Hay and Straw prices are still High

by admin on January 4, 2012

Last year hay prices rose dramatically — and have remained high. A dry spring and wet summer this year, as well as a high export trade to Europe due to a poor harvest there, have led to more problems. And there are warnings of further price hikes as the winter goes on.



A Bale of Hay

According to the Hay and Straw Merchants Association (HSMA), hay prices are highest in the eastern counties, at around £110 per tonne. The cheapest can be found in Scotland, at £60 per tonne. Livery yard owner John Shears from Kent told H&H he’s seen a more than 100% rise in the past two years. “It went up massively last year and has risen again,” he lamented. “I can’t pass this on to my liveries, so have had to swallow the cost. “You can understand the yield is down so they need to raise prices, but some farmers are opportunists. It’s like ‘hay wars’ — we’re being held to ransom by the suppliers.”

Supplier Richard Wade from JR Wade and Sons, Notts, said he’s had to put prices up by around 80% over the past three years. “We have plenty of demand, but the supply’s just not there,” he told H&H. “Unfortunately, we have had to raise prices and turn down custom. I can definitely see it getting worse over the winter.”

And farmers say the rising costs of harvesting are having an effect on hay and straw prices. Ben Bonnett from Top Grass Haylage, Cambs, added: “Fuel costs combined with low grass yields mean prices had to increase for us to remain in business.”

At the peak in March, the national average wholesale price was £130 per tonne, but in November this had dropped to around £90, the HSMA reported. And April Gingell from HSMA told H&H that hay prices haven’t risen since last year and have even gone down in some areas — such as Scotland. She added that prices “nearly always” increase as the winter goes on, but stresses that people shouldn’t panic. “There’s massive demand, but what we’re hearing from merchants is that the stock is available,” she said.

From

The Pony Tack Shop

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The Dartmoor grazing machines

by admin on January 3, 2012

Nineteen Dartmoor ponies have started a new career — as conservation grazing machines.

The mares, fillies and geldings were released on to Holt Lowes in north Norfolk earlier this month are the latest members of Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s (NWT) 129-strong “munch bunch”. NWT grazing officer Lucy Wilshaw said:  “The Dartmoors are really good at heathland and mire management — they eat all the heath back first then move on to eat the rushes and sedges from the boggy patches.”

All the Dartmoors, except three, came from the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust (DPHT). The three that were not bought from the DPHT were born in 2010 after a mare named Ginny turned out to be a stallion. He was renamed Gerry after being gelded.

Dru Butterworth of the DPHT said: “The arrangement with NWT is a perfect partnership. Placing well-bred mares and fillies in parts of the country, other than Dartmoor, has become a vital strategy to preserve the native pony. “This is especially important should there be a major disease outbreak on Dartmoor.”

The ponies chosen for conservation schemes are given basic handling before being sent to the projects. “It’s important that we can handle the ponies safely when they are checked over by the vet and farrier every six months, but they must not be so tame that they get too close to the public,” said Lucy.

It charges from £275 plus VAT per pony.                                              

From

Scarlett

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Tri/Tet dates 2012

by admin on January 3, 2012

We got a list through on email from Helen recently containing all the TET/TRI dates for 2012 and I wanted to share them with all out lovely readers, so here they are….
TRIATHLON/TETRATHLON DATES 2012

North Cornwall Pony Club Tetrathlon Team

8nd January-Devon & Somerset Triathlon
15th January-Dartmoor Triathlon *
28th January-Eggesford Triathlon *
19th February-East Cornwall Triathlon *
25th February-Cury Triathlon *
3th March-East Cornwall Triathlon*
24/25th March-Four Burrow Tri/Tetrathlon
28/29th April-Tiverton Tri/Tetrathlon
19/20th May-North Cornwall Tri/Tetrathlon
23/24th June-South Devon Moorland Tetrathlon
28/29th July-Spooners Tri/Tetrathlon
September TBC-Silverton Tri
6/7th October-Eggesford Tetrathlon – Junior/min Area
October TBC-Spooners Tri
All * means Winter League series – have to compete 4 events to qualify
Other dates
2/4th April- North Cornwall Tetrathlon Camp – Stockland Lovell
5/6th June- Inter Area Tetrathlon – invitation only
14/15th July- Senior Area Tetrathlon – Taunton – invitation only
4/5th or 21/22 August- National Championships venue to be comfirmed
From Scarlett
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Welcome to 2012!

January 3, 2012

Wow, Another year over! Life goes so fast, It seemed like only yesterday I was writing a Blog about the start of 2011 and here I am writing about 2012. This year many changes have been made to my life- New school, New PONY!! And a whole new style of life. ie, having to wake [...]

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Blue’s Progress

January 3, 2012

Wow Blue has really come on in 10 weeks. Blue, who is Mum’s 7 year old, has been at Livery at Jo Retallacks yard in Lerryn. He has been there for about 10 weeks now and the result is amazing. I have regularly been having lessons on him but Jo rides him too, which is [...]

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Facebook Promotion Ts & Cs

July 31, 2011

Terms & Conditions for Facebook promotion starting 31 July 2011 1) Delivery prices quoted are for UK mainland only- other destinations will incur a surcharge 2) Please make sure you have sizing correct as we cannot accept promoted items for Return. Returns will only be accepted if good are faulty or damaged on arrival 3) All [...]

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Libbys RS-tor Safety & Training Aid – June 2011

June 8, 2011

The RS-tor (pronounced ‘Arrestor’) is an innovative, British-made product for horse riders that helps develop rider balance & allows the rider to stay safer in the saddle during any discipline or activity. Contrary to popular belief, many experts maintain that experienced riders on well-trained, older horses are statistically more likely to be injured, as they [...]

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North Cornwall Pony Club Tetrathlon Part 2 – May 2011

June 8, 2011

On the morning of the North Cornwall Tet I woke up at a reasonable time of 8am ready for the big day ahead. When I had got dressed and had my breakfast it was time to go outside and get Magic up from the field. Luckily for me Magic and Arthur were grazing around the [...]

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North Cornwall Pony Club Tetrathlon – May 2011

June 1, 2011

Today was my pony club’s annual Tetrathlon and this year I was in the Minimus girls class which was for under 12′s for shooting, running and swimming and jumping a 2’6 ft course. It was held at the Bodiniel cross country course for running, shooting and riding and at the Dragon Leisure Centre for the [...]

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Blue’s Progress 1 – May 2011

June 1, 2011

I got Blue up yesterday for a groom and trimming session ready for his first working lesson in a year! It was 2pm but the time I had got him up and started to groom him down. Blue is a 7 year old Skewbald British Riding Pony that was given to us by my Grandad [...]

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