September 2019
For many horses, using a grazing muzzle is the only way to maintain a healthy weight. Of course, you could achieve this in another way, but sometimes there is a lack of alternative housing in the region or there is another reason why your horse has to wear a grazing muzzle. With every addition or adjustment to 'the natural' you also encounter points of attention. Worm infestation is one of them.
Clean horse
In nature, horses travel great distances and there is no need to eat a tuft of grass right next to your herd mate's 'pile'. In fact, horses are extremely hygienic animals and carefully select each tuft of grass and do not like to eat near manure. This is a natural instinct that protects the horse from excessive worm infestation. In the domesticated world where horses have a 'relatively' small area at their disposal in the pasture, this phenomenon is also seen. Horses are house-trained and drop as much manure as possible in the so-called 'toilet areas'. If you look closely, these are the places in the pasture where more manure is collected and the grass is longer.
If there is a lack of any form of pasture, manure and worm management, then this phenomenon is no longer clearly visible because in the long run the entire pasture turns into one big toilet area
Worm infections are a serious health risk for horses. Especially since in many cases, deworming is still done incorrectly without manure testing. Resistance to worming agents is becoming increasingly common. As a result, horses do not get the chance to build up their own immunity. In addition, the horse has little access to other crops that make the internal environment less friendly to worms. Worms can cause great damage to the digestive tract, which is not good for general health. A severe worm infestation in the early years can even have major consequences for health later in life.
But what is the relationship with the grazing muzzle?
Horses with a grazing muzzle are constantly looking for the easiest tuft of grass to grab. Very short grass takes a lot of effort, slightly longer grass (+- 7 to 10 cm) often works better. That is exactly the reason that horses with a grazing muzzle are more often found in the 'toilet areas' in the pasture. Normally horses leave the grass in these places. The grass in these places is longer, making it easier to reach with a grazing muzzle. But there is a real chance that this place is contaminated with worm eggs or worm larvae from the manure present. It is good to know that only 5% of the total worm population is in the horse. The rest, 95%, is in the pasture (1). Often the resistance of horses with a grazing muzzle is reduced, due to the possible underlying cause for which wearing a grazing muzzle has become necessary (think of PPID, insulin resistance and for example laminitis). Also, in these horses the intestinal flora is often not optimal, which makes the environment in the intestine even more attractive for parasites.
What to do?
The use of a grazing muzzle is accompanied by a larger health management system. This management includes the overall nutrition, housing, dental check and also the worm check. Have your horse's manure examined regularly (and don't forget the pasture companions) by a recognized veterinary parasitological laboratory. Preferably, manure the pasture daily. And if possible, move to a clean pasture (not grazed for more than a year).
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