Our Story

Back in 2005, a passionate and inquisitive young rider spotted a gap in the performance supplement market. Despite an overwhelming choice of products, none offered naturally formulated ingredients that focused on providing comfort while treating the root cause of the problem.

And so Animalife was born. That young rider was Ross Riley, who had a background steeped in equestrianism. His mother Jocelyn is one of the oldest riders ever to compete in the Badminton Grassroots Championships and has produced many top-class eventers, including Direct Casino and Direct Tully O Ran Cruise, while his grandfather was a prolific racing trainer and breeder.

“I became really interested in supplements and their ingredients when I was involved with my Mother’s event yard,” Ross explains. “One of her top horses suffered from joint problems and I couldn’t source anything natural that supported his recovery while improving his overall joint health.”

Unable to find a solution he felt comfortable with and confident in, Ross set about researching and innovating, launching his first product, Oxyshot, shortly after. An immediate success, Oxyshot became the first instant calmer in the industry and gave Ross a real taste for staying one step ahead of the competition.

With an ethos that puts animal care at the centre of everything he does, Ross and his dedicated team of experts are continuously creating new products packed with the highest quality natural ingredients that are targeted, effective and safe.

With a customer rating of ‘Excellent’ on trustpilot.com Animalife supports thousands of horses and companion animals across Europe in living their happiest and healthiest lives.

Ross and Jocelyn Riley

Mad for all creatures great and small!

Behind the Story

Animalife’s commitment to scientific research and discovery has affirmed our position as a market-leader in innovation.

We are passionate about the environment we work and live in and aware of the impact research and production can have on the natural world. We only collaborate with responsible partners who care about the environment and are committed to the principles of biodiversity and sustainable production methods.

Animalife is a Woodland Trust Corporate Member, helping create and protect UK woodland. As part of this commitment, Animalife has a tree-planting programme close to our Warwickshire headquarters to assist with our biodiversity goals.

Animalife® only uses high-quality and effective natural ingredients. We are continuously improving our production processes and each step is monitored using performance indicators on a consistent basis. All of our ingredients are 100% traceable from raw material to the finished product and have been sourced exclusively from officially certified suppliers.

World-class scientists utilise state-of-the-art technology to formulate our products.

Animalife® products are used professionally and are proudly recommended by leading vets and Team GB riders, including Badminton winner Piggy March (nee French).

Plastic and Us

Some of our product range is sold in plastic containers, which has been a challenge for us as a company. Plastic is actually a very good material for providing long-term protection from the elements, especially with foodstuffs that need to be kept well sealed to keep them fresh while reducing the risk of cross contamination. Our goal is to reduce the amount of virgin plastic and promote a circular economy. This in turn could help towards a better carbon footprint compared to other environmental options such as biodegradable products. Where appropriate, surely it’s better to reuse what we have? Let’s have the conversation… it’s something we should be talking about…

Sadly that’s not as simple as it sounds. Having carried out in-depth research we are yet to find a sustainable and scalable alternative. Many of the options we looked at would not be easily recyclable in the UK and/or suitable for our products.

We are working on this with our suppliers and constantly monitoring the marketplace for better, more scalable and environmentally kinder options.

As soon as we can find a solution that ensures our products reach customers in top condition, we are committed to adopting it.

Recyclable Labels and New Branding

We have recently changed our branding and in turn have sourced more environmentally friendly labels. The new labels no longer have the metallic backing that previously made the labels difficult to recycle.

Non-metallic backed labels are considered more environmentally friendly for several reasons:

1. Easier Recycling: Non-metallic labels, such as those made from paper or plastic, are more easily recycled compared to metallic-backed labels. Metallic labels often contain a mix of materials that complicate the recycling process because they require separation of metal from non-metal components.
2. Lower Resource Use: Producing metallic labels often involves the extraction and processing of metals, which is energy-intensive and results in a higher carbon footprint. Non-metallic labels, particularly those made from recycled or renewable materials, have a smaller environmental impact in terms of resource consumption.
3. Reduced Energy Consumption: Manufacturing non-metallic labels typically requires less energy than producing metallic ones. The metal extraction and refinement processes are energy-demanding and contribute to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Lower Emissions: Non-metallic labels generally produce fewer emissions during production and disposal. The mining and processing involved in creating metallic labels can lead to significant air and water pollution.

    

   By opting for non-metallic backed labels, we can contribute to a reduction in resource use, energy consumption, and environmental pollution, promoting sustainability.

   Branding

   Our Vetro Collection by Animalife branding has recently been updated. We have stayed with our easily identifiable orange background, the Colour Orange Symbolizes Enthusiasm and Emotion. Orange is a colour that signifies enthusiasm, bursting with energy and warmth, orange is commonly associated with outdoor elements. In Ancient Greece, orange was connected to the god of hedonism and enjoyment – Bacchus, whereas in Hinduism, Confucianism and Buddhism it represents purity and spirituality.

   We have also retained the original Animalife ‘Arcs’, the arcs that end the logo were introduced in 2005 and represent the tides of change and innovation. As we know scientific research is always ongoing and we are continually looking at ways of improving our products that in turn will enhance equine and canine welfare.

   ‘Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change’ Albert Einstein

   We have also updated the colours used on our labels with each Vetro Collection product range now having an individual colour which will make them more identifiable.