Equestrian Thread

[Nagishkaw 510]

This thread is for horse owners and future horse owners to exchange training tips, health issues, or anything else relating to your horse(s).

[Nagishkaw 510]

Has anyone else put their horse on a twice a year worming program ? I've had my horse on this for a year and so far his fecal results all came back negative. The other horses he shares a pasture with are wormed regularly and their fecals are all positive. I'm beginning to think the worms are becoming resistant to the wormers.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Back in Canada I initially used to worm my mare twice yearly then moved up to four times a year with a secondary 'follow up' worming' 2 months after the Spring and the 'last frost' worming as there were indications even in the 70s and 80s that worms were becoming resistant. What I also did was to rotate the type of wormer used so that I never used the same anthelmintic twice in a row. This did seem to help. It was standard at all of the stables I boarded at to rotate the type of wormer.

Here in Georgia with the much warmer seasons worming is generally done every 2 to 3 months year round, especially if you don't have enough pasture land to rotate pasture and let some lie fallow for a season. It is also vital to remove droppings from the field and let them mature in a manure pile that is regularly turned as a way to prevent re-infestation of the pasture. After the manure has aged a year it is generally safe to spread it back on a fallow pasture to re-fertilize the field. I have a friend managing a facility with 12 horses and this seems to be one of the biggest chores she has to do regularly - clean and manage the pastures and worm regularly with rotating vermifuges.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Thanks for the info, Kathryn! Since I've been using Ivermectin in the spring and Quest Plus in the fall, should I change that up to Quest Plus this spring and Ivermectin this fall ? The pasture isn't bad as my horse only shares it with one other, and maybe 2 more once a week who get turned out. The boarding facility plans to re seed the pasture this spring and spread the manure, so not much I can do about the grounds.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I had a lengthy discussion with the author of this article. She felt that unless there was some specific issue with infestation, the new schedule of deworming she tried is the most efficacious and least toxic to the average horse.

My link

[Nagishkaw 510]

I had a lengthy discussion with the author of this article. She felt that unless there was some specific issue with infestation, the new schedule of deworming she tried is the most efficacious and least toxic to the average horse.

My link

Good to know. But I'm still confused what to use come April. He will be getting a fecal done again on the 12th.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Both Quest Plus and Zimectrin Gold/Equimax have praziquantel. That is the key antihelmintic medication, so that takes care of the tapeworms. The other two are more broad spectrum anti-parasitic agents. Since the mechanism for each is slightly different, they need to be rotated.

[Nagishkaw 510]

So rotate and the less drugs used, the better...right?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Good article. Have your horse tested and see what type of a shedder he is, then worm according to that schedule. It sounds like you could do the same schedule I did with Kassan. If I used Ivermectin the last time, then I would use a different wormer the next time, but check to see if the wormer is effective, as they say. You may not have to re-worm until the next season.

Pasture management is also important though, so since the others are still showing active signs of infestation and the Koda is on the same pasture as they are, you may just need to re-worm to address the re-infestation. What type of pasture management do they do?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Well, they just acquired the facility last September and started boarding early November. Since it is winter, they have not done anything to the pasture but have said they plan to re seed it in the spring, perhaps moving the horses to a different pasture while the current one is being worked on.

Since the vet is coming on the 12th, Koda will get a fecal done then. I will see what comes up and worm accordingly. I guess.

Thanks for the info!

[mounir412 101]

Morrocan Dressage Horses

Edited March 5, 2012 by mounir412

[mounir412 101]

Edited March 5, 2012 by mounir412

[tmma 467]

If the vet did fecal testing and it was positive- he or she should have advised on the correct wormer to use. I use a 3 month schedule rotating wormers ( ivermectin, pancuur...etc) to prevent immunity to the wormer. But that's Texas- depends on location and what parasites are prevalent where you are.

This reminds me. My horse is due for coggins round about now.

[tmma 467]

pic not posting

Edited March 5, 2012 by tmma

[Nagishkaw 510]

If the vet did fecal testing and it was positive- he or she should have advised on the correct wormer to use.

All fecals done last year were negative. Coggins is no longer needed here, but he will be getting one just the same on the 12th. I agree with you, it probably all depends on your location.