Successful Control of Parasites
Different situation requires different approaches to the control of parasites. In the end successful control requires both management and medical intervention.
Factors to be considered
- Climate
- Time of year
- Humidity
- Age of horse
- The weight of the horse
- Previously used product(s)
- Number of horses and the size of the pasture
- Type of pasture or paddock (grass, dirt or sand)
- How the horses are fed (on the ground or in mangers)
- Geographical area (which parasites are prevalent in your areas)
Decisions that must be made
- Product(s) to be used
- Frequency of administrating
- Dosage
- Manure removal and tillage
- Schedule of rotation of products to be used
- Rotation of pasture area with cows or sheep
Management practices that help to control parasites
In order to control parasite, you must eliminate or disrupt the parasite's life cycle. Some methods to do this are:
- Keep your facilities and horses area clean, including pastures, paddocks, stalls, managers and water troughs
- Compost manure; do not spread it on a field where your horses will graze before it is toughly composted
- Work the soil by harrowing or tilling the area, goal, to bury the manure
- Mowing and harrowing helps to break up manure deposits and exposes the larvae to the climate, but it also spreads the larvae into the grass. Do not mow or harrow an occupied pasture
- Do not over crowd your pasture
- If possible rotate your horses with cows or sheep every other year
- Worm all of the horses in a common area at the same time
- Grouping your horses by age allows you to be specific in the selection of worming medications; different age horses are impacted by different parasites Impact of Common Parasites
- Always use mangers or bunks for feeding your horses
- Work with your veterinarian to establish a plan to keep your horses protected
- Have your veterinarian analyze fecal samples, at least yearly to make sure your plan is working and that your horse has not developed a resistance to the worming medication.