Saracen Announce Partnership With Writtle University College

Writtle University College (WUC) in Essex is delighted to introduce new partnerships with two of the equine sector's most highly respected organisations. Following a formal tender process, Saracen Horse Feeds has been named as WUC's Official Concentrate Supplier, and Dengie Horse Feeds will be the new Official Fibre Provider.

The tender process highlighted the excellent quality of both companies' products and their ongoing commitment to supporting students' first steps into the equine sector.

Dengie Horse Feeds was founded in 1968 as a farmer's cooperative and is still run with the ethos of providing a sustainable future for the farmers that grow the majority of the ingredients used in their range of fibre based feeds. Dengie pioneered the use of precision drying techniques in the UK to conserve the nutritional quality of specialist fibre sources for horses.

As feed provenance, safety and sustainability are increasingly important issues, Dengie's ability to trace every bag back to the field it was grown in gives horse owners confidence and reassurance particularly those competing and racing at the highest levels around the world.

Saracen Horse Feeds is an independent, family owned business which in the fourth generation of the founding members. It is dedicated to producing an innovative range of equine feeds which are supported by an outstanding level of customer service.

Saracen Horse Feeds is the exclusive UK partner of Kentucky Equine Research with access to the very latest nutritional research and development, ensuring every formulation meets the requirement of the modern equine athlete at all stages of life, development and activity.

Both Dengie and Saracen will support the impressive standards and high quality diets offered to all horses cared for at WUC's specialist equine campus. The companies will also work in collaboration with WUC's academic team and Equine Resource Management department to pioneer new research and ongoing trials.

WUC's mission is to put science into practice and the University College offers students a wide variety of opportunities to gain 'real life' knowledge and experience that will be of use in their future careers. The new contacts will offer learners even more opportunities for industry engagement, from guest lectures from Dengie and Saracen's respected equine nutrition experts to site-visits and mentoring opportunities.

Equine Undergraduate Course Scheme Manager Jaime Finch says: "We are always looking for avenues and opportunities to provide the students with experience of a range of products they will likely encounter out in industry while also being aware of how science informs this along with the role of feed companies in a commercial yard setting. This also presents our students with a unique opportunity to work alongside potential future employers and unparalleled insight into careers in the equine industry".

Writtle University College's Equine Resource Manager, Dan Cook, said: "On putting our feed supply out to tender we were looking to secure a partnership with a company (or companies) that shared our enthusiasm and vision for the physical supply of feed to both our bespoke sports horse stud and equine training and development centres, along with helping to facilitate and enhance the student experience and learning opportunities along the way.

"We are very much looking forward to working together and to the opportunities the partnerships will afford."