How to manage worming your horse effectively

Introduction

Managing worming your horse is crucial to maintaining its health and preventing the rise of resistant parasites. This guide explains how to use wormers responsibly alongside pasture management to control worms effectively without over-relying on medication.

1. Understanding Worm Resistance and Available Treatments

Many horses are now showing resistance to certain worming products, especially those in the Benzimidazole group. As a result, ivermectin and moxidectin are more commonly used. However, with no new worming drugs expected soon, it6s vital to preserve the efficacy of current treatments by using them sparingly and in combination with other management strategies.

2. Steps for Managing Your Horses Worm Burden

Follow these practical steps to manage parasite levels responsibly and reduce dependence on wormers:

• Collect droppings regularly from your horse6s pasture, ideally daily or at least every two to three days to minimise pasture contamination.
• Mix grazing species by letting horses graze with sheep or cattle when possible, as many parasites are species-specific and cross-grazing can disrupt their lifecycle.
• Keep muck heaps away from grazing areas to prevent spreading larvae onto pastures.
• Accurately dose your horse based on weight to avoid underdosing, which encourages the development of resistance by exposing worms to sub-therapeutic drug levels.
• Ensure the entire dose is administered—some horses may spit out wormer, leading to ineffective treatment.
• Use regular faecal worm counts to monitor parasite burdens, targeting worming only when necessary. Remember, some parasites like encysted redworm require winter treatment and tapeworm may need treating in spring and autumn.

3. Example of a Successful Worming Management Approach

Consider an owner who has kept two to three horses on the same land for over 13 years. By performing faecal worm counts every three months and only worming for tapeworm and encysted redworm in winter, she has kept parasite levels low without relying on a fixed six-week worming programme. This approach helps preserve wormer efficacy and maintain horse health.

4. Best Practices for New Horses and Treatment Choices

• Isolate any new arrivals on the yard from other horses6 pastures until they have been wormed properly or have clear faecal egg count results.
• If worming is needed, select the appropriate product targeting specific parasites, ideally based on veterinary or laboratory advice.
• Administer the correct dose at the right time as this combination of dosage, timing, and drug choice is essential for successful worming.
• Regularly review your worming protocols collaboratively with your vet or a qualified professional and stay open to adjusting established routines.

5. Supporting Pasture and Horse Management

Worms are adaptive parasites capable of developing resistance over time. To combat this, horse owners must adopt holistic strategies including the management of both horses and the pastures they graze. Removing manure diligently, rotating pastures, and avoiding moving horses onto clean pastures immediately after treatment are important practices to dilute resistant worm populations.

6. Protecting Key Medicines for Your Horse

The era of simply administering wormer medication routinely and forgetting about worm control is over. Many horse owners may not yet fully grasp the long-term implications of resistance development, which can lead back to serious health issues like colic caused by heavy infestations. Protecting existing wormers through prudent use and pasture hygiene is a shared responsibility.

Conclusion

In summary, effective worming management for your horse combines targeted worm counts, accurate dosing, strategic timing, and pasture care. Taking a proactive and informed approach helps maintain your horse's health, slows parasite resistance, and keeps these valuable medicines effective for years to come.

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