One of the best ways to help horses competing in this year’s Grand National is by investing in high-quality equine bedding. The 173rd meeting of this iconic event in the horse racing calendar is set to take place on Saturday 10th April, after being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool will host the event which will have 106 entrants and take place with no spectators for the first time in its history due to the COVID-19 restrictions. For this blog, we will tell you a bit more about our range of horse bedding, to help you make an informed decision. The Power of Three for Equine Bedding Here at P.H Winterton and Son, we offer three different types of horse bedding that are guaranteed to suit your unique specifications and budgets. Cheshire Choice Bedding is our premium option that is made up of 100% soft wood shavings, that will give your horse the ultimate comfort when resting. This type of bedding is kept in quantities of one to 18 pallets, in case you wish to buy in bulk. Our Economy Bale Bedding is our budget range that will provide a warm bed whilst not breaking the bank. Using a mixture of hard and soft wood, making it easy to use with rubber mats. We have recently started stocking Zebra Fibre bedding which can be used for both horses and cattle and is available in 48-60 bales per pallet. P.H Winterton store this bedding in all-weather bags to protect it from the elements. Zebra Fibre bedding is extremely absorbent meaning there is minimal risk of abrasions for your animals. Contact Us With Any Questions If you have any questions about P.H Winterton’s range of equine bedding, please do not hesitate to get in touch now. Our team of specialists look forward to hearing from you. We supply horse bedding for customers all over the country, including areas such as Hampshire, Somerset and Taunton and...
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As a premium supplier of equine bedding, P.H Winterton regularly have correspondence with fellow horse owners. It is many of the aforementioned horse owner that will take part in this year’s Cheltenham Festival. The flagship event was one of the last mass participation events before the first Coronavirus lockdown last year. This year will certainly be different with no crowds at Prestbury Park being the main difference. For this blog, we will explain the ways the Cheltenham Festival will change in 2021. How Attendances Will Be Restricted Plus Other Changes Attendance will be restricted to staff who are essential to the care of the horses and the smooth running of the racecourse. Additionally there will be a vastly reduced media presence. Reduced entourages will be allowed for each runner but this does not extend to the bill-paying owner. Biosecurity measures will also be implemented surrounding those challengers travelling over from Ireland, with special zones created adjacent to the racecourse stables where every groom, trainer and jockey must stay while not exercising or racing their horses. The final casualty will be the absence of amateur riders. This means the National Hunt Chase, the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase and the Hunters’ Chase (no longer the Foxhunters’) will all now feature professional jockeys. The programme will also change, with the novice handicap chase disappearing from the Tuesday card. Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase from Friday will be replacing it. The Leading Suppliers of Equine Bedding Whether you are racing at the Cheltenham Festival or not, you will need the best equine bedding for your horses – which is where PH Winterton and Son can help. We have three ranges of equine bedding that will suit any budget or specific requirement. Contact us if you have any questions about horse bedding or any of our other products, such as biomass fuel. Our team of specialists will be more than happy to help with any...
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Weight loss for horses and ponies can be difficult, with a number of factors making it a challenging task. Restricting the feed intake of an animal that spends most of its time eating can lead to colic and gastric ulcers; the key to success is a balance of feed intake with calorie restriction. Here at P.H Winterton, we understand the importance of keeping your horse healthy, which is why we only supply the finest equine bedding. For this blog, we are going to give you some tips to help avoid equine obesity. Tips to Avoid Equine Obesity Weighing Your Horse Regularly checking your horse’s body weight helps you to keep an eye on their waistline and allows you to address any issues sooner rather than later. Combine weigh taping with body condition scoring which helps to determine your horse’s ideal condition. If you cannot easily feel your horse’s ribs, they are overweight. Weigh Your Horse Feed It can be easy for feeding portions to creep up without you noticing, especially when feed is distributed in scoops. Not all horse feeds are equal in weight, so it is crucial to know how much your scoop holds. Knowing how much you feed your horse, including forage, means you can start a dieting regime that does not instantly change their feed amount. For dieting horses and ponies, you will need to gradually restrict their intake to 1.5% of their current body weight. Avoid Extras In Your Horse Feed If you are the owner of an overweight horse or pony, you will need to assess whether they need extra little bits of mix and cubes in their feed. These extras provide a number of calories, whereas it could be far better to provide something that has a longer chewing time, to help with behavioural and digestive health. One of the additional issues of adding sprinkles of mix or cubes is your horse will be missing out on vital vitamins and minerals. An alternative that would make your horse’s feed more appealing would be a feed balancer. Think About Forage In some instances, haylage provides too many calories and if your yard provides it as the sole forage source you need to consider an...
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Thoroughbred horses are just one of a wide array of horse breeds that you may own or find yourself looking after. Due to their agility, if you’re a racer, they’re likely to be your most regularly encountered breed. Whether you’re training, preparing for a race or you’ve only just invested in a horse, it’s important to get their stables in order. Here at P.H. Winterton and Sons, we’re huge supporters of horse racers and their upcoming events. Thanks to our renowned status in the equestrian market and sponsorships of the Royal Windsor and Olympia horse shows, we’re a trusted source to buy your thoroughbred shavings from. Cheshire Choice Equine Bedding Cheshire Choice Equine Bedding is our most premium, high quality choice, guaranteed to provide the ultimate comfort to your horse. As one of the only types of horse beddings in Staffordshire that’s made of 100% soft wood shavings, we can provide you with the highest quality without having to travel too far. In a lot of bedding guides, it’s suggested that absorbency is a vital feature to keeping your horse comfortable and clean. With the absorption capabilities of Cheshire Choice, these shavings will give your horse a comfortable night’s sleep and have it raring to go for its next race. It’s ability to adjust temperature will also keep your horse warm in the Winter and cool in the Summer. We are confident in saying that buying Cheshire Choice Equine Bedding is the best decision with regards to the comfort, happiness and health of your animals. We also keep it free from chemicals and dust to prevent any respiratory problems developing in you and your horse. Economy-Bale Equine Bedding If you’re after another option that won’t break the bank, you can’t go wrong with Economy-Bale Equine Bedding. This bedding is also safe for the airwaves of you and your horses thanks to being double dust extracted. This also ensures that it’s hygienic from the start. This option of bedding is made from a combination of soft and hardwood shavings. Therefore, it’s still easy to clean out and can be used alongside rubber mats. New! Zebra Fibre Animal Bedding We are extremely proud to have added Zebra Fibre Animal Bedding to...
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As the winter chill starts to bite, it is now more important than ever to ensure your stable of horses is staying healthy. P.H Winterton and Son are the leading suppliers of equine bedding across the country, and with our years of experience, we know a thing or two about caring for horses. For this post, we have put together some essential tips to help you through the next few months. High-Quality Equine Bedding and other Care Tips Feeding – In terms of feeding, forage should form the basis of every horse’s diet. Forage is especially important during winter when the grass is not readily available or turnout time may be restricted. This also helps keep the horse warm acting as an in-built heating system which creates heat as it breaks down in the digestive system. Feeding in the Field – Additional forage may be needed to feed horses living out, depending on the amount of grass available. When adding extra forage in the field, ensure there are more piles of hay than there are horses to stop any conflicts. Keeping Hydrated – During winter it cannot be underestimated, the importance of your horse having plenty of fresh and clean drinking water. A 16hh horse requires at least 6 gallons of water every day, and some horses can need up to twice this amount. Water is crucial for hydration and digestion. It is also important to check the water troughs twice a day and to break and remove any ice. You may also want to fill containers with water as an emergency supply. For stabled horses, adding some warm water into their buckets prevents the water from freezing overnight which could encourage a horse to drink if they do not like the colder water. Bedding – One of the most crucial parts of keeping your horses happy is giving them the best bedding to rest on. P.H Winterton and Son provide three different types of equine bedding to suit every budget, including our newest product – Zebra Fibre bedding. Got any Questions? Contact Us Now If you have any questions about our range of equine bedding or need any advice about horse care this winter, please do not hesitate...
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