Whole-Farm Management Strategies for Equine Internal Parasites

parasite infection.
Frequently clean and disinfect water and feed troughsbuckets. This can reduce any fecal contamination that may have occurred and again lower potential contact with parasites.
Quarantine any new horses coming onto the farm to help reduce the chance of introducing new or genetically unique parasites to your farm. Perform fecal egg count reduction tests to find out if the horse is infected with parasites that are resistant to the dewormers you use on your farm. See section on Dewormers for Management. If the dewormer did not reduce the internal parasite load as needed an additional deworming treatment with a different chemical class should be given immediately. Wait until reduction is greater than 95 before turning the horse out with other horses and on pasture grasses.
Dewormers for Management
All adult horses should receive one to two treatments with dewormer annually according to the American Association of Equine Practitioners. However it is important that these treatments be given strategically as anthelmintic dewormer resistance a parasites ability to survive deworming treatments has been documented in all three of the dewormer chemical classes currently on the market. It is important to take the following steps when using dewormers for management
Talk to your veterinarian about a detailed plan for your farm. Each situation is unique and therefore partnering with your veterinarian to develop deworming strategies can help ensure you are making the best decisions for you and your horses. Some things to discuss with your veterinarian include
Your farm type single or multi horse farm breeding operation boarding facility etc. and internal parasite concerns with that type of operation
Current parasite load of horses on the farm
Current health status of the horses and any additional things that may need to be adjusted due to the horses state
immunocompromised pregnant young etc.
Environmental conditionsclimate in the area
Timing

of deworming based on the season
Other factors that might affect the parasite load on your farm livestock presence pasture rotation etc.
Conduct fecal egg counts FEC on all horses on the farm and identify their individual shedding rates typically for small strongyles but ascarids can also be identified.
Strategically determine type and frequency of dewormer treatments based on the horses individual need based on the FEC results and which drug classes are effective on the farm see 5. Some horses may need to be treated more frequently than others.
Give the dewormer at the appropriate time. During certain seasons particularly spring and