Posted: 18th May 2016 | Back to news feed
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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