Pony Self Worming With Ivy?

[Celtic Fringe]

Old cob is mostly wise and clever. He is also very prone to worms. He will often eat small, but regular amounts of ivy (Hedera helix) especially when worming is due. One one occasion he was very determined about this - and a FEC revealed a very high worm burden, picked up when we had visited another yard for a few days! All other horses on our yard were worm free - he looks after the worms for the whole herd!
Does anyone else have a horse that does this? I know there is some published research into the effects of ivy on sheep worm burdens, but I cannot find anything credible on horses.

 

[Leo Walker]

I thought ivy was poisonous to horses?

 

[Cortez]

Ivy IS poisonous. Just worm your horse.

 

[nikicb]

My thought would be that he is that desperate for food because he is wormy that he eats ivy. That above self medication anyway.

 

[pennyturner]

Ivy is one of a number of plants which, whilst 'toxic' in bulk are not particularly so in small quantities. It does help to naturally expel worms.

Most ponies will eat a little ivy (but not usually a lot), along with wormwood, oak leaves etc. I have always assumed this is nature's way of medicating, and have never noticed any ill effects.

The one that worries me is horsetail - one of mine eats it, and I know it's bad, but the first symptom is supposed to be weight loss, and he's as fat as a pig - maybe he knows something I don't.

 

[Celtic Fringe]

Just to reassure everyone. He is not starved - quite the opposite as he is on ad lib hay all winter and good grazing in the summer. He is around 30 years old, 14.2 hh and weighs 560kg (measured on the vets weighbridge). He has regular FEC counts, has been ELISA tested for tapeworm and is wormed appropriately under veterinary guidance.

Just interested as I am aware that ivy is toxic, but he never eats large amounts and has never suffered any obvious ill effects. Like pennyturner I take that he is self-medicating. He has a huge amount of 'native wit', but he is definitely the most worm-prone horse in the herd.