Fledgling equestrian products and services have been honoured by the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) International Innovation Awards, during the BETA international trade fair on 21-23 February.
The awards, which attracted a record 86 entries, were divided into six categories: Safety & Security, Horsecare Products & Equipment, Saddlery & Tack, Feed & Supplements, Rider Clothing and Other.
Winners included the H2Go Bag by Planit Products, a tough reusable bag that can store 80 litres of water and fits into a wheelbarrow, and Equistat Pro & Lite, a system that analyses a horse’s body fat, hydration, body mass and cellular health, featuring Bluetooth technology to upload the information.
Another innovation honoured with an award was Smart Lock System Bridles, by L S Sales (Farnam) Ltd, which is a bridle made from Sedgwick leather that uses a stainless-steel pin system to click the reins and cheek pieces to the bit.
“They have taken a standard piece of equipment, constructed it from fine British leather and made modifications to simplify its use – a great innovation,” commented judges.
The hotly-contested winners were selected by a panel of 6 judges: Trailblazers chairman Norman Bargh, event rider Tina Cook, chairman of BETA and the RDA Jane Holderness Roddam, vet and academic Professor Derek Knottenbelt, nutritionist Dr. Catherine Dunnett and chemist Dr. Mark Dunnett.
“We are extremely grateful to our panel of judges, who are all experts in their field,” said Claire Thomas, commercial manager of BETA. “The Innovation Awards have continued to grow in stature, becoming highly praised industry accolades.
“This year’s increased number of entries illustrates just how much they are valued by all sectors of the trade.”
Read about BETA business awards
