Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2010 | Page 115

the rider

Island Life - October/November 2010
individual horse(s) throughout the year.

clean pasture. Regular collection of

It is important, in a yard, to have a

If horses are to be kept together, it is

dung from the pasture helps prevent

communal worming programme that is

recommended that all animals are on

the development of latrine areas and

strictly followed by all owners.

the same programme. Wormers come

reduces the potential build up of larvae

in the form of pastes, gels, liquids and

on the pasture.

All new horses should be wormed on
arrival and kept stabled or in a yard for

granules. Pastes and gels come in oral

48 hours before being turned out with

syringes for ease of administration.

Practical Worming

existing horses. To ensure that you are

Granules and liquids can be mixed into

It is essential that the weight of the

not bringing resistant worms into your

the horse’s feed. Wormers should be

horse is known. Horses should be

yard these should be treated with an

stored correctly and should not be used

wormed according to their bodyweight.

ML-based product.

if the expiry date has passed.

Using a weighbridge is the most reliable
method of determining a horse’s

Where to buy Wormers

Pasture Management

weight but weigh tapes can also be

Wormers can be purchased from

Effective pasture management is a

used as a rough guide. Always read the

veterinary surgeons or from saddlers

major part of worm control. If possible

manufacturer’s instructions and follow

and merchants whose premises are

do not allow paddocks to become

their recommendations. They will clearly

licensed by the Pharmaceutical Society

over-grazed and ‘horse-sick’. This is

state the dose to be used. Different

of Great Britain. Seek veterinary advice

where eggs, passed in the droppings,

wormers have different treatment

for further details about worming

hatch into infective larvae that can

intervals.

horses and to check the effectivene