Would you let your horse/pony graze at an event??

[Derfette]

Morning all. Just curious really to hear all your thoughts. I've recently had some blood tests done on my 22 year old arab as he was losing topline and muscle tone with no obvious explanation. Thinking it may be Cushings, as it's turned out the only thing wrong with him is a very high count of roundworm. This really surprised me as he grazes his on his own (but with company the other side of the fence), no other horses have been for a while and I poo pick twice a day a the moment. As I understand now though these roundworm can stay in the ground for a number of years which could explain it or as was suggested to me this morning, as I've been going to show this summer he could quite easily have picked them up at an event. This is something I'm now going to try and avoid. Would you let your horses/ponies graze while away from home??

 

[AmyMay]

In short, yes.

What is your worm management?

 

[blitznbobs]

Yep - I always let my horse graze if stood on grass -

 

[risky business]

I would yes, as long as you have a decent worm count/ worming programme in place it should be fine.

 

[HaffiesRock]

I let my pony graze at events. It keeps him quiet and prevents his mischievous side coming out!

I worm count regularly and also worm when needed.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Yes

 

[chestnut cob]

Yep, if nothing else it means I don't need to carry big haynets in the trailer. He can eat grass while he's there and save haynets for there/back.

 

[babymare]

Yes i would to

 

[hnmisty]

Yes.
I used to give mine a haynet and she'd ignore it and go for the grass instead.

 

[Derfette]

In short, yes.

What is your worm management?

I'm on a proper worming programme and do regular counts too. It was just a surprise that vet said it was a worm issue. Maybe he was just unlucky. :-(

 

[AmyMay]

Roundworm, like tapeworm, doesn't show up in regular worm counts.

 

[Tempi]

In answer to the question re grazing - no I don't let my horses graze at events, that's how diseases such as strangles and EHV can be passed on if an infected horse has grazed there before your horse.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Roundworm, like tapeworm, doesn't show up in regular worm counts.

Yes they do but it does not show encysted larvae or pinworm.

My friends young horse who she has bred and wormed all her life showed a high burden whilst her field companion a older retiree had a no/low burden. The friend had just started egg counting instead of a standard worming programme otherwise she would never have known. So some horse are just susceptible although you should check you are using the right products and not underestimating his weight.

And yes I would allow my horse to graze at shows. He has never had a high egg count in the last 4 years of being on a worm count programme.

 

[muckypony]

No, never.

I used to, but after being on a yard that was shut due to strangles, I never will again. So many diseases can be spread this way and I just don't see the point when I always have enough hay to last.

 

[Spring Feather]

No I never let my horses graze at events. They are tied up when not ridden and they have hay from home available to them. I don't wander around with them, I don't let them sniff other horses, I keep to myself until the horses go in the ring, horses do their rounds and then comes back to the trailer and get tied up until we're done for the day and go home.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Have never let mine graze away from home, just not worth the risk in them bringing something back.
Then again, mine are never tied outside either, they are either on the box, or competing - possibly led about in hand for a leg stretch if there is a long wait.

 

[Capriole]

I don't.


I take forage, and I take water. I don't let them drink from communal water troughs, either.

 

[mulledwhine]

Yes I do, but now will think twice

 

[ebonyallen]

Yes I do.

 

[Marydoll]

Nope, i try to minimise the chance of bringing any disease back and many are picked up by grazing at events, i take everything including water with me

 

[mandwhy]

Yes I do but take our own water. I would rather she ate the hay but she is not interested in it when there's excitement going on. I have to walk her around a bit to relax her and that usually involves a graze.

 

[hayley.t]

I always take my own water and hay but I also think it depends on where the event is, if we go to an agricultural show that is on a livestock field I will usually let him graze, however we go to a riding club at a yard that I know has worm problems so I don't let him graze there, or if it was on a field that was regularly used/ grazed by horses I wouldn't let him.

 

[LouisCat]

Yep, never think not to

 

[cob&onion]

All the time

 

[Lolo]

Blimey. Reg arrives at an event and goes for a march round the lorry park to take in the sights and sniff every poo and eat every bit of skanky, week-old hay he can find...

 

[Boysy]

Nope never, take my own hay and water and don't let them sniff others either, not risking picking anything up from someone elses negligence.

 

[cheeryplatypus]

Used not to think twice about grazing at shows etc. This summer however we have been advised not to graze at local shows due to strangles at a couple of nearby yards, so now he gets hay only.

 

[Janee]

Thats certainly made me think again, will probably have a very unhappy pony when I tell her no picnics at events any more !

 

[Janah]

Tried to not let my boy eat grass at events but on pleasure rides if I came across a water trough would encourage him to drink as he wouldn't drink away from home.

Usually cattle troughs so thought infection would be minimal, rightly or wrongly.

 

[loopinlou]

Sometimes let them graze as unfortunately a lot of venues around us do not allow hay outside of boxes and I do not like to leave mine in it. I now bring a large bucket of hifi lite as a hay replacer at shows