Owners should avoid overstocking pastures with horses; optimally, each horse should be designated two to three acres of land for grazing. The overgrazing of pastures causes horses to eat near areas containing manure, thereby increasing the infection rate. Even one to two cases of infestation with strongyle worms will make it necessary to deworm all animals sharing the land in order to prevent reinfection. Pasture hygiene is also critical. It is important to remove and compost manure to kill strongyle larvae. Also, fresh manure should not be spread throughout the pasture; this further infects the land.
The rotation of dewormers has been suggested as a means of helping prevent parasites' developing resistance medications. An examining veterinarian will be able to determine the type of eggs present in a pasture, and put all horses on a farm on a deworming schedule that is specifically tailored to the farm. There is no single deworming schedule that works for all regions and all conditions. Consequently, regular consultation with a veterinarian is recommended.
