What is the effect of worms on horses? What are the best ways to control them and when should you worm my horse? Read on for more information.
Heavenly Pastures Horse Cremations Guide to Controlling Worms
Horses come into contact with many parasites in their lifetime. While a small amount of worms has little or no effect on health, a high parasite burden causes serious health problems if untreated.
A worm control programme and exercise plus good pasture management can ensure most horses do not suffer from a worm infestation. There are five main worm types that affect horses:
- Small redworms
- Large redworms
- Tapeworms
- Roundworms
- Bots
What can be done to prevent worm damage?
To control worms, you must keep your horse’s pasture clean and regularly deworm. This means testing each horse before deworming them. The test estimates the number of parasite eggs in the horse’s droppings. A targeted approach is better because blanket deworming has resulted in some serious parasites becoming resistant to drugs.
How does pasture management help with worm control?
The worms in our horses come from contaminated feed. A redworm develops from an egg in dung to a larva in five days. A harsh winter or hot summer can kill worms on pasture, but British weather is not usually extreme enough. Our wet, mild weather helps worms spread.
- Pick up droppings: this is an efficient way to control parasitic worms.
- Droppings should be collected at least twice a week, especially in warm weather.
- Locate the muck heap well away from horse grazing areas.
- Cross-graze with cattle or sheep: they consume equine parasite eggs and larvae, which can’t survive in their stomachs.
- Don’t overstock or overgraze the pasture: allow 1 to 1.5 acres per horse.
Heavenly Pastures Horse Cremations
Heavenly Pastures Horse Cremations are here to help you with a collection and cremation services for horses – we cover the counties of Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire within a two to three hour drive, as well as offering a nationwide horse collection and cremation service. We give you the opportunity to grieve as our equine end of life service takes care of practical arrangements for you. For more help or advice contact us on one of the following:-
Leyland Horse Cremations 01704 776 976
Warrington Horse Cremations 01704 776 976
Southport Horse Cremations 01704 776 976
Wigan Horse Cremations 01704 776 976
St Helens Horse Cremations 01704 776 976
