We are more than JUST an online shop, we have spent 100's of hours putting information on our website and continue to update information and products all the time. We want our customers to be educated on how to best use their hay net, what sizes suit best, therefore we provide lots of information to assist you in making the right choice. Please peruse our FAQ section to find the answers to many of your questions. Our Blog pages also have a HUGE amount of information contained within them. Alternatively, if you have a specific question that isn’t answered in those locations, or a specific query, then please contact us if you would like further suggestions or assistance. We offer a higher service than just taking your money. 😊
GutzBusta was originally started by myself, Nikki. However 3 ½ years ago, I sold the business to allow for its expansion. I however, came with that sale, and so the customer contact and enquiries, and social media side is still managed by myself. So when you are asking for product advice and have questions, you are getting 13+ years of information and product knowledge. 💕
When I started hand making hay nets over 13 years ago (2011), I realised there was a need to supply the horse industry and my trimming clients with high quality slow feed hay nets (aka GutzBusta® was born). It deeply saddened me to see horses and ponies locked up in small areas with nothing to eat, or hay that would only last an hour or so leaving the horses with nothing more to eat until the next meal which could be 10 to 12 hours away!! Developing these nets helped fix that problem and gave owners many more options for managing their horses.
Having had metabolic horses myself, I can truly say how wonderful these nets are in maintaining their weight, health and well-being by allowing them to always have access to something to eat, but not being able to gobble it down in 5 minutes.
Due to the popularity of our hay nets, we had to expand our production from our humble beginnings whereby we would physically roll out huge rolls of netting (50m x 6-10m wide), cut out each and every hay net, then sit and hand sew them together. Then we would cut out length after length of drawstring and feed this around the mouth of the hay nets, then wrap, package and post as the orders came in! Although I had help from casual staff, hubby and occasional family members, it was becoming a little too much to handle. We then started purchasing the hay nets ready made from the company that we were purchasing the rolls of netting from which boosted our production levels enormously.
In 2020 I decided to sell GutzBusta to the business that was supplying us with the netting/hay nets – Haverford Brands Pty Ltd - Australia. Now I work as part of a larger team at GutzBusta and still help manage the business as well as deal with customer enquiries/orders, social media, and emails, thereby bringing my 13+ years of knowledge and experience with me.
In 2022, we decided to see how popular these hay nets would be in New Zealand so we made a website specific to our New Zealand customers ( www.gutzbusta.co.nz ). We were very pleased with the resulting sales, so we thought ‘Why not try America’? So we did… our USA website is www.gutzbusta.com. We have been super impressed with the sales of our hay nets to the USA. Thank you to all of those people in both USA and NZ who have purchased from us.
After our success in the USA, we thought the UK would be a wonderful place to try next!
More about my inspiration and drive to provide horses and their owners with such great products:
Having invested significant time, money and energy in educating myself on horses and their care, I graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Equine Studies) in 1999 from Charles Sturt University, I then completed a TAFE Cert III (Equine Hoof Care) in 2008. Still seeking further knowledge, I then enrolled in the Diploma of Equine Podiotherapy course in Yarck in which I have completed and passed my final exam, but yet to complete the case studies.
I have also attended 5 x whole horse dissections with Sharon May Davis (assisting with 2), a Photonic Red-Light therapy course, and a Holistic Horse Works Equine Therapy Course as well as 3 Hoof Conferences around Australia. Therefore, developing a superior product for the Equine and Livestock industries is very important to me as horses are a deep passion of mine.
We take our business very seriously and aim to provide a professional website and buying experience for our valued customers. That is why GutzBusta® is a registered trademark.
Feedback on our products and services is always appreciated to enable us to continually strive for great customer service with fantastic products, which is why GutzBusta's are the #1 Slow Feed Hay Net in Australia, and maybe one day the world…. Haha!! 🌍💕
Please feel free to contact us on +61 418 282 097 to speak to Nikki during business hours or via email sales@gutzbusta.co.uk
We are also on Facebook so please like and share us.
