Ashdown Feeds

23/01/2025

*** BACK IN STOCK ***

Hunter Woodshavings are now in stock but hurry as we don't think they'll be around long!

23/01/2025

Thursday 23rd Jan
Shop may be a little late opening due to road closures & heavy traffic in the area !
Thank you

17/01/2025

It’s time to get toasty 🔥
Get stocked up on heat logs, kindling, and coal.
Don’t forget your bags of de-icing salt!!!!

17/01/2025

🐾NEW…. Pure & Natural Pate £4.99 400g
🐾Made with 100% fresh meat
🐾Gluten free
🐾Variety of flavours

17/01/2025

We hate to say it… but we have a little rain on the forecast here in Sussex 😩
Get the legs and feet wet weather prepared with a variety of products on offer at Ashdown feeds

04/01/2025

Please Read this - very informative

*** ENCYSTED REDWORM ***

I first posted this in 2019, but after reading a LOT of worrying comments recently about how people don’t worm their horses at all, as they do worm egg counts, I thought it was time to do a little encysted redworm refresher, with some updates!

1. Redworm can kill your horse.

2. You need to worm for encysted redworm AFTER they encyst, and before they emerge, so NOT in the Autumn! Wait for a good, frosty cold spell.

3. Encysted small redworm are NOT DETECTABLE in worm egg counts.

4. The larvae of small redworm, “encyst” or burrow into the gut wall. These can cause fatal consequences when they re-emerge.

5. Redworm appear as tiny pieces of thread in your horse’s droppings. They are very short and thin, and can be hard to see. They are white if they haven’t yet fed, and red if they have fed.

6. A horse can appear completely normal and healthy whilst carrying a large redworm burden. However, weight loss and diarrhoea may be early indicators; don’t ignore these signs.

7. Most wormers DO NOT target encysted redworm. Only TWO do: Fenbendazole and Moxidectin.

8. Lots of combination wormers contain IVERMectin. This WILL NOT have any effect on encysted redworm. The only wormer that contains MOXIDectin, is EQUEST. The Pramox (blue) version will treat tapeworm at the same time. Don’t use Pramox if you have treated separately for tapeworm, or used a saliva or blood test for tapeworm. Use the normal Equest (green) if this is the case.

9. Redworm are eaten by the horse during grazing. The larvae start to burrow into the gut wall as temperatures drop. Treating for encysted redworm whilst temperatures are warm, is not the optimal time, as the larvae may well not have started to encyst. Treating after a few hard frosts, also reduces the level of reinfection from larvae already on the fields.

10. The larvae stay in the gut wall during the winter, and are then triggered to emerge from the gut wall as the temperatures warm up in the Spring. If the horse has not been treated for redworm during this redworm “hibernation” stage, he/she is at risk of developing CYATHOSTOMINOSIS.

11. Cyathostominosis has a mortality (death) rate of up to 50%. It presents as colitis; profuse diarrhoea and colic. Contact your vet immediately if you see these symptoms in your horse at any time of year, but it is more likely to be due to redworm if this occurs in the Spring.

12. Ensure you have treated for encysted
redworm before temperatures start to increase as Spring arrives, incase of a large encysted redworm burden that may suddenly emerge.

13. There is a blood test for all stages of redworm, including encysted. This detects antibodies, so may be positive if your horse has had a high burden in the past 6 months, even if he currently doesn’t, but worth discussing with your vet. I would not be recommending this route for high risk redworm horses ie horses in herds with no poo picking, or rescue cases.

14. 5 day Panacur Guard (Fenbendazole) is the only other wormer that can treat the encysted stage of redworm. There was widespread resistance to this wormer, and a huge move towards everyone using Moxidectin for encysted redworm. It is my wormer of choice for very sick or poor horses, due to its milder action over 5 days. However, there is some evidence that it may cause more damage to the gut than Moxidectin, so more research is definitely required!

15. Poo picking daily is perfect pasture management, but does not mean that your horse is worm free! You still need to egg count/blood test for all worms and/or worm.

16. Herbal wormers do not work.

17. Worm egg counts do not detect encysted redworms (or tapeworm/bots/pinworm). I realise I am repeating myself, but this is something that lots of people still do not realise.

18. Do not UNDERDOSE when worming, as this will aid resistance. If in doubt, add 50kg to the weigh tape weight of your horse. Wormers are very safe with regards to toxic doses.

19. The Mole Valley wormers are NOT the same as Equest!!!! I saw this misinformation posted yesterday! They contain Ivermectin, which will NOT treat for encysted redworm.

20. Do NOT overuse Equest. Moxidectin (Equest and Pramox) should only be used ONCE in a 12 month period. So know when to use it!

This is not an exhaustive review of redworm, and I may add to the list if I think of anything else, but I hope this is of some use! Worming regimes and what worm egg counts detect, seems to cause lots of confusion amongst horse owners, and even yard owners.

Blood tests currently used for tapeworm and redworm, measure antibody levels to the worm. The saliva test also measures antibodies. The concern here would be false positives. This means the test coming back as positive when your horse has been clear of the worm in question for months. Antibody levels remain high for months following successful treatment for the worm being tested for. However, a negative obviously means the horse has been clear for a good few months, and would not need worming.

Happy reading!

Please share, as this is really something that all horse owners should know, and still don’t!

No prizes for spotting the hundreds of redworm in this photo!

28/12/2024

*** JOB VACANCY - ANIMAL FEED/BEDDING DELIVERY DRIVER (PART TIME) ***

Due to business expansion, we are looking for a delivery driver to work 1 or 2 days per week.

Job involves significant manual handling so must be physically capable.

Over 25 and clean driving licence only due to insurance.

Applicant must be able to work as part of a team and independently when required

Please e-mail us at [email protected] to apply

28/12/2024

*** JOB VACANCY - RETAIL SALES ***

We are looking for a new member of our team to work on Saturdays 10am-2/3pm.

Applicant must be physically fit as job involves manual handing.

Retail experience would be a bonus but full training will be given.

An interest in horses/farm animals/pets and a "can do" attitude is a must.

Immediate start

Please e-mail us at [email protected] to apply.

24/12/2024

Happy Christmas
Please remember we are open 9-3pm today (24th) reopening on Friday 27th December 🤶🏻
Thank you for all you support 🎄😊🎄

18/12/2024

Wednesday 18/12/24
Sorry might be a little late opening as stuck in traffic
Will open asap

17/12/2024

We have a very busy week of deliveries…
If you are around when we deliver, please help with the off loading..
Just like Santa, we have lots of deliveries in a short amount of time!!!! 🎅🎅🎅🎅

17/12/2024

🥕 🥕🥕🥕 CARROTS IN STOCK 🥕🥕🥕🥕

12/12/2024

🎄Christmas Opening Hours for 2024/25 🎄

12/12/2024

🚚Delivery Info…….

Please place your Christmas and New Year deliveries with plenty of time so we can fit everyone in.

☎️Ashdown Feeds 01342 314154

12/12/2024

Good morning
Thursday 12/12/24
Shop may be a bit late opening due to traffic, roads closed & now a accident - apologies

09/12/2024

As we told the Sunday Express, food security is yet another reason why Rachel Reeves needs to think again about the family farm tax, before it’s too late. 🗞 Read the full story here >> https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0fdDtf0