In 1993 Caltech was formed after the factory was bought by CMI PLC from Pfizer Ltd, dismantled, put on a wagon and rebuilt at its current site in Silloth.

Caltech began by manufacturing Crystalyx Feed blocks for the agricultural market, developing a unique product that has no direct comparison or competitor. Following numerous enquiries as to whether Crystalyx was suitable for horses, the decision was made to create a horse specific product, ‘Horslyx’, in 1997.

Following the success of the debut product, Original Horslyx, extensive research was carried out and a Respiratory formulation was developed using high quality essential oils. After Respiratory Horslyx proved a hit the company created Mobility Horslyx which contains glucosamine, MSM and Omega Oils to effectively support joint function. The latest addition to the portfolio of formulas is Garlic Horslyx which has proved to effectively help deter flies and biting insects from the inside out. In 2005 the plant at Silloth gained a bespoke extension to manufacture smaller sized products and the ‘pocket sized’, 650g Mini Horslyx was born. Pack sizes now range from 650g to 80Kg!

Horslyx is made using a unique patented cooking process exclusive to Caltech and contains no chemical binders, fillers or hardeners. This unique process results in very low moisture lick– meaning the customers are buying product not water - some chemically hardened licks can be over 20% water but Horslyx is approximately 5%.

In addition to this the lick will soften at the horse’s body temperature, ensuring that Horslyx is easily broken down in the gut and readily digested, thus safeguarding the possibility of undigested matter blocking the digestive tract and causing colic.

Carefully researched and developed by international equine nutritionists, with more recent work carried out by Caltech’s Dr Cliff Lister, Horslyx not only balances the horses diet and can be fed alongside good quality forage alone, but also offers horses the psychologically advantageous opportunity to express the natural desire to eat for up to 16 hours per day. This can help to relieve the boredom resulting from long periods of stabling and reduce the likelihood of undesirable stereotypical behaviours developing.

The UK plant is fully assured under the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) which was developed to ensure uniform standards within the animal feeding industry as well as provide traceability. The scheme has rigorous entry requirements and companies have to be audited annually which means keeping up to date with ever changing regulations. Every batch of Horslyx products has a unique number for traceability and quality control purposes.

All Horslyx products are manufactured in assurance with the UFAS BETA NOPS code. The Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) and The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) has introduced two assurance schemes designed to reduce the risk of naturally occurring prohibited substances (NOPS) in equine feeds, thus reducing the risk of disqualification from competition when accidentally feeding any naturally occurring prohibited substances.