Wednesday 14 March 2012

Free tyre checks for horseboxes in Bolton

HORSE owners in the Bolton area are this month (March, 2012) invited to a leading tyre specialist in the town to have the tyres on their horseboxes or trailers checked for free.

People are being offered the complimentary check by Bolton Thistlethwaites Tyres, which is located on Burns Street, to ensure their tyres are safe and roadworthy.

Jamie Cole, Manager of Bolton Thistlethwaites Tyres, which is part of the Protyre Group, said: “During the spring many horseboxes and trailers will make their first trip after being stored away for the winter. Not all people are aware that tyres can deteriorate when left unused for extended periods of time.

“Also because some trailers and horseboxes are only used occasionally, often for limited miles, they remain on the vehicle for longer. This can be a problem as tyres become time expired after seven years. We suggest to customers tyres older than seven years should be considered for replacement, even if they appear to have adequate tread depth.

“The reason for this is that tyres will deteriorate over time and the chemicals that keep a tyre in good condition can leech out and they are also susceptible to ozone degradation.”

Bolton Thistlethwaites Tyres is offering a free spring tyre check for horseboxes and trailers, which will include a check on the age of tyres.

Jamie added: “Owners of horseboxes and trailers can undertake a series of simple checks themselves to check the condition of their tyres. We suggest people carefully examine tyres to ensure that there are no cuts, lumps or bulges and that the sidewalls are not affected by cracking or distortion through being left standing for an extended period.

“Tyres must also have a minimum of 1.6 millimetres (mm) of tread, although we recommend that tyres with less than 2.5mm of tread should be considered for replacement.

“Tyre pressures are equally crucial to the safety, stability and economical running of a horsebox or trailer. Under or over inflated tyres can not only affect the handling, but can at the extreme result in a tyre failure. They will also wear more quickly and use more fuel thereby creating more CO2 emissions.”


For more information, please visit Bolton Thistlethwaites Tyres, which is located on Burns Street in Bolton, call 01204 524 392, visit www.protyre.co.uk, follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/protyre or log on to www.facebook.com/protyre.

Tuesday 13 March 2012

So you think showing isn't for you?

So you think showing isn't for you? Well we're determined to prove you wrong. Join the team at Leigh and District Horse and Pony Club—where there is something for everyone.


I’ve never done it before. Horseowners of all abilities are welcome at Leigh and District. Younger riders who are not as confident can try lead rein classes, first year first ridden or capabil-ity ridden. Older riders who are new to showing can try our novice classes.



My horse isn’t a registered breed. We have classes for every type of horse, from mini cobs and veterans to retired racehorses. Why not try a riding club horse or pony class where your horse will pop a small fence, or family pony if you have that rarest of creatures, a true all-rounder. Equitation classes are open to all breeds and our showjumping starts at 40cm.



I prefer dressage. We have an open style and per-formance class which would be perfect for those aspiring to wear top hat and tails. The show in-cludes a three or four loop serpentine, lengthened trot and extended canter across the diagonal. We also have both in hand and ridden classes for sport/competition/dressage horses.


My child just can’t stay clean for long enough to make it into the ring. That’s why we have the Thelwell pony and rider class!



We have shows throughout the summer, visit our website for more information


Tell us on Twitter (@leighridingclub) why you love showing - use the hashtag #showingisforme


PRESEASON SHOW SUNDAY, MARCH 18TH