Broadfeed Blog THUNDERbrook & Lightning...

Trudging through the mud in 25mph winds earlier this week, I did contemplate my decision as a horse owner… Storm Imogen put pay to our recovering gateways, and once again I found myself marooned in the boggy quagmire with two fractious horses in tow! But as we hastily retreated to the sanctuary of the stables, a sudden thought sprung to mind… Tonight is Thunderbrook night!!! One of the many perks of working at Broadfeed is that when we do get new products in, we are usually the first to sample them. Needless to say I felt honoured to be the first of the team to sample a selection of the highly anticipated Thunderbrook Feed and Herbal Supplements on my own horses… The introduction of Thunderbrook to our store marks a new voyage of discovery for Broadfeed. Historically, we have tended to stock the more traditional horse feed brands, but Thunderbrook is new territory for us. When introducing any new brand to our store, it is crucial that we completely understand the product and what it’ll do for your animal- and Thunderbrook certainly didn’t miss out on such scrutiny! (Although they were helped along by the fact that my horses gave them a 5* rating for palatability of their no soya, no molasses, non-pelleted Base Mix as well as their Healthy Herbal Chaff!) Thunderbrook’s long running trials and research projects regarding feeding solutions for a range of horses and ponies are based on their very own herd of horses. When Dr Carley- the founder of Thunderbrook moved her horses to a new location, they began to experience all manner of health problems including Laminitis, Colic, Foot soreness, COPD, Dermatitis and Infertility. Putting her knowledge as a graduate in Biochemistry as well as her PhD in Biological & Nutritional Sciences to use, Dr Carley got to work investigating possible causes, and concluded that it was the demanding new environment that was affecting the health of her horses- from the chemically managed arable surrounds to the high sand content of the soil. It was time revert back to natural methods of feeding in order to help combat these issues, and as a result Thunderbrook was formed in 2009. With so many established horse feed manufacturers, we can imagine starting from scratch is a daunting prospect for up-and-coming feed companies.  We think the no obligation advice and transparent approach adopted by Thunderbrook has been key to gaining the trust of the discerning horse owner. This, complimented by an array of positive reviews and a whole host of success stories has made for a perfect recipe in terms of taking the industry by storm. There is no shortage of nutrition advice where Thunderbrook is concerned, with in-depth analysis of feeds and highly detailed feeding instructions readily available for just about every imaginable dietary requirement! Thunderbrook are passionate about using the latest scientific research to nutritionally support the health of your horse, and pride themselves in using carefully sourced, top quality ingredients which are minimally processed without artificial additives. One main principle which has stood the test of time however, is the horses’ requirement for a diverse pasture in order to ensure a balanced diet rich in appropriate vitamins and minerals. Whereas grazing areas were once vast, allowing the horse access to a wide range of species, a reduction in grazing- and issues associated with more 'intensive' grazing- has resulted in diminished, and diminishing, species richness. Thunderbrook understand the importance of species richness to promote the health of the horse, whilst accepting that in the modern World it is unlikely horses are receiving the diversity of species required to thrive. In order to address this, Thunderbrook rely heavily on the inclusion of an abundance of quality herbs, not only in their Healthy Herbal Chaff, but also incorporated in the Thunderbrook Base Mix. Our display of Thunderbrook Feeds and Supplements is now a warehouse centrepiece after a reshuffle of epic proportions to provide a more accessible and aesthetically appealing experience for our customers. Furthermore, we are delighted to inform you that ‘The Great Wall of Woodshavings’ is now a long and distant memory… We hope to show you around soon!!  Have a great weekend and we hope to see you in-store in the very near future. For more information regarding any of our products please either visit us online, send us a message on our Facebook page, or give us a call on 01892 515 010.     All the best; The Broadfeed Team