Today we have been busy lifting manure from the pony paddock. Why is it so important to keep the pasture clean? Well………
Worms are nasty parasites that can cause serious health implications if left unattended. Worm eggs and larvae are deposited through your horse’s droppings – these young parasites thrive in the environment manure provides. When horses are grazing around piles of manure, they can easily ingest worms that end up in their digestive tracts. By removing manure you are reducing the worm burden and thus lowering the risk of worm infestation and the requirement to use routine wormers and ultimately preventing resistance to wormers since they are used less. At Muirhouse we complete a worm egg count from manure samples in Spring & Autumn and only administer wormers if required rather than routinely.
Secondly, leaving piles of manure around your paddock is known to kill the vegetation beneath and discourage re-growth. By removing the piles of manure it allows the grass beneath to breath and receive enough sunlight to regrow.
