OBITUARY
ROBIN FOSTER-CLARKE – AHORSE BEDDING PIONEER
T
he animal bedding industry has lostapioneer and innovatorwith the sudden passing of Robin Foster-
Clarke on 11th November,aged 79 who wasapartner of Bed-Down LLP. He started up his agricultural contract
business in 1957atthe age of 16 and bought Cherry Tree Farm in Norfolk 6years
later.Through hardwork, sevendaysa week, the business developed intolivestock rearing and animal bedding supply alongside the agricultural contractwork. The first products he sold were conventional straw balesand hay. He quickly recognised there wasaneedfor cleaner,moreabsorbent option to conventional straw.
Image4.jpg Sourcing the rawmaterial from local
sawmills, He first produced apine wood shavings bale in 1965which wasmuch more absorbent. The compressed baleswere plastic packaged which made them easier to handle and kept them dry.Hethen started experimenting with chopping and baling wheat strawand he found this increased the absorbencyby300% and gave uniformity to the product. He trialled both his new beddings with his ownhorsesand then introduced it to the equestrian industry. In his ambition to producethe perfect
bedding he developed adustextraction processwhich todayisvery well known as a vital part in minimising the risks of animals developing respiratory problems while also enhancing performance. This formed the basis of todays Bed-Down unique,multiple dustextraction process, Easy Breathe™ Robin nowhad the products to create
arange of bedding and he wasthe first manufacturer to mix shavings flakes and chopped strawtoform the Excelbedding that we knowtoday. He added essential oils and fragrances to increase the everyday wellbeing of the animals, as an effectiveun- appetiser and to help keep thestable fresh. One of his ownhorseshad COPD so having
aclean stable environment wascrucial. He realised that air borne dustneededto be eliminated as much as
possible.This led to Bed-Down Microcote™,a patented additivewhich coatsthe bedding and is
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designed to reduceeverydaydustparticles. The increase of Rape crops in the early 1990’s
led Robin to research howrape strawcould be used forbedding. He discoveredthat chopping the strawexposed the highly absorbent inner pith making this the ideal bedding forhorses which arenaturally wet. Simultaneously he wasalso working on producing alarge flake shaving which he could producehimself. In 1993Robin’sson, James, joined the
business and together theyperfectedthe large flakeshavings and sold them into Newmarket stables. This led to supplying national and internationally intosome of the mostprestigious equine stablesinthe world. In 2016 Bed-Down built astate-of-the-
art production facilitytoincorporatethe extended rangeofthe current productsand the capacitytoinclude the futureinnovations. Robin remained an activepartner in the
business until the dayhepassed. He wasan entrepreneur who embraced change and would look foropportunitiesinevery situation. He was an ideas man, some worked, some didn’t, but he wasalwayslooking forthe next development. Anyone who knewRobin will remember
him as someone who lovedlife, enjoyed laughter,and brought asmile to the face of whomeverheencountered.
Formoreinformation about Bed- Down visit
www.bed-down.co.uk
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