Mind your muck heap

After recent press coverage surrounding horse manure, muck heaps and the potential legal issues that could be implemented, many horse owners are blissfully unaware of the implications their mucking out could have! As a manufacturer of equestrian bedding, Nedz feel it is their duty to help ensure customers understand the rules and regulations surrounding their horses waste!

Biodegradability of your bedding has always been a point to consider, however with recent legislation changes and the government clamping down on rules and regulations of muck heaps, now is the time to ensure your bedding is as quick rotting as possible!

Did you know...

• If you use manure as a fertiliser to benefit the land it is no longer treated as waste and as such, is not subject to the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2007. You also do not need a waste transfer note or waste carrier registration if you are moving manure that is to be used as fertiliser. If you ‘discard’ your waste, i.e. burn, tip or bury it, it is still classified as controlled waste and that is subject to the EP Regulations 2007.
• Your muck heap should be at least 10 metres away from any watercourse and should not be situated in an area prone to flooding. In addition you should bear in mind the prevailing wind to avoid any odour pollution. 
• Your muck heap should not be in a single position for more than 12 successive months and you should leave a two year gap before returning to the same site.
• Choosing the correct bedding material will have a significant impact on the quantity of waste and the speed it rots down. Using straw based bedding will maximise the nutrient value of the compost – as wood based products use up far more of the nitrogen in the manure during decomposition and results in a poorer nutrient level in the fertiliser. Straw also decomposes within several months rather than wood based products which can take 1 – 2 years.

Following some simple guidelines can avoid you a costly fine, and a huge upset. When choosing your bedding product, consider your options carefully and look at the whole picture rather than simply the cost per bale. You may find that a cheaper product could cost you more in the long run.

Nedz products are all made from chopped straw which rots down within several months and can be safely spread on fields meaning you should be exempt from the EP Regulations 2007.

To find out more about Nedz tel: (01254) 677 762 or visit www.nedz.co.uk

Make your Advance in to summer...

For the majority of riders, mucking out is not at the top of their list of things they ‘love’ to do, and particularly during the summer months, after a long day in the office, the last thing you want to do is spend precious time in a stuffy, smelly stable!

Unfortunately mucking out is part and parcel of horse management, however with the right bedding, mucking out can take just a few minutes and leave you with lots more time to ‘play horses’. With this in mind Nedz Advance was launched in to the UK to provide an effective, time efficient and simple method of bedding horses.

The chopped straw pellets really do have to be used to be believed! Capable of absorbing up to five times their own weight in liquid they make the perfect bedding choice for all horses and ponies, in particular wet or really dirty equines. The pellets break down as the horse is stabled on them providing a sturdy, yet soft base which supports the feet and keeps wet patches to a minimum.

Droppings are no longer buried under mounds of bedding, or mashed up in to the floor, and ammonia levels are virtually eliminated because of the exceptional absorbency. In addition, for those worried about dust levels, Nedz Advance has been dust extracted and sterilised making it hygienic and safe for all horses and ponies.

Nedz Advance does not stick to bedding or rugs, droppings are ‘skipped out’ with a shavings fork, the small wet patch can be scooped out on a shovel and the rest of the bed remains undisturbed. Less wasted bedding means less work for you, better value for money and smaller muck heaps. In addition this innovative method of using straw rots down within a month.

We recommend using around 3 – 4 bags of Nedz Advance for the initial start up of a 12 x 12 stable using rubber matting, or 5 – 6 bags on a concrete base. For horses stabled overnight we would expect one extra bag per week to be used to top up, however during the summer months when horses are stabled less it is not uncommon to only add one bag of Nedz Advance every fortnight.

Good foundations

Every aspect of mare and foal management is imperative to the future wellbeing of both animals, and whilst feeding and handling is often top priority, it is also vital that the stable environment is as safe and hygienic as it can be.

With years of experience in the bedding industry, Nedz provide all horses and ponies, including mares and youngstock, with comfortable, hygienic, biodegradable and cost effective bedding.

The bedding of choice from breeders and stud farms is Nedz Original; a chopped wheat straw bedding product which provides all the benefits of traditional straw - comfortable, warm, quick-rotting and supportive – whilst also offering an extremely absorbent, easy to muck out and hygienic alternative to traditional straw beds.

The raw material used in Nedz Original is handpicked for its quality before being chopped and put through a rigorous dust extraction process. The chopped straw is then treated with our exclusive Natural Nedz formulation, made from totally organic ingredients that offer anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-insecticidal properties creating a hygienic environment for your breeding stock. The formula contains no citronella or eucalyptus, which means there are no strong odours and no risk of delicate skin reacting.

Once set down, Nedz Original provides a sturdy, comfortable and supportive base which is perfect for mares and foals when lying down or spending long periods in the stable. The exceptional absorbency means no sodden wet patches and virtually no ammonia levels, leading to a healthier environment for your valuable breeding stock.

Olympia, hot headed Mr P and Annabel takes a few dunkings! Steph Croxford keeps us posted...

Since I last updated you we have battled on with the snow and competed a very keen Mr P at Olympia! It started brilliantly with me opening up the Olympia programme and seeing a big picture of Totilas opposite a big picture of Mr P - I think that will be the first and last time we are on the same page as Totilas!

The preparation was certainly not ideal for Olympia - the snow caused havoc and I didn't actually canter him until the sunday at Olympia - so to say that we were a little excited is an understatement! I would say that the Grand Prix was a bit 'fly by the seat of our pants' and can only describe it as a little rough round the edges - however we performed all of the movements so were a little disappointed with our 66.7% mark - especially when other competitors (mentioning no names) had horses that totally blew up and failed to perform movements and scored higher than us! But as we all know - that is dressage!

I felt slightly panicky in the warm up as he was so hot headed that I could barely put my right spur on his side - I forgot how buzzy the atmosphere was and it can turn the most relaxed horses upside down - at one point Mr P bolted off with me and we were within an inch of a head on collision with Judy Harvey! He was slightly explosive and all the way down the centre line I could feel him daring me to touch him! Once we were doing the test though he settled and got on with his job and I was pleased with him. You forget how hot the horses get in there - when you are warming up during set up all you can hear is staple guns which are like guns going off and the horses totally freak out at them! Also the temporary stables back on to the warm up so every now and then you get a nose poking out of the top - doesn't help concentration!


I was slightly disappointed to read on the BD forum that spectators were saying that horses at this level should be prepared for the atmosphere so I was quick to respond! You have no idea how buzzy the atmosphere is until you are riding in it - it blows their minds and even at competitions like the World Games and Olympics it is not so intense because it is outside. At Olympia as soon as you go through the curtains you are hit with an immense heat from the hall and it is like a humming sound of people talking, eating, and moving around. You simply cannot criticise until you have been in that situation!

We finished 9th overall and considering our preparation I was pleased as we certainly didn't disgrace ourselves. The main thing is that at the age of 17 he still absolutley loved it and catapulted me down the centre line! You can't ask for more than thaty can you?!

We are having a quieter time now, Clyde is gearing up for the Regionals and we are also playing with him at home, teaching him changes and piaffe from the ground - it is a bit confusing for him though as he can't quite understand why he then has to go back to doing Medium tests after doing all the fancy stuff! Captain Mac has begun his education as he is now rising three so has been bitted and lunged over Christmas, watch this space for his progress!

Annabel is continuing her quest to stardom - but has suffered from a few dunkings over Christmas - four to be precise! Her pony has learnt that if he puts his head down Annabel shoots over his head - so a Daisy rein has now been purchased and despite landing in a puddle on one occasion and being soaking wet, Annabel has got back on each time - mainly due to me saying that you are only a good rider when you have fallen off 10 times - we are up to 6 so not long to go now!

Try something Advanced this winter...

We understand that bedding is a personal choice – some people like big fluffy beds and others prefer a more minimal approach. Now that there are dozens of different types on the market it is the perfect time to try something new and innovative and what may have seemed the most economical solution for many years could well be rivalled by something new on the market.

Nedz Advance is a revolution in bedding materials and whilst it does not provide the traditional appearance that a fluffy bed offers – the benefits are almost endless.

Manufactured from chopped straw, Nedz Advance combines the amazing biodegradability of straw with modern benefits giving it an edge over other pelleted bedding. Unlike wood based products, which take around 2 years to rot down, Nedz Advance takes just 1 – 2 months meaning that muck heap removal costs are virtually eliminated. This exceptional rotting time could potentially save you hundreds of pounds each year making the bedding well worth it’s RRP of between £6 - £8 a bag.

In addition to this, Nedz Advance is one of the most absorbent beddings on the market – capable of soaking up around 5 times its own weight in liquid. This means that wet patches and ammonia levels are kept to an absolute minimum – saving on bedding and creating a healthier environment for both you and your horse.

The steaming process used to treat the straw before it is pelleted removes moulds and spores to offer a virtually dust free bedding product, as well as ensuring it is totally unpalatable.

Nedz Advance is available in easy to store, 15kg bags. We recommend around 6-8 bags for initial set up  (less on rubber matting) and on average one bag per week to top up depending on usage. Nedz Advance can also be mixed with other Nedz products to provide a super absorbent bedding with a more traditional appearance.

Visit www.nedz.co.uk to find out more.

September update from Steph

September started off busy with a trip to the Nationals for Steph and Mr P. "We came 4th in the Grand Prix and then we had some very strange marking in the Music test - my scores ranged from 66% to 74% so it appeared that one of the judges didn't like us! It meant we dropped down to 6th which was a shame but what can you do?! It certainly caused uproar on the BD dressage forums where a lot of people were supporting us!"

"We have also been out with the five year old Clyde and he has jumped to medium now and is scoring 65% and above each time out - we seem to have a case of seconditis at the moment but he is dealing with life very well!"

Coming up this month Steph has been invited to HOYS to compete in a dressage to music competition with the aim of getting dressage more in to the public eye. After that the pair are off to Italy to compete at La Mondria CDI***. She has also bought a lovely 2 year old from Ian Smith, "We have called him Captain Mack after one of Annabel's favourite TV characters," she tells us!

Horses are definitely running in the family as daughter Annabel has got her first pony on loan. "Jessie is a Shetland and is absolutely amazing," says Steph. "Annabel has taken to it like a duck to water but I am being very strict with her and she knows if she doesn't muck out she doesn't get to ride!"

Keep an eye out for more Steph updates coming soon!

Nedz top bedding tips for the season

• Don’t be fooled by looking at the costs per bale – look at the cost of bedding your horse per week, or per month. What appears a cheap price per bale may not be as effective as a more expensive product and you may end up using twice as much!
• Buying in bulk should always get you a discount – don’t be afraid to ask your supplier. If you can’t afford to buy it all at once see if a friend wants to share the cost – in the long run you will save money.
• Look at the whole picture – how much does it cost to have your muck heap taken away as well as the cost of the bedding – if you choose a product which is highly biodegradable you will incur much lower costs – if any – and be able to use it as natural fertiliser!
• Choose products which don’t stick to muck as you won’t waste half of the clean bedding when you muck out.
• Use the correct tool for your bedding – you would be amazed at what difference this makes to the amount of wastage.
• Plan ahead – many people have been caught out this year and had to pay high amounts for bedding because they needed them at the last minute. Get organised and get your orders in way in advance to be sure you get the best deal.
• Don’t be afraid to try new products – when you have used a product for many years it can be unsettling to change – however you may be pleasantly surprised at how much easier and economical a new product may be.
• Think of your own health – you have to spend time in the stable too and dust and ammonia can equally cause damage to your own respiratory system.