HorseHage Celebrates 40 Years of Experience !
HorseHage – a brand synonymous with high quality , dust-free forage for horses , celebrates its 40th anniversary this year .
The company was established when the late Mark Westaway ( Snr ) became increasingly concerned about his event horses persistently coughing . His veterinary surgeon expressed the view that the coughing was dust-related and that since hay was the major dust source , the problem would continue unless someone could come up with a dust-free forage designed specifically for the horse . So the challenge was set and from that chance but significant remark , the idea for HorseHage was born .
The company , Mark Westaway and Son , which has developed the HorseHage brand into a global name , is now headed by Mark ’ s son , ( also named Mark ) and his brother-in-law , Chris Tar .
Mark comes from a farming background and the Westaway family has been based at Love Lane Farm in Marldon , Devon since 1952 . This is now also the Head Office of the HorseHage operation , and one of three regional licensed producers in the UK – the other two being Friendship Estates in South Yorkshire and Fox Feeds in Hertfordshire . There are also HorseHage producers in Germany , Sweden and New Zealand .
Mark Westaway & Son was awarded the Royal Warrant in 1983 after Her Majesty the Queen ’ s horse , Burmese , was fed HorseHage when suffering from a respiratory problem . She was just one of tens of thousands of horses and ponies , from Shetlands to Thoroughbreds that have benefited from HorseHage ’ s dust-free properties .
HorseHage is the Official Forage Supplier to Equestrian GB . HorseHage has been supplied to the British Equestrian Teams at every Olympic Games from Los Angeles in 1984 through to the present day .
The original Ryegrass variety has been joined by High Fibre HorseHage , Timothy HorseHage and the specialist product , Alfalfa HorseHage .
Mark Westaway gives two main reasons for the success of HorseHage : “ Firstly it is a natural product with no additives and is the nearest thing you can get to grass in the field . Secondly , it not only benefits a horse ’ s respiratory system , but its digestive system too . 40 years of production has given us all the knowledge and experience we need to make a top quality product .”
HorseHage is fed by several top riders to their competition horses , including event rider , Mary King ; para-dressage rider , Bert Sheffield , dressage rider and trainer , Beverley Brightman and show jumper , Spencer Roe , as they realise the importance of feeding a high quality , dust-free forage .
For more information or advice on feeding your horse , pony or donkey please call HorseHage on 01803 527257 or visit
www . horsehage . co . uk
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