| Everyone knows how important it is to worm our | | | | The reason we do this is to ensure the worms within |
| horses regularly to make sure they are healthy and | | | | our horses are not building up a resistance to the |
| happy! This is especially important for those horses | | | | type of drug in the wormers we are using - this can |
| that are on pasture 24 hours a day, but is also | | | | be a real problem as horses can carry heavy |
| important for stabled horses. | | | | infestations of worms in their gut even though they |
| A few tips for worming horses: | | | | are wormed on a regular basis, and start to lose |
| - Treat all horses grazing together at the same time | | | | condition and become unhealthy. |
| and with the same product. | | | | Ensure that your horse gets the correct dose for his |
| - Take into account the horse's age and type, local | | | | weight. Don't under-dose as this can lead to |
| environment and climate. | | | | resistance in the worm population and the horse not |
| - Keep an accurate record of when you worm your | | | | being wormed effectively. This is particularly |
| horse and the product used. | | | | important to remember when you have a larger |
| - Treat horses that are at grass during the winter, | | | | horse such as a friesian, as these horses often |
| even if only for short periods.Do not overstock the | | | | weight more than the highest dose level on the |
| paddocks. | | | | worming paste - often these pastes only go up to |
| - When moving horses to new grazing worm them | | | | 550kg-500kg, and many friesians are over 650kg, |
| 48 hours before the move to help prevent the | | | | with our heaviest horse weighing in at around |
| spread of parasites. | | | | 750-800kg!! The 'mectin' family of worming product is |
| - No single worming drug will kill all the horse's internal | | | | the most common class of wormer used in Australia |
| parasites | | | | currently - wormers such as Equimax (abamectin), |
| - Do not administer the drugs more frequently than | | | | Equest (moxidectin) and Equimec (ivermectin) are |
| recommended. | | | | some examples. The 'mectins' are very good |
| The key to worm control is to break the life cycle of | | | | wormers, but there are growing concerns that |
| the parasite, through drugs and pasture management. | | | | over-use will lead to resistance in the horse industry |
| Killing the four main groups (Large Redworms, Small | | | | and cause a loss of it's effectiveness. |
| Redworms, Tapeworms and Bots), will also kill all the | | | | How to Avoid Resistance |
| other important worms. When you are moving from | | | | Give the correct dose - especially do not under-dose |
| the warmer months and into autumn and winter, you | | | | Use an effective worming product (not a product |
| may notice Bot flies hanging around your horse | | | | where resistance has developed, as it may make the |
| (mainly their legs). These annoying flies lay small white | | | | problem worse) |
| eggs on your horse in autumn, so using an effective | | | | Prevent the horse from spitting the paste back out |
| boticide (ivermectin) when you worm at this time of | | | | and reducing the dose he gets - put the wormer all |
| year. | | | | the way to the back of the tongue, and make sure |
| Worm Resistance | | | | to hold the horses head up for around 15 seconds |
| If the active ingredient in a worming product is used | | | | after administering or until you can see that he |
| continuously on a property for a long time, there is | | | | swallows all of the paste. Rotate wormers (the drug |
| an increased likelihood that the worms (especially | | | | not just the brand) - this can be done yearly. |
| Small Strongyles) may develop resistance to that | | | | Maintain good pasture hygiene - rotate paddocks and |
| family of drug, rendering the products no longer | | | | harrow in the summer months, or pick up manure in |
| effective. Make sure to rotate wormers every year | | | | paddocks, or clean stables out daily. These measures |
| or so - this means getting a different wormer with a | | | | avoid increasing the worm burden in the paddock |
| different active ingredient and not just a different | | | | stable and hence also in the horse. |
| brand - make sure you read the label or ask | | | | Remembering these simple steps and guidelines will |
| someone (such as your vet or the supplier of the | | | | ensure that your horse is happy, fit and healthy, on |
| worming paste) which active ingredients are different | | | | the inside and outside. |
| from the wormer you have been using. | | | | |