ensure their range meets the very exacting nutritional requirements of the modern equine. Wed 12th April11am – 4pmAllen & PageAn innovative, family-owned company, formulating and manufacturing quality horse feeds, with the highest Non-GM standard of ingredients.Thurs 11th April11am – 3pmTopSpec‘Created without Compromise,’ TopSpec is one of the UK’s favourite brand of feed balancers and quality horse feeds.Fri 12th April10am – 2pmNAFNAF supplements are created using natural formulas developed by vets & nutritionists using premium grade, fully traceable ingredients. We also have some fantastic offers running throughout the 2-weeks, with discounts on selected Spillers, Horsehage & Dengie feeds. Plus on Fri 12th April we will be offering 20% off the whole NAF range both in-store and online! The BETA Guide to Dispelling Feeding Myths and Building Nutritional Knowledge Four Feeding Myths FALSE – Haylage is fattening and should be avoided by owners of fizzy horses and those prone to putting on weight or laminitis. Answer: Modern methods of haylage production and widespread availability mean that its nutritional value can be as variable as hay. In fact, some hay can be more calorific than haylage. For both forages, it depends on the quality of the grass and when it was harvested. Stalky, later-cut forage is best for good doers because it increases chew time while minimising calories. FALSE – Too much protein can lead to excitability. Answer: Protein is not a primary energy source for horses and any excess protein in the diet is excreted in the horse’s urine. If your horse is prone to being excitable, avoid all mixes and look for fibre-based feeds containing less than 15% starch. FALSE – Some horses are allergic to sugar. Answer: Glucose is the primary energy source utilised by the brain, which means it is impossible for horses to be allergic to sugar. FALSE – Feeds for laminitics must be molasses-free. Answer: Feeds containing molasses are not automatically high in sugar. If your horse or pony is prone to laminitis, remember it is the total amount of sugar in the diet that is important and not the inclusion of individual ingredients such as molasses. Fabulous Fibre Horses and ponies should receive at least 1.5% of their body weight in fibre per day. Haylage contains higher moisture (water) content than hay, and a greater amount needs to be fed to provide the same amount of fibre/dry matter. Fibre is essential for gut health. Lack of fibre or poor-quality fibre can affect the horse’s ability to utilise the remainder of its diet. Feeding Tips Horses are trickle feeders, so feed little and often throughout the day. Horses are designed to eat fibre over all other feed sources, so bases your ration around the fibre component first. Sudden changes in dietary management have frequently been associated with an increased risk of colic. Owners sometimes remember to change hard feed gradually, but forget that forage is the largest part of horses’ diets. Changes should be introduced over four to 10 days. Horses should be fed by weight, not volume, so it is important to weigh your feed and conserved forage. As a rough guide, a Stubbs scoop typically holds 2kg of a cube, 1.5kg of a mix, and 0.5kg of chaff. Fussy Feeders If you have tried a variety of feeds but your horse still needs tempting, try mixing a little extra molasses, apple juice or blackcurrant cordial into the feed. You can also add grated or chopped carrots or apples, dried spearmint or a handful of horse treats. Some horses like their feeds wet or soaked and those dampened or soaked in warm water might prove attractive, especially in winter. Supplement Fact The law does not recognise a supplement as a category of feed – it is viewed in the same way as feed in a bag. All feed (including supplements) is divided into complementary (to feed alongside forage), feed material (a single ingredient such seaweed), mineral feed (not fully balanced with other nutrients), and dietetic (feed for particular nutritional purposes). Did You Know? A horse’s stomach is about the size of a rugby ball (in a 500kg horse). In the wild, horses can cover up to 20 miles per day in search of fresh grazing and water. Calories are the same thing as energy – so “high energy” feeds will also be high in calories. Molasses is a by-product of the sugar production industry. It can come from either sugar beet or sugar cane. It is added to feed to aid palatability as a horse’s natural diet contains sugar and the horse has evolved to recognise and generally prefer a sweet taste. Balancers are small, nutrient-dense feeds formulated to provide a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, and quality protein to balance the diet alongside a negligible level of energy (calories). NOPS and EGUS – What Do They Mean? NOPS – naturally occurring prohibited substances. Look out for feeds bearing the BETA NOPS mark because it shows that the manufacturer belongs to this assurance scheme, which has taken stringent measures to minimise the risk of cross- contamination. EGUS – Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome. Look out for feeds with the BETA feed assurance mark that flags up feeds suitable for horses and ponies prone to this painful condition. Looking For Feeding Advice? At Redpost Equestrian we stock a huge range of feeds and supplements. We are always happy to give information on the products we sell or to provide the details of specialist nutritional helplines who can advise further. We always recommend consulting with your vet for any specific dietary concerns. You can contact us by email at sales@redpostequestrian.co.uk, by phone on 01803 812040, or use our Live Chat service. Shop Our Feed Range The post BETA Feed Fact Fortnight – Healthy Weight Management for Horses first appeared on Redpost Equestrian Blog.

Boasting a huge array of benefits, the Catago FIR-Tech LED Therapy Pad combines natural red, near-infrared, and blue light in one seamless product to help improve the regeneration process for muscles, fascia, tissue, and nerves, as well as trigger the self-healing process, making it an ideal way to improve performance and aid with wellness. Shop the Catago FIR-Tech LED Pad Why Use The LED Pad? This great product can help to improve tissue recovery, relax muscles and boost muscle recovery, increase blood circulation and stimulate nerve transmissions. The different wavelengths of the LEDs used in the FIR-Tech LED pads penetrate skin, tissue and muscles to an optimal depth and can promote regeneration, and also be used for prevention, relaxation and recovery processes. This LED Pad naturally powers the body’s cells through the mitochondria – where energy is created. Providing the cell with the optimal dosage of red, blue and infrared energy will trigger a reaction in the mitochondria, which can then boost energy production and regeneration. Frequently Asked Questions How easy is the FIR-Tech LED pad to use? It can be used straight out of the box! The Smart Knob control system with integrated display is intuitive and gives easy access to the menu of pre-set programmes, simply turn and press to select a function and it’s ready to go. You can pause and resume programmes and the display shows remaining running time. A timer automatically ends the programme too. What are the most frequently used programmes? The FIR-Tech LED offers a choice of 32 pre-set programmes suitable for a wide range of areas. The four most widely used pre-sets can be found using the ‘Quick Access’ menu and can be conveniently selected: Power Boost, Regenerate, Blood Circulation, Sport and Competition. On which areas of my horse can I use the FIR-Tech LED pad? FIR-Tech LED pads are flexible devices and designed to treat many areas of the body: the horse’s back, neck, croup and tendons. There’s also programmes for dogs and humans too. The supplied elastic velcro straps allow the LED pad to be secured in the exact position you wish to treat. Should I leave the Smart Knob attached the FIR-Tech LED pad? The Smart Knob may be disconnected from the FIR-Tech LED pad while a programme is running. No interruption will occur and once the programme has finished, the LED pad automatically switches off after 30 seconds. How frequently can I use the FIR-Tech LED pads? Up to twice per day. How much usage can I expect from a battery charge cycle? For the Q27, approx. 2-2.5 hour. Make sure you charge your battery for 3-4 hours once it is discharged. How do I care for my FIR-Tech LED pad? Catago recommend using a lint roller to remove hair or debris such as hay. Return the pad to its storage bag when not in use. Shop the Catago FIR-Tech LED Pad The post Everything You Need To Know About The Catago FIR-Tech LED Pad first appeared on Redpost Equestrian Blog.

Find your spring selection with LeMieux for a chance to win back your spend this Easter Weekend! All you need to do is spend over £50 on LeMieux to be automatically entered to WIN your entire LeMieux spend back! Shop Now to Enter! How to enter Purchases made from Thursday 28th March until 11:59 on Monday 1st April from the LeMieux collection will be automatically entered into the draw. Every £50 spent is an additional entry into the draw. Entries valid on instore and online purchases If you are the lucky winner, the value of the qualifying items purchased on the selected winning order will be credited to your account as Redpost Reward Points up to a maximum value of £200. This will be awarded as up 200,000 reward points to spend on future purchases in store or online. If the value of the qualifying items ordered is over £200, then a maximum of 200,000 points will be awarded. Reward points expire 2 years after they are awarded There is no cash alternative By accepting the prize, items from your winning order will become non-returnable unless faulty. One winner only If you have any questions about this promotion, please email us at competitions@redpostequestrian.co.ukThe post Win Back Your Spend With LeMieux first appeared on Redpost Equestrian Blog.

Sophie is the Redpost Shop Manager. Sophie and her horse Percy enjoy hacking out in the Devon countryside. About the product The Abus x Pikeur AirLuxe Supreme Riding Hat is the ultimate choice for riders of all levels, developed to perfectly blend performance, safety and style. Tested to meet current safety standards (VG1, ASTM, Kitemark, PAS), this hat provides high levels of protection in case of a fall, engineered with a lightweight, yet tough, ABS outer shell material. Abus x Pikeur AirLuxe Supreme Riding Hat – Midnight Blue What were your first impressions? Very sleek and stylish in design. I love the contrast of the matte shell and the sparkling panels twinned with the suede-like top.  How was the sizing & fit? Fits like a glove – I love the turn dial fitting element, it makes it feel moulded to my head and very secure.  How did you test the product?  I have schooled at home, hacked and been to riding club clinics in the Abus x Pikeur Airluxe Supreme. It kept my head very well ventilated whilst working hard thanks to the 17 ventilation openings. It isn’t draughty however and doesn’t feel as though it was letting anything in on a windy ride out.  What was your favourite feature?  The turn-dial back allows your ponytail/bun to sit neatly underneath it, not messing with the fit of the hat at all. I love that it is also QUIN-ready – I am lucky that Percy is a pretty good boy to hack out but know that I would have liked this feature on a few of my previous rides plus would give an extra level of security when out cross-country.  I also like the removable/washable antibacterial inserts. Any other comments?  This isn’t my usual style of hat, however, I am a convert! A little bit of sparkle is the touch I never knew I needed!  Abus x Pikeur AirLuxe Supreme Riding Hat – Midnight Blue The post Tried and Tested: Abus x Pikeur Airluxe Supreme Midnight Blue  first appeared on Redpost Equestrian Blog.

Kathryn is the owner of Lilly, a fiery bay roan 7-year-old mare. The pair regularly compete in showjumping, dressage, and eventing and are aiming to move up the levels About the product The Fairfax and Favor Anglesey Boots are your new go-to for outdoor wear, whether that’s when popping into town, or when walking in the countryside. Crafted from luxurious nubuck with suede trim, these boots also boast a super cosy shearling lining, that provides extra warmth and cosiness in cold weather. To the front of the boot are laces with a decorative branded tab, plus branded metal lace ends. This, paired with the other subtle branded details, makes the Anglesey ooze quality and class. Fairfax and Favor Anglesey Ladies Combat Boots – Mahogany What were your first impressions? I really liked how the boots were packaged in their blue box with dust bags to keep them well protected from any rattling around during transit. The boots are as stunning in person as on the website. I like that they come in nubuck or leather, I went for the leather for ease of cleaning. How was the sizing & fit? I have heard a few people saying to size up in F&F but I stuck with my usual size and they fit perfectly even though they are lined. I like that they have a zip making them so easy to put on and off but the laces allow for a snug fit or a loose fit depending on what you prefer, they also allow the boot to fit a variety of calf sizes. How did you test the product? I’ve not really worn any other footwear this season (other than wellies at the yard and riding boots) These boots have literally been everywhere with me – to the beach, muddy dog walks, to the pub, and they may have even made it to the yard when I said they never would! What was your favourite feature? My favourite feature is the lining of the boots as they have kept my very cold toes toasty warm during the colder days, they are my go-to shoes now when I think my feet will get cold. Other comments Wearing these boots on muddy dog walks I thought I might have ruined them but I got the leather knowing I would get them very dirty. I am so impressed with how well they clean up each time, leaving them looking like new! Fairfax and Favor Anglesey Ladies Combat Boots – Mahogany Leather The post Tried & Tested: Fairfax and Favor Anglesey Ladies Combat Boots – Mahogany first appeared on Redpost Equestrian Blog.