P.H Winterton has been providing the best horse bedding on the market for 60 years plus now, and we have talked to hundreds of riders during this time. Throughout these six decades, we have learned a few things about horse riding and the proper etiquette for riding in competitions. The truth is that very few riders have a perfect position and you will see a variety of riding techniques every time you attend a show. Often a fault can become a habit which makes it harder to correct as time goes by. It is a worthwhile exercise spending a bit more time focusing on what is going wrong until the right way becomes your new normal. Four Rider Issues with an Easy Fix Here are four common issues riders struggle with and how you can fix them. 1. Don’t Look Down – While concentrating on what you are doing in the saddle it can be hard to remember to look ahead. Your head is roughly 10% of your body weight and looking down puts more weight on your horse’s forehand that makes it more difficult for them to maintain balance. One way to rectify this issue is tying a coloured bow or a red ribbon in your horse’s mane and every time you see the ribbon it means you are looking down; which reminds you to look ahead. 2. Sit Up – Tipping forward is sometimes caused by nerves, a poorly fitted saddle or a lack of core stability. You can improve your core by doing Pilates and yoga plus lunge lessons, short bursts of sitting trot and working without stirrups also helps. To adopt a more upright position, lift up through your ribcage and bring your shoulder blades closer together. A common trait of nervous riders is that they tip forward, which makes you less secure. If you suspect your saddle is tipping you forward, you need to get it checked by a professional fitter. 3. Bend Your Elbows – Straight arms result in an inconsistent contact with the horse’s mouth and in too much movement in the rider’s hands. We recommend aiming to create an L-shape with your arms so the upper one hangs vertically by your...
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Some horses can find being stabled quite difficult, having evolved from travelling up to 100 miles a day and grazing on the go. Here at P.H Winterton, we understand the importance of keeping your horse happy, which is why we provide only the finest equine bedding on the market. For our latest post, we are going to share seven essential tips to help maintain your horse’s health and prepare them for your next big competition. Essential Horse Care from P.H Winterton Standing still for long periods goes against their natural instincts to keep moving so be wary that some horses can react to being confined for long periods. Follow our 7 step guide below to maintain your horse’s happiness. Exercise – As long as your horse has no physical problems, they will need as much exercise as possible. Try to plan ahead and schedule rides out regularly. Other Turnout Options – Consider if they can be turned out in the yard area with some equine bedding and a companion (if possible). Create a Turnout Area – Create a fenced area outside of your horse’s stable, giving them the option to wander in and out at their leisure which helps them feel less restricted. Long Walks – Lead your horse out in-hand but prepare for them to be bouncy. We would recommend wearing a hard hat, sturdy footwear and gloves. Ideally, attach a lunge-line to their headcollar and inform someone where you were going. You could even consider making it a social trip and ask another horse owner to come along too. Change of Environment – If you have a spare loose-box in the yard you could consider putting your horse in there for part of the day for a change of scenery. Meet their Social Needs – If your horse is stabled for long periods of time, they need to be housed next to a friendly horse. Ideally, they should be able to touch and mutually groom each other. If you can’t stable your horse nearby to a friend, consider taking them over for a visit. Entertain your Horse – Horses love to play so having a bit of playtime with toys helps to break up the day. Towels...
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We all love getting our 40 winks, and our horses are no different. If you really care about your horses, investing in the best equine bedding is a no brainer. There is a variety of different horse beddings on the market from traditional favourites such as shavings and straw to alternatives such as cardboard and hemp. For our latest blog, we are going to discuss the different choices, and which would be best for you and your horses. Four Different Choices of Equine Bedding Straw – Straw is one of the cheapest options but it is bulky and can smell, with your yard quickly resembling a compost heap. Straw also harbours fungus which can be dangerous for your horse’s respiratory system plus your horse might also eat their own bed. Shavings – Shavings are now the most commonly used horse bedding. Here at P.H Winterton, we offer three types of bedding, which can match your budget and quality requirements. Our Cheshire Choice bedding is our premium brand that is extremely durable with superb absorbency qualities. Economy Bale bedding is our budget range that is a mix of hardwood and softwood which makes it easy to cleanout. Zebra Fibre bedding is the recent addition to our catalogue, which is available in 48-60 bales per pallet and all-weather storage bags. Paper and Cardboard – Usually sold in compacted bales. When it’s time to clear the paper from your yards it is heavy to lift when wet though. Hemp – Hemp is a quite expensive material for bedding and is designed for use as a thick bed which isn’t intended to be disturbed at any time. Based on this evidence we would definitely recommend using shavings as your equine bedding solution. Want to Know More? Contact Us Today If you want to know more about P.H Winterton’s range of horse bedding and place an order, please get in touch...
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Here at P.H Winterton, we are firm believers using potentially waste materials to create high-quality products such as equine bedding. Our sawmill waste collection service stretches right across the country and is extremely popular in South Wales with clients in areas such as Cardiff, Gwent and Newport. If you’ve never considered using your sawmill waste, here’s the simple process – • Give P.H Winterton a call and we can arrange a trailer for you fill up with your sawmill waste, which when ready can be transported back to our premises and used for products including animal bedding and biomass fuel. For over 60 years, this has been one of our flagship services, but in recent years given the demand for renewable energy sources, we have expanded our portfolio to also provide biomass fuel to customers. Why Biomass Fuel is So Important Biomass fuel is a renewable energy source that can be used to small groups of homes, large individual houses, schools and glasshouses plus poultry huts. In 2014 the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in the UK Government introduced the Renewable Heating Incentive which offered savings on heating people or businesses who could demonstrate the use of renewable energy sources. To this end, the Biomass Supplier List was devised, a U.K wide listing of all providers of biomass fuel, with P.H Winterton and Son the flagship company for the West Midlands and beyond. Turning Waste into Renewable Fuel P.H Winterton and Son are well-equipped to deal with any demands for sawmill waste, with a fleet of 10 trucks and three vans ready and waiting to collect your joinery waste. We have options available for both small and large joinery outfits with a 20-foot hook-lift filter skip for smaller firms and a 20-foot open-top waste skip for off-cuts wood chips, pallets and general waste. Want to Find Out More? Contact Us Today If you would like to know more about P.H Winterton’s sawmill waste collection service, please get in touch...
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It’s that time of year when everyone starts thinking about their New Year’s Resolutions, and we have got one that you can keep more years to come! While many resolutions are broken within days of the New Year, choosing a renewable energy source like biomass fuel from P.H Winterton will have a positive environmental impact and mean you can keep this resolution for years to come. Fuelling the Future If you’ve never used biomass energy before, here’s some more information. As a heating resource biomass fuel is extremely competitive with natural gas, with applications including: • Heating Small Groups of Houses • Large Individual Houses • Schools • Glasshouses (where heat isn’t readily available) Biomass boilers do vary in their tolerance of wet fuel, with the majority running efficiently on chips with a moisture content higher than 30%. Combustion takes place in the following stages, which can also occur simultaneously: Warming and Drying – Warming and drying woodchips has several advantages including preservation, an increase in heating value weight reduction. Pyrolysis – The thermal decomposition of materials at high temperatures in an inert atmosphere; which involves a change of chemical composition that’s irreversible. Gasification – Converting organic or fossil fuel-based carbonaceous materials into hydrogen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Power derived from gasification of the resultant gas is one source of renewable energy which is obtained from biomass. Combustion of Gases – Biomass fuels emit carbon dioxide when the carbon reacts with oxygen during combustion, which is because the biomass has absorbed the carbon from the CO2 in the atmosphere during its growth. The combustion of biomass is also considered to be CO2 neutral. Want to Know More? Get in Touch P.H Winterton and Son are proud to be part of the Government’s Biomass Fuel Supplier List, which was introduced in April 2014 by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). This allows participants of the Renewable Heating Incentive to easily demonstrate to Ofgem that the fuel they are using in biomass boilers meets the sustainability criteria to claim their RHI payments. If you would like to know more about our biomass fuel, please contact us...
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The equestrian market is getting an early Christmas present, with the fantastic London Olympia horse show just a few days away. P.H Winterton and Son are proud to be sponsors of this illustrious event plus the Royal Windsor Horse Show. For competitors in the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National, the best way to ensure your horse is fully prepared is investing in some of P.H Winterton’s high-quality equine bedding. This race holds all the excitement of a horse race on a smaller scale, with Shetland ponies and riders racing around the arena at a fast and furious pace; making it a highlight of Olympia. Highlights of the London Olympia Show Here are some of the other highlights of the London Olympia show – Dressage – At Olympia, there are two dressage competitions; the Grand Prix and Kur or Freestyle Test to Music. In the Freestyle to Music, the riders choose the music, choreography and the sequence of movements that have to be shown. Competitors are also evaluated for technical skill and artistic performance. One of the most important things with regards to the artistic part is that the horse can do all the movements in the rhythm to the music. Show Jumping – Considered the most important show jumping event at Olympia is the Longines FEI World CupTM Jumping Leg which takes place on Saturday afternoon. The Cayanne Puissance on Wednesday is also very fun with horses challenged to jump higher and higher. The Christmas Finale – Every year the Olympia finale is created for children of all ages with a bit of singing, a bit of dancing and a very special guest… A New Brand of Equine Bedding Recently, P.H Winterton has started stocking Zebra Fibre animal bedding, which can be used for cattle and horse bedding. With excellent absorbency qualities, Zebra Fibre means minimal risk of abrasions for your animals. We stock Zebra Fibre bedding in 48-60 bales per pallet and store it in all-weather bags ready for purchase. Want to Find Out More? Contact Us Today If you’d like to know more about all of our equine bedding products, please get in touch today. The London Olympia Show 2019 takes place between 16th and 22nd...
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