Worming - Do you bother!!??

M

Mbronze

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I always prided myself on being a responsible horse owner and have done my best to make sure both my neds are in the best of health.

My quandary is if i worm both my horses on a regular basis, is it worth it if everyone else in my yard/field doesn't worm their horses, i only ask cause i overheard a friend last night who keeps her mare in the same field as mine and she claimed she hadn't wormed for 6mths and doesn't see the point because everyone worms at different times therefore it is not beneficial.

We are on a yard of 60 plus horses, so perhaps it is hard to input a worming programme on the yard.

So my question is does anybody on here come from a large livery yard and what do you do to ensure your horses are protected??
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I used to work on a livery yard with 75 horses on it. The contract stated all horses had to be wormed at the same time - we ordered the wormer in and then all the horses were brought in and done at the same time. The cost of the wormer and use of the groom (if the owners weren't around) were added on to their monthly bill.
At my current yard (very small) we worm count 3 to 4 times a year then worm twice a year for tapeworm.
 
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I used to work on a livery yard with 75 horses on it. The contract stated all horses had to be wormed at the same time - we ordered the wormer in and then all the horses were brought in and done at the same time. The cost of the wormer and use of the groom (if the owners weren't around) were added on to their monthly bill.
At my current yard (very small) we worm count 3 to 4 times a year then worm twice a year for tapeworm.

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Echo this
 
I think you should have a word with the yard owner, and ask her to decide on a yard strategy (although worming isn't the only form of parasite control).
I keep my three at a large yard, but they have their own field, I poo pick morning and night, worm count and/or worm (especially for encysted small redworm and tapeworm in spring and autumn).
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I'm only on a small yard but everything gets wormed at the same time. At my old yard with 60plus horses, the people in each field would say "Our horses are coming in for worming next weekend, get wormer or your horse will be out on its own." People usually comply after that.
 
Professional good livery yards should have a worming programme where all the horses are wormed at the same time otherwise yes it probably is pointless.
 
TBH it is even more important to worm in this scenario as your horse will be picking up all the other horses' worms.
 
I have just moved my horse to a small yard, YO has two horses one retired and one in work. I asked what worming program she had, her reply was that she didn't have one and that she had never wormed. I had some worm count kits and suggested that it might be a good idea. We did all three horses, my horse came back with a count of 350 which ment that she was due for regular worming. The other horse that was in work had a high count. but has only been owned by YO for about 12 months, the retired horse who they have owned for a long time was in dire need of worming, had all worms known to man poor old boy, and by doing the counts shocked owner into doing it.
 
I don't have a set worming schedule on yard, I follow (actually I was following until I forgot what he said) what my vet said to do (Equest every 13 weeks and then Strongid 2x dose in summer, and then rotate to something next year...I am in the next year now).

Field is poo picked daily, so I might actually just do a dung sample and chuck the whole lot in.

On that note, does anyone have a link to a good worming regime? It confuzzles me....
 
We are on a small yard of 7 horses and we do our worming through a company who does a mixture of both chemical wormers and worm counts. We decided on this as some of us prefer chemicals and some wanted to do counts.
It's great, the programme is designed so that we don't use chemicals if we don't need to depending on the horse's worm counts
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I am on a large yard. Not everyone wormed at the same time so I did not think it was beneficial, and TBH a complete waste of money.

I have not wormed for over a year now. I get a worm count done instead and they have all come back clear.

I do worm for Tape though.
 
Unfortunately our yard although large is not professional..I'm going to worm count mine this weekend cause i'm quite worried thats why my old boy is loosing weight?

The joys of being on a large yard where everyone knows best!!
 
If you are worming them I would get the horses who share your field wormed as well and make sure the field is clear. Otherwise you may be wasting your money?
 
Old YO insisted that EVERYONE was wormed at the same time and all horses were to be kept in that night. He also rotated fields and grazed sheep as they can munch the worms to no ill effect?? If you didnt comply you were asked to leave. It was the only thing he was strict on.
 
Whilst a yard should have a worming programme, sadly some don't. When I was on a yard that didn't have a programme I used to do worm counts and worm as required.

Our current yard does have a programme, we use worm counts but I prefer to worm for tape with a tape wormer in October when they change the fields and not double dose in July with the YO does - bit old fashioned to double dose when they are good tape wormers now available.

As my two are in their own field, the YO lets me have control of my worming as he knows that I am not going to risk the boys' health with not worming.

I now worm count April before they go onto the summer paddock and September (so I know if I need to use just tape or a duo wormer for October). I then worm with equest for encysted red worm at the beginnng of January.

This has worked really well for the past three years or so.

I also clear the field nearly every day in summer and weekly in winter until end of December when the field turns into a mud patch and is impossible to poo pick.

I certainly would not worm control my horse even if others are too stupid to do so. Perhaps you could encourage them to start with a worm count and go from there.
 
I worm Daisy regularly and have just started worm counting in the hope that I will be able to go onto a reduced worming strategy. I'm not sure though because the people in the fields to either side of me do their own thing about worming and don't poo pick so I worry that the worms will migrate into my field. Can they do this or am I being silly?
 
As i have seen the devastateing results on similar yards my heart breaks.
I would get a worm count done/possibly blood test to see what you are dealing with in your own horse.
Please do worm!
As you are so responsible would you be able to organise a seminar on worming. Professor Proudman from Liverpool university vets is ideal. I can give you the tel number if interested. Try to organise to be held on your yard.
Most people will change their attitude!
I was on a yard where there was not a worming programe
one poor person who wormed her horse on a proper program lost her horse through a ruptured bowl due to encysted Red worm lava migrateing. It was picking up so many worm eggs the vet said it was like takeing antibiotics and eating salmonela.
There is so much help and advice now i cannot beleive it still goes on. It is up to the yard owner to set a program in place.
I can post some leaflets if you like.
Please do organise a seminar, its a real eye opener, even my vet learnt something.
Make it open to everyone. They are always well attended.
I can hep you with it if you wish.
 
Unfortunately the result of 'not bothering' can be a dead horse. Wormy horses do not necessarily look that way and can look fit and shiny. A friend ended up with her horse having tapeworm colic surgery on Christmas day last year. She had the wormer in her car where it had been riding around for weeks, and how does she feel? Very guilty!

Even if you are on one of those crazy yards where worming is left to God and Goodwill, you must worm your own horse, preferably on the Equest programme.

Otherwise get onto a good worm count/wormer routine and be sure your programme is working.

I am an SQP, I have run Westgate Labs for almost ten years now, the first direct-to -owner service way back when few had heard of doing these tests. We have lots of experience if you need help so do get in touch. I am happy to help anyone who is feeling stuck as it is for the good of all our horses ultimately.

I echo the above post about Dr Proudman too as he gives excellent seminars on worming. Catch one if you can.
 
I will definetely get a worm count done on my two then.

Thanks ever so much for the advice, going out to get some Equest tomorrow!!

With any luck i may get a number of us together for a seminar...try and scare them into worming..!!
 
dwi, worms do not travel that far and certainly not over hedges, don't worry.
 
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