Worm control for HorsesYou know how important it is to keep a horse’s intestinal worms under control: small redworms (strongyles) and tapeworms can cause diarrhoea, rapid and severe weight loss, as well as life-threatening colic.Efficient pasture management to reduce their exposure to worms is probably the single most important thing you can do: - droppings must be picked up twice a week in the summer and once a week in winter - try to keep stocking rates down to one per acre. - if possible alternate grazing with cattle and sheep – they can act as ‘biological vacuum cleaners’ for the pasture. - harrowing the pasture in very dry conditions helps kill larvae by desiccation. - resting your grazing for five months or more each year will hugely reduce the numbers of redworm larvae as they can only survive on pasture for a limited time. - feed all horses from hay racks, nets and feed bowls, not directly from the ground Regular dosing with professional worm products is essential for full worm control. Traditionally, redworms were only treated during the grazing season, but we now know that horses can pick up infective larvae throughout milder and wetter winters. Redworm control is now recommended at least every 6 weeks throughout the year. Tapeworms are a greater problem during periods of prolonged grazing. Treatment is recommended every 6 months: in the autumn following summer turnout to pasture and again in the spring. Horse Wormers
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