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| Staff Writer |
Bedmax was first created in 2000 for racing trainers who realised that poor quality traditional bedding was damaging their horse’s health, and negatively affecting their performance.
Dust and spores in poor quality bedding was the cause of this problem, and Bedmax set out to develop a natural bedding option that would reduce this serious health risk to the minimum level possible. Today, leading trainers in most major centres of racing excellence in the world are using purpose-made, dust extracted shavings like Bedmax to help keep their horses healthy in their stables and fit to perform at their best on the racecourse.
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Improving equine health in the stable
Most racehorses spend very long periods of time in their stables. The longer the time, the greater the risk of stable related health and wellbeing problems that can prevent the horse from running to its full potential.
Bedding is one of the most important factors in creating a healthy environment for horses kept inside, and Bedmax has been developed to offer a bedding option that addresses all the key health issues:
Minimising Risk. Maximising Potential
Every aspect of the way we make Bedmax shavings is driven by our commitment to help minimise the risks that can undermine a horse’s health and performance.
Now we have become the first bedding manufacturer to achieve BETA NOPS Bedding accreditation, which assures our customers that every aspect of the production of our beddings is strictly managed to minimise the risk of contamination by NOPS – naturally occurring prohibited substances. Even a minute trace of a NOPS can be detected in a post-race doping test, and our BETA NOPS badge confirms that we take every possible step to exclude it from our beddings.
Minimizing airborne dust
For the past 40 years, equine veterinary experts all over the world have been studying the harm that dust can do to the horse’s respiratory system. Their clear message is that dust in stables is the biggest cause of health problems affecting performance horses, and one of the worst sources of this dust is poor-quality bedding.
Global veterinary research confirms that even small amounts of airborne dust in the stable can seriously compromise a racehorse’s lung capacity.
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A galloping horse needs to inhale approximately 30 liters of air every second.
In a close finish, the smallest reduction in a horse’s respiratory capacity could make the difference between winning and losing.
Bedmax and Littlemax shavings are produced in our three purpose-built factories. Throughout the production process we screen out and also vacuum extract any particles of dust that could be inhaled by a stabled horse.
In a recent independent study, Bedmax was rated best of the shavings beddings tested, with the lowest possible levels of airborne dust.
Cushioning, support, and protection
Every bag of Bedmax contains a consistent combination of our uniquely larger shavings, and medium and small shavings. This combination of shavings naturally form layers which provide different benefits in the bed.
Thoroughbred hooves tend to be thin-walled and brittle, difficult to shoe frequently and vulnerable to cracking.
Bedmax shavings give optimum support under the hoof (and especially under the frog).
We also dry Bedmax to a very specific, computer-controlled moisture content to prevent drying out and cracking
Hygiene and biosecurity
Maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and biosecurity is particularly important in racing stables, and Bedmax shavings are made to help in two key ways:
We dry our shavings at sterilising temperatures that kills any harmful bacteria or fungi.
We make Bedmax predominantly from Scots Pine, which has unique antibacterial properties.
Pine has always been used as a disinfectant, and scientists have discovered that it is the only softwood with natural ‘defence’ properties that kill dangerous bacteria often found in the stable, including E. Coli and E. Faecium.
We believe that pine may also mitigate the development of ammonia, which can cause serious damage to the hoof wall and the respiratory system.
Equestrian professionals choose Bedmax
BEDMAX was developed on the basis of advice from many leading veterinary experts, and from racing trainers and top equestrian professionals whose success depends on the performance of their horses.
“The short-term athletic ability and long-term welfare of horses are largely
dependent on respiratory health and wellbeing.”
Kentucky Equine Research
We set out in 2000 to produce bedding with the lowest possible levels of airborne dust, and with a full range of other benefits that help keep horses healthy and fit in their stables. Today we produce over 3 million bags of Bedmax and Littlemax shavings from our three factories in the UK, and we are very proud to count many progressive trainers, vets and professionals among our growing ranks of customers, all over the world. Bedmax is the first choice of bedding for leading events in the UK, including Badminton and Burghley International Horse Trials, and our shavings were chosen for the horses competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Bedmax shavings are available worldwide
We supply Bedmax shavings to racing trainers, racecourses, and thoroughbred breeders through a gobal network of regional distributors.