Horse stall mats are becoming increasingly popular, due to the advantages they provide over other stall floor surfaces:

- Yielding. The traditional concrete floor is very hard. Unless you provide a thick layer of bedding, this hardness can stress joints, possibly injure feet, and cause sore points where the horse lays down to rest or sleep. Mats provide a softer and more yielding surface which is more comfortable for horses and less likely to result in impact stress injuries.

- Warmth. The materials used to make horse stall mats are naturally insulating. This is both more comfortable and healthier for horses, especially in winter.

- Traction. Concrete and wooden floors can be slippery when wet; mats provide better traction and reduce this risk to horses.

- Smooth. Many mats have a smooth surface, which is much easier to clean than concrete or wood surfaces.

(more…)

HAYGAIN has launched an informative new website dealing with everything you need to know about the benefits of horse hay steamers.

The user-friendly website is packed with useful information for all horse owners from farmers, small time enthusiasts to leading race specialists. As well as explaining the process and the science behind the hay steaming development, it has testimonials, FAQs, Ask the Experts and News.

You can also use it to keep up with HAYGAIN team riders Matt Ryan, Bettina Hoy, Diana Burnett, Emily Llewellyn and Peter Storr.

The extensive research done on the HAYGAIN is given in the “Pudding!” section, showing that using the HAYGAIN horse hay steamers, hay is transformed into dust free palatable forage.

(more…)

All horses need a healthy respiratory system to perform to their maximum ability. Dust and fungal spores naturally found in hay compromise this.

HAYGAIN hay steamers solves the problem completely.

HAYGAIN hay steamers have been created by the experts at Propress Ltd, who have more than 60 years of specialist experience in the steam industry.

More than 1 in 6 horses suffer from breathing problems, severely affecting their health and performance. Additionally, 80% of horses stabled part of the time have a degree of airway inflammation, even if they are asymptomatic; this undoubtedly has a detrimental effect on their performance. HAYGAIN hay steamers provide the ideal solution: the unit steams the hay at over 100?C, to destroy all the dust, spores and mould that are found in hay.

New HAYGAIN is a fully insulated unit with a unique function enabling steam to penetrate the centre of the bale, releasing steam which defuses outwards, ensuring the entire bale is steamed at the critically necessary temperatures [in excess of 100°C throughout.]

(more…)

Do you want to learn more about feeding hay, the problems associated and how to eliminate these?

Visit Haygain, the experts in steaming hay at Badminton Horse Trials. Situated in the World of the Horse, their exhibit gives an insight into this fascinating technique of steaming hay which will change your perceptions.

All horses need a healthy respiratory system to perform to their maximum ability. Dust and fungal spores naturally found in hay compromise this. Steaming hay completely solves this problem.

The HAYGAIN hay steamer has been created by the experts at Propress Ltd, who have more than 60 years of specialist experience in the steam industry, supplying clothing steamers to leading designers and high street brands worldwide.

(more…)

PROPRESS Equine have launched the new HAYGAIN, a revolutionary hay steamer. Haygain transforms any quality of hay into dust-free forage giving horses a healthier respiratory system and maximising their performance.

HAYGAIN has been created at Propress Ltd, experts with more than 60 years of specialist experience in the steam appliance industry, supplying fabric steamers to leading fashion designers and high street brands worldwide. As leaders in steam products for a wide range of applications Propress bring a wealth of knowledge to the equine market.

One in six horses suffer from breathing problems in the UK and 80% of horses stabled part of the time have a degree of airway inflammation even if they are asymptomatic. The HAYGAIN hay steamer helps provide the ideal solution and steams the hay at over 100?C, to destroy all dust spores and mould and mites that are found in hay.

(more…)

By nature the horse was intended to live in grassy fields with natural protection through trees and the landscape from the elements. The horse lived in herds and most herds were groups of mares with one stallion for protection. As technology advanced and we began to rely on the horse more and more, we began to change the way the horse lives. The horse was stabled and shod and moved away from the grassy fields to barns and stables in cities. This was a drastic change for the horse and he has had to overcome many of his natural instincts for this new way of life.

To compensate for changing the horse’s natural way of life we have to do everything that we can to make it easier and more comfortable on our horses. There are certain procedures that we must do to ensure that our horses remain healthy and live happy lives. Horses are all day grazers and we must remember this when it comes to our feeding schedules. Horses were intended to walk and run on hard ground, so this too must be remembered when we stable our horses and bed our stalls. Racehorses actually have more of a healthier life than many stabled horses. (more…)

The Shetland pony originates from the Shetland Isles, from where the pony’s name is derived.

Shetland Pony - Horsewizard

The modern day Shetland pony is a popular child’s pony. The Shetland pony is generally an intelligent, kind pony and has a gentle nature.Taking into account the Shetland pony’s small size, it is the strongest of all horse or pony breeds. The Shetland pony is extremely strong and hardy; this is a result of the harsh environment in which the Shetland pony has developed.

Characteristics

The Shetland pony is renowned for being a small pony; a fully grown a Shetland pony that stands between 34 to 42 inches is known a standard, a pony that is smaller than 32 inches is known as a miniature. The Shetland pony can be any colour, except spotted. To find the perfect ponies for sale visit the Horsewizard website.

(more…)

The Latin name for Donkey is “Equus Asinus”

Domestic Donkey - Horsewizard

Donkeys are relatives of horses; they are both members of the family “Equus”.

Donkeys are peaceful, friendly and tolerant animals. The majority of domestic donkeys that inhabit Great Britain are kept as companions for livestock and due to there docile nature donkeys are also kept as pets. Donkeys are also used for competitive showing.

Characteristics

Domestic donkeys can be brown, white grey, strawberry roan and broken colours. Many donkeys are speckled and striped.

Most solid colour donkeys have a dorsal stripe; this is a stripe darker than the donkeys coat that runs down the spine, many also have shoulder blade stripes, again darker than the donkeys coat coming from the wither area down the shoulders.

(more…)

The Arab or Arabian horses name is derived from the area from which the Arabian horse originates, the Arabian peninsula in south west Asia.

SummaryArabian Horse - Horsewizard

The Arabian horse is a member of the “hot blooded” group of horses.

Hot blooded horses have a more refined body and are of a smaller, lighter build compared to their warm and cold blooded counterparts. Hot blooded horses are exceptionally agile and posses’ great speed, this is due to their lightly muscled body.

Arabian horses are incredibly versatile; they are used for various equestrian pursuits from dressage to the western sport of “cutting”. Arabian horses excel at endurance and dominate the sport at the highest levels. The Arabian horse is renowned for its outstanding good looks and extreme stamina.

(more…)

SummaryCob - Horsewizard

Cob is a name given to a type of horse rather than a breed. It’s used to express the horse’s body type. Cobs are short legged and have a compact muscular sturdy body which makes the cob a good weight carrier. Cobs are very popular type of horse as they are extremely versatile. Cobs can be used for showing, driving, dressage, show jumping, cross country and hacking. Cobs make excellent horses for novice or nervous riders as they have a calm temperament and have a steady way of going with low movement making a cob a comfortable smooth ride. The cob has a docile and kind nature.

Popular cob types

· The show cob

· The traditional Cob - Gypsy Vanner

· The Welsh mountain Section D cob

(more…)