Student Lily Thomas has won the prestigious equine dissertation of the year award at the Royal Agricultural University for her dissertation ‘An Evaluation of Public Opinions and Perceptions on Equine Bodyweight in the Showing Sector’. Dengie have supported the prize for many years providing books and gift vouchers to the winners.

Lily has previously worked at the Horse Trust which is what sparked her keen interest in equine welfare with obesity and behaviour being her key areas of interest. Lily’s dissertation involved her conducting a survey which was completed by 174 participants. “I had to keep sending out the survey and reminding people to complete it” commented Lily. “It was hard work, but I’m really pleased with the number of survey responses I collected in the end!”

Some of the key themes from the survey included the need for judges to take a firmer stance and not place or reward horses that are obese. A few respondents even went so far as to suggest that a vet should inspect horses before they go in the ring and not let those that are obese compete. It was also interesting to note that only 10% of the respondents thought that awarding a rosette for the healthiest weight would be effective in reducing equine obesity in the show ring.

Lily’s survey findings suggest that horse owners are aware of the health risks associated with obesity and can recognise when their horses are overweight which contrasts with some previous studies. It is doing something about it that seems to be the challenge. “The change in behaviour needed to make a difference is an area I found particularly interesting”, comments Lily. “It’s an area that people like Tamzin Furtado have started to explore in studies and I found it fascinating that an awakening event often has to happen before people take action. Sadly, in the case of horses and ponies, that event is often laminitis”.  

Equine obesity is considered to be one of the UK’s most serious equine welfare concerns which is why it is so important that horse owners have support from vets, nutritionists and others to help them take appropriate action. Lily’s key takeaway is for horse owners to know that there is help available and not to be afraid or embarrassed to ask for advice from a reputable professional. The nutritionists at Dengie are practical horse owners and have experienced many of the challenges associated with keeping horses at a healthy weight too.

“There are many different reasons why horse owners struggle to achieve weight loss in their horses” adds Dr Katie Williams, Technical Manager at Dengie. “In some areas of the UK it is increasingly hard to find a good livery yard that will help you to manage your horse or pony’s access to grass. Finding suitable forage can also be a challenge with many being much higher in energy and sugar than is ideal for a horse that is overweight. Studies like Lily’s help to raise awareness of these challenges and explore what is needed for change to happen. I think she’s done a great job tackling a potentially contentious topic!”

Having now successfully completed her degree, Lily is embarking on her career in the equine industry with an exciting opportunity working in Spain.

A seasonal twist on an old favourite, Hi-Fi Original with Cinnamon Spice is naturally high in fibre, but low in calories (8MJ/kg), sugar (9%) and starch (1.5%)! The added cinnamon spice flavour makes the product even tastier and brings a seasonal aroma to your feedroom!

Dengie Hi-Fi Original with Cinnamon Spice combines nutritious alfalfa blended with soft straw for optimum digestive health and is ideal for horses & ponies in light work or at rest. It has been formulated as a straight feed with no added vitamins and minerals to maximize its flexibility. This means that any amount can be fed according to the horse’s requirements alongside a source of vitamins and minerals such as a balancer or powdered vitamin and mineral supplement to provide a balanced diet.

Dengie Hi-Fi Original with Cinnamon Spice comes in a great value 20kg bale, providing over 66 scoops per bag.

For more information about Dengie’s Hi-Fi Original with Cinnamon Spice or for help and advice on all aspects of feeding call the Dengie Feedline: 01621 841188 or visit the website and complete our Feed Advice Form.

*Available for a limited time only, whilst stocks last!

Win 30 bags of Sun-e-bed plus £50 of Dengie Feed Vouchers!

Sun-e-bed makes mucking-out, easy! This highly absorbent pelleted horse bedding speeds up mucking-out without compromising on bed quality or comfort.

Made from 100% British straw, Sun-e-bed is a soft pellet that easily breaks down in the stable to form a fluffy, comfortable bed. You don’t even need to water it!

The bedding is highly absorbent, and easy to manage. Wet patches clump together for easy removal and lock away the ammonia smell. You won’t need to remove much bedding each day, which will keep your muck-heap small.

Just six to eight bags of Sun-e-bed are required to start a stable from scratch, followed by one or two bags a week to top the bed up. So, 30 bags could last you six months, enough to get you through the worst of this winter.

The lucky winner will also receive £50 of Dengie Feed vouchers to go towards their horse or pony’s feed bill this winter!

How to Enter

Simply fill out the form below and answer the following question about Dengie Healthy Tummy.

If you would like further information on any of the Dengie products or a personalized diet plan for your horse please call our feedline on 01621 841188 or fill in our feed advice form.

Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on 31st October 2024. One entry per person. One lucky winner will be selected from the correct entries and be notified via email within 7 days of the competition closing. Prize consists of 30 bags of Sun-e-bed plus £50 of Dengie Feed vouchers. The 30 bags of Sun-e-bed will be delivered on a pallet to a UK mainland address. No cash alternative available. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Open to UK mainland residents only.  Click here for full Terms & conditions

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

Win £150 of feed vouchers to go towards your horse’s winter feed bill!

Autumn is the perfect time to review your horse or pony’s ration! This will allow you time to make any gradual dietary changes required to keep them healthy, happy and in good condition during the colder months.

At Dengie we are devoted to creating the best and healthiest horse feeds because we love your horse as much as you do! Fibre is vital for the healthy function of your horse or pony’s digestive system and satisfies their need to chew – it’s what they’re meant to eat! With our full range of fibre based feeds, Dengie can help you formulate the right diet for your horse or pony whatever their age or work load.

This month TWO lucky winners will each receive £150 of Dengie Feed vouchers to go towards their horse or pony’s feed bill this winter plus have their rations reviewed by our team of highly qualified and experienced nutritionists!

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

If you would like further information on any of the Dengie products or a personalized diet plan for your horse please call our feedline on 01621 841188 or click here to fill in our feed advice form.

Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on 30th September 2024. One entry per person. Two lucky winners will be selected from the correct entries and be notified via email within 7 days of the competition closing. Prize consists of £150 of Dengie Feed vouchers plus a nutrition consultation via email or phone. No cash alternative available. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Open to UK and Republic of Ireland residents only.  Click here for full Terms & Conditions

The countdown to Burghley Horse Trials begins here…

…and to celebrate we are giving you the chance to win one of two pairs of tickets to the thrilling Cross Country phase on Saturday 7th September 2024 plus car parking and a Dengie Goody bag containing a £50 feed voucher!

If you would like further information on any of the Dengie products or a personalized diet plan for your horse please call our feedline on 01621 841188 or click here to fill in our feed advice form.

Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on 27th August 2024. One entry per person. Two lucky winners will be selected from the correct entries and be notified via email within 7 days of the competition closing. Prize consists of: 2 x standard admission tickets for Saturday 7th September 2024, 1 x Saturday Car Parking Pass and 1 x Dengie Goody Bag which includes a £50 Dengie Feed Voucher. The Dengie Goody Bag will need to be collected from the Dengie stand in the World of the Horse Pavilion on the day of the event. No cash alternative available. Accommodation and travel to / from the event is not included. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Click here for full Terms & Conditions

We are proud to announce that we have achieved green status with the national environmental accreditation scheme, Investors in the Environment, for the second year running.

Founded in 1968 as a farmer’s cooperative, Dengie is still run today with the same ethos of supporting the local farming community. At the heart of Dengie is the strong ethos in producing sustainable feeds, growing as many of our own ingredients as possible. Our alfalfa is grown within 20 miles of where it is made into the finished feed and so has one of the lowest ‘feed miles’ of any horse feed ingredient and provides the best traceability possible. This means that every bag of Dengie feed can be traced back to the field it was grown in.

The Investors in the Environment annual audit assesses five key areas of an organisations Environmental Management System. These areas include:

• environmental policy
• resource management and monitoring
• progress against targets
• action planning including social/ environmental projects
• communication

To achieve green status with the prestigious Investors in the Environment scheme, the Dengie team has maintained a good environmental management system and driven down emissions in many key areas, in particular electricity, natural gas and carbon emissions. We have also undertaken a number of projects to enhance the environment and support staff wellbeing, as well as the local community.

The reduction in alfalfa and other fibres lost during the production process has saved 26 tons of carbon emissions, this is equivalent to flying a plane from London to Naples, Italy approximately 1000 miles. We also have a policy to recycle as much unavoidable waste as possible and utilise a contractor (Green Recycling) which has a zero waste to landfill policy.

Several measures are undertaken to reduce waste including sending waste packaging back to our supplier for reuse or recycling, installing machines with longer product runs, undertaking regular line checks and maintenance, paperlite initiatives and reusing waste products where possible. We are also a brand champion for the Green Tractor Scheme to encourage waste reduction.

Ian Hassard, Managing Director at Dengie commented “Sustainability is inherent in everything we do at Dengie, and our recent achievements are a reflection of the importance we place on continually striving to be more efficient. Achieving green status with Investors in the Environment again this year is great recognition for all the work the team at Dengie are doing to ensure that we continue to produce the highest quality feeds in harmony with the environment”.

Click here to learn more about sustainability at Dengie.

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

Brighten up your feed room this summer with a set of Red Gorilla‘s new brightly coloured bins! Available in 5 colours and 3 sizes: 30L, 50L, and 80L, these bins are perfect for storing your horse’s Dengie feeds and treats in, whilst making your feed room look fab! They are also frost proof, UV-proof and super sturdy with two strong clips to keep contents secure.

This month we are giving you the opportunity to win a complete set of bins in the colour of your choice and a selection of other feed room essentials from Red Gorilla (feed skip, shallow bowl, breakfast and dinner tub covers, stirrer and bucket brush). Plus the winner will also receive £50 of Dengie feed vouchers to make sure their feed bins are full of your horse’s favourite feed!

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

If you would like further information on any of the Dengie products or a personalized diet plan for your horse please call our feedline on 01621 841188 or click here to fill in our feed advice form.

Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on 31st July 2024. One entry per person. One lucky winner will be selected from the correct entries and be notified via email within 7 days of the competition closing. Prize consists of: a set of 3 bins, 1 of each size (30L, 50L, 80L) in the colour of your choice (red, yellow, blue, pink or purple), a small shallow 15L, TubCover breakfast & dinner pack, gorilla scoop, stir up stirrer and bucket brush plus £50 of Dengie feed vouchers. No cash alternative available. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Open to UK mainland residents only.  Click here for full Terms & conditions

Founded in 1968 as a farmers’ cooperative, Dengie is still run today with the same ethos of supporting the local farming community. Most of Dengie’s employees live locally with many having worked at the company a long time. 17 members of Dengie’s current staff have worked at Dengie for over 25 years, two of whom completed 37 years service in May 2024 – a phenomenal achievement! Dengie’s longest serving employees are Helen Smith, Personal Assistant to the Managing Director, and Alan Tyler, Logistics and Bale Movement Operative, who both started back in 1987.

“I have certainly seen a lot of changes within the Company since starting as a school leaver” says Helen. “Luckily, I have had the privilege of meeting most of the founding farmers who created Dengie in my younger years and it’s wonderful seeing their families still being part of it to this day. The company has grown immeasurably over that time with many new products and members old and new. I can honestly say it definitely doesn’t seem like 37 years ago that I started!”

Other members of staff celebrating ‘big’ Dengie anniversaries this year include Trevor Robinson who works in production and has been at Dengie 35 years, David Vince in site hygiene is celebrating 30 years, and Sheena Vella, Site Operations Support, and Julia Sheppard Office Administrator who have both been at Dengie for 25 years.

“My job has been varied over my many years at Dengie ranging from Secretarial to Customer Service to Sales Support and now to the Health & Safety Office” explains Sheena. “I have always felt part of a team and have seen the development of new products, new harvesting techniques, more training both in-house and external to deliver the best quality products that we can with the safest methods. We strive to work more sustainably achieving significant reductions in fossil fuel usage and recycling as much as possible”.

Dengie are devoted to creating the best and healthiest horse feeds possible and it is clear that every member of the team is working to this goal and clearly enjoy doing so!

If you would like to find out more about Dengie feeds for your horse or pony, please contact the Dengie Feedline and speak to one of our team of qualified and experienced nutritionists.

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

Win a Quick Chill Cooling Rug, plus a bucket full of summer essentials and £50 of Dengie feed vouchers!

Warm sunny days, shows with friends, long hacks and beach rides means that summer is here!

Up for grabs this month is a fantastic bundle of goodies essential for any horse or rider, including the NEW Equilibrium Quick Chill Cooling rug plus £50 of Dengie feed vouchers!

The Equilibrium Quick Chill Cooling Rug is the perfect solution to cool the temperature of your horse. This advanced rug utilises water-activated conduction technology to draw heat away from your horses’ body, promoting optimal comfort and cooling during warm weather.

Ideal for:

• Cooling your horse down without the need to get them soaking wet.
• Warm competition days to gently cool your horse before, in between or after classes.
• Horses who get hot when/after travelling.
• Horses who don’t like the hose, or the feeling of running water.
• Yards or remote locations where running water may be limited.
• Training sessions, competitions, or arena hires where access to running water is limited.
• Countries or areas where hose pipe bans may be enforced.

For further information and guidance on how to use the Equilibrium Quick Chill Cooling rug visit: https://www.equilibriumproducts.com/product/quick-chill-cooling-rug/

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

If you would like further information on any of the Dengie products or a personalized diet plan for your horse please call our feedline on 01621 841188 or click here to fill in our feed advice form.

Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on 30th June 2024. One entry per person. One lucky winner will be selected from the correct entries and be notified via email within 7 days of the competition closing. Prize consists of: 1 x Equilibrium Quick Chill Cooling rug (worth £120) – sizes available subject to stock, LeMieux 500ml drinks bottle, LeMieux Footsies (Adult), NAF Silky Mane & Tail D-Tangler, NAF Off Citronella spray, NAF Off Citronella wash, NAF Cooling wash, Roma Soft Grip sponge brush, Roma Massage glove, 2 x sponges, Bridleway Spotless Sweat Scraper, weigh tape, Dengie drawstring bag, NAF Hedgy treats, small Gorilla TubTrug plus £50 of Dengie feed vouchers. No cash alternative available. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Open to UK mainland residents only.  Click here for full Terms & conditions

 

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

Win a Nose Bagz Stable Set worth over £120 plus £50 of Dengie Feed Vouchers!

Spring is finally here and now is the perfect time to spruce up your stable and tack room. We’ve teamed up with Nose Bagz offering the winner a handmade large corner hay feeder, stable organiser and BB bag, all available on classic black.

The Nose Bagz large corner hay feeder is suitable for a large cob/horse and easily holds 2 x 8kg hay nets worth of hay. The corner feeder is designed to keep your horse in a more natural feeding position. Made from durable, mesh fabric the feeder is flexible, breathable and see through. It can easily be removed for cleaning and mucking out.

The Stable Organiser is great for storing grooming kit, boots and bandages, ideal for use on the yard or keeping your stable necessities to hand.

The BB bag is perfect for storing bits and bobs, brushing boots, bandages and even brushes, it could even be used in your trailer.

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

If you would like further information on any of the Dengie products or a personalized diet plan for your horse please call our feedline on 01621 841188 or click here to fill in our feed advice form.

Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on Friday 31st May 2024. One entry per person. One lucky winner will be selected from the correct entries and be notified via email within 7 days of the competition closing. Prize consists of 1 x large corner hay feeder (RRP £69.99), 1 x stable bag (£35.99) and 1 x BB bag (RRP £19.99), all in classic black, plus £50 of Dengie feed vouchers. No cash alternative available. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Open to UK mainland residents only. Click here for full Terms & Conditions