How green is your bedding?

With all the constant talk of environmental issues, horse owners have a responsibility to use the ‘greenest’ products, which includes everything from chemical free fly sprays to the bedding their horses sleep on.

Chopped straw such as Nedz is one of the most environmentally friendly bedding types due to the methods in which it is grown, the natural formula it is treated with and the methods of disposal. Unlike wood based products, straw is a waste product left over from the harvest of wheat or rapeseed. By re-using it as a bedding product for horses we are able to utilise a by-product which would normally be ploughed back in to the ground or left to rot.

At Nedz we use a totally organic, natural formula on both Nedz Original and Nedz Pro, containing no chemicals or pesticides. Natural Nedz discourages bed eating and provides additional health benefits to provide a safe, environmentally friendly surrounding. At no point does the bedding let off damaging toxins in to the environment and the high absorbency means potent ammonia levels are kept to a minimum. This not only makes our horse’s stable a safer area for him, but also for owners.

Disposing of Nedz products is simple and easy, as well as being cost effective. The chopped straw product rots down within 2 – 3 months – as opposed to 2 – 3 years in the case of wood based products – and once this process has occurred this can be safely spread on fields as a totally natural fertiliser without running the risk of removing valuable nitrates from the soil.

At Nedz we believe that horse owners should really understand the products they use to bed their horses on. Not only can this aid the environment and make for a ‘greener’ lifestyle – but also helps maintain a healthy, happy environment for equines and their owners.

Geoff's latest update

Our sponsored rider, Geoff Billington has had a busy start to the year. After completing The Champions Tour in January he spent a month competing across Scandinavia, in Denmark and Norway. Here he came second on Pedro in the biggest Grand Prix class in Norway as well as picking up the rides on two new Grade A horses, a nine year old called Quite Cadiz and a twelve year old, Charoix.

After several placings in Scandinavia with his new rides, Geoff has returned to the UK and had great results in the Grand Prix at Towerlands Premier Show, winning on Pedro, and the following weekend coming second on Quite Cadiz in the big class at The Hand Premier Show.

He now has lecture/demo's to do before competing at The British Open in the A&B Championships at the beginning of April and will then be travelling to Hartpury to give a masterclass during the Gala Evening at the Blue Chip Winter Show Jumping Championships on 16th April.

What this space for all the latest updates, straight from the horses mouth!

Steph has an action packed March!

"Mr President and I qualified first time out this year for the National Championships in September, when we went to Myerscough Premier League, winning the Grand Prix with just under 70%, this earned us a lovely picture and write up in Horse & Hound magazine and means the pressure is off to go to any more Premier League shows because the other piece of news is that I am nearly 6 months pregnant!"

"I will continue to ride providing I feel well enough and I trust Mr President with my life so even if I can't school him I will keep him ticking along with hacking. Simon, my husband, will keep the horses exercised when I can't ride. I plan on taking Clyde - my 5 year old - out to do the Badminton Young Horse qualifiers in mid April - providing my jodhpurs still fit and also my other 5 year old Ancie will be doing some Young Horse classes."

"Mr President and I have been nominated to represent Great Britain at Addington in the CDI*** Freestyle over Easter but we are not sure whether we will be going yet - it is very nice to be selected all the same. Clyde has been doing very well competing unaffiliated Elementary level - I am not allowed to qualify for anything under Medium level as I am a Grade 1 rider so we will continue at Elementary level unaffiliated for the time being."

"We have also been asked by Horse magazine to help two riders in a masterclass at the end of April. They will travel to our yard and I will give them some assistance and it will feature at a later date in the magazine. Overall it has been a busy month and we have plenty to keep us occupied with!"

An Advance for Nedz suffering from laminitis

Nedz Advance has revolutionised the way many people bed their horses – offering a super absorbent, easy to muck out and highly biodegradable alternative to conventional bedding. As we come in to the spring season, whilst many horses are spending less time in the stable, for horses and ponies suffering from laminitis stabled time is often increased so ensuring their environment is as comfortable and healthy as possible is vital in the care of this debilitating condition.

Nedz Advance is manufactured using a unique process that steams chopped straw to make it unpalatable before compressing it in to pellets. These pellets break down to form a soft, cushioned and extremely absorbent base for your horse or pony to be stabled on.

Offering a supportive, clean and hygienic bedding alternative ensures that horses and ponies suffering from laminitis, or related issues, can remain comfortable and supported even when stabled for long periods.

Barefoot trimmer, Angela Corner has found Nedz Advance to be the most effective solution on the market. “As a barefoot trimmer I’m always on the lookout for the most suitable bedding for barefoot horses – both my own and my clients. Nedz Advance is the best bedding I’ve found. The unrivalled absorbency means that when horses are stabled their feet do not get damp by standing in wet bedding, which is vital for developing tough feet.”

“Nedz Advance also provides the comfort and support for hooves required by horses transitioning from shod to barefoot and would be particularly beneficial for horses recovering from laminitis and navicular syndrome,” she states. “And it’s a doddle to muck out too, leaving more time for the important stuff like riding! For barefoot horses there is nothing better on the market than Nedz Advance.”