Equine Management and Training's Profile
We own and run Equine Management and Training based on the Cambridgeshire borders just outside Stamford. Our business name is a perfect job description as we cater for every aspect of a horse's physiological, psychological and physical welfare - we provide the complete package.
Training a horse doesn't just comprise teaching him the aids so that he can be jumped, do some dressage or whatever; it is also vitally important that the horse being trained is not only mentally capable of what he is being asked to do but that he can actually physically manage to do it. Of course the training of a horse is effectively an on-going exercise throughout its life so as to continually improve its performance but even when just teaching the basics to a youngster or an ex-racehorse, for example, he still has to be physically able to cope with that particular work load.
So we assess each horse and every aspect of its management in very minute detail - absolutely nothing is over-looked, addressing where necessary what may seem to others to be inconsequential issues but which all actually play a part in affecting a horse's capacity and willingness to perform. As our website clearly states, our philosophy is to train horses in such a way that they enjoy their work - so that they are keen and enthusiastic; this is not just achieved by correct training but also by attention to every element of a horse's life.
We can never say that life is dull or boring here as there is always so much to do; apart from actually training horses - starting youngsters, general, remedial or rehabilitative training, re-training racehorses and so on - we also run the Helpline for the RoR (Retraining of Racehorses Charity), are Consultants to Equissage and also work to help promote Bedmax and Neue Schule as well as the wonderful work of Hilary Vernon (Informed Bitting). Along the way we have to also fit in managing 2 websites, writing articles and studying (we constantly strive to expand of technical knowledge of matters veterinary, etc.). Oh, and we mustn't forget training and competition days, nor the fact that having just written a book another one is underway and daily life also revolves around visits from the Farrier, Chiropractor, EDT, Thermal Imaging as well as actual clients.
As a training yard we work with a wide range and age group of horses which arrive in equally diverse conditions varying from considerably underweight to considerably overweight; couple this with fussy feeders, horses that need cereal free diets, have allergies or specific conditions, we have to be able to cater for very individual nutritional requirements.
At one time we had a very diverse range of products in the feed house to cater for the individual but it got to the point where we had such a myriad of bags from different companies each with different ordering and delivery dates that it just became too complex to manage sensibly and efficiently; we needed to find a simple solution to address the assortment of feeding scenarios we were faced with.
This decision coincided with a general philosophy change in our attitude to feeding resulting in a complete re-structuring of our feeding programme. Following much research, deliberation and trials with other products, we switched to feeding Dengie Horse Feeds and have never looked back. We found that we could quickly and successfully address all the feeding scenarios which presented themselves to us and actually at reasonable cost too; our feed house is now filled with nothing but assorted products from the Dengie range. If anyone has any doubt about the benefits of fibre-based feeding they should come here and take a look at the superb condition we soon have all the horses in. When vets and nutritionists compliment us, then we know we are doing something right.
