Preventive maintenance is always the best medicine. To these ends, we recommend the following protcol to keep your horse healthy: IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE: In the Spring: West Nile Virus, Eastern & Western Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus, Influenza and Rhinopnuemonitis. In the fall: West Nile Virus, Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis again, and Rabies. An immunization for Streptococcus Equi (Strangles) may be given in early summer. (It should be noted that immunization for Influenza/Rhinopnuemonitis, is recommended by many immunologists to be administered every 2 to 3 months, for show horses and horses at a boarding facility, this our recommendation as well.) De-worm your horse every 2 months rotating through 3 different classes of wormers. We currently recommend 1) Ivermectin, 2) Pyrantel Pamoate, 3) Oxybendazole. We recommend that you use each wormer twice in a row. (e.g.: January: Pyrantel, March: Pyrantel, May: ivermectin, July: ivermectin) the only time that you ought to alter this protocol, is after a good, hard first freeze in winter. At that time we recommend, no matter where you are in your schedule, to de-worm with an ivermectin product. Daily wormer, such as Strongid-C or Strongid C2X are good products, but you still need to deworm with an ivermectin product at least twice a year if you are using one of these products.
Your horse should see a qualified farrier every 6 weeks, and a dental exam every 6 to 12 months.
Feeding psyllium (i.e.: Metamucil... Horse products: Equiaid, Sandblast), while mildly controversial, is recommended to be fed every day, for 7 days, every month. (i.e.: the first week of every month) Exercise, exercise, exercise... If you have them, you ought to enjoy them, and they ought to enjoy their life too. Exercise is important for us, and it's important for our horses as well. Whether its turn out, riding, or lounging, don't leave it out of your horse’s health care program.
Keeping your horse happy is one way to keep your horse healthy. Giving them the attention and exercise they need is one way to ensure they do stay healthy and happy...
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