Although the worming of horses is something that I’ve done regularly, I hadn’t considered horse anthelmintics for Equus Education. Indeed, it is something I read about regularly, too! Yet it has taken me awhile to consider it for a post here.

Anthelmintics are products that are often used by horse owners. Given regularly when needed, they can be very effective in lowering worm count levels in horses. These products are often made up of one of six main ingredients:

• pyrantel
• moxidectin
• praziquantel
• febendazole
• ivermectin
• mebendazole

I have no doubt that most people who work in the field of creating these wormers, selling them and educating others about their use, have a background in science. Perhaps it’s an Equine Science Degree or an Animal Science Degree in which they’re able to focus on horse health and equine parasitology.

For those who are familiar with using horse anthelmintics, they may be aware that owners used to be encouraged to worm every 12 weeks – and perhaps to change the active ingredient once a year.

Using Horse Anthelmintics

The current practice encouraged is to only use when needed. How do we know when a horse needs to be wormed? Faecal Worm Egg Counts can be carried out to determine the worm burden within a particular animal. Anything above 200 is considered reasonable enough to treat the horse. If figures are below this, then it is advised not to worm the horse. This is to avoid using a paste that is costing money when it isn’t needed.

Knowing this information – and how to use it effectively – can come about by being educated. This is possible through people studying worms in horses and anthelmintic products. There are people within the horse industry who do exactly this. They study and they teach others about how to use worming products efficiently and effectively. If this area of horse care appeals to you, perhaps such a job role would also be appealing.

There are people who are fascinated by parasites in particular species. Whether dogs, cats or horses, there are individuals who study the life cycles of parasites and their affects.  If you have an interest in equine parasitology – the study of parasites in horses – and the use of anthelmintics – agents used to kills parasites, then perhaps you would like to pursue this as a career that can benefit the horse industry.

People are needed to study the parasite life cycle in horses. This information can then be used to determine when to best target parasites by worming horses.  For those who study the active ingredients in wormers, worming pastes for horses can then be determined.

Someone has had to determine what kills particular worms. Did you know that pyrantel and praziquantel are best to kill of tapeworm? Did you know that particular times of the year are best to eradicate bot fly larvae?

For those who have an interest in this side of horse health, then perhaps an Equine Science or Animal Science degree is of interest.  Try to find a course with a focus on horse health and parasitology. There will always be parasites. In fact, this could become an increasing concern if people don’t learn to only worm when needed. If this doesn’t occur, then worms can develop resistance – this has already been recorded with some active ingredients. As these worms survive and breed, the resistance is passed on and the worm burden can greatly increase.

The areas of anthelmintics and equine parasitology have many different focus points. Researchers and university lecturers are two potential horse related jobs within these areas.  Often the two can be combined.

“The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough to carry a man upon his back.” – Amber Senti