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It won't be too long until the 2016 Cheltenham Festival
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The Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival is one of the highlights on the sporting calendar and tens of thousands of supporters travel to the racecourse every year to witness some of the best horses, jockeys and trainers pit their wits against one another for a number of the sport’s top trophies.
This year’s event was a huge success and the popularity of the event, both at the course and on the television coverage, has only increased the anticipation levels ahead of the 2016 event. Next year’s meeting will begin on Tuesday 15th March and will last for a full four days before the final race on Friday 18th March.
Vautour, who won so impressively at the festival earlier this year, is one of the early contenders to claim success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is arguably the most prestigious race of the week. There are a number of impressive horses already included in the betting markets for this race but the selection committee will narrow down the amount of horses involved as the event draws nearer.
By the same token, there are already some top quality horses pencilled in to run in the World Hurdle, which is one of the highlights of Thursday’s action. Jezki, which was a popular mount with AP McCoy before his retirement, and Annie Power, who famously fell at the final hurdle in the Mares’ Hurdle, are just two of the incredible field that could line up for this race.
Ruby Walsh will be well fancied after his tremendous performance at this year’s festival and will get the ride on most of Willie Mullins’ top prospects once again. The Mullins/Walsh combination has been incredible in recent years, particularly at televised meetings, and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see those two feature regularly in the Winners Enclosure throughout the week.
The Cheltenham Festival truly is one of the great spectacles on the sporting calendar and supporters who travel to the racecourse are in for a treat. The atmosphere will be absolutely sensational on-site and anticipation is beginning to grow for the first major festival of the 2016 calendar. While you can watch the racing on terrestrial television, there’s nothing quite like the general buzz and vibe of live horse racing. It’s well worth a trip and, with a bit of luck, you could come home with profit.
PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH SLAP-UP-MEDIA
Andrews Bowen
/Andrews Bowen has products that are proven at the highest levels and the experience and resources to deliver. Their unrivalled passion to produce the very best surface possible so that horses can perform at their very best sets them apart.
Andrews Bowen world leaders in surface technology offer their, BHA approved Safetrack racing and training surface providing minimal kickback, allowing horses to benefit from a secure and consistent footing. Clients can take advantage of their complete design, supply and installation packages. Andrews Bowen have installed their Safetrack surfacing at a number of facilities including; Manor House Stables, Paul Nicholls Racing, Dan Skelton Racing, Ocala Breeder Sales and Goldmark Farms.
Andrews Bowen are also able to offer their unique Equaflow System in conjunction with their surfacing as an alternative to traditional stone sub bases and drainage layers. Equaflow is a source control sub base replacement layer comprising high strength, interlocking modular plastic units that are installed beneath the Safetrack surfacing. The system can be designed to include rain water harvesting and water management if required, offering a multitude of uses in our highly demanding greener society.
Trainer - Dan Skelton said; I am delighted in all aspects of my Safetrack installation. The team at Andrews Bowen are true horsemen who understand the needs of race horses. I could not be happier with the team and the product.
Trainer Todd Quast of Goldmark Farms Florida, had Safetrack installed in 2006 and said “Safetrack is a consistent, safe track surface and was definitely the best choice for us. It is the most consistent racetrack I have worked with. I have seen a 70% reduction in bone issues. Andrews Bowen have been very supportive throughout”. Jockey Dominic Elsworth said Andrews Bowen is a great design, horses feel confident and travel well. I have found it consistent in all weathers in all the locations I have ridden on it. Andrews Bowen are used to working with all clients to achieve installation of top quality surfaces in the required timescales and also providing the necessary technical back up and supportive for our surface throughout their lifecycle.
Life Assays
/Equine Haptoglobin test
Make useful and accurate decisions by testing for Acute
Phases Proteins with Lifeassays
LifeAssays® AB has developed a unique patented rapid Point of care test for Equine Haptoglobin. Equine haptoglobin is a very stable acute phase protein and therefore a very reliable marker for inflammations. LifeAssays makes it possible to run tests that normally have to be sent to a central lab. Performing a test using the LifeAssays® System is easy and convenient. Insert the reagent vial into the instrument and the LifeAssays® VetReader will automatically perform the measurement and display the result after 11 minutes.
A complete solution for The LifeAssays® VetReader is a new alternative for POC testing utilizing the unique and patented magnet immuno assay (MIA) technique. The system composes of two parts: wet chemistry reagents and an analytical instrument, the Vet Reader, for quantification and measuring. Trainers who use the Lifeassays test, avoid extensive training with a sick horse and then can safely see when the horse is back on the road to recovery and into training. What’s more the accuracy of testing is comparable to data that takes much longer to come back from a laboratory. Veterinary professionals, who use the Lifeassays test, do so to determine if; selected treatment is effective and not affected by concurrent medications; for post operative monitoring. Veterinarians can also rely on the Lifeassays test to give them the best diagnostic and most accurate point of care tool for detecting systemic inflammation.
ReadySupp
/READYSUPP VITAMIN E & SELENIUM
Why is high quality vitamin E and selenium crucial for optimum muscle support in racehorses? And should you be feeding it?
Racehorses in full work have high requirements for antioxidant nutrients due to the demands their exercise puts on their bodies, especially the muscles. Vitamin E and selenium are two important cellular antioxidant nutrients which play a key role in keeping body tissue, including muscles, healthy and functioning optimally.
Deficiencies of either essential nutrient will impair performance and can eventually cause disease. During exercise, micro-damage and oxidative stress occurs, which the body then counteracts with physiological changes during the rest period following. These changes are the conditioning process that gets the horse fitter, but this process relies entirely on adequate supply of all the essential nutrients to have an anabolic effect, building stronger muscles with more stamina. Vitamin E and selenium are the primary muscle cell antioxidants, which reverse oxidative stress and help the muscle get stronger and more conditioned after a training session. Thoroughbreds have a huge muscle mass - about 40% or 200 kg for a 500 kg horse, and their working muscles demand a high intake of antioxidants.
It is worth considering that vitamin E levels are often lower than required with regular feeding, especially if the thoroughbred is not turned out (pasture is a good source of vitamin E). Conserved forages including hay and haylage lose Vitamin E during processing, and neither fresh nor conserved grass contains enough selenium for horses. Compound feeds often contain low levels of vitamin E, and in such cases diets must be supplemented if the horse is expected to perform at his best. Vets and Nutritionists recommend at least 2000 IU of vitamin E daily for working horses, and levels double this amount might be appropriate in some cases.
Levels should be elevated throughout training, and not just during the racing season, so it is worth considering supplementing the diet.
Vitamin E and selenium intake should always be increased for horses with any history of tying up. A deficiency can contribute to tying up, and supplementing these nutrients after a bout will help the muscle to heal and regenerate. Post-injury or surgery, horses also have an increased requirement for antioxidants, so vitamin E and selenium should be elevated during any healing phase.
ReadySupp Vitamin E and Selenium supports optimum performance with high levels of both essential nutrients at levels recommended for maximum benefit.
All ReadySupp supplements are manufactured in the UK according to the BETA NOPS code and do not contravene FEI or Jockey Club rules.
Kerckhaert
/Super Sound raceplates have all the excellent design features you have already come to expect in the Kings Plate Extra Sound Race program, plus multiple innovative and patented new features.
Super Sound horseshoes offer more balance and support, allow natural, unimpeded hoof expansion and drastically reduce bruising and soreness. Your horse will perform better and will have sounder and thicker hooves.
• Available Sizes : 4 – 5 – 6 – 6,5 – 7 – 7,5 – 8 – 9
• Recommended nail: Liberty FJ0 or ASV 1 ¾
Upgrade your horse today to the newest, most advanced designed plates in the industry to keep your horse SUPER SOUND.
Red Mills
/Red Mills - Fitness and Nutritional Status
Many National Hunt horses returning from pasture will appear well conditioned, in some cases a little too well conditioned, and giving the appearance of great health following a period of relaxation. Whilst pasture will have provided an abundance of protein and sugars that flesh out a horse nicely, it will in most cases have fallen short in meeting the mineral requirements of a horse even when at rest. When starting back into work it is worth considering improving the nutritional profile of the horse at the same time as building fitness.
Whilst the major minerals including calcium and phosphorus along with key electrolytes potassium and sodium are generally well catered for within pasture the micro minerals of zinc, copper, selenium and manganese are often too low to meet requirements. Of these copper is the most easily noted as the horse’s skin colour changes giving a bleached looked and a flat colour.
Unlike the vitamins A,D,E which are fat soluble and can be stored in the body, minerals cannot be stored in tissues and so it is not possible to pre-load a horse before going out to pasture. The only mineral that can be stored is copper, which is held within the liver. Depending on the pasture content and stocking rate a horse may hold enough reserve to match any shortfall or the reserve will run short and a deficiency occurs. In most cases the horse returns to work with a low mineral profile that needs to be lifted in order to withstand the increased workload.
Increasing mineral intake requires a well supplemented diet designed to provide minerals matching the intensity of work and taking into account a dried forage base rather than pasture. When considering which diet to start on the protein level is important but of equal importance is the vitamin and mineral profile. The initial training phase has high demands for adaptation as fitness increases and the requirement for nutrients that support muscle function, such as vitamin E, selenium, magnesium and copper is raised. There is significant variation in mineral levels found within feeds. Choosing a diet with an elevated mineral content will reduce the need for additional supplements and will cater for the variation of minerals found in dried forages.
Equestrian Surfaces
/Equestrian Surfaces are leading suppliers in high performance synthetic all weather surfaces, over the 28years trading we have a highly respected range of synthetic surfaces with the flagship surface being the Cushion Track.
Equestrian Surfaces mission is to provide a safe and consistent surface for horse, rider and trainer. We are constantly striving to improve, using research and development to emulate a surface as close to turf as possible. Not only this but we are the only equestrian company to be environmentally approved and 9001 UKAS accredited, meaning that all our products are made to a quality standard second to none. Alongside this being the only company to manufacture our own stabilising fibre, which is a vital component in modern day surfaces and the core to all our products, for this reason we can guarantee a quality and consistency to our surfaces no other company can match.
Professionals choose Equestrian Surfaces as they believe it is essential to train on the best surfaces possible, our surfaces not only support the horses limbs, but they also reduce the risk associated with rigorous training regimes which are regularly placed on the modern day race horse.
Cushion Track which has been developed and improved over the years and is a mix of multi washed silica sand, environmentally approved stabilising fibre and coated in a wax binding, offering the ultimate safety for both horse and rider. The wax within the surface means that the surface is frost resistant and requires minimal maintenance and no irrigation to keep it in premium condition. All of Equestrian Surfaces products are different to many other surfaces on the market due to the specialist fibres which are uniquely blended and that the surface has been rigorously tested to provide the ultimate footing in terms of consistency, durability and quality.
The Cushion Track is installed at Klampenborg, Jaegersro within Europe. Within the UK it is laid within the Jockey Club Estates at Lambourn, and Ireland The Curragh racecourse have a schooling lane. There are many more.
NAF - Superflex
/Five Star Superflex is the right combination; a scientifically balanced ratio of readily absorbed Glucosamine Sulphate 2KCl and Chondroitin, the highest quality MSM plus the added benefits of a powerful anti-oxidant formula, exclusively designed to address excess free radical build up around the joint. Five Star Superflex contains the right combination of key nutrients in the optimum ratios, developed over twenty five years of working with sound horses. So provide the best flexibility for life for your horse or pony with Five Star Superflex, available in liquid and powder forms.
Five Star Superflex has been developed by international veterinary scientists to provide horses and ponies across all disciplines with the ultimate joint support.
The best riders in the world put their trust in Five Star Superflex, make sure you offer your horse or pony that essential support to achieve the best performance possible.
Therma-Vet
/What do you use to detect signs of heat?
Vets have used thermal imaging cameras for years with consistent positive results that can no longer be ignored. Thermal cameras have not been adopted by many yards either due to financial restrictions or lack of the technical know-how for such complicated equipment. However, recent advances in technology have allowed the creation of the ThermaVetTM, a thermal imaging camera that’s simple to use and can easily be attached to your Smartphone/pad. The racing industry demands a lot from its trainers, staff and horses alike. When presented with a thermal imaging camera that fits into the palm of your hand and can be used on a daily basis for monitoring injuries, infections and disease with ease; how can this not catch our attention? This has the potential to make a positive impact on equestrian health monitoring and save time and money. Instead of just feeling for heat, see the heat and take a photo/video of it to compare against previous images.
Easy to use and non-invasive complementary tool in the palm of your hands…
Thermal imaging is a useful non-invasive method of remotely monitoring surface temperature. The ability to monitor skin temperature easily has great potential for the early detection of disease, infection or injury. A hot spot indicates inflammation or increased blood flow. Cold spots indicate decreased blood flow, usually the result of swelling, nerve damage or scar tissue. It is especially useful when deciding when to bring a horse back into work after injury, when detecting infections post op. and in wounds, monitoring when travelling or locating abscesses – the list is endless.
The ThermaVet TM is an early warning, simple and affordable tool that can be used on a daily basis. It simply attaches onto your Smartphone/pad and enables the user to take and store thermal photos and videos, giving instant comparable results at the point of care, aiding trainers to make decisions, act quickly and save money.
How much does it cost and where can I get one from?
The RRP is £199.99 however, European Trainer readers can use the discount code: TRAINER to receive £25 off. Simply buy from the online shop found at www.therma-vet.com
Fibre-Beet Sponsor Foulrice Park Racing
/Fibre-Beet is the proud new sponsor at Foulrice Park Racing.
Will I’Anson & Colin Stirling celebrating the sponsorship at York Races
Based in Middleham, North Yorkshire, the racing yard is delighted to be supported by the super fibre conditioning feed, produced by local feed manufacturers, British Horse Feeds, a feed division of I'Anson Bros Ltd at Masham.
Foulrice Park Racing benefits from the newly refurbished yard, ‘Little Spigot’, providing first class training facilities in Middleham - the heart of racing in the North.
The yard is run by Trainer Patrick Holmes, with his business partners Colin and Ailsa Stirling and a very experienced senior team - horse welfare is paramount to all.
The team started using Fibre-Beet when they were looking for a high fibre feed which would promote gut health and maintain condition.
Trainer, Patrick Holmes, explains how the relationship developed with the brand:
“We started using Fibre-Beet last year and were very impressed with the palatability - even the fussiest of horses enjoy it. They look very well on the feed and maintain condition throughout the season.”
Said Will I’Anson of British Horse Feeds: “We have been working with Foulrice for some time now, and we are absolutely delighted to be involved with this sponsorship arrangement. We firmly believe our association with them will continue to promote our brands and particularly the benefits of feeding Fibre-Beet into this important sector."
Colin Stirling is also delighted with the Fibre-Beet association: “To have Fibre-Beet onboard as yard sponsor is excellent and we look forward to an exciting season with British Horse Feeds and our owners as the relationship develops”.
Fibre-Beet is an excellent conditioning feed for racehorses as the pectins in the beet pulp help coat the stomach lining and the quality alfalfa has an antacid effect. It is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar.
Foulrice Park Racing and British Horse Feeds celebrated the sponsorship deal at York Races Dante Festival 13-15 May.
For more information on Fibre-Beet please contact British Horse Feeds on:
+44 (0)1765 680300 or visit www.britishhorsefeeds.com
Foulrice Park Racing website - www.foulriceparkracing.com
Equine Flu: ProteqFlu® first to secure Clade 2 update
/The recent launch of the updated equine influenza (EI) vaccine, ProteqFlu®, brings to market the first and only EI vaccine in Europe to contain a clade 2 strain, and also the only vaccine that is fully compliant with the latest 2014 OIE World Organisation For animal Health Expert Surveillance Panel (ESP) recommended EI vaccine strains
Louise Radford MRCVS of manufacturer Merial Animal Health explains the significance of the launch
Merial, the world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company has recently launched the updated ProteqFlu vaccine, marking the UK’s first and only fully updated equine flu vaccine that contains both a Clade 1 and Clade 2 antigen, which includes protection against the latest Florida Clade 2 strain, Richmond 07. This is a significant step for horse health and the equine industry as a whole.
Since its launch in 2003, ProteqFlu has become a leading EI vaccine on the European market, demonstrating its success and efficacy in real outbreaks, particularly during the last major outbreak - in Australia in 2007 - when it was the only vaccine chosen for the eradication programme.
EI remains a significant disease across most of the globe, primarily due to its ability to cause extensive disruption to equestrian breeding, training and competition schedules. As a result of this threat, vaccination against EI has become widespread and mandatory in some equestrian discipline being made mandatory for racing thoroughbreds in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France in 1981 following epizootics in 1979.
Virus strains are constantly evolving, a process which is monitored regularly by a panel of EI experts (Expert Surveillance Panel or ESP), which includes representatives from OIE reference laboratories. Data from outbreaks of EI, particularly in vaccinated horses, and the antigenic and genetic characteristics of EI viruses are reviewed annually.
Recommendations are then made on the need to update vaccines. The ESP’s latest recommendations are that vaccines for the international market should contain representative H3N8 EI viruses from both Clade 1 and Clade 2 of the Florida sublineage, with no requirement stipulated any longer for European lineage H3N8 or H7N7 EI viruses.
The timely updating of influenza vaccines with relevant viruses is considered essential by the ESP to minimise the threat of EI to equine populations worldwide.
The continuous evolution of EI vaccines is of major concern in relation to maintaining the protection of equine populations against EI across the world. If there is a mismatch between the ‘field’ virus and those strains in a vaccine containing ‘outdated’ strains the horse will be affected and even if only sub-clinically infected, is more likely to shed virus.
By way of example, the vaccinated animals from Japan that introduced EI virus into the Australian quarantine facility in 2007 had been vaccinated with vaccines containing outdated strains, as none of the vaccines available at the time had been updated in line with the most recent OIE recommendations.
The New updated ProteqFlu received its EU marketing authorisation on 11th July 2014, and was available in most European markets as of December 2014.
NEW GastroGard® Performance Pack + £60 cashback on pack purchases
/To celebrate the launch of the NEW GastroGard® Performance Pack, Merial are offering a £60 cashback on pack purchases made before the end of September 2015.
The formulation in GastroGard® is proven to deliver omeprazole beyond the stomach to areas of the gut where it can be rapidly & consistently absorbed into the bloodstream. That’s why thousands of vets and trainers worldwide trust GastroGard® to heal or prevent gastric ulcers in their horses, keeping them healthy for optimum performance.
The new GastroGard® Performance Pack contains: 8 packs of 7 pre filled syringes.
If you are an ETF/NTF/TBA member, simply download this voucher following purchase of a new GastroGard® Performance Pack and return along with proof of purchase before 30th September 2015 to receive your £60 cheque.
REMEMBER 93% of racehorses in training suffer from gastric ulcers*
They can affect performance, training, appetite and temperament, as well as the overall health and wellbeing of these horses**.
Please refer to your veterinary surgeon for further information and advice on diagnosis and treatment of equine gastric ulcers in race horses. Or find out more at www.equinegastriculcers.co.uk
£60 cash back is currently available to all ETF/NTF/TBA members and is not valid for the contents of promotional packs.
References
*. Murray MJ et al. Factors associated with gastric ulcers in thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 1996;28(5):368-374.
**. McClure SR et al. Efficacy of omeprazole paste for prevention of recurrence of gastric ulcers in horses in race training. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;226(10):1685-1688. ***. Andrews FM et al. Efficacy of omeprazole paste in the treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers in horses. Equine Vet J 1999;29(Suppl):81-86.
equinITy - the workout tracking technology as used for Mubtaahij
/Fine Equinity Ltd was established in 2011 by racehorse owners Keith Hanson and Steve Catchpole to develop a product that would satisfy their need for a more interactive ownership experience. They felt that by collecting data relating to their horses’ fitness, they would have an insight without physically being present on the gallops each morning.
equinITy has evolved over the last two years and now provides a powerful, state of the art equine training and welfare tool, designed to be simple to use whilst gaining as much important data as possible. The bespoke GPS device is held in a pocket on a lightweight girth sleeve which also incorporates an equine specific heart rate monitor. Speed, heart rate, stride, split times and location are all live streamed to any web enabled device anywhere in the world either through the equinITy website or via equinITy’s App onto smartphones or tablets.
As well as real time delivery, the data collected is also available for retrospective analysis through equinITy’s web based software. This processes and graphically illustrates the data producing highly informative performance reports of speed vs heart rate and stride, split times, distance and recovery rates enabling valuable comparison analysis.
equinITy has already been used by trainers as far afield as Australia, USA and Dubai as well as all over Europe, providing themselves and their owners with a method of accurately assessing ability and fitness in advance of running. equinITy has also proved a good indicator of impending health deterioration saving on expensive and disappointing trips to the races.
Mike de Kock says of equinITy: “Having used the equinITy system for a number of years I am delighted that the stride monitoring and live streaming components are now available. Access to accurate speed, heart rate and stride data via equinITy allows me to make decisions based on scientific facts as well as my instinct.
I was thrilled with Mubtaahij’s win in the UAE Derby on Dubai World Cup night. We used the new equinITy device on him in the build up to the Derby, which was a great help. Not only did he look amazing physically, but his data backed up exactly what I was seeing in front of me. His work showed that he could cruise at a high speed with a long stride length allowing him to conserve energy and thus quicken off a strong pace, which is exactly what he did on the big night.”
Make feeding simpler with the Simple Feeder
/What is a SiMPLEFEEDER?
SiMPLEFEEDER is an Automatic Horse Feeder which greatly improves horse health. Enabling you to feed up to 8 times daily, it is not only better for your horse but it saves you time and money.
The concept behind SiMPLEFEEDER is to provide each horse with a feeding regime which replicates as close as possible to the natural feeding environment, ensuring the horse gains its full nutritional value from their feed.
The main benefits of SiMPLEFEEDER are that it produces a better, more consistent performing horse. It improves the horse’s recovery time from stress and or injury. You can feed smaller but more frequent meals, greatly improving horse’s health and reducing the risk of your horse getting Stomach Ulcers and/or Colic.
It enables your horses to be fed prior to training or competition, meaning your horse is ready when you are and is not fed late due to being worked.. By installing a SiMPLEFEEDER you no longer need somebody there to feed your precious animals, massively reducing labour costs plus you can be rest assured that your horses are being fed on time. SiMPLEFEEDER is also fussy eater approved.
Check out what are valued customers had to say about us:
“We have all our horses fed using SiMPLEFEEDER and it had a big impact on labour savings in our yard. I frequently travel to racecourses and used to have to come home early to feed horses. Now I can take my time as the horses will be fed. No more kicking of stable doors.”
Ballyhampshire Stud – Castlelyons Co. Cork – Ireland
SUPPORT for the racing gut with ReadySupp
/Racing Gut has been developed to support all horses under the stress and pressure of training.
The comprehensive supplement includes apple pectin, a complex soluble carbohydrate, and emulsifying phospholipid soy lecithin, which can help form an acid-protective hydrophobic barrier on the gastric wall.
Active herbs slippery elm, liquorice and marshmallow are combined with antioxidants, zinc and the essential amino-acid threonine to formulate this soothing supplement. The natural ingredients are designed to ‘soak’ up harmful excess acid and encourage natural healing of stomach cells to help soothe, support and reduce the risk of gastric disturbances in hard working horses.
Racing Gut is suitable to be fed as a course, or on a long-term basis, and is suitable for horses prone to gastric challenges or with compromised gastric health, such as those fasting, on restricted diets, on high starch or low-fibre diets, or medication.
The supplement is manufactured under the NOPS code and all products are batch trackable for increased traceability.
Racing Gut does not contravene FEI or Jockey Club rules and is 100% race safe.
Active ingredients: Lecithin, apple pectin, threonine, calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, zinc, slippery elm powder, liquorice root powder, marshmallow root powder, grapeseed extract.
RDInducoat enhance bio-security
/Bio-security is a priority for all training yards, with the main focus on the care of the environment in which the horse spends most hours of the day: the stable. Whilst not seeking complete sterility, the aim should be to reduce your animal’s exposure to pathogenic mould and bacteria. Stable walls might look clean yet swabs will reveal a bacterial growth and mould. Hence the use of coatings on walls to protect against harmful micro-organisms makes perfect sense.
RDInducoat offers coatings which are tried, tested and approved by leading horse yards. Since 1948 it has been developing a reputation for its easy, safe and ecological coatings systems which specifically focus on protecting against harmful micro-organisms. All of the coatings are safe for humans, horses and the environment. Their efficacy complies to the strictest industry ISO standards. And, most importantly, they have been adding value in selected horse yards – both in the Netherlands and in Ireland. Independent horse hygiene specialist have concluded that the coatings are protected against harmful micro-organisms for 24 hours every day, all year.
The key to the system is the ease of application, durability, and suitability for use by staff. The value of of the coatings for any yard owner trying to achieve a high level of biosecurity for their performance horses has now been verified by bio-security specialist Alan Creighton, of the Irish Equine Centre.
“His test results were positive,” says Jack McGuinness, RDInducoat distributor in Ireland. “This is why our team felt that it is now the time to give RDInucoat coatings some exposure to the readers of Trainer Magazine. After all, if you are painting anyway, why not choose a smart coating?”
Click here to learn more about RDInducoat
NEW specialist service from Racing FX
/With the cost of owning and training horses only going one way, costs and fees become ever more important. At the same time the number of horses being bought, trained and raced overseas continues to grows, meaning owners and trainers should be mindful of what they’re paying for converting currency and making overseas payments. Banks typically charge between 3% and 5% for foreign exchange transactions, plus transfer fees on top, while providing what is often a slow and convoluted process.
Racing FX is a Foreign Exchange and payments provider to the Equine and sports industries. It delivers a private personal service to its clients offering cheaper rates, fast payments and a hassle free solution whilst ensuring client money is fully protected at all times. We can save you money on purchase costs, regular fees - such as overseas training cost - purchase of goods and equipment, or conversion of prize money, as quickly as same day, or by fixing a rate for conversion for a future time.
Racing FX is fully authorised by the FCA and registered with HMRC as a money service business so adheres to the strictest controls and regulations to ensure client money is never at risk; it is held in segregated and protected client accounts with a major UK bank at all times.
Click here to learn more about Racing FX
Yard and Stable Hygiene Services get on top of your biosecurity
/Racing stables, and indeed most yards, now recognise the need to improve their hygiene and biosecurity levels, often having learnt the hard way at some point in their careers.
But how many think buying a disinfectant and adopting a lower dust regime is enough?
In order for any disinfecting treatments to work they must be applied properly, thoroughly and regularly on a cleaned surface to all areas of the yard including those so often overlooked: roof areas, beams, tops of grills, feed mangers, ablution blocks, tack rooms and the like.
Yard and Stable Hygiene Services was established by Tom Fillery, with ten years hands-on experience in the racing industry, to combat increasing problems and challenges that trainers are encountering due to climate and environmental changes. The thought of someone coming into the yard to clean and overhaul the facilities while trying to get on with training routines can be a worry, yet staffing levels and their duties are such that its near impossible to achieve it ‘in house.’
YSHS understand these timescales and the necessity to work around them with minimal disturbance for maximum improvement while providing a professional, friendly, cost-and-time effective bespoke service, using specialised equipment and only professionally tested and endorsed materials and coatings. Says Alan Creighton, Environmental Scientist at the Irish Equine Centre: “Stable hygiene is about being proactive rather than reactive. Barrier paints/coatings and disinfection are an essential part of the modern performance yard.”
Click here to learn more about Yard and Stable Hygiene Services
Learn about the NAF Respirator
/RESPIRATOR BOOST
A clear way to performance with racehorses can often be hindered by man-made factors. We all want to reach the winners post first and we therefore need our horses at their peak, but with modern husbandry systems there are many ways in which performance can be compromised and result in many horses not making the trip. The respiratory system is particularly vulnerable to stresses, predominantly from dust or spores commonly found in stabling, forage and kick back from schools or gallops. It only takes a small amount of dust to irritate the delicate airways, causing a rapid and dramatic trailing off. However, with the correct management and high quality supplementation, we can help to support the respiratory system.
Five Star Respirator Boost provides invaluable nutritional support to the respiratory mucosal immune system and the delicate capillary blood vessels that surround the lungs. These minute capillaries are placed under immense strain during vigorous exercise and thus it is essential to offer them five star backing in order to achieve the best performance. Research shows that, by supplementing the diet with naturally sourced anti-oxidants, the horse’s lungs can be given valuable support and this in turn will help the horse to perform to the best of their ability.
Anti-oxidants are found in many feedstuffs but it is important that they are high quality in order to flush free radical toxins from the system for enhanced performance and recovery. Five Star Respirator Boost contains a concentrated solution of natural antioxidants, alongside herbs such as ginger, rosehip and blueberries, long standing ingredients chosen for their targeted support of healthy lung function. In addition Echinacea is also included for immune system support while essential oils help maintain clear airways.
Clear the respiratory system FAST with Five Star Respirator Boost and help your horse cope with the pressures of the modern equine lifestyle with this Five Star Formula.
Click here to learn more about NAF