Silent Killers of Horses

Equine Parasites

Internal parasites are silent killers of horses. They can cause extensive internal damage to your horse, and you may not even realize your horse is heavily infected. Parasites can lower your horses’ resistance, deplete your horse of valuable nutrients, and cause gastrointestinal irritation and upset. Equine parasites can lead to colic, intestinal ruptures, and death.

Utilizing deworming agents on a regular schedule in combination with good management procedures is critical to relieving your horse of most parasites. Since parasites are primarily transferred through manure, good horse stall and equine barn manure management is essential. Establishing a equine parasite control program is probably second only to supplying the horse with clean, plentiful water and high quality feed.

How to get rid of parasites before they infect your horse:

• Pick up and dispose of horse manure in the pasture at least twice weekly.

• Mow and harrow equine pastures regularly to break up manure piles and expose parasite eggs and larvae to the elements.

• Rotate equine pastures by allowing other livestock, such as sheep or cattle, to graze them, thereby interrupting the life cycles of parasites.

• Group horses by their age to reduce exposure to certain equine parasites and maximize the deworming program set up for that group.

• Keep the number of horses per acre to a minimum to prevent overgrazing, thus reduce the equine fecal contamination per acre.

• Use a horse feeder for hay and grain rather than feeding on the ground.

• Remove bot eggs quickly and regularly from your horses’ hair coat to prevent ingestion.

• Rotate equine deworming agents, not just brand names, to prevent chemical resistance.

• Consult your equine veterinarian to set up an effective and regular horse deworming schedule.

Safe and convenient equine deworming products are available today, so establishing an effective equine deworming program is easy. Discuss an equine deworming plan with your veterinarian and implement it as soon as possible. An effective equine parasite control program will go a long way toward maximizing your horse’s appearance, performance and comfort. The net result will be a horse that is as healthy on the inside as it appears on the outside.

For more information about equine parasites, talk to your equine veterinarian.

Have a great day with your horse.

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