As your horse grazes out in the pasture, they are constantly exposed to a smorgasbord of parasites that lurk in the soil.
Horses are most frequently affected by small strongyles — parasites that latch onto your horse’s intestinal wall and lay eggs. The eggs are passed through the horse’s feces and contaminate the grass, where they are then ingested by another horse, continuing their life cycle.
It is natural for your horse to have some parasites in their digestive system at any given time, but when that parasitic load is too high, it can lead to digestive complications such as impaction, colic, diarrhea, constipation, and weight loss. With parasite control through deworming and environmental management, you can keep your horse safe from parasite-related health issues.
Your Horse’s Ideal Deworming Schedule
You can work with your equine veterinarian to develop a deworming schedule that works best for your horse. The frequency at which your horse will need to be dewormed depends on several factors, including:
- Age
- Travel frequency
- Grazing habits
- Geographic location
- Whether your horse is a “high shedder”
While most horses carry some internal parasites, some shed more eggs in their feces than others. Horses that share a pasture also share parasites, but approximately 15–30% of horses will shed approximately 80% of the eggs — doing more than their fair share to keep the parasite population growing.
High Shedders vs. Low Shedders
High shedders need to be dewormed more frequently to keep the parasite population under control. Low shedders, on the other hand, should be dewormed less frequently, as excessive deworming can lead to parasites becoming resistant to the dewormer drug.
Fecal Egg Count Testing
How do you find out which horses are high shedders? Conduct fecal egg count testing before and after deworming. It is the only way to determine whether a particular drug is working and which horses shed eggs at the highest rate. Your veterinarian can help you interpret results and adjust your horse’s digestive health and deworming plan accordingly.
Environmental Parasite Control for Horses
Making changes to your horse’s environment can help control parasites and prevent over-reliance on dewormers.
Manure Removal
Because parasites begin their life cycle as eggs shed through feces, you can greatly decrease your horse’s risk of parasitic overload by simply removing manure from the pasture. You should dispose of manure at least twice a week to keep parasites under control.
Pasture Rotation
Rotating pastures is another effective way to help keep your horse safe. Parasites thrive in warm, wet conditions, but they will quickly die off on a dry, hot day — making that the ideal time to rest a pasture. You can also rotate pastures with goats and sheep, as those species are not affected by the parasites that affect horses.
Combining a smart deworming protocol with sound pasture management gives your horse the best protection against parasitic overload. Browse horse health and wellness products at 1800PetMeds to find the dewormers and supplements that support your horse’s parasite control program.
