HOW TO CALCULATE THE BODY WEIGHT OF YOUR HORSE
By Jo Ross
HERE ARE TWO USEFUL METHODS:
1. Scales are always the best option.
- If your are fortunate enough to have a truck weighing station nearby or quite often municapal dumps have a vehicle weighing platform, then take your empty horse float there and have it weighed, record the measurement.
- Then go home and load up your horse and bring it back to the weigh station and record what the loaded horse float weighs now.
- Deduct the first weight (when you float was empty) from the second weight (when you horse was loaded), and there you have the exact weight of your horse.
- Of course be mindful to not have added extra equipment or passengers when you weigh your loaded horse float as this will give you a false calculation.
2. It is easy to estimate the weight of any horse or pony by using a piece of string or bailing twine, a tape measure and a calculator.
- Use the string to measure around the girth, record this measurement.
- Then measure the body length from the front of the chest to the base of the tail, record this measurement.
- Use the equation below to calculate the weight.
Source for the equation method: IAH 2009 & Carrol & Huntington 1988
QUEENSLAND ITCH
By Jo Ross
Queensland Itch is basically a hypersensitive reaction to the saliva of the midge (sandfly) bites, the horse's immune system response leaves the skin inflammed and very itchy.
I have not used proprietary pharmaceuticals for the condition myself because I believe in "all natural" products.
From my perspective, I do not look at attending to the symptom that the skin is presenting, but rather the cause of the problem... because the skin will naturally heal itself from the inside outward under the right conditions.
I use successfully a topical application of blended pure essential oils, specifically diluted, to prevent the insects from landing and biting, so as to not cause any further prolonging of the situation. Along with another pure essential oil to relieve the itch which works within moments, easing burdensome rubbing and scratching and providing a more comfortable situation for the horse.
This allows the natural restoration of skin and hair regrowth to occur in it's normal timeframe.
I find it very beneficial to continue with the blended, natural, essential oil repellent spray during sandfly season to ensure no recurrence of the 'Itch' this season. Discontinue using it when the sandflies are dormant, and commence again next summer upon the arrival of the sandflies.
I am situated right on the coastline and have mangroves (sandfly city!) beyond my paddocks where my three horses reside. This is why I createad this formula and have great success with it and love to share it.
I prepare this blend for customers upon request so as to ensure suitable quantities and constituents for individual needs and applications. Please email JO with your enquiries.
WORMING YOUR HORSE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ROTATING THE CLASS OF WORMER TO PREVENT WORM RESISTANCE
It is important to rotate wormers by active ingredients, NOT by brand name, and to NOT rely on any one class of wormer because worms have the ability to become resistant.
SOME OF THE ISSUES
- The most important parasites are the small strongyles which are controlled by broad spectrum wormers.
- No one class of compounds is effective against all worms and that is the reason why wormers often contain more than one active ingredient, eg: - mectin and praziquantel.
- Resistance to wormers is a fact of life. when a single class of compound is over used it loses it's effectiveness. There is resistance to the BZ's and emerging resistance to - mectins most particularly roundworms and pinworms. - Mectin resistance to roundwroms is proven overseas and cases have been found in Australia. Further there is evidence of ivermectin resistance to small strongyles developing overseas. There is reported resistance to pyrantel in the USA but no evidence in Australia, as yet.
- We should protect the - mectins, tetrahydropyrimidines and isoquinolones from overuse.
- Many horse owners continue to use the same wormers or change their wormers by brand name, not by active ingredients.
- Some worm types are seasonal: Tapeworms occur in spring and possibly autumn; Bots occur in late summer and autumn.
- Annual chemical rotation, using one class for ayear then switching to another, has been advocated for years, bit is not commonly adopted because annual rotation is at odds with seasonal worm activity.
- There is little likelihood of any new classes of wormers becoming available in the foreseeable future.
- Many horse owners 'gues' the weight of their horses, leading to under dosing or over dosing. To calculate your horse's body weight, click here to view the equation.
CLASSES OF HORSE WORMERS
POSSIBLE STRATEGIES
This is an example only and depends on stocking rates, grazing presure, location etc. It gives two possible worming programs assuming that there are two wormings per season.
Other Strategies
- Remove manure from stables, yards and paddocks weekly
- Spell paddocks especially in summer
- Cross graze using cattle or sheep for six months
- Dose and contain animals for 48 hours prior to introduction to the herd
- Do not rely exclusively on any one class of compounds
WORM TESTS
Faecal egg counts (FECs) can be performed in the laboratory.
Treat only when levels are high enough
- Individuals - greater than 400 eggs per gram
- Herd, minimum of ten - 200 eggs per gram
Check for anthelmintic resistance. Ensure the treatments you use are effective, (consult your vet).
Identify and selectively treat wormy horses. These horses tend to be 'carrier animals' and routinely may have high faecal egg counts that contaminate your paddocks and so infect other horses.
Information courtesy of International Animal Health Products 2009
CURRENT PRODUCTS AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR ONLINE SHOP
Click here to go to EQITOPIA's shopping page for WORMERS
Click here to go to EQITOPIA's shopping page for WORMERS
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