Horsebox owners - Do you need an Operators Licence or a Tachograph?

VOSA (the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) are increasingly stopping horsebox owners that are using horseboxes large enough to come under HGV Operators License and Tachograph Legislation.

There is a lot of information available, much of it is misleading, confusing or doesn't provide the answers you need!

The Missina LoRanger 

 

 Much of the information is produced by organisations and private individuals that don't have any experience in the area; the legislation in question is complex and detailed. The following guidelines have been provided by a company that deals in operator licensing on a daily basis. 

Please read on for further information, but if you require any further clarification, please visit the VOSA website by clicking here
 

DO YOU NEED AN OPERATORS LICENSE?

HERE ARE THE FACTS

• If you are using a vehicle with a Gross Plated Weight (GPW) of above 3.5 tonnes in connection with a trade or business, then you need an Operators License.


• If you are using a vehicle for private use then you do not need an Operators License regardless of weight. However, you may need to use a tachograph if the vehicle is over 7.5 tonnes Gross Plated Weight.

USING A TRAILER

• If you are towing a trailer that has an unladen weight of 1020Kg or below then it is not counted towards the weight of your vehicle.


• If your trailer has a GPW of above 1020Kg then it is counted towards the weight of the vehicle.

TYPES OF OPERATORS LICENSE

Restricted Operators License

If carrying goods that are your own in connection with your own trade or business, a Restricted Operators License is needed.

Standard National Operators License

If carrying goods for other people in connection with a trade or business for hire or reward. Then a Standard National Operators License is needed.

Standard International Operators License

A Standard International Operators License is needed to operate for hire or reward outside the UK.

DO YOU NEED A TACHOGRAPH?

HERE ARE THE FACTS

• If the vehicle has a GPW (Gross Plated Weight) of over 3.5 tonnes and is used in connection with a trade or business then you need to use a tachograph.


• If the vehicle has a GPW of under 7.5 tonnes and is used for private use only (not used in connection with a trade or business) then you do not need a tachograph.


• If the vehicle has a GPW of over 7.5 tonnes irrespective of private or business use then by law you need to use a tachograph.

EXAMPLES

1. Emma has a horsebox which has a Gross Plated Weight of 7.5 tonnes. She uses it to transport her horse around the UK to shows, there is no financial gain or payment in kind for participation in the show. Melissa does not need an Operators License and she does not need to use a Tachograph.

2. Wendy has a horsebox which has a Gross Plated Weight of 7.5 tonnes. She uses it to transport her horse around the UK to shows. So far this year she has made £20,000 in winnings and has secured sponsorship deals with several businesses. Wendy is considered to be working 'in connection with a trade or business' because of the sponsorships and making significant financial gain because of the prize money, therefore Wendy would need to have a Restricted Operators Licence and use a Tachograph.

3. Lisa has a horsebox which has a Gross Plated Weight of 26 tonnes and she uses it to transport her own horses around the UK for personal use. No sponsorships are involved and the vehicle is registered to herself. Lisa would not require an Operators License but she would be required to use a tachograph due to the weight of the vehicle.
 
4. Jennifer breeds horses which she then sells for financial gain or payment in kind. She transports the horses in a 7.5 tonne horsebox. Jennifer is running a business, she would need a she would need a restricted Operators License and would need to use a tachograph.

For more information, visit http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/

 

 

Daily Horse Care with Katy Carter and Supreme Products

Katy Carter

THE Katy Carter Show Team is well known for producing top class horses and ponies and they have a busy 2013 season planned.

The team is very experienced, having shown horses and ponies at the highest level for many years, and they have built up a great reputation as producers for their wide range of clients. 

The yard has had the privilege of many successes throughout the years and the team has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to top class turnout as well as health and welfare issues concerning horses and ponies.

Ensuring their horse care cupboard is always up to date and stocked with the latest products is essential for the smooth running of the yard.

Says Katy: “If you own horses and ponies it is inevitable that at some point they will get cuts and grazes and need some TLC.  It is all part of the process but making sure you have creams, wipes and sprays that can quickly clean and help challenge infections is very important when it comes to every day care.

“If your horse or pony requires treatment for a wound it is important to take action as soon as possible.  In many cases minor wounds can be treated with creams and sprays but if you are unsure we would always recommend getting advice from a vet.

“Useful products to keep in stock include Supreme Products Horse CareCream which is great for ongoing attention for minor cuts and abrasions.  It is very useful to have in your tack box when a wound, graze or cut needs attention and also moisturises the skin and helps promote hair growth after a wound has healed.

“For times when a quick ‘clean-up’ is required Supreme Products NaturalTea Tree Body Wipes are an essential.  The wipes help cleanse and soothe, leaving the ponies feeling refreshed and clean.

“If we are worried about germs and infections on any grazes we turn to Supreme Products Skin and Cut Care Spray.  It is ideal for when an immediate response is required and helps challenge germs for minor wounds.

“Supreme Products Foot Care Spray has been designed to be used against foot and frog problems.  The spray will challenge germs, thrush or local infections that can occur whatever the time of year, especially in the turned out horse or pony. We – along with many others – use this product as a preventative product and we find we have much fewer foot problems since using this product on a regular basis.

 “When it comes to on-going attention to daily care we use Supreme Products Heel, Sole and Frog Care to help keep hooves in prime condition and aid restoration of feet after we have used the Foot Care Spray and repair after sole and frog conditions.

“My partner - Jason Lindley - is a farrier and recommends the hoof care products to all his clients as they make such a difference.”

For further information telephone 01377 229050 or visit www.supremeproducts.co.uk

Britain hold on to the lead by a fraction

It was a tense day two at the Greenwich Arena for the second half of the Grand Prix which saw tears, showers, records broken and one of the tensest competitions ever known.  The home team started the day with riders atop the leader board and from the off it was clear that it would be a challenge for them to stay there.

Italy’s Valentina Truppa posted 75.790% with Eremo del Castegno when just the fourth in the arena while the maestro Edward Gal rode a masterful round to earn 75.289% with the inexperienced Undercover just a few horses later to shake up the top ten and give the Dutch team score a huge boost.

After the first break, in cantered Britain’s Richard Davison to a wonderful reception, despite a rain shower, with the Countess of Derby’s Artemis.  The Floristan-sired gelding was clearly on his toes but Richard had ample time to settle him round the vast arena.  Once in the test, the marks quickly came and Richard used all his expertise to coax every single point possible.  72.812% was their score which left them 18^th at the close of play and safely qualified for the Special.

After his test, Richard exclaimed; “Boy that was hard work! I didn’t have one second to think or enjoy any part of that test; I was busy! With the rain shower and the ponchos coming out Artemis suddenly got all jumpy so the last ten minutes of our warm up were not what I wanted; what I’ve been dreaming about for the last four years.

“I was getting a more and more scared horse on my hands. It felt like taking a child for its first day at school; he was scared and I had to take him by the hand and say ‘come on, let’s do this together listen to me and you’ll be absolutely fine.’ He has got that side to him - in the last few months with doing all those indoor shows he’s really grown in confidence.
  
“Halfway round the test I felt him take his first breath and I thought, that’s where I want him to be – they’re horses and they run away when they’re frightened. Believe me he wanted to run away from Greenwich all the way back to Staffordshire!

I’m really pleased with him though and the way he grew in confidence as the test went on, nothing can prepare you for being in that arena. I was just glad to get to the final halt.”

Next was Germany’s new sensation, Kristina Sprehe who has had a meteoric rise with the black stallion Desperados.  This combination was one of the pre-competition favourites so the crowd was fixed on their performance.  The marks were flowing for some beautiful work and it was 79.119% in the end – not quite the magic 80% but a solid second score for Germany and for her individual ambitions.  The score was enough to break the Olympic Grand Prix record held by fellow country-woman Ulla Salzgeber.

The best showman on the circuit, Juan Manual Munoz Diaz gave the crowd a treat with his flamboyant performance with the striking white stallion Fuego to score 75.608% which left him tenth at the end of the day.
 
It was then the turn of Charlotte Dujardin on her Olympic debut with Carl Hester and Roly Luard’s Valegro and the hopes of a nation rested on the inexperienced combination that only started competing at Grand Prix level in January 2011.  She entered the arena to the rapturous applause for Juan but it simply lifted the combination’s spirits.

The first show piece movement is an extended trot across the diagonal which is the perfect start for them but a slight loss of contact towards the end started nerves wrangling.  Charlotte has ridden Valegro, or Blueberry, for five years and knows exactly how to handle the situation so it was soon put behind them as the continued in tremendous style.  The crowd was silent; all realising that they were watching something truly special.  High scores for passage and piaffe further boosted the marks towards the end and they finished as the crowd erupted into sheer delight.  The wait for the score seemed like an eternity but it was finally confirmed as 83.663% which gave the lead and a new Olympic record.

Charlotte commented; “Blueberry [Valegro] is just unbelievable, to think he’s only 10 and we only started grand prix last year. He knows what he has to do when he gets in there he’s just brilliant and never lets me down. I just enjoyed it from start to finish and when you stop and have that crowd around you, it’s just magic.

“The marks haven’t been that high so I was hoping for an 80; my best before this was 81 so to come to the Olympics and smash that is a little bit crazy. I had such fun. It’s such a buzz I can’t tell you!  I’ve been here since Sunday and I’ve just wanted to get in and do my piece. It was so exciting; when you ride in with all those people around you, it’s just amazing. I’m wearing my lucky breeches, the ones I broke the world record in at Hagen so maybe they helped!

“It’s an amazing opportunity to get here and ride a horse like Valegro and I wanted to enjoy it, you work a lifetime to get to something like this and I would have hated to go in there and put too much pressure on myself and then made mistakes. I just wanted to go in there and do what I would normally do at home or at any other show and that’s what we did. I never had any doubts that he would do it.”

A short break gave everyone time to get their composure and reflect on the enormity of what had happened.

Then it was on to the final competitor for the USA, the veteran Steffen Peters with Ravel – if anyone could bring us back down to earth it was this combination.  A flowing, well presented test scored 77.705% which slotted in between yesterday’s British riders Carl and Laura.

The second last combination of the day was gold medal favourites, Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival.  The needed a good performance to help the Netherlands from a team stand point and of course their own fortunes.

The combination has missed some work owing to a slight injury but they actually looked better than ever following the rest.  A text book performance kept the high scores coming and the final square halt presented a score of 81.687%.  Not enough to overtake Charlotte but it helped the team to overtake Denmark to lie in bronze.

The final rider of the day was the exciting combination of Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill from Germany who impressed many recently at Aachen.  The calculators were out and it looked like they would need 82% plus to overtake Britain in the team competition and as the horse’s best grand prix score was around the 76% mark, the pressure was on.

 As the test progressed in silence and the marks piled in, it was looking close but the final score was 81.687%.  This left Charlotte in the lead by nearly 2% and Britain in gold, but by just 0.562%.

So, an exciting day ended with the Olympic record broken twice in the space of two hours, three riders break the 80% barrier and Britain on top of both leader boards.  The riders and horses now have a three day break in competition while the showjumping gets underway and battle recommences on Tuesday 7 August with the Grand Prix Special where the team medals will be determined and the riders attempt to qualify for the Freestyle for individual honours.


Full results: http://www.london2012.com/equestrian/event/dressage-individual/index.html
Results:
Individual
1.            Charlotte Dujardin                           Valegro                 GBR                       83.663%
2.            Adelinde Cornelissen                     Parzival                 NED                       81.687%
3.            Helen Langehanenberg                 Damon Hill          GER                        81.140%
Other British
5.            Carl Hester                                        Uthopia                                GBR                       77.720%
7.            Laura Bechtolsheimer                    Mistral Hojris                      GBR                       76.839%
18.          Richard Davison                              Artemis                                GBR                       72.812%  (Ind)
Teams
1.            Great Britain                      79.407%
2.            Germany                             78.845%
3.            Netherlands                       76.809%
4.            Denmark                             73.845%
5.            United States                    72.801%


COURTESY OF BRITISH DRESSAGE

Veteran Showing Debut For Beedy

TWENTY-year-old Beedy, a thoroughbred grey mare will make her veteran showing debut this Bank Holiday Monday, with support from Supreme Products.

Ridden by Jackie Hill, Beedy will compete at Duncombe Park Country Fair and the team are hoping for a winning performance, turned out with the aid of products from the Supreme Products Professional Collection.

Long time fan of Beedy, Minty Steade contacted Supreme Products explaining at this grand old age and being a horse who had always taken second place, she was about to enter the world of showing!

The team were delighted to help providing a host of products including Leg & Body Whitener, Stain Remover Shampoo, Stain Remover Spray, Blue Rinse, Sparkle and White Make Up to make sure Beedy would be turned out to the highest level on the day.

Said Sarah Turnbull of Supreme Products:   “When we heard about Beedy going to a show at the ripe old age of 20 we were delighted to help them in their quest and have our fingers crossed for a great result on Monday.”

Minty takes up the story:

“Beedy was bought in 1993 by the late Ian Harris as one of 11 Doncaster Sale purchases, being bought for the minimum bid.

“At 18 months-old she was thin with a long hairy coat and Jackie wondered why Ian had purchased the filly.

“Ian said she would ‘come right’ and while nine of the youngsters were sold on, Beedy remained in the yard.

“As she grew Beedy turned from a goose into a swan and Jackie trained her with a show ring career in mind but circumstances prevailed that led to Beedy staying in the background.

“Meanwhile Jackie’s friend’s horse developed a bad back leading to Beedy becoming a second horse for Diane. 

“After a few years of fun with Beedy, sadly Diane died of cancer and left instructions for her mother, Heather Smith to keep her first horse and re-home Beedy.

“Heather and Jackie tried for two years to re-home her but it was to no avail and light at the end of the tunnel only beckoned when a friend of Heather’s suggested she contact Norma Carrick at Raw Animal Rescue near Whitby.

“Norma phone me and I contacted Stuart Easby the highly respected vet about the mare to see if he could suggest anyone.

“A couple of weeks later Beedy settled in with the other horses at Stuart’s until mid January this year when along with Stuart’s other horses she was moved to Jackie’s as Stuart returned to Japan to check on the animals he had saved the year before from an area around a Nuclear Power Station.

“While the other horses went home to Stuart’s, Beedy remained with Jackie after the team decided they should have a go at veteran showing classes.

“So at 20 years of age, Beedy, a horse that has always come second to all the others is finally taking centre stage as number one.

“With the help of Supreme Products to prepare her at her very best and with the rider, breaking her and training her all those years ago she is now entering the ring.

“Jackie’s late partner Ian said she would come right and it will be a very proud and no doubt emotional moment when Jackie rides in to the ring.

“It will be triumph over adversity wherever Beedy stands in the final line-up but the ultimate hope would be to qualify for the veteran championships, but she will always be a star to so many people.”

COMPETITION TIME - Win a Year's Supply of Products and a Makeover with one of our Team!

Robert Walker & Jill Day's Pride & Joy II

Would you like to join the Supreme Products Show Team which includes top names such as Robert Walker, Emmersons Show Team, Katy Carter, Charlotte Dujardin, Jerome Harforth, Team Hollings and Sarah Parker to name a few?

Here’s your chance thanks to Supreme Products, the leading name in show preparation products.

The competition is aimed at supporting an amateur/home producer with professional standards who has their sights firmly set on reaching the top in the world of their chosen discipline.

The lucky winner will receive a year’s supply of show preparation products and a day with one of the Supreme Products team members to learn more about the art of showmanship and turnout.

Emmersons Show Team

Sarah Turnbull of Supreme Products said: “We are delighted to support some of the country’s top producers and riders but want the search for the 2012 Supreme Products Superstar to reward an amateur/home producer for all the hard work and commitment they put in.

“Everyone in the equestrian world knows how much time and effort it takes to produce a horse or pony to a high level and this new initiative is our way of recognising that level of hard work that is put in week in, week out. This competition runs from 2nd May 2012 to 15th June 2012.

Following a shortlist of entries, Supreme Products Facebook fans will then be able to vote for their preferred winner and this, combined with final judging by the Supreme Products Team, will determine the winner.

What you have to do:

Visit the Supreme Products Facebook page to post your entry and a photograph on the Supreme Products Wall.  Enter the competition between 2nd May and 15th June 2012, and see full terms and conditions on the Supreme Products website.. 

Tell us:

• Why you and your horse or pony should win the sponsorship
• What it would mean to you to win the sponsorship
• What level you have achieved so far – and what you hope to achieve in 2012
• Tell us briefly about yourself and your pony or horse
• Submit a picture

Entries will only be accepted through the Supreme Products Facebook page and can only be included in the judging process if submitted between 2nd May and 15th June 2012. No entries will be accepted by post or via email. The shortlist will be announced in early July 2012, then the voting begins.

Great Start to the Season for Robert Walker

Team Supreme Products rider, Robert Walker has started the early season shows with a host of wins on both new and established stars.

And its not only Robert that has hit form, as young son Sam has also been in action with his Lead Rein Show Hunter Pony, Annandale Phoenix, winning at BSPS Area 4A.

Robert’s season started at the Sport Horse Breeding, North West Show when winning the Hack Championship on Royal Engagement owned by Lucy Smith-Crallan.

Also having his first outing at Myerscough was the new Novice Lightweight Hunter, Diplomat’s Choice, owned by Jill Day.  The good looking dark brown gelding won his class before going on to be Reserve Hunter Champion.

Heading to Barton the following week Royal Engagement took the Hack Championship once again, to keep the winning form that saw him 2011 HOYS Hack Champion.

Robert’s Barton successes continued when he also took the Small Hunter class on Golden Tasset, the Lightweight Hunter with Ballard Bouncer who then went Hunter Champion, and the Lightweight Cob with Chesterton who also went on to be Cob Champion.

At North of England Spring, Osbaldeston, Diplomat’s Choice secured the Novice Hunter Championship while Robert’s other Small Hunter and last year’s HOYS winner, Party Time headed his class to round off a successful few weeks.

Learn From Expert M&M Producer Sarah Challinor - with Supreme Products and Wynnstay Group

TEAM Supreme Products rider and producer Sarah Parker (nee Challinor) will be demonstrating her top class turnout skills at the Wynnstay store in Oswestry on Saturday, April 14.

The demonstrations will focus on preparing Mountain and Moorland ponies for the show ring but Sarah will also provide advice on the wider aspects of show preparation.

Sarah will be taking the multiple award-winning Dartmoor, Pumphill Buckthorn for the demonstrations, explaining how she turns him into a show ring superstar.

The Shropshire-based producer is a huge fan of the Supreme Products Heritage Collection which has been specially developed for Natives and Traditionals and includes High Shine Serum, Mane & Tail Builder, Coat Shine, Ultra-Condition and Citronella Shampoo.

The demonstrations will take place at 10am and 12noon – don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn from one of the country’s leading names in the world of M&Ms.