“It’s great news with the competition season about to start.”
Sundown Products has become the third company to earn BETA NOPS accreditation for its equine bedding.
It joins Bedmax and Arbor Forest Products under the scheme which reduces the risk of horses’ exposure to natural occurring prohibited substances (NOPS).
Sundown Products also becomes the first to hold dual BETA NOPS bedding and feed certifications.
As well as chopped straw and straw pellet bedding products, the Huntingdon based company makes cereal straw pellets as a feed ingredient used by other manufacturers.
Said Rachel Cubitt, director at Sundown: “We are incredibly proud of the work we do to ensure consistent, high-quality bedding, and are delighted to receive our BETA NOPS Bedding accreditation.”
Consumer choice
Consumers now have a choice of bedding brands from three NOPS accredited manufacturers.
“It’s great news, and very timely with the 2026 competition season about to start,” said Claire Williams, executive director of the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) which administers the NOPS scheme.
“The NOPS logo on bedding or feed reassures owners, riders and trainers that the manufacturer has done all they can to reduce the presence of natural occurring prohibited substances which could result in a positive dope test,” she said.
“A ‘failed’ test can be disastrous in terms of disqualification, loss of prize money and reputational damage – and that applies to competitors at all levels from riding club to Olympic.”
Find out more about the BETA NOPS scheme here: https://beta-uk.org/feed-industry/feed-safety
