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Book chapter2023Peer reviewed

Health Risks of Growing Horses Related 6 to Exercise and Parasite Control

Nielsen, Brian D.; Tyden, Eva; Martin, Frida; Hedberg Alm, Ylva

Abstract

In this chapter, health issues related to exercise and parasite control in growing horses are discussed. Concerning problems associated with bone health, the importance of exercise is highlighted, and many of the problems can be avoided by providing a balanced diet and ensuring that the skeletal system is trained properly. Proper nutrition is vital for a healthy skeleton only if the sufficient and right type of exercise is accompanying it. The best opportunity to make the skeleton strong is to provide it with proper stimuli through exercise when a horse is young and growing. Due to their high susceptibility to parasitic disease, anthelmintic treatment in growing horses is advisable without prior diagnostics. For example, any move to a new group, e.g. after weaning, should be performed only after anthelmintic treatment. In foals and young horses, in addition to strategic anthelmintic treatment, management practices aiming to reduce parasite burdens on pastures are especially prudent. Faecal removal twice weekly has been shown to be more effective than anthelmintic treatment. It is advisable to practice faecal removal from any paddocks in use, as long as temperatures are above freezing.

Keywords

Bone modelling; Bone health; Nutrient ratios; Parasite infections; Parasite monitoring; Anthelmintic resistance

Published in

Title: Feeding and Management of Foals and Growing Horses
Publisher: Springer

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science
Animal and Dairy Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35271-3_6
  • ISBN: 978-3-031-35270-6
  • eISBN: 978-3-031-35271-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/127380