NOPS and Why They Matter in Horse Bedding
For many horse owners, preventing prohibited substances from entering a horse’s system starts with feed and supplements. But bedding also plays an important role.
This is where NOPS accredited bedding can offer valuable reassurance.
The BETA NOPS Bedding Code was developed by the British Equestrian Trade Association to help manufacturers reduce the risk of these substances being present in equine bedding through strict sourcing, quality control and manufacturing standards.
What are NOPS?
NOPS stands for Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances. These are substances that can naturally occur in plants or appear through accidental contamination during harvesting, transport, storage or manufacturing.
Examples of NOPS include substances linked to poppies, hemp, cocoa, certain weeds and herbal materials. Under competition and racing rules, some of these substances can lead to a positive test.
Why does bedding matter?
Many horse owners and riders do not realise that horses regularly eat small amounts of bedding (of all types).
Some horses nibble bedding directly. Others consume it accidentally while eating hay or forage from the stable floor. The BETA NOPS Code specifically recognises that even with careful management, horses are likely to ingest some bedding material.
That means bedding quality and traceability matter, especially for competition horses.
Under FEI and racing regulations, riders and trainers are responsible for anything found in the horse’s system, even if contamination was accidental.
Choosing bedding from a manufacturer accredited under the BETA NOPS Code helps reduce the risk and provides added peace of mind.
Why Choose Sundown Bedding?
BETA NOPS accredited bedding
Sundown has achieved full BETA NOPS Bedding accreditation across its equine bedding range, including Sundown Green, Sundown Yellow, Sundown Purple and Sun-e-bed. In fact, Sundown is the only straw based bedding brand with NOPS approval.
Made from 100 percent British straw, Sundown bedding is manufactured under carefully controlled conditions with strict quality procedures in place to minimise NOPS risk.
Sundown Green is also an edible bedding, made from British wheat straw. That makes quality assurance even more important, because horses are naturally more likely to consume it as part of their normal stable behaviour.
Confidence from stable to competition
For riders competing under anti doping rules, small management decisions can make a big difference.
Choosing BETA NOPS accredited bedding is one more step towards reducing unnecessary risk and protecting both horse and rider.
Sundown’s independently audited accreditation, British sourced raw materials and commitment to quality, offers horse owners confidence from the stable yard to the competition arena.