If you are one of a number of riders that are looking to get their horses fit with competition (hopefully) on the horizon we have some tips to help. P.H Winterton and Son is the only choice for horse bedding, having served equestrian customers for many years, giving us unique knowledge about this sector. We understand that upping your horse’s fitness comes with challenges but reading our latest post will help prepare you for this. Relish the Return to Fitness Bringing your horse back into competitive fitness work is an exciting prospect, which helps to provide some normalcy for you and your horses. A lot will depend on whether your horse is familiar with his back-to-work routine or he is more of a stranger to extended breaks. Organising frequent visits from your saddler and physio is a vital part of bringing your horse back up to full fitness. As their physique starts to change you will need to keep a close on him to make sure his saddle fits and is not getting sore. Starting with weeks of walk hacks and straight lines will have them raring to go and ready for action. It is now time to starting working on the canter regime for your horse, but remember it will be difficult for him to remember all of that dressage training you had worked on months ago. Whether it is hacking in straight lines and flatwork or a leg-yield, chances are you will need to start from scratch on a lot of these activities. A gradual return to fitness is the best way to approach this, without making it too easy for your horse. You will need plenty of patience and a sense of humour to manage your equine buddies antics. Get in Touch for More Advice If you need any more advice about getting back into a routine, please contact P.H Winterton and Son. We provide three different ranges of horse bedding that will suit your budget and specific...
Read Moreabout Getting Your Horse Back Into RoutineAs the leading provider of equine bedding across the country, P.H Winterton understands the importance of your horses getting their 40 winks. A recent study from Nottingham Trent University has looked into the sleep patterns of horses and how they could provide early warning signs of ill health. We will explore this in greater detail during this blog below. Horse Sleep Study Explained This fascinating study identifies patterns of rest for horses plus reasons they require rest such as temperature, age, temperament and exercise. Monitoring night-time sleep, the researchers are looking to establish regular rest patterns for different types of the horse which allows owners to spot any early warning signs of something amiss. Horses experience slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, with the SWS phase of the cycle, only achieved standing up whereas they must lie down for REM sleep. There is some evidence from this study that suggests horses unable to achieve REM sleep suffer from sleep deprivation. This could be due to injury or illness that makes lying down too painful or stress. Most horse owners are unable to monitor their horses’ sleep patterns throughout the night which means these changes can go unnoticed. The study from Nottingham Trent University involves the analysis of videos that display healthy riding horses’ night-time behaviour with details recorded for each horse. Accelerometers were also employed to automatically record movement and remotely monitor the horses during the night. How Equine Bedding Helps Horses Relax Equine bedding from P.H Winterton is available in three different ranges, to suit any requirements and budget. Cheshire Choice is our premium brand of horse bedding made from 100% softwood shavings with a long-life guarantee. As suggested by its title, Economy Bale is our budget range is a mixture of hardwood and softwood, making it easy to clean out with the use of rubber mats. Our newest range of equine bedding is the Zebra Fibre animal bedding, which can be used for horses and cattle with excellent absorbency qualities which means less abrasions for your animals. Talk to the Horse Bedding Specialists If you would like to know more about guaranteeing a good night’s sleep for your horses, contact P.H Winterton and Son...
Read Moreabout Spotting Health Warnings from Horse Sleep PatternsWith a local lockdown issued for Leicester, advice has been provided to horse riding schools to help manage the situation. As the leading provider of equine bedding across the country, P.H Winterton and Son have been in constant contact with our equestrian customers to help as much as we can. Guidance from the British Horse Society Oonagh Meyer from the British Horse Society (BHS) commented, regarding the localised lockdown of Leicester, “The restrictions apply to the city and parts of Leicestershire that ‘touch on the city’s boundaries’. “There is now a local lockdown in Leicestershire, the council has published a map and we are waiting to confirm specific postcodes that will be affected.” “Currently, this doesn’t affect any of our BHS approved centres in Leicestershire, however, we have two that are very close to the map the council has provided so far, meaning that when the list of postcodes is published they may fall into the area. “At this stage, it appears that Leicester city is affected, rather than outlying rural areas. “We would advise any riding school in the Leicestershire area to check the Leicestershire.Gov.UK website and follow the local authority guidance.” The Importance of Equine Bedding With some riders restricted regarding taking their horse out riding, keeping them comfortable in their stables has become even more important. PH Winterton has three types of equine bedding to suit your budget and requirements. Cheshire Choice bedding is our premium product made from 100% wood shavings, whereas our Economy Bale bedding is a cost-effective solution. Our newest range is the Zebra Fibre Animal bedding has excellent absorbency qualities and is available in 48-60 bales per pallet. Get in Touch for More Information If you would like to know more about P.H Winterton’s range of equine bedding, please contact us today. We also offer the leading sawmill waste collection plus biomass fuel, which is a renewable heating source for domestic and commercial...
Read Moreabout Supporting Equestrians During Localised LockdownCompanies using biomass fuel have been handed a boosted with the news that the UK government has given users a 14-month extension to get their low-carbon heat generators up and running. This is part of the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme that offered businesses a set tariff for 20 years on large-scale renewable heat sources such as biomass boilers and heat pumps. P.H Winterton and Son are one of the country’s leading providers of biomass fuel plus we are part of the government’s recognised Biomass Supplier List. For our latest blog, we are going to look at this positive news in greater detail. Renewable Energy Statement Explained The statement from the government said the extension brings ‘vital clarity’ to firms who were in danger of missing the start dates for their projects, project investment in the renewable heat industry plus bringing certainty to people in specialised UK supply chains. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is looking to support projects who were in danger of missing out on the initial deadline of January 2021; making them eligible for another allocation of tariff guarantees. The 12-month extension to the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive runs until 31st March 2022 and prevents 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from polluting the atmosphere over the lifetime of smaller-scale projects. This will be achieved by converting 18,000 households onto low-carbon heating. Reducing Your Carbon Footprint with Renewable Energy Using wood residue for biomass fuel means you can generate your own heat and power while reducing your carbon footprint. The fuel you get from PH Winterton is environmentally friendly and highly efficient which saves you money and protects the environment. Get in Touch to Find Out More If you would like to know more about biomass fuel from PH Winterton and Son, please contact us today. We are also the leading provider of equine and animal bedding for the agriculture sector across the...
Read Moreabout Government Support Extended for Biomass FuelWith some restrictions of the Coronavirus lockdown eased recently, the position regarding horse riding and training has been amended. As the UK’s leading provider of equine bedding, P.H Winterton understands how difficult this period has been for riders and their horses. For our latest post, we are going to explain the new advice being issued and how it affects you. The British Equestrian Federation Advice Explained Following a meeting, the board of the British Equestrian Federation have stated that riders are encouraged to resume exercising their horses, whilst observing social distancing. Riders are also encouraged to maintain public hygiene plus health and biosecurity measures. Every rider should continue to assess the level of risk associated with horse riding and work within their capabilities and fitness levels. In England, the relaxation on travel for exercises and a return to work for many people means one-to-one training is allowed. Coaches are able to travel to yards and riders to their instructors. Facility hire is now permitted, provided the venue conducts thorough risk assessments beforehand. This situation will continue to be monitored, based on advice from the UK government, as required to ensure the safety of riders and horses. The BEF is currently looking at an umbrella plan which will act as guidance for the equestrian sector and all of its stakeholders. This includes working closely with British Dressage, British Eventing and British Showjumping on a coordinated plan. A statement from the BEF said the following, “Wider equestrian activity and some horse sports can adapt well to social distancing requirements and should be in a position to get underway quickly, once conditions permit and the government gives the go-ahead.” Only the Best Equine Bedding from P.H Winterton While it is important to give your horse sufficient exercise time, it is also crucial to give them a good place to rest at the end of the day. P.H Winterton offers three different types of horse bedding to match your expectations and your budgets. We have recently added Zebra Fibre animal bedding to our catalogue, which boasts excellent absorbency qualities. If you would like to know more about any of our products, please contact us...
Read Moreabout Riding your Horse While Observing Social Distancing