Horse Health Management

November 2007
Lindsey Fielder - Highlands County Extension, Livestock Agent

Internal parasites affect reproduction, growth, performance, and the overall well-being of our horses; so it is vital to the health of your animal that parasite control is your top priority. While no single protocol for parasite control will fit every situation, there are certain guidelines that all good horse owners can follow in establishing a parasite management program.

More than 150 types of internal parasites are known to infect horses. However, from a practical standpoint, the 4 most significant ones are strongyles, ascarids, pinworms, and bots. This article offers various recommendations for developing an effective parasite control program.

Parasite Control

  • Always determine the weight of your horse before de-worming. Administering de-wormer at a rate lower than specified will only increase parasite resistance.
  • Always drag pastures during the summer to expose eggs and larvae to heat. This will ultimately kill the parasites and enhance your pastures.
  • If possible use a rotational grazing system. Not only will this method enhance pasture quality, but if you rotate a few days after de-worming you will break the parasite cycle.
  • In Highlands County, one mature horse per five acres is a reasonable stocking rate; to avoid parasite build up, never overgraze or overstock your pastures.
  • Generally parasites are "species specific" and do not affect other species; so grazing horses with other species of livestock; such as cattle and or goats will decrease the amount of parasites exposed to your horse.
  • Check all horses for bot eggs; those tiny, light yellow dots stuck to the hair of your animal, usually on the legs and stomach. Clipping eggs off or applying a warm, wet sponge to the infested area to induce hatching are both effective measures for bot prevention.
  • It is essential to keep water, feed, hay, and mineral trophs free of manure contamination, which contains parasite eggs and larvae.
  • Use effective fly and mosquito repellent. House and stable flies often serve as hosts or carriers of parasites and diseases.
  • Consult your veterinarian about identifying which parasites are affecting your horse. Knowing which parasite you are dealing with will enable you to administer the correct de-wormer that is formulated to kill the parasite at hand. Also, knowing this information can decrease your costs for de-wormers.

General information About Dewormers

  • Always purchase from a reputable dealer and always check the expiration date, follow instructions on the carton unless instructed otherwise by a veterinarian.
  • Never expose the de-wormer to extreme heat, such as the inside of your truck.
  • To discourage resistance and maximize protection of your horse, rotate de-worming compounds (Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, and pyrantel pamoate). (Reference chart follows)

Annual Rotation Chart

Time of Year Product  (choose one) Treatment
Winter
(January)		 Fenbendazole
· Panacur
· SafeGuard
· power dose		 General Parasite Control
All stages of encysted
 Small Strongyles
Spring
(March)		 Ivermectin or  Moxidectin
· Ivercare
· Quest
· Zimecterin
· Equell
· Iverease		 General Parasite Control
Bots
Grazing Season
(May)		 Pyrantel Pamoate
· Rotectin P
· Strongid
· Stongyle
· care		 General Parasite Control
Grazing Season
(July)		 Fenbendazole
· SafeGuard		 General Parasite Control
Fall
(September)		 Ivermectin
 or  Moxidectin (with Praziquantel)
· Quest Plus
· Zimecterin Gold
· Combocare Gel
· Equimax		 General Parasite Control
Bots & Tapeworms
Winter
(November)		 Pyrantel Pamoate
· Strongid
· Rotectin P
· Strongyle
· Care		 General Parasite Control

Created by getrotationright.com, and revised for publication by Lindsey Fielder.


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