Sarah-Jane Brown and Fliss have just returned from an exciting trip to France where they represented Great Britain at the European Championships for Veteran Riders.

Fliss and I were very excited to be selected to represent Great Britain at the European Championships for Veteran riders (over 45 years of age). The championship took place in Hardelot in France and attracted eleven teams from around Europe. There was a championship format of a speed class on the first day, two further rounds on day two to decide the team medals and finally the fourth day a further two rounds to determine individual medals.

Fliss has had a great year with some good results, but this was to be our first competition and trip abroad and I was nervous about how she would cope, plus getting the paperwork right for the rigorous checks! They always say “plan for the unexpected” but I never imagined that we would be travelling and competing in a heatwave in September! Temperatures were generally over 30 degrees and the black temporary stables produced temperatures nearer to 40 degrees. Much of our spare time was spent hosing and sponging the horses down. Despite the heat the horses coped well; a testament to the preparation, care and nutrition.

Vet checks and rigorous drug testing took place, so it was reassuring that all of Dengie’s feeds are BETA NOPS, UFAS & FEMAS certified, giving me peace of mind.

On day 1 the speed class we were the ‘Best of Brits’ with a quick clear round leaving us just over 3 penalties off the leader. As a team we sat in silver but it was all very close behind us. The team rounds took place on day 2. As a team of 4 we only had one rail down all day and Fliss jumped two super clear rounds to help secure the team a silver medal with the French taking gold. In the individual placings, a couple of French horses were drawing going into the final day, Fliss and I were in bronze medal position individually.

The final day dawned and was as hot as the previous day, a couple of unlucky poles sadly meant it wasn’t a medal for us and left us 13th individually.  However, Team GBR showed its class with our riders finishing in silver, bronze and 4th position.  Although, I was slightly disappointed to drop at the end I was over the moon with how well Fliss went and our part in securing the team silver. It is an honour to represent your country and exciting to wear the Union Flag, but then to also come away with a medal was a dream come true! I never expected the conditions to make it so testing and I think the importance of the care and feed really came into its own.

Fliss travelled the 14 hours to the event really well; she maintained her energy levels throughout the event and arrived back home looking as good as she left! The health and condition of my horses is paramount. Dengie Alfa-A Original ensures she has the energy and nutrients to train and compete; the superior quality fibre alongside her forage and turnout allows me to keep her diet and management as natural as possible whilst also keeping her mentally relaxed, fit, healthy and ready to perform.

Sue Burton, founder of Remus Horse Sanctuary, has launched her #BornToDie campaign whilst commemorating the 40^th Anniversary of the charity earlier this summer. Ms Burton is calling for greater enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in relation to equine welfare – saving horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

Across the UK horses are being let down by those who fail to give the care that horses, ponies and other equines should be able to rely on as a very basic right.  Mares are still being forced to breed every year, many on a tethering chain with their foals being born to a life they wouldn’t choose, and as Remus sees so often literally being Born to Die.

Ms Burton said, “We do have a whole raft of laws, but the problem lies with the enforcement. If the laws were enforced, then we would not have the ongoing welfare issues that we see so regularly.”

In December 2020, the Charity Times reported: “There are more than 7,000 horses currently known to animal welfare charities at risk of neglect or being abandoned. Currently charities take on more than 2,000 horse welfare cases a year.”

The police – who must be relied upon to enter property or confiscate animals, will often not investigate, telling Ms Burton that they “signpost the public to the RSPCA” – who have no statutory powers, and are already overstretched.

At the start of this year, Ms Burton asked two police forces either side of the Dartford Tunnel for data on equine neglect crimes; one said they didn’t collect that information and advised the public are asked to contact the RSPCA if they are aware of crimes against animals, and the other did not respond.

Improving the Effectiveness of Animal Welfare Enforcement¹ by APGAW (All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare) confirmed that there is a huge level of inconsistency with some forces seeing the value of having officers dealing with animal welfare and recognising it can be connected to other types of crime and others not seeing any value. Furthermore, equines fall in between both companion and livestock legislation.

Local authorities can choose to appoint inspectors, but don’t have to – again many signposting to charities, including every local authority website that Ms Burton and her team researched in Essex. Different levels of authority have different responsibilities. For example, where a borough council is accountable for fly-grazing, a county council is responsible for the welfare of horses being transported.

At the 40^th Anniversary luncheon held at Ingatestone Hall in Essex, attended by the charity’s Patrons, dignitaries and trustees, Ms Burton admitted, “I have witnessed so many awful sights that I can never unsee. I have cried a lake of tears. I never fail to be stunned at how much suffering these stoic animals take, at how awful mankind can be to such noble innocent animals and how so many in authority ignore their plight due to deficiencies in our legal system.

 “I am so proud of what Remus has achieved over the past 40 years and the animals who have come through our gates that we have been able to turn round – from emaciated, terrified, beaten, and in two cases deliberately blinded wrecks, to animals now able to live and enjoy a normal happy life free from suffering, hunger and fear.

“But what good is a law that isn’t enforced? Deficiencies in our legal system should not be the reason thousands of these noble innocent animals suffer each and every year.”

Ms Burton is calling for the following:

1. a named post within every County Council and unitary Authority, responsible for enforcement action across the full range of equine cruelty, working with lower tier authorities, the police and charities.
2. a national education programme, promoted across communities who are traditionally less likely to understand the importance of equine care, cascaded to support workers facilitating conversations with such communities.
3. publication by each local authority of information relating to equine welfare cases, including the number of reports, attendances, investigations and prosecutions, and details of whether referrals have come through charities or members of the public.

Attendees at the luncheon included HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO, Royal Patron to the charity since 2013, two more of the charity’s patrons: Lord Petre and his son The Hon. Dominic Petre, and Andrew Rosindell MP for Romford; Mr Vincent Thompson, His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant; Mr Charles Bishop, High Sheriff of Essex; Councillor Jill Reeves, Chair of Essex County Council; Councillor Linda Mascot, Mayor of Chelmsford City Council; Mr Nick Eveleigh, the Chief Executive of Chelmsford City Council, and Mr Andy Mariner, Assistant Chief Constable of Essex Police. Along with the charity’s trustees, supporters, suppliers and vets.

Of the new #BornToDie campaign Mr Rosindell commented: “The government needs to step up. I’m very committed as a former shadow minister for animal welfare to continue to raise these issues in parliament and to lobby the government to change the culture of animal welfare in this country and I’m committed to working with Remus to ensure that happens.”

 Ms Burton concluded, “The Animal Welfare Act should ensure that all equines, and other kept animals, are protected.

 “But the protection of these beautiful animals, who have stood with humans for centuries – from farming to war, from friendship to servitude – falls to charities often stretched for resources. Too often, members of the public have no information on how to act. 

 “Please, support our #BornToDie campaign for greater enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in relation to equine welfare.” 

For further information, visit www.remussanctuary.org/borntodie or contact Sue Burton on tel: 01277 356191 if you can help promote or add value to the campaign.

We are delighted to announce that Technical & Product Development Manager Katie Williams M.Sc (Dist) R. Nutr, passed her viva voce exam following on from submitting her doctoral thesis meaning she has completed her PhD.

Katie’s study reviewed the status of nutrition in the veterinary industry and explored the relationship between the professions. She has been presenting her work at conferences in Europe and the USA and her paper titled ‘A detailed analysis of consultations between equine nutritionists and a client’, was included in the Journal of Veterinary Science proceedings of the Equine Science Society 2023 Symposium.

Katie has been working full-time for Dengie whilst completing her PhD which is no mean feat! Dengie’s Managing Director Ian Hassard was in no doubt Katie would complete her study “Katie’s determination and dedication are second to none so we were in no doubt she would complete her study. Everyone here is very proud of her achievement”.

One of the aims of Katie’s work was to explore the effectiveness of equine nutritionists and make the case for the work those in the profession do being more widely recognised and valued.

“It was really encouraging to find that the client assessing the nutritionists rated them all very highly for parameters linked to empathy” shared Katie, “and they all highlighted the potential for the ponies featured in the consultation to become obese suggesting that nutritionists don’t appear to have the same issues with talking about obesity as other professionals might”.

Katie is already working on other projects including a review of nutrition training in the veterinary curriculum and developing a scheme for those giving nutritional advice under the auspices of BETA.

 

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!

To be in with a chance of winning answer the simple question below 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 click here to fill in our feed advice form.

Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on 30th September 2023. 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

We are excited to introduce Georgia Kavulok, better known as Equestrian Influencer “LilPetChannel“, as the newest member of our team of brand ambassadors and supported riders. Georgia has been feeding Dengie to her horses and ponies for many years and we are delighted to have her on board. “Georgia is a great ambassador for Dengie as she genuinely feeds and recommends Dengie” commented Dengie’s Marketing Manager, Lisa Wilson.

Georgia recently visited the Dengie site and fields to learn about the company’s field to feed manufacturing process. She was given a tour by Lance Morgan, Dengie Field and Dryer Operations Manager and Equine Nutritionist Tracey Hammond spoke about the benefits of feeding alfalfa to horses. Georgia will be vlogging about her day at Dengie in an upcoming video.

Georgia has recently been feeding Alfa-A Oil for its conditioning properties. “For years I have been feeding my horse’s Dengie. Snip being half Thoroughbred requires a little more fuel to maintain her condition and stamina. That’s where the Alfa-A Oil comes in as it’s the perfect slow-release energy source” explains Georgia. “Alfa-A Oil is abundant in quality protein, perfect for aiding topline and muscle development which has really helped during Snip’s rehab and working towards her being back out eventing again. Alfalfa is also a really effective fibre source for buffering acidity in the digestive tract making it ideal for horses who could be prone to ulcers”.

Georgia started her career as a YouTuber 10 years ago and has built a following of over 200K people spanning across YouTube, TikTok & Instagram. Initially she produced videos on her various pets and animals, hence her channel name, but has since focussed more on her horses. “Georgia exemplifies the positives of social media utilising it to share and communicate her passions and interests. I’m really looking forward to working closely with Georgia so we can share our passion for what we do with her followers too” commented Donna Wilson, Dengie’s Digital Communications Manager.

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

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.

We undertook a waste audit in January 2022 to inform waste management and are a brand champion for the Green Tractor Scheme to encourage waste reduction. The company has a policy to recycle as much unavoidable waste as possible and utilises 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 the 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.

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 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**

Win a Bespoke Horseshoe Frame by Polished Shoes Plus £50 of Dengie Feed Vouchers!

A special memento to remember or celebrate a special horse or pony!

This month we are offering you the chance to win a bespoke horseshoe frame made by Jessica Ferry at Polished Shoes, the perfect memento to remember or celebrate a special horse or pony.

Polished Shoes is a small business which creates lasting keepsakes from your old/special horseshoes. Every design is completely bespoke. Your horseshoes can either be transformed by either polishing or chrome/copper plating them and can have crystals, glitter resin, plaited hair and photos added to frames – the options are endless!

**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 August 2023. 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 one or two horse shoes polished and displayed in a 13″ x 13″ wooden frame with an engraved plaque or photo – worth £175. The winner will also win £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

 

A rare opportunity has arisen to join the Dengie team of nutritionists and feed advisors.

The Dengie philosophy is to create the best and healthiest feeds that align with the latest scientific thinking. Equine nutrition research plays an important part in the company’s ongoing commitment to improve horse health. Dengie employs a team of highly qualified and experienced nutritionists who are actively involved in research projects with respected institutions around the world. This is a rare opportunity to join our team!

Based at our Head Office near Maldon in Essex, the position is full-time and will combine the following responsibilities:

• Manning the customer feedline

• Visiting yards to provide technical support to customers across the UK

• A willingness and ability to travel and stay away from home regularly is essential

The successful candidate:

• Will be able to demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication skills

• Have the ability and experience to empathise with a wide range of horse owners

• Be competent in the use of MS Office and email

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join one of the most trusted brands within the Equine Feed Industry, graduates are welcome to apply, a degree, ideally in equine science, animal science, animal nutrition or similar is essential, but all levels of experience considered.

Salary will be commensurate with experience.

To apply please send your CV and covering letter stating your suitability to [email protected]

Closing date: Thursday 31st August 2023

Dengie Feed Advisor & PR Assistant Katie Ockendon-Evans fulfilled a lifelong ambition of riding in the Hickstead International Arena having reached the final of the Hickstead Ladies Side Saddle Classic at the Al Shira’aa Derby meeting. Riding 13-year-old Sports Horse mare Kingsleypark Pearl, Katie was placed 5^th in the final having gone through as one of 8 that reached the final judging.

Since their spin in the International Arena, Katie and Pearl have qualified for the London International Horse Show this December in the Ladies Show Horse class. They picked up their ticket at Tendring Show where they won their class and went on to be Reserve Champion.

“Pearl is very new to the world of showing and side saddle, having evented previously, but she has taken to it extremely well and just keeps improving with every outing” explains Katie. “We both thoroughly enjoyed our day at Hickstead and it has been an absolute dream come true to get to ride in such a prestigious and world famous ring. The busy atmosphere didn’t faze her, and she gave me a beautiful ride so to get placed in such a strong class was just the icing on the cake!”

“We’ve got a busy summer ahead including the Side Saddle Association National Show and the British Dressage Area Festivals and she’ll be out hunting again in the Autumn, but I can’t wait to take her to London at the end of the year, she’s going to love the atmosphere there!”

Pearl is fed Dengie Ulser Lite as despite her active lifestyle she is a very good doer so needs a low-calorie ration to keep her looking trim. Ulser Lite provides Pearl with plenty of slow-release energy which is ideal for keeping her focussed when competing in big competitions and helps to maintain her stamina without promoting weight gain. The light oil coating also helps with her golden show ring shine!

The team of feed advisors and nutritionists at Dengie are all highly qualified with lots of practical horse experience which means they are perfectly placed to give high quality practical advice to horse owners. Please do contact the Dengie Feedline for help and advice on feeding you horse.

Following on from submitting her doctoral thesis, Katie Williams M.Sc. (Dist) R Nutr, Technical Manager at Dengie Horse Feeds, presented her findings at the Equine Science Society 2023 Symposium in Dallas, Texas.

Katie’s paper, titled ‘A detailed analysis of consultations between equine nutritionists and a client’, was included in the Journal of Veterinary Science proceedings of the symposium. The aim of Katie’s work was to explore the effectiveness of equine nutritionists including their ability to empathise with horse owners and communicate effectively. Studies in the medical and veterinary professions often show that clinicians can find it hard to raise the issue of obesity and can also struggle to empathise with clients. Katie was keen to establish if nutritionists experienced the same issues.

“It was really encouraging to find that the client assessing the nutritionists rated them all very highly for parameters linked to empathy” shared Katie, “and they all highlighted the potential for the ponies featured in the consultation to become obese suggesting that nutritionists don’t appear to have the same issues with talking about obesity as other professionals might”.

An additional area of interest for Katie generated by the study was how the use of jargonistic or euphemistic language impacts the relationship with the horse owner but also how seriously they take the advice given. “We have to be very careful not to downplay the seriousness of issues such as a horse or pony being overweight by using informal language but equally we want to speak in a way that ensures we are approachable and understandable” says Katie, “so the next step is to investigate whether what we say has an impact on whether horse owners implement and adhere to the advice given.”

Katie’s trip to the USA has been particularly interesting as many of the challenges are the same as in the UK, in particular the increased workload pressures on equine vets and therefore scope for equine nutritionists to be utilised more to provide the long term help and support horse owners need to manage their horse’s weight. Katie’s study was very well received at the symposium and has already generated lots of interest for collaborations and further work.