Deworm before traveling in winter months

It’s important to prepare your horse for each season and during the cold months of winter, your horse may not be ridden as frequently and may be turned out. You need to consider his health, nutrition and shelter to prepare him for the coming cold months. Among the health care concerns include equine deworming,vaccinations, and hoof care.

Ivermectin for Winter deworming

Check on your horse’s vaccinations to make sure they are up-to-date before winter comes, especially if you plan to travel to join indoor competitions where your horse is likely to be kept closely with other horses and the risk for respiratory disease is increased.  If you plan to be hauling a lot in winter, consider giving your horse a booster shot of rhinopneumonitis and influenza vaccinations.When deworming, the best thing to do is to wait for the first frost to rid  equine parasites. Abler provides easy-to-administer and cost-effective ivermectin granules with their new dewormer, AbIver™. For deworming, it is still important to consult your veterinarian on the deworming needs of your horse with considerations on his environment.

For hoof care, you may need to check your horse’s hooves before you turn him out for the cold months. Doing away with the shoes allows your horse to have a natural foot and avoid chances of slipping on ice. This may be applicable unless you plan to keep your horse stabled throughout winter.

Your horse’s body condition and nutrition should also be assessed. Your horse should have the right amount of fat in the body. Fat can be a source of energy as well as an insulator over the blistering cold winter. Nutrition considerations for winter include feeding good quality hay for him to digest. Digestion can release heat which can be beneficial during the season. More importantly, always include water in your horse’s diet plus making sure he has good access to it. Equine colic in winter can be avoided by feeding high quality hay and supplying adequate source of quality water.

Horses can tolerate temperatures between 20F and 30F (-0.6 - -0.1C)  given that they have grown enough hair coat to provide them warmth. However, shelter is still necessary to help them stay dry and protected from the wind. If you plan to keep your horse in stables throughout the cold season, provide proper ventilation to reduce the risk of developing respiratory diseases.