Handy Tips to Taking a Targeted Worming Approach

There are simple changes that you can make to your everyday mangement along with your overall worming programme to reduce parasitic levels and the amount of wormers being used.

1) Poo Pick that Field!!

It's a chore that we all dread, but poo picking is an extremly important and effective management tool in reducing parasitic burdens. It's important to keep not just your horses field poo free, but their turnout area and paddocks aswell, espically if they are stabled in livery or shared yards.

2) Mixed Grazing (Buy Some Biohoovers)

Grazing sheep or cattle on horse pastures is an effective management tool in reducing the parasitic level. This mixed grazing technique uses Biohoovers; sheep and cattle. They naturally ingest the equine parasitie species, ending the lifecycle by "cleaning up" the pastures.

It is important to note that both sheep and cattle must be accuratley dosed with an effective flukeicide before grazing on the pastures.

4) Get the Weight Right

We like to think our horses are lighter than they sometimes are. When working with veterinary medicines its important to get the correct dosage for their weight and the same applies for wormers.

Under estimating their weight means that a full dosage has not be given and the risk of resitance developing is greater. Ideally a weigh bridge is wanted to give an accurate weight, but not all of us have access, a weight tape will help to give an approximate, if your unsure speak to your vet or SQP.

3) Try a Faecal Worm Egg Count

Put down the routine wormer and get a Faecal Worm Egg Count done to help identify the level of parasites present and what chemical will be most effective. Blindly worming can lead to a development of resistance. Seek advice from a qualified SQP or your Vet, they can help you develop a targeted programme to suit your individual yard and horse.