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Mild winters – what are the consequences?

Did you know that mild winters affect the infection pressure of worm infestations in horses?

Mild winters and the absence of prolonged frost or cold have led to higher infection pressure during winter. In recent years, more horses are kept on pasture 24/7. If the manure is not removed, the pasture remains infectious for a longer period.

Most larvae and eggs easily survive frost in the top layer of the soil. Infectious larvae of the small strongyle can survive on the pasture for up to three months.

Roundworm
Roundworm eggs, which often already contain a larva, are surrounded by three protective layers and can be ingested year-round. These eggs are well protected against temperature changes and chemical agents and can remain infectious for up to ten years. Because they survive so well outside the horse, any pasture where infected horses have been is considered contaminated. That’s why it’s very important to remove manure.

What can you do?

  • Perform regular fecal testing, ideally four times a year.
  • Use preventive deworming once a year if necessary.
  • Remove manure from the pasture.
  • Mow the grass short in spring to prepare for the grazing season.
  • Allow other animals, like sheep or cows, to graze the pasture.

Related Blogs

How do I interpret the results?

A manure test alone does not determine whether a horse needs treatment. The questionnaire, the horse’s health and age, seasonal parasite pressure, and existing records also help assess whether treatment is appropriate.

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Worm aneurysm and cyathostominosis are often confused, but they are two completely different conditions, each with its own risks. In this blog we clearly explain what both problems are, how they develop and why good worm management is so important to prevent them.

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It can be confusing: you have a fecal test done and the result comes back positive. Yet, the advice is not to treat. How is that possible? We’ll explain.

 

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