England 29/07/2013 – The awful weather the UK experienced in the first few months of 2013 led many horse owners to buy horse rug.
As a result, equestrian companies across the UK saw sales of horse rugs increase sharply during the first few months of the year. Even now, in the warm weather, rugs are still selling well as owners prepare for the autumn.
The biggest growth has been in turnout rugs. In the past, it was relatively easy for horse owners to manage their horses outside exercise. If it was raining one day, it was not a problem keep a horse in and turn them out a day later. However, as the UK weather has become increasingly wet this becomes increasingly difficult for horse owners to manage their horses outside exercise in this way. Keeping a horse inside for days on end is simply not an option. Given that 2013 was the wettest winter for years, many horse owners have found themselves unable to exercise their horses properly. As result, increasing numbers of horse owners are investing in turnout rugs to keep their horses dry and warm. This gives them the opportunity to exercise their horse any day that they choose even if it is raining. For the horse, this is better because they get exercise on a regular basis.
The weather has affected the sales of other equine items
However, it is not just a sale of items like horse rugs, which have soared because of the weather. There has also been increasing demand for items such as joint supplements and for feedstuffs to fortify the horse’s diet. This is because the poor weather has meant that grass is growing very slowly in the paddocks. Therefore, owners have had to supplement their horse’s diet to keep them healthy.
Companies like Naylors have also seen increasing demand for their high-end outdoor gear. Riders are investing in better quality riding clothes, which really do keep them warm and dry. They are avoiding cheaper versions which are really only designed to deal with showers. Given that the UK’s weather is predicted to remain erratic, it seems that equine suppliers will have to continue to adapt and change their range to keep pace with the changing needs of their customers.