We have teamed up with VetPartners to tackle the issue of equine obesity and highlight the dangers of overweight horses.

According to VetPartners, its equine vets are seeing more overweight horses and ponies than ever and we have also reported that calls from our feedline relating to overweight or obese horses have tripled over a five-year period.

Throughout the campaign, VetPartners’ equine and mixed practices and ourselves will be sharing the message that a healthy weight means a healthier horse, and will be offering advice to help owners accurately assess and monitor their horse or pony’s condition. We will also be providing support for owners of overweight horses to help get them back in shape safely.

Each VetPartners practice is nominating a vet or equine nurse to champion the campaign, and owners can sign up to receive a free guide to equine weight management that contains tips on feeding and exercise plus guides to fat scoring, weigh-taping and weight loss. We will also be holding online and face-to-face events for horse owners and equine weight clinics across the UK.

VetPartners’ equine business development manager John Millar said equine obesity has become a serious welfare concern.

He said: “If a horse or pony is overweight it can cause significant health issues. It can predispose them to laminitis and EMS and puts extra strain on the heart, joints, tendons and muscles, increasing the risk of injury.

“We are approaching the highest risk time period for obesity, when spring grass will be coming through, and it’s concerning that a lot of equines are coming out of winter already overweight. We are urging owners to take a close look at their horse’s condition and if they are carrying too much weight to take action now.

“We are here to help them achieve this, and it’s our aim to keep the equine population as healthy as possible. We can help owners identify if their horse is overweight and work with them to create a suitable diet and management routine.”

Katie Williams, product and technical development manager at Dengie, hopes the campaign will help more people recognise when horses are overweight.

She said: “Equine obesity is considered to be one of the UK’s most serious equine welfare concerns and the consequences are metabolic irregularities which predisposes horses to laminitis. Sadly, it is often the case that laminitis has to occur before owners take action to promote weight loss.

“One of the key challenges is that not all horse owners are able to tell if their horse is overweight and this is why it is so important that they have support from vets and nutritionists. They can then take appropriate action to promote weight loss rather than treating and managing a case of laminitis.”

Among the VetPartners’ veterinary practices supporting the campaign are Liphook Equine Hospital in Hampshire and Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons in Newmarket.

Jamie Prutton, a vet at Liphook Equine Hospital, said: “Equine obesity continues to be a significant problem and at Liphook we see a number of obese patients every week. As an eminently controllable situation we hope that by supporting the weight loss campaign we, as a group, can provide the tools and support owners need to promote weight loss in their horses.”

Rossdales’ vet Lucy Grieve added: “Members of the equestrian industry are really starting to take stock of equine obesity and what a serious welfare issue it is. To see Vet Partners invested in increasing owner awareness and encouraging engagement with vets on the subject, is really pleasing and inspiring. We hope this helps owners see this tricky subject as something we should all be talking about.”

For further information or advice on feeding an overweight horse call our Feedline on 01621 841188 or complete our Feed Advice Form.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a sales professional to work within the Dengie Sales Team in the East of England.

The role is predominantly key account management and developing retailer’s awareness of the Dengie portfolio through training.

In addition you will be required to visit yards to discuss feed rations as well as holding yard clinics using a portable weighbridge, attending shows and open days/evenings.  The position will involve some weekend/evening work and staying away from home when necessary.

The successful candidate will have:

• A proven track record within a field sales environment
• Be a confident influencer
• Target driven, with a strong equestrian background
• A degree in Equine Science or Equine with Nutrition modules would be a distinct advantage.

Candidates need to be flexible and self-reliant.  Full product training will be given.  In order to efficiently service the area, applicants must reside within the territory to be covered, and must have a clean full driving licence. The area covers Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambs, Lincs, Northants, Leics, Notts and Derbyshire.

Some days will be required working from/visiting the Head Office in Essex, otherwise working on the road from home.

To join our fun and well regarded team, please forward a covering letter and CV detailing current salary level to – [email protected]

Closing Date: Monday, February 28th 2022

Whilst most horse owners are aware of some of the risk factors associated with gastric ulcers, we don’t always appreciate everything that can increase the risk. Our handy new web-tool is designed to raise awareness of some of the lesser known risk factors of gastric ulcers and to draw people’s attention to how the cumulative effect of a number of different risks can increase the horse’s likeliness of developing them.

Click here to use our Ulcer Risk Calculator 

“It’s often a combination of events that result in a clinical condition such as gastric ulcers, but by completing this quick questionnaire, we hope it will help to make horse owners stop and think about some of the things they can change in the management of their horse” explains Katie Williams M.Sc.(Dist) R Nutr, Technical & Product Development Manager at Dengie.

We have built our Ulcer Risk Calculator on a version produced in the USA and subsequently researched by an Italian research group who published a paper to test the accuracy of the survey. The Italian research group found the calculator to be useful in predicting the horse’s risk of developing gastric ulcers. When horses were scoped for ulcers after their owners had completed the survey of those that were identified as high risk, 94% did have ulcers and of those that came out as low risk in the survey, only 14% had ulcers. (Busechian, 2021). Evaluation of a questionnaire to detect the risk of developing ESGD or EGGD in horses – PubMed (nih.gov)

The intention of our new Ulcer Risk Calculator is to raise awareness of some of the risk factors that contribute to the development of ulcers. If you would like further information on the latest advice about gastric ulcers read our gastric ulcers in horses page. For personalised help and advice call the Dengie Feedline on 01621 841188 or fill out a feed advice form.

As the start of the competition season approaches, it is a good time to reflect on the role fibre plays in the diet of the performance horse. Whatever level you compete at, and no matter how hard you are working your horse, fibre should be the foundation of the ration.

Fibre for Energy

Often undervalued as an energy source, fibre can provide a significant amount of energy for the working horse. The amount of energy supplied depends on the digestibility of the fibre, which is influenced by plant type, environmental conditions and most significantly maturity at harvest. The more mature a plant, the less digestible it will be and therefore the less energy it will provide. Straw is a particularly low energy fibre for this reason making it fantastic for good do-ers, but not as useful for the performance horse that has a higher energy requirement.

Combining high quality fibre such as alfalfa with energy dense oil such as in Dengie Alfa-A Oil, provides as much energy as a competition mix/cube at around 12.5 MJ/Kg DE, but with much lower levels of starch. Fibre and oil are both slow-release energy sources and so are particularly useful for stamina and condition without the fizz.

Fibre for Digestive Health

It is well documented that fibre is vital for the digestive health of the horse. Low fibre diets, combined with higher starch rations are linked to loose droppings, an increased risk of colic and gastric ulcers. When it comes to ulcers not all fibre is the same and research has shown that alfalfa is a superior buffer to acidity in the digestive tract compared to grass based forages. This is because alfalfa is naturally abundant in calcium. Feeding a double handful of a chopped alfalfa-based fibre feed in the 20-25 minutes before you ride is recommended to help prevent ‘acid splash’ in the non-glandular region of your horse’s stomach. The fibre makes sure the stomach isn’t empty and suppresses the movement of the acidic contents when the horse moves.

Competing away from home can often mean a change of diet either because there is little or no opportunity to graze or because it is necessary to change to the forage provided at the showground. Getting your horse established on a partial hay replacer ration before you go is one way of avoiding a total diet change. Grass used in chopped fibre feeds is harvested when the grass plants are young and therefore more digestible. This means they have a higher nutritional value than grass hay and so are great for supporting the increased demands of travelling and competing.

Fibre to Supply Protein

Protein is vital for growth, renewal and repair and when it comes to the competition horse this translates to strength and top line muscle condition. It is important to understand that nutrition isn’t the only piece of the puzzle and you will also need to focus on fitness and training to build your horse’s muscle tone too. Having sufficient protein in the diet is important for building muscle and it’s not just the amount of protein, but the quality as well, that matters. Protein is made up of building blocks called amino acids. Some of these must come from the diet and these are called essential amino acids and described as “quality” protein. Of these, lysine is particularly important as it is a limiting amino acid – if the horse has insufficient lysine then protein synthesis and therefore muscle development would be limited.

Your horse will obtain protein from a variety of sources in the diet including grass, forage and the bucket feed. Some ingredients such as alfalfa are particularly abundant sources of protein. Alfalfa typically supplies 1.8x more lysine than average hay, making it a valuable addition to the ration to help promote muscle development.

Fibre to Aid Hydration

Hydration is key for health and performance. Both water and electrolytes are required to keep your horse hydrated and an electrolyte supplement should be a daily addition to the ration throughout training, travel and competition. Using a fibre mash such as Dengie Alfa-Beet, which combines alfalfa and unmolassed sugar beet, can be helpful for two reasons. Firstly, as a soaked feed, Alfa-Beet carries water into the digestive tract and, as it is so highly digestible, releases it readily to aid hydration. Secondly, as Alfa-Beet is a very palatable fibre mash it is useful for masking the taste of electrolytes or water when travelling and competing away from home. Dengie Pure Grass Pellets can also be used as a tasty mash to add electrolytes to as well.

Fibre and Respiratory Health

Stabling and travelling horses in confined spaces potentially increases their exposure to respirable particles which can be detrimental to respiratory health. Respirable particles include mould, amongst other things, and even hay and straw that look and smell ok to us can still contain a significant mould count and have the potential to do harm.

Dengie Performance Fibre combines precision dried grasses and alfalfa with a light molasses and oil coating with added spearmint oil. As both the grasses and alfalfa are precision dried, Performance Fibre provides an exceptionally clean fibre source for the performance horse and can also be used as a partial forage replacer. Performance Fibre is a highly palatable fibre feed which is useful for helping to tempt the fussy feeder which can be a particular problem in the fit horse, regularly travelling away from home.

High quality fibre feeds can be a great alternative to cereal-based rations for health reasons but, as they also count towards your horse’s fibre intake, they are the best horse feed for the money. It has been widely publicised that costs are rising rapidly across the agricultural sector and further afield; wood for pallets, plastic for packaging, fuel for machinery and fertiliser for growing crops are just some examples of areas where increasing costs will inevitably affect the price of the finished product. This has made using a chopped fibre as the bucket feed even more financially attractive and the best horse feed for the money.

Alfa-A Original

Alfa-A Original is great value for money at only 31p per scoop*and with 50 Stubbs scoops in each 20kg bag it is great for your horse and your pocket. At 10MJ/kg, Alfa-A Original has a comparable energy level to a typical Cool Mix or Cube but is significantly lower in starch at only 2%. Feeding chopped fibre will provide your horse with more chews, increasing saliva production helping to buffer acidity in the digestive tract as well as keeping the horse occupied for longer.

Alfa-A Original is based on alfalfa which will provide your horse with naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, good levels of calcium, and quality protein. It has also been precision-dried to provide a consistently clean source of fibre.

How to use Dengie Alfa-A Original

Buster is a 16.2 Sports Horse who is in regular work and competes in all riding club activities. He has ad lib hay, daily turnout and is fed two scoops of Alfa-A Original and 500g of a balancer for horses in work which is split over two meals per day. This ration costs his owner Susan £1.77 per day* and provides Buster with a fully balanced diet as well as slow-release energy to support the work he is in.

Hi-Fi Lite

For good doers and overweight individuals, is a great low-calorie option. Nutritious alfalfa is blended with high-quality oat straw which helps to reduce the calorie level. Hi-Fi Lite is lower in sugar (7%) and calories (7.5MJ/kg) compared to an average hay making it ideal for horses and ponies on a diet, those that need to watch their waistlines and can be used as a partial hay replacer too.

Hi-Fi Lite offers great value for money with 66 scoops per 20kg bale and costing just 22p per scoop*, it offers fantastic nutrition at an affordable price.

How to use Dengie Hi-Fi Lite

Sparky is a 12hh Welsh cross who is prone to laminitis and is a very good doer. Sparky has soaked hay and restricted turnout to help manage his weight. His owner Sarah feeds him 1 scoop of Hi-Fi Lite and a basic spec vitamin and mineral supplement. The total ration costs her only 43p per day* and would be lower in calories than feeding the recommended amount of a balancer while still ensuring Sparky is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs. It is also low in sugar and starch so a very suitable ration for Sparky with his history of laminitis.

Healthy Hooves Molasses Free

Using a complete fibre feed could help to reduce costs while also providing your horse with plenty of fibre, quality nutrients and a balanced ration. For example, swapping to Dengie Healthy Hooves Molasses Free rather than feeding a chopped fibre with a balancer, hoof and joint supplement separately could cut your daily costs almost in half, saving you as much as £746 per year! *

Vitamin And Mineral Supplements

Using a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement alongside your fibre feed can often work out more cost effective than a typical mix or cube. Although the initial cost may be higher, balancers and supplements have a much more concentrated feeding rate and so will last longer than feeding the recommended amount of a complete feed.

Speak to a qualified nutritionist for further advice on the best horse feed for the money and for help in streamlining your horse or pony’s diet. Removing any unnecessary extras could help you save money, whilst still ensuring that they’re receiving everything they need. Call the Dengie Feedline on 01621 841188 or complete our Feed Advice Form.

*Prices are based on SRP May 2022.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a sales professional to work within the Dengie Sales Team in the South East of England.

The role is predominantly key account management and developing retailer’s awareness of the Dengie portfolio through training.

In addition you will be required to visit yards to discuss feed rations as well as holding yard clinics using a portable weighbridge, attending shows and open days/evenings.  The position will involve some weekend/evening work and staying away from home when necessary.

The successful candidate will have:

• A proven track record within a field sales environment
• Be a confident influencer
• Target driven, with a strong equestrian background
• A degree in Equine Science or Equine with Nutrition modules would be a distinct advantage.

Candidates need to be flexible and self-reliant.  Full product training will be given.  In order to efficiently service the area, applicants must reside within the territory to be covered, and must have a clean full driving licence.

Some days will be required working from/visiting the Head Office in Essex, otherwise working on the road from home.

To join our fun and well regarded team, please forward a covering letter and CV detailing current salary level to – [email protected]

Closing Date: Friday, February 11th 2022

We are delighted to announce our highly popular Cool, Condition & Shine feed is the latest product in the range to have a packaging makeover. Cool, Condition & Shine will still be easily recognisable in its distinctive purple bag but will now feature ‘Incognito’, an 8-year-old, 16.2 Warmblood. Incognito was bought as an unbacked 3-year-old has been backed and produced by event rider Alicia Wilkinson. He and Alicia are out competing at Novice eventing and also enjoy team chasing and beach rides, all of which he does on an entirely fibre based diet!

Dengie Cool, Condition & Shine is still the same great product, a high-fibre fusion of soft chopped and pelleted fibres, with a high oil content to promote condition without excitability. The blend of chopped grass and soft straw with added grass and alfalfa pellets makes Cool, Condition & Shine high in fibre, supporting digestive health. The high oil content helps to build and maintain condition, provide slow-release energy and also helps to promote healthy skin and coat shine. Fussy eaters will find Cool, Condition & Shine highly palatable with the spearmint oil and light molasses coating.

Dengie Cool, Condition & Shine contains a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals to provide a nutritionally balanced diet for a horse or pony when fed at the recommended quantity of 500g per 100kg bodyweight per day. Alternatively, it can be used as a chaff to bulk out balancers, supplements, mixes and cubes to increase chew time. It can be fed dry or dampened.

Look out for the new Cool, Condition & Shine packaging which will start appearing in stores from Mid November 2021.

The number of enquiries regarding poor dentition and how to use hay replacers to the Dengie Feedline has increased significantly in recent years. In 2020 there were 5 times more enquiries regarding hay replacers than in 2015 and the winter months are when enquiries peak each year. Interestingly it’s not just older horses that present a challenge, dental issues can be seen in younger horse’s too.

Alicia Wilkinson’s event horse Perfect Timing II (Pooh) lost a lot of weight and was ultimately diagnosed with diastemas that had reduced her ability to chew long length forage. Along with dental work, a change of forage was required to ensure she received sufficient fibre in her ration. Although Pooh is now able to manage a small amount of steamed hay, she also has Dengie Grass Pellets and Alfa-Beet soaked to a mash, on recommendation of Claire Akers Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist, to partially replace her forage. Pooh went on to complete at various International Horse Trials including Tattersalls, Blenheim, and Burgham on this ration, so clearly using a forage replacer is no bar to health and performance. “Providing digestible fibre in a form that Pooh can manage has enabled her to compete at a high level and fulfil her eventing career” explains Claire.

This was one of the reasons that we focussed on alternatives to hay at BEVA in 2021. One of the few feed companies to attend BEVA this year, we highlighted the different formats of fibre available for horses with poor dentition, focussing on Alfa-Beet which can be soaked to a soft mash before feeding. Dengie ran a fun competition on their stand for delegates to guess how many Alfa-Beet pellets were in a jar, primarily to get people thinking about the difference in volume before and after soaking. There were some very scientific approaches to guessing the number of pellets with some resorting to calculators to do the maths, but the eventual winner was Rosina Lillywhite, Clinic Nurse Manager and Head of Centre at Liphook Equine Hospital, who was closest
with her guess of 775 – there were actually 760 pellets in the jar so she was very close! Dengie’s Performance Horse Nutritionist Claire Akers delivered a beautiful hamper of goodies from Fortnum and Mason to Rosina.

To celebrate HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 everyone across the UK is being encouraged to plant a tree as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

We have partnered with Langthorns Plantery, a fellow Royal Warrant Holder based in Essex, giving you the chance to win one of seven trees!

**COMPETITION CLOSED**

*Terms & Conditions: This competition will close at 11.59pm on 30th November 2021. One entry per person. Seven lucky winners will be selected from the correct entries and be notified via email within 7 days of the competition closing. No cash alternative available. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. Open to UK mainland residents only. The trees that are available to win are: Amelanchier Lamarchkii, Euonymus Europaeus, Eucalyptus and Cotoneasters. We will try to arrange delivery where possible, but depending on situation and circumstances, it may be necessary to collect a tree from a location in your area. Click here for full terms & conditions

Examples of trees, subject to availability and delivery requirements:

Amelanchier Lamarchkii (Snowy mespilius) – great spring blossom and autumn colour. Seed raised in Kent and grown on in Essex

Euonymus europaeus (Spindle) – Great autumn colour and bright pink/red berries.

Eucalyptus – drought and heat tolerant, seeds sown in Northern Ireland then seedlings grown on in Essex

Cotoneasters – More of a shrub but might be more practical for some situations – noted for their carbon capturing capabilities and great for bees when in flower and birds when in berry. All from seeds raised in Essex or Hampshire

All About Langthorns Plantery

Established in 1977 by David and Philippa Cannon and now run by their son Ed, Langthorns specialise in producing top quality ornamental plants, shrubs and trees, and boast many uncommon and heritage species that are more difficult to obtain.

In 2017, Langthorns Plantery became the only Essex-based plant centre to be granted a Royal Warrant to Her Majesty The Queen as a supplier of ornamental plants, shrubs and trees; a fantastic accolade, both in recognition of their quality plants and services and in their sustainability ethos.

Like Dengie, they have great traceability, planting and raising many of the plants they sell from seed themselves or sourcing as locally as possible from trusted suppliers that they have worked with for a long time.

To kick off this campaign, Dengie’s Technical Manager Katie Williams and Ed Cannon from Langthorns planted a tree at Dengie’s Head Office. “Our new office was completed just before lockdown and so we haven’t really had chance to give much thought to the area around it yet so this was a great opportunity to put in a new tree” Katie commented. “We chose an Amelanchier Robin Hill as it has very pretty flowers in spring and lovely autumn colir so I will be able to admire it throughout the year! I also love the fact that it started life just up the road in Suffolk, then Ed and his team have nutured it here in Essex – that’s very low tree miles!”.

If you are lucky enough to win please share your pictures with us and why not add it to the Jubilee map – we’ve added ours!

 

Thanks to Bonnie Smith & the Dengie Team, Breast Cancer Awareness are to receive a whopping £738.56 donation raised from the activities and games, plus lots of eating over Dengie’s two sites and two shifts!

Bonnie started the proceedings with a cash sponsorship from her mum and JJ’s Bar in Spain where her mum currently resides.  Then the cooking began – a rich beef chilli or chicken and mushroom hotpot with jacket potatoes or cheesy jackets for the vegetarians were on the menu.  Additionally there were hot dogs with or without onions that were so popular more had to be purchased! One particular member of staff was reported to have worked his way through 2 hot dogs, chilli & jacket and hotpot & jacket all in one day!

Thank yous are needed in abundance – Bonnie went to business after business in the local area for donations for the Tombola and we are extremely grateful to the following for coming up trumps with some fantastic prizes:

The star prize in our Tombola was provided by Sandra Mills from “Bev’s Bucket”.  Bev’s Bucket came about when Bev, a Tesco Burnham worker, set up a bucket for loose change to raise money for charities in the store.  Sadly Bev died a few years ago and Sandra took it over in her honour.  Bev’s favourite charity was supporting Breast Cancer and therefore we were generously given a big hamper.  Dengie Production Manager,  Glen Williams was the lucky winner and he is giving the hamper to his mum (minus the bottle of port!).

Sheena Vella (Operations Site Manager) came up with decorated booby cakes made by Newells Cakes And Bakes and delivered to the Dengie Nutrition office to help them join in from further afield!

Catherine Wilson of Pelican Prints was first to respond to Bonnie’s Facebook appeal for prizes with a variety of goodies from lovely wooden can openers to lunch boxes; Cathy Vale for Morrisons provided bags containing smellies; Helen Dawson of Grey & Co Soft Furnishings provided Tea Light Holder, Coasters, Salt & Pepper Dishes; Dawn Maria Rouse of Sewn Personally For You provided a Bear to be personalised (won by Wendy Sumner); Maldon Tescos provided Pink Bags with goodies; All the Dengie staff who provided bottles and goodies too.

Additional thanks to staff who helped make the days a great success – the Engineering Team building “Bat the Rat”; Shane Hasler for the graffiti, “Tin Can Alley”; Dave Vince & Mark Pearson for setting up areas for the games, “Ball in the Bucket” and “Play Your Cards Right”; Wendy Sumner for helping with portion control and serving in the tea room, Les Abbott’s wife who made the most scrummy Lemon drizzle tray bakes and three whopping big cakes too.  By the end of the second day there was barely a morsel of food left.

We hope that Shane Hasler wasn’t stopped on the way home with an enormous pink unicorn strapped to his back on his motorbike! Shane went all out buying ticket after ticket on the Tombola, determined that his unicorn mad daughter would be the winner.

This was the first of Dengie’s Wellbeing Charity Fund-raisers, instigated by Bonnie Smith and the generosity of those that dug deep in their pockets to support this worthwhile cause and helped raise awareness was a wonderful team effort.