Highlights Animal Business
Manna Pro Expands Presence in Companion
Acquires Espree®, makers of natural solutions for grooming & animal care Manna Pro Products, LLC, a manufacturer and
marketer of animal nutrition and care products, has acquired Espree®, a Texas-based company that for- mulates, manufactures and markets Aloe vera-based premium, wholesome, natural solutions for grooming and animal care. Founded in 1989, Espree began with five prod- ucts that combined the wisdom of nature with innova- tive technology. Over time, the company developed a strong groomer following and expanded the product line based on the requests of groomer customers. To- day, Espree provides care and grooming products for dogs and cats, and fly control and grooming products for horses, available through pet specialty and farm and home retailers.
Pet services, including grooming, is a growing
market. According to the American Pet Products As- sociation, Americans spent $5.41 billion on grooming and boarding services in 2015. That spending was ex- pected to reach $5.73 billion in 2016. While Aloe vera is Espree’s cornerstone ingre- dient, the company continues to introduce innovative new ingredients to the grooming industry, most recent- ly with its Oil Therapy product line for dogs. “Manna Pro’s acquisition of Espree is a natural expansion of our small/companion animal business that began just over a year ago when we acquired the Nu- tri-Vet® line of health and wellness supplements,” said Manna Pro Vice President of Marketing Beth Rogers. “This extension complements our focus on bringing innovative, safe, and effective products to pet owners and their animals – from horses and backyard poultry, goats, rabbits, cattle and pigs, to dogs and cats.” “The mission of Espree is to improve the well-be- ing of animals and enhance the care of pet profession- als and animal lovers,” said Espree Founder and cur- rent Chief Creative Officer Teri Jones.
“Manna Pro is an ideal match to continue to bring
natural, Aloe vera-based products to market to meet the needs of pet owners seeking natural and organic prod- ucts that solve their pet’s issues safely and effectively.” Acquisitions continue to play a key role in Manna
Pro’s growth strategy. The company also recently com- pleted a second acquisition this year in the companion animal category. w
8 SouthWest Horse Trader March 2017 Endurance Riding Convention Set for March 10-11
Endurance competitors and enthusiasts from all over the Unit- ed States and Canada will gather for the annual American Endur- ance Ride Conference convention March 10-11, 2017, in Grapevine, Texas.
Education is a main compo-
nent of the 44-year-old nonprofit organization, which sanctions rides ranging from 25 to 100 miles in one day, and the convention’s eight seminars will provide cut- ting-edge knowledge for current and prospective endurance riders. Seminars at the 2017 AERC
convention: •
Seeing Yourself as a
Public Lands Advocate with Back Country Horsemen of America’s Randy Rasmussen • Gadgets for Gait
Analysis
with Yvette Nout-Lomas, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DACVECC, an assistant pro- fessor of equine internal medicine at Col- orado State University’s College of Veteri- nary and Medical Science •
Equine Transport Research Re- sults – a look at breaking research into transport stress on horses, with Jerry Gilles- pie, DVM • Equine Learning and Hu- man-Horse Relationships with Jessica A. Klassen, PhD, a lecturer at Texas A&M University in Wildlife and Fisheries Sci- ences
• Colic and the Endurance Horse
with AERC Veterinary Committee Chair Jeanette (Jay) Mero, DVM • 2016 Member Survey Results
with AERC Education Chair Susan Gar- linghouse, DVM, which will discuss mem- ber opinions on the future of the sport of endurance riding •
Simple Carbohydrates: Rock-
ic” sessions involve endurance riders in thought-provoking discussions. This year’s topics include “Revisiting the AERC Drug Rule” (one of the strictest in all equine sports) and “Responsible Equine Manage- ment.” Both are hosted by AERC legal counsel and board member John Parke. But the convention isn’t all serious
education. It’s also a celebration of accom- plishments, with both regional and nation- al award ceremonies, and a Friday night dance.
In addition, conference attendees al- ways enjoy the popular annual Tack Swap that allows riders to pick up tack and re- lated items at bargain prices, with 10% of proceeds benefitting the AERC.
All visitors are welcome at the free
trade show which runs Friday 9:00-6:00 and Saturday 9:00-5:00 and features a wide variety of vendors offering a endurance gear—everything from tack and saddles to heart rate monitors and rider clothing. Located a quick shuttle ride away from
Murmurs, Arrhythmias and Heart Rate Recovery with Meg Sleeper, VMD, DACVIM, of the University of Flor- ida College of Veterinary Medicine •
et Fuel or Failure to Launch? A second seminar presented by Dr. Garlinghouse, a well-respected equine nutrition expert. Two early-morning free “hot top-
the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the Hilton DFW Lakes (800-984-1344) is a spectacular site for the midsize conven- tion, with plentiful public and private hotel space, dining options, and indoor gym and pool. Special AERC convention rates are limited so early reservations are a must. For more information, and to register and receive the best pricing on conference seminars, please visit
aerc.org/convention. w
Don Stine
Don Stine
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