The Behind the Brand series shines a spotlight on some of the companies exhibiting at The National Equine Show 2026, digging deeper to reveal the stories behind them.
‘Making a difference to your horse’s life’
Equilibrium Products are a team of horse owners who are passionate about their jobs, their company and the industry. They offer a broad range of science-backed products, from horse boots, massage and magnetic products to turnout boots, fly masks and healthy horse treats. You’ll find them at stand D30 at The National Equine Show 2026.
We sat down with Margaret Donnelly to find out a little more about the company she founded.
How did the business start?
Equilibrium Products was founded in 2001. It began with inspiration from one horse, Timmy, otherwise known as Cause for Optimism. Timmy was diagnosed as a head shaker at a time when the condition was poorly understood and there were very few treatment options available.
Margaret, the company’s founder and director, designed and created a Muzzle Net Nose Net to help him, which proved immensely effective. Word soon spread about the Muzzle Net, and more were made to help countless other horses. Horse & Hound then featured the innovation, and after that the phones started to go mad!
From there, our Field Relief Max prototype was created and showcased at the British Equestrian Trade Association International Trade Fair alongside the Muzzle Net, with retailers queueing to order these two new products.
What would you say was your biggest obstacle in the start-up phase?
Starting a new business is risky, and a lot of hard work. I worked two jobs for probably over 10 years to ensure that income kept coming in, and the money made from the new business was able to be reinvested back in to allow it to grow into what it is today.
Where or who do draw inspiration for the brand from?
The horses are always our inspiration at Equilibrium. Timmy, as mentioned before, was the source of inspiration for many products, alongside ex-racehorses Jack and Jenny, and their herd-mates, Fino and Winnie. As horse owners ourselves, we appreciate not only the highs of owning horses, but also the lows, as things don’t always go right. The inspiration for our brand is to help prevent those lows (as much as we can) and make life as happy as possible for our horses.
What does success mean to you, and do you have some specific success stories so far?
Success is hearing feedback from our customers about how our products are helping their horses, sometimes making the difference between life and death. I recall a few years ago receiving an email from the Canadian owner of a head shaker, which simply said, ‘Thank you for giving me my horse back.’
What advice would you give another brand who was just starting out in the equine space?
Decide what the mission of your company is and focus all your efforts on delivering that mission. Our mission is to make a difference to horses’ lives for the better, and I feel we deliver on that every day through product innovation, support for equine charities and customer service.
How long have you been involved with The National Equine Show, and what aspects do you particularly like about it?
We’ve been involved with The National Equine Show since its first year. We love the concept of the show being different from a standard retail show, and it has given us opportunities to engage with like-minded horse owners who want to do the best for their horses. For example, in previous years we’ve been able to share research-backed knowledge with horse owners on stage alongside industry experts.
Why is exhibiting at the Show important to you?
As mentioned before, speaking to like-minded horse owners about their horses means a lot to us. It’s also valuable to engage with customers so they can really see our products ‘in the flesh’. For example, customers often comment that they didn’t realise how lightweight and flexible our boots are, or they enjoy seeing how the Massage Pad works and having the chance to quiz the team before investing.
Do you plan to launch anything new at the show this year or have any exciting developments with the brand?
We have three new products launching at The National Equine Show this year! Two are new colourways, created in collaboration with a well-known influencer to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, while the final product is a brand-new concept for us. You’ll have to visit our stand to find out more.