About Horseheath Nutrition

It was started by John Chapman M.A.(Cantab) after he sold Gravenhorse Feeds in 2025 & decided to retire - well, sort of!
Horseheath Equine Nutrition is an advisory service he set up to assist horse owners in solving diet-related problems. Over more than 40 years he has amassed a wealth of knowledge of equine nutrition and associated management. This, combined with his nutritional training, enables expert advice to be provided on a wide range of feed-related topics.

History: John was raised on a small farm near the village of Horseheath, about 12 miles south of Newmarket, and learnt to ride as a child.

Growing up, his interests changed to a more mechanical and aeronautical nature. He went to grammar school in Cambridge and then on to Trinity College (at the same time as the King, then Prince Charles) to read Agriculture, obtaining an Honours degree. The courses included Animal Nutrition and Physiology, Botany and Genetics, Soil Science etc

On leaving university, John built up a pig breeding unit on his father’s small farm. He ran that for 14 years, formulating, milling and mixing pig rations on site.

In 1983 he closed the pig business because of disease problems, sold off surplus straw to local horse-owners, then was asked for hay, feed etc. He therefore decided to apply his knowledge of nutrition to manufacturing horse feeds. He eventually had to close the operation because of financial and health problems (estate duties, a back injury prevented work for over 8 months), and sold the farm.

About 1993, with his back recovered, he set up Horseheath Feeds with a friend on a farm in Bedfordshire (who got recruited back into electronics shortly after). John continued to manufacture coarse mixes, developing the range and selling mostly through Beds, N. Herts, and E. Bucks. He also supplied main brand and straight feeds and forage, developing a useful hay and haylage trade. The business eventually ended up at Gravenhurst, where it incorporated as Gravenhorse Ltd. It was decided to contract out manufacturing in 2006 and concentrate on sales and distribution, reverting to Gravenhorse Feeds.

It is now run by Mark Sapiano contact via gravenhorse@gmail.com or 07752 079265