Horse Worming
The Facts
1. Horses do not need to be stabled for 24 hours after worming.
Wormers kill the parasites within the horse. Therefore the parasites that are passed in the horse’s droppings immediately after worming are already dead and can cause no harm to the horse.
2. Removing Droppings from your horse’s pasture is onc of the most effective ways of tackling worms. Horse faeces contains the eggs and larvae of parasites. Wet weather can encourage the larvae to migrate from the faeces to the surrounding grass. This increases the risk of your horse horse ingesting the larvae and thus allowing them to develop within the horse’s gastrointestinal tract.
3. Each horse needs a different amount of wormer. Not one syringe per horse.
Whilst most wormers may be safe if the recommended dose is exceeded, some can have toxic effects. Under dosing will not kill the parasites effectively and therefore you should allows follow the instructions and dose according to your horse’s weight. Under dosing will also increase the chances of worm resistance.
4. Grazing sheep and cattle with horses can help to redue worm problems.
5. Harrowing your fields does not help to control parasites.
By harrowing a field, the horse’s faeces is scattered together with the infected eggs and larvae. In very hot climates the eggs and larvae are killed but in mild and wet conditions this provides the perfect breeding grounds for these parasites to thrive and infect your horse.
