About Us

EPS Ltd is the Master Distributor of FLAIR® Equine Nasal Strips in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong.

We introduced FLAIR Strips to New Zealand in 1999, and the first horse to race in a nasal strip in Australasia was Cool Hand Luke. Trained by Mark Purdon, who started in the Victorian Derby in Melbourne, Cool Hand Luke went on to win many races and was a top earner for Mark. Since then, Mark has continued to have great success with FLAIR Strips.

FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips support horses nasal passages and have been proven in the laboratory and on the race track to help horses breathe easier and perform to their maximum potential.

EPS Ltd is a technology-based company and we are currently exploring technologies that have been developed for other industries that can be applied to the equine industry for enhanced training and performance options. If you have any interest or ideas that meet these criteria, please contact us.


The Story of FLAIR Strips

Jim Chiapetta and Ed Blach began developing FLAIR Equine Nasal Strips in the mid 1990’s, as a result of their experiences as equine veterinarians. For years, the duo witnessed that working horses experienced a collapse of their nasal passages when breathing in during exercise. A basic understanding of airflow dynamics helped them appreciate that partial collapse or narrowing of the nasal passages which occurs during exercise increases resistance to airflow into the lungs when oxygen is needed most. They wondered if it was possible to improve airflow in the horse by applying an external nasal passage support similar to the BreatheRight® strip used by human athletes. A review of the equine research literature revealed a void in knowledge regarding the role of the nasal passages in horses’ breathing and respiratory health. This caused them to begin designing and testing equine nasal strips until they had a product that improved airflow, was safe to use and easy to apply.

Now, 20 years later, Jim and Ed’s initial "what if” questions have provoked significant University and private clinical research. More than seven clinical studies, several physiology and veterinary textbook articles, numerous symposia, presentations, discussions and debates confirm their original hypothesis. The Strips are proven to make breathing easier, reduce fatigue, conserve energy, quicken recovery and decrease lung bleeding. In addition, further ongoing studies have identified the role the nasal passages play in other upper airway conditions not previously understood.

The company has been awarded over 20 patents in the U.S. and around the world directed to technologies based on the discovery that by supporting the external wall of the nasal passages, nasal strips reduce upper airway resistance to improve equine health and optimize performance. Since their introduction at the 1999 Breeder’s Cup races and the 2000 Olympics, FLAIR Strips have been regularly used for training and competition by world class professional horsemen as well as amateur owners around the world.

Learn more about FLAIR Strips