As horse owners and managers across Canada and the U.S. ride toward a bright new future shaped by enhanced equine care approaches, they are well positioned to benefit from a new stable of top feed and nutrition approaches that are raising the bar on precision and quality.
“The approaches to caring for horses continue to evolve. One thing very clear today is that the capability we have to support optimal health, welfare and performance by better utilizing feed and nutrition has never been greater,” says Bernie Grumpelt, a leading animal nutritionist with broad equine experience. “We have better knowledge and options to benefit horses at all stages of life, across all roles and specific work, maintenance and performance situations. It’s a great time of opportunity for everyone involved with horses across the diverse equine industry.”
Supporting equine care and welfare
One group that has been closely involved with the evolution of equine feed and nutrition approaches, and has a unique up-close perspective on the opportunities ahead, is the team at Hoffman’s Horse Products, which includes Grumpelt himself. The roots of the Hoffman’s brand were established in the 90s by Lorne and Marian Hoffman who lived east of Stavely, Alberta and raised and bred quarter horses. They were looking for an improved horse mineral to help address some recurring problems that seemed at least partially nutritionally related – mares would not have good heat cycles and the foals would have issues such as poor knees and bumpy or swollen fetlock joints. They were put in touch with Grumpelt, then early in his career and based out of Lethbridge, who designed a solution that resulted in dramatic improvement completely revolutionizing their operation.
Word of mouth and rising demand for the mineral spread from there. Early on, when customers came to pick up mares and foals, the Hoffman’s would share a bag and as a result there became many more stories of dramatic positive results. Based on requests from customers to put the mineral on the market the Hoffmans eventually did so, making a deal with a local retail chain and the brand was born.
A rising force
Today Hoffman’s Horse Products has expanded to become a full line equine feed brand available across Canada into 16 U.S. states. The original mineral remains an integral component of the line, along with a related high-performance version, with both available in an expanding number of ration options. Grumpelt is now with Country Junction Feeds, which now is the manufacturing base for Hoffman’s Horse Products, part of a team that has steered the brand’s latest expansion phase starting in 2016 that has included a broadened product line and strengthened distribution network.
“The simple values that grandma and grandpa established when Hoffman’s Horse Products began were based on a love of horses, a commitment to quality and an ethic of helping other fellow horsepeople,” says Kirstin Smith, grand-daughter of Lorne and Marian Hoffman and a marketing representative for Country Junction Feeds. “Those values continue to this day. At the same time we have continued to innovate with the product line. It’s an exciting time to be involved in the many different aspects of the horse world.”
More information on Hoffman’s Horse Products is available at www.hoffmanshorseproducts.com.