Business idea for my Equine Science and Management course

[hbenson]

I am currently studying and Equine Science and Management course at Oxford Brookes and have been given a Business assignment to create a product in the equine industry using a written report to show our primary and secondary research.

I have come up with the idea of a heated horse rug which is a thin summer weight thermatex rug with pockets providing heat for large muscle groups. these heat bands work by radiating heat back into the horses body naturally so not batteries or chemicals are involved. Its all natural. Heat bands were originally designed for people with Raynars disease (people suffering from cold hands) and these paper thin bands were placed round the wrist to help retain natural heat loss so as to keep the hands warm. I am wanting to introduce this to a horse rug starting with possible race horses before they run to warm up the key muscle groups and then for use after they have run to help prevent muscle injury during cool down. It is also useful for thin skinned horses such as thoroughbreds who suffer from the cold. I think my horse who is a thoroughbred would benefit from something like this to put under his winter rug as it is thin enough not to create bulk and restrict his movement but it should keep him warm during the cold winter months.

Id really appreciate any feed back or help on my ideas and whether you think its got a place in the market. My assignment is in for two weeks time so i need to get my research going!!

many thanks
Hannah

 

[*hic*]

I'd suggest that you check your research so far, especially with regards to Raynars (sic) disease.

You say heated, you then go on to comment on heat retaining products. I'm very unclear as to what it is you are actually trying to do. Are you trying to reflect heat back, insulate or add heat?

Personally if my horses are cold I just add another layer from any of the dozens of products already on the market, modern rugs just aren't that bulky.

 

[hbenson]

I have done my research on Raynauds as this is how this product originally started. It is used around peoples wrists to insulate muscles and the blood vessels from external change in temperature and conditions.

Thank you for your feed back.

These heat patches are made out of man made and natural fibres which are laminated to a high grade metallised polyurethane film using a non toxic latex free bonding process which means in simple terms that the heat pads have specially designed heat reflective core and a safe absorbent comfortable lining. This prevents conducting heat loss, convective heat loss, evaporative heat loss and radiant heat loss. so by using a wicking rug on top of these patches it allows the horse to breath whilst keeping its muscles warm.

I appreciate your comment on using a standard rug you already have under another rug but the idea of this project is looking at advanced technology and something which is unique to the market.