UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — If you own a horse, then you know the importance of an effective deworming schedule. But what exactly is the most effective deworming schedule for horses?
The latest research warns that rotational deworming every 8 weeks has led to parasites becoming resistant to the most common dewormers. In fact, there is growing resistance to 2 of the 3 available drug classes for small strongyles, the most common internal parasites in adult horses.
So what can be done? Experts recommend a deworming protocol based on Fecal Egg Counts to see which horses shed the most parasite eggs and to determine which drugs are effective on your farm. On November 6, 2021, Penn State Extension will offer an Equine Parasite Workshop from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Montgomery County 4-H Center in Collegeville. You will learn about parasite life cycles, resistance to dewormers, and drug classes and management strategies.
Participants can bring manure samples from their horses to the workshop to learn how to perform Fecal Egg Counts and find out how many eggs their horse sheds. Instructors include Dr. Danielle Smarsh, Penn State Equine Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor, and Laura Kenny, Penn State Equine Extension Educator. Registration is required by October 31 and the program costs $25 per person. Space is limited so register soon! To register, visit extension.psu.edu/equine-parasite-workshop or call 877-345-0691. If you have questions about the workshop, contact Laura Kenny at LBK8@psu.edu or 484-971-6512. To learn more about the Penn State Equine Team programs visit the website at: https://extension.psu.edu/animals-and-livestock/equine.
–Penn State Extension