Croston Corn Mill

25/08/2024

23/08/2024

It was a sell out last time, but our Wagg dog food offer is back on! In-store now, while promotional stocks last.
We are open Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm (closed Bank Hol Mon).

18/08/2024

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RAGWORT FRIEND OR FO? (THE ANSWER)

There seems to be some extremist views on ragwort being banded about on social media. Some saying it should be eradicated completely. Some saying it is a useful wild flower.

The thing is, however you view it, it is not appropriate in horse pasture. And it is even worse in hay meadows because it is palatable when dried.

Ragwort poisoning of horses and ponies does occur, and whilst the fresh growing plant is not palatable for most horses and ponies, it is still not appropriate to have it growing in horse pasture or hay meadows.

If you value the health and well-being of your horses, be sure to eradicate ragwort from your pasture and any fields used for making horse hay.

This is regardless of views of how useful or not the plant is in our British countryside.

Ragwort is most definitely a foe for horses, both in pasture and hay meadows.

Feel free to share
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13/08/2024

Hay soaking – top tips for weight loss (not respiratory issues)

The water-soluble carbohydrate content of UK hays is highly variable and if the content is unknown and you are dieting your horse then the hay should be soaked.
The effect of soaking can also be very variable these pointers may help you maximise the impact of soaking your hay.

• Water temperature can have a marked effect and soaking in water of 16°C for 1 hour has a similar effect on sugar content as soaking at 8°C for 16 hours; in colder weather the use of warm water should be encouraged (Longland et al, 2014).

• The quantity of water is also important as the sugar is lost by a concentration gradient. The more water used, the more sugar can be lost

• Be sure to use fresh water each time you soak your hay – re-using the same water over and over again will have the opposite effect, you are then soaking the hay in a sugar solution! Changing the water midway through soaking will lead to more sugar being soaked out.

• You will need:
- A big water bucket, or maybe even a small wheelbarrow/bath.
- A hose
- And most importantly, a drain (be sure to fill your container near the drain, so there is no lugging of heavy hay and water concoctions across the yard.)

• Remember to weigh your nets before they are soaked not after!

• Another important consideration is mould. Feed soaked hay immediately after soaking and don’t allow it to sit uneaten for long periods, because it can start to ferment, especially in hot weather (allow it to drip before feeding so as not to flood your stable!)

• To make draining and clean up easier, make sure your drain is covered with some sort of mesh catching device.

• While soaking is recommended, it is impossible to determine the exact effect it will have (without testing it) Therefore, the response in the individual horse should be monitored closely.

• Beware, soaking hay will also reduce the vitamin and mineral content, therefore you may need a vitamin and mineral balancer.

• Wet hay on the ground tends to get slimy, mouldy, and smelly pretty quickly. You may want to use a mat under your soaking area, and be sure to keep yours stable clean.

• In freezing conditions, it can be difficult to soak hay, water pipes will freeze solid and the hay will also freeze, in this weather do not worry if you have to feed unsoaked for a couple of days. Luckily in the UK we rarely get weather that is so cold, so it should not continue for very many days continuous.

Steaming hay
It is worth also noting that steaming hay DOES NOT effectively reduce the water-soluble carbohydrate content of hay and therefore soaking in water is the most effective method for weight loss. If we were discussing allergy and breathing difficulty rather than weight loss, steaming would be a different story and maybe the topic of my next post!

23/07/2024

Available at this amazing price - only while promotional stocks last!!!

20/07/2024

FORAGE ALONE CAN MAKE YOUR HORSE TOO FAT ❗️

This one is worth repeating.

Grass (in summer and winter), all types of hay (including organic meadow hay) and haylage can all cause obesity.

Don't assume that all fat horses are overfed from a bucket. Some will happily eat double the normal intake of forage if fed ad lib (free choice).

Some owners already know this, but more and more horses and ponies who aren't fed much in a bucket are obese, and there a persistent myth that if you feed natural non-ryegrass hay, they will regulate and stay a healthy weight.

This is simply not true.

Some will overeat more after restriction; some will regulate if fed ad lib (but not many); some will literally eat themselves to death (yes, even on just hay).
Horses are all VERY different so be open minded and MONITOR your horse or pony regularly and carefully.

Also worth noting is that horses and ponies can come down with laminitis on hay-only diets, without grass. This is more unusual than those who get laminitis whilst grazing, but I have come across several cases of the former.

Monitor, monitor, monitor your horses and ponies to avoid and manage obesity.

Please help spread the word by sharing - thank you
🐴🍏

17/07/2024

𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀! WHY? ⬇️
✅ The high fibre formula makes it very digestible 😎
✅ It’s a mash! So perfect for those with poor dentation 😁
✅ Helps to maintain condition of those who are retired, on box rest, holiday or those still in up to moderate work 🤓
✅ Low in starch and sugar so should, quietly literally, keep them calm 😇
✅ Highly palatable; flavours of essential oils tempt the fussiest of feeders 😋
✅ Contains Baileys Digest Plus prebiotic for optimum gut health and efficiency 🧐
✅ Contains antioxidants, like vitamin E, to support the immune system 🫡

Keep Calm Mash: https://www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk/products/keep-calm

💚

13/07/2024

Please support this wonderful charity 🐈🐈‍⬛

07/07/2024

🐴

LOW STARCH RANGE 😍 We have a product to suit every type of horse or pony! ⬇️

🐴 LOW CALORIE
1️⃣Lo-Cal Balancer – Rest to Light Work
2️⃣Performance Balancer – Moderate to Hard Work

🐴 MID CALORIE
1️⃣Meadow Sweet with Turmeric - Light to Moderate Work
2️⃣Keep Calm - Light to Moderate Work

🐴 HIGH CALORIE
1️⃣Ease & Excel – for Moderate to Hard Work
2️⃣Ease & Excel Cubes – for Moderate to Hard Work

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27/06/2024

🐴

𝗦𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗬 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿. 😎
⭐ For ALL good-doers, in work! ⭐

Quality protein, vitamins and minerals – all in one place. And all your horse needs, is just two mugs a day (500g)*.

PERFORMANCE BALANCER - THE BEST BITS:
✅ Low calorie
✅ Suitable for equines prone to gastric ulcers
✅ Builds top line
✅ Promotes muscle tone
✅ Supports recovery
✅ Encourages supple skin, shiny coat and strong hooves

You can add chaff or beet to increase chew time. ⏰

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*based on a 500kg horse in moderate work

22/06/2024

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12/06/2024

Another great offer available from the Corn Mill 🐴

11/06/2024

Wagg’s WOW Offer 🐶Available from the Corn Mill 🐶

10/06/2024

🐈🐈‍⬛

31/05/2024

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26/05/2024

Just a quick reminder to all our lovely customers that we are closed tomorrow :-)

16/05/2024

**PLEASE BE AWARE** - for anyone who has recently purchased any bags of Allen & Page Fast Fibre, Veteran Light & Care & Gain horse feeds ...

07/05/2024

LONG GRASS OR SHORT GRASS; WHICH IS BETTER?

I've written a blog about this, which you can jump to here...

https://www.equinenutritionist.com/blog/long-grass-versus-short-grass-which-is-better

04/05/2024

Wishing all our customers a happy Bank Holiday weekend. Just a quick reminder we are CLOSED on Monday, back open at 8am Tuesday 😁

01/05/2024

🐶🐶🐶

❌ RAPESEED! ❌

It’s that time of year again where farmers fields have blossomed into pretty yellow flowers, these plants are called rapeseed. Although it may be tempting to place your dog in the midst to take a scenic photo, please avoid this at all costs!

Rapeseed is extremely poisonous for dogs, especially in highly sensitive canines.

Rapeseed is listed by Dogs Trust as toxic to our dogs if ingested and can cause symptoms such as:

❌Haemolytic Anaemia
❌ Blindness
❌ Damaged Nervous System
❌ Digestive Disorders
❌ Breathing Problems

Even walking through these fields should be avoided! In June 2019, a dog was reported to be suffering from severe open wounds after running through a crop of rapeseed.

Please seek immediate veterinary attention if your dog shows any signs of rapeseed poisoning!

18/04/2024

Simple Systems available from the Corn Mill 🐴

Horse feed with 100% natural ingredients to meet your horse's nutritional needs. Discover the best feed for your horse, delivered direct to your door.

04/04/2024

🐈‍⬛

24/03/2024

Easter opening hours .... closed Good Friday through to Easter Monday - back open at 8am Tuesday 2nd April 🐰🐣🐇🐥

15/03/2024

𝗟𝗼-𝗖𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗-𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗥𝗦, 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗, 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗦𝗘 𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬. ✅ We get it; you might think that these horses only need grass/forage and, yes, ⚠️ ALL horses need ad-lib forage ⚠️ BUT, our extensive research shows that feeding grass and hay/haylage alone, will not provide the minimum amount of certain nutrients that EVERY horse needs for overall health and well-being. 🧐

𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗦𝗢 𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗛, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝘁. ✨

Adding Lo-Cal Balancer to your horse’s diet will give them nutrients lacking in forage, without excess calories. It’s low in starch, sugar and energy, so suitable for equines prone to gastric ulcers. 🥰

It’s fed in small quantities (250g per 250kg of bodyweight per day), so our 20kg bag goes a long way! 😎

Also included in Lo-Cal Balancer = Digest Plus prebiotic and a live probiotic yeast to ensure a healthy gut and fibre digestion. 👍

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09/03/2024

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

🌾Daffodils are a sure sign that spring has sprung. but if you have a cat, watch out! They contain a harmful substance called crystalline lycorine, mostly found in the bulb of the plant. If your cat eats a daffodil, they might vomit, suffer tummy troubles, and even experience low blood pressure.
Other Spring flowers that are toxic to cats include:
🥀Tulips
🌷Crocus
🪻Hyacinth
Symptoms of poisoning vary but can include vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling, muscle tremors, limb paralysis, and respiratory failure
Cats are intelligent yet curious animals. Whilst they generally won't go looking for toxic plants to eat, they can still be at risk of poisoning whilst exploring. One of the biggest causes of poisoning from poisonous plants is when the pollen falls on your cat when they brush against the plant. They then ingest this whilst cleaning and grooming themselves later.

For more information on toxic plants
https://www.myfamilyvets.co.uk/poisonous-plants-for-cats

06/03/2024

IS GRASS THE DEVIL'S WORK?

Time to post about grass again, with the 'grass is evil stuff sent from the devil' posts appearing up again.

Some horses do just fine on grass, and some prosper and do better when fed plenty of grass. Many prosper too much, getting too fat. Some get ill, and cannot have much grass. Many horses don't have their grass intake changed gradually enough.

But simply demonising grass is not the answer.

The things is, our UK grass - even the diverse, old meadow grass - does oversupply nutrients to many of our horses and ponies.

In that case, just look at the individual horse or pony and adjust the feed (the grass) appropriately.

If your horse or pony reacts to increases in grass intake with gut (or any other) sensitivity, lameness, laminitis, footiness, exuberance, spooking, diarrhoea or any other unwanted symptom, simply adjust their grass intake.

Feeding herbs or probiotics or a bit more stalky hay will not ameliorate the effects of too much rich grass to a horse who has eaten too much if you don't also limit the grass.

You can use these supplements for support, but they are very much a secondary intervention.

The grass isn't so much the issue. It's the individual horse or pony having an inappropriate, unbalanced diet which may have been changed immediately (new field for spring).

And having good feeding management in place will avoid grass becoming the devil's work.

Feel free to share ! 🐴🍏👹

09/02/2024

BUY ONE, GET ONE HALF PRICE!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Take advantage of this unbelievable offer while promotional stocks last - they won't be around for long ...

04/02/2024

Lovely India 🐴