Eazigrazer

12/01/2025

*** ENCYSTED REDWORM ***

I first posted this in 2019, but after reading a LOT of worrying comments recently about how people don’t worm their horses at all, as they do worm egg counts, I thought it was time to do a little encysted redworm refresher, with some updates!

1. Redworm can kill your horse.

2. You need to worm for encysted redworm AFTER they encyst, and before they emerge, so NOT in the Autumn! Wait for a good, frosty cold spell.

3. Encysted small redworm are NOT DETECTABLE in worm egg counts.

4. The larvae of small redworm, “encyst” or burrow into the gut wall. These can cause fatal consequences when they re-emerge.

5. Redworm appear as tiny pieces of thread in your horse’s droppings. They are very short and thin, and can be hard to see. They are white if they haven’t yet fed, and red if they have fed.

6. A horse can appear completely normal and healthy whilst carrying a large redworm burden. However, weight loss and diarrhoea may be early indicators; don’t ignore these signs.

7. Most wormers DO NOT target encysted redworm. Only TWO do: Fenbendazole and Moxidectin.

8. Lots of combination wormers contain IVERMectin. This WILL NOT have any effect on encysted redworm. The only wormer that contains MOXIDectin, is EQUEST. The Pramox (blue) version will treat tapeworm at the same time. Don’t use Pramox if you have treated separately for tapeworm, or used a saliva or blood test for tapeworm. Use the normal Equest (green) if this is the case.

9. Redworm are eaten by the horse during grazing. The larvae start to burrow into the gut wall as temperatures drop. Treating for encysted redworm whilst temperatures are warm, is not the optimal time, as the larvae may well not have started to encyst. Treating after a few hard frosts, also reduces the level of reinfection from larvae already on the fields.

10. The larvae stay in the gut wall during the winter, and are then triggered to emerge from the gut wall as the temperatures warm up in the Spring. If the horse has not been treated for redworm during this redworm “hibernation” stage, he/she is at risk of developing CYATHOSTOMINOSIS.

11. Cyathostominosis has a mortality (death) rate of up to 50%. It presents as colitis; profuse diarrhoea and colic. Contact your vet immediately if you see these symptoms in your horse at any time of year, but it is more likely to be due to redworm if this occurs in the Spring.

12. Ensure you have treated for encysted
redworm before temperatures start to increase as Spring arrives, incase of a large encysted redworm burden that may suddenly emerge.

13. There is a blood test for all stages of redworm, including encysted. This detects antibodies, so may be positive if your horse has had a high burden in the past 6 months, even if he currently doesn’t, but worth discussing with your vet. I would not be recommending this route for high risk redworm horses ie horses in herds with no poo picking, or rescue cases.

14. 5 day Panacur Guard (Fenbendazole) is the only other wormer that can treat the encysted stage of redworm. There was widespread resistance to this wormer, and a huge move towards everyone using Moxidectin for encysted redworm. It is my wormer of choice for very sick or poor horses, due to its milder action over 5 days. However, there is some evidence that it may cause more damage to the gut than Moxidectin, so more research is definitely required!

15. Poo picking daily is perfect pasture management, but does not mean that your horse is worm free! You still need to egg count/blood test for all worms and/or worm.

16. Herbal wormers do not work.

17. Worm egg counts do not detect encysted redworms (or tapeworm/bots/pinworm). I realise I am repeating myself, but this is something that lots of people still do not realise.

18. Do not UNDERDOSE when worming, as this will aid resistance. If in doubt, add 50kg to the weigh tape weight of your horse. Wormers are very safe with regards to toxic doses.

19. The Mole Valley wormers are NOT the same as Equest!!!! I saw this misinformation posted yesterday! They contain Ivermectin, which will NOT treat for encysted redworm.

20. Do NOT overuse Equest. Moxidectin (Equest and Pramox) should only be used ONCE in a 12 month period. So know when to use it!

This is not an exhaustive review of redworm, and I may add to the list if I think of anything else, but I hope this is of some use! Worming regimes and what worm egg counts detect, seems to cause lots of confusion amongst horse owners, and even yard owners.

Blood tests currently used for tapeworm and redworm, measure antibody levels to the worm. The saliva test also measures antibodies. The concern here would be false positives. This means the test coming back as positive when your horse has been clear of the worm in question for months. Antibody levels remain high for months following successful treatment for the worm being tested for. However, a negative obviously means the horse has been clear for a good few months, and would not need worming.

Happy reading!

Please share, as this is really something that all horse owners should know, and still don’t!

No prizes for spotting the hundreds of redworm in this photo!

31/12/2023

Wishing all our customers a Happy New Year with our best wishes for a wonderful 2024 with your horses. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year, and an extra special thank you to all of you who regularly go out of your way to recommend Eazigrazer ❤️

30/10/2023

It feels like it's the middle of winter already over here and I know we've had a lot less rain than some of you. We're lucky that we managed to make an all weather area for our ponies before all the rain! Anyone else had to get your horses off the fields for now and feeding hay already? Ours are happy grazing from their Eazigrazers while we keep our fingers crossed that things might dry up a little. As we always say, a lack of grass doesn't have to mean a lack of grazing! Would an Eazigrazer make your horse happy and life easier for you?

For more information: eazigrazer.co.uk

26/10/2023

We always love receiving updates about how our Eazigrazer owners are getting on with their hay feeders, but it's even better when they send photos and videos! We were sent these videos (second video in comments) from Ally showing her two ponies happily grazing. Thank you Ally!! Do you have any photos or videos of your horses and/or ponies using their Eazigrazers you'd be happy to share? If so, we'd really appreciate you sending them to us or posting them on here ❤️

For more information: eazigrazer.co.uk

30/09/2023

An interesting article about the effect of hay feeders vs automatic feeders vs loose hay on horse behavior and weight management. Of course we were confident the hay feeders would come out on top, but worth a read if you're debating whether one is a good option for you and your horse 👍

Find out more about our hay feeders - eazigrazer.co.uk

Researchers have determined that limiting horses’ access to hay might make them more likely to engage in abnormal and aggressive behaviors.

27/05/2023

A POLITE REMINDER TO ALL WHO RIDE ON THE ROADS

This morning I stopped to wait for two people on horses riding towards me on a quiet country road. The two people in question just stared at me and there was no acknowledgement. The horses were perfectly behaved and there was nothing to distract the riders to explain why they did not offer any acknowledgement.

Now this experience isn't going to change my behaviour. If I see more horses and riders I am going to slow down or stop for them as appropriate. And if I see the same people again I will stop/slow down. Of course I am likely to remind them to be courteous to motorists/motorcyclists/cyclists if I do see them again.

But think of the non-horse person who has the experience of being ignored? Yes, its the law to slow-down or stop for horses on the road, but might a non-horse person be a little irritated and next time perhaps be a little less considerate?

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYONE AND THEIR HORSES, DO REMEMBER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE ON THE ROAD WHO ARE CONSIDERATE TO HORSES & RIDERS!

27/02/2023

Sycamores Again!

It doesn’t seem ten minutes since we all started to relax about last year’s bumper sycamore seed crop.

Unfortunately now they’ve started sprouting. Seedlings can contain high levels of Hypoglycin A, the toxin that causes Atypical Myopathy.

This haul was from a tiny patch of field under sycamore trees that had been raked and gathered of as many seeds as possible every day over autumn.

01/02/2023

Yes!! 😆

🤣🤣

30/01/2023

Eazigrazer provides simulated natural grazing, prevents many health issues, and helps you avoid the soundness problems associated with other ways of feeding. Plus, it makes life much easier for you!

For your horse:
• Allows natural foraging & grazing behaviour essential for mental well-being
• Provides low level feeding reducing muscle, joint and dental issues
• Regulates feeding preventing anxiety issues and possibly even ulcers
• Reduces access to dust and seeds helping management of coughs and COPD

For you:
• Quick and easy to fill (no more fighting with hay nets!)
• Keeps hay contained dramatically reducing the amount of wasted forage (and bedding if stabled)
• Provides an easy hay soaking solution if necessary
• Easily portable and can be cleaned thoroughly with little effort

Sound interesting? Read more at www.eazigrazer.co.uk

30/01/2023

Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas spent in the company of loved ones. That includes the four legged variety of course - don't forget those extra carrots! 🥕

30/01/2023

Most horse owners are aware of the postural damage feeding only at high level can do, but did you know it can also cause dental problems for your horse?

As below, we also believe that offering varied heights/postures for your horse is good for both physical and mental well being. It's a great way to replicate natural grazing and browsing behaviours, and so we often provide our horses with a little something to eat at a higher level, eg. hay, nettles, cleavers or even carrots. But just as it would be in nature, we give them the majority of their ration to graze at low level in their Eazigrazers 🙂

WHY YOU SHOULD TRY TO FEED MOSTLY FROM GROUND LEVEL 🧐🦷🐴

Horses have evolved to eat a high-fibre diet, mostly from ground level.

When a horse eats from head height, their teeth do not meet (occlude) at the same place as when they eat from the ground with their neck stretched down.

A stabled horse fed mostly from head height may suffer more dental problems than a field-kept horse or a stabled horse fed from ground level, due to inappropriate occlusion over many years.

(There may be postural benefits from feeding from the ground, but also perhaps some postural/musculoskeletal benefits from feeding some (*note...some!) of the diet from a different level!)

Feel free to share 🐴🍏

07/11/2022

We remember commenting last year about the lovely dry autumn we were having…! Are you having to stable already this year? Fed up with the amount of hay your horse tramples into the bedding? Maybe Eazigrazer could help. Not only will it keep your hay contained and reduce waste, it will also provide your horse with a healthy low feeding position and the opportunity for natural grazing behaviour. It will save you some time when mucking out too! See www.eazigrazer.co.uk for more information

11/09/2022

The Queen will be sorely missed by her family, and much missed by our great nation and beyond, but she will also be very sadly missed by the British equestrian community for whom she did so much. Thank you Your Majesty.

27/06/2022

Does your horse or pony spend a lot of time inside during the summer to get away from the heat and flies? Whether they have free choice to go in or out, or you are stuck having to leave them in all day, maybe Eazigrazer can help. When your horse or pony can’t have 24/7 access to grass, our hay feeders provide simulated grazing behaviour at a natural low level going someway to ensuring they stay healthy and content. Plus the contained hay also makes mucking out at the end of day much easier for you!

See eazigrazer.co.uk if you'd like to know more 🐴

02/06/2022

So much 'sticky w**d' about at the moment! If your horses don't have any available that they can forage for themselves, then you can always go foraging for them! Most horses love cleavers and they provide so much goodness. Nettles and cow parsley too. It's a great time of year for a bit of healthy variety in the diet, especially for those on restricted diets for whatever reason. Our EMS pony is loving her daily portion 🌿

THE HEDGEROWS ARE HEAVING! 🌿

Here in the UK, the hedgerows are growing madly now, and the one on the drive out of where I live is thick with cleavers. We used to call them sticky w***y in Scotland - I've no idea why?!

Anyway, cleavers (goosegrass, clivers, catchw**d, scientific name Galium aparine) are often fed for their beneficial actions on the lymphatic system. Evidence for herbs for horses is lacking but the reason is mainly that there is no significant commercial gain from such research work so it does not attract funding.

Many horses and ponies love cleavers, and along with cow parsley, they can provide useful fresh green forage.

Hedgerow browse can be a useful addition to your horse or pony's diet, for the benefits of herbs, diet diversity and nutrients, but do take it into account in their diet e.g. overall diet balance including calorie intake; consistency of intake.

Also take into account your horse's manners when you allow them to browse. Like feeding treats, allowing your horse to graze/browse whilst being ridden or led will be no problem if it's done with kind and clear boundaries.

Feel free to share, and share your pictures below of your horses enjoying hedgerows 🐴🍏🌿🌿

28/03/2022

🇺🇦 🇺🇦 🇺🇦

If you would like to help, you can still donate using this link - https://bit.ly/3sSslx1

🇺🇦 Ukraine appeal update 🇺🇦

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to the ‘British Equestrians for Ukraine Fund’ so far – we have been amazed by the response!

Working with the ‘British Equestrians for Ukraine Fund’ coalition, our appeal has now raised over £100,000 whilst our partners have sent out nine lorry loads of equine goods, which are on the way to Poland whilst you read this post! Read more here – https://bit.ly/3CYMi8M

28/03/2022

The ground is drying up, the days are getting longer, and the grass is getting greener. Can't help but feel positive at this time of year!

However, is it also time to think about how you will manage the spring and summer with your laminitis prone pony or your cob who could probably live on fresh air...??

If you're likely to need to restrict grazing in some way then Eazigrazer provides your horse or pony with healthy low level feeding, keeps hay contained, and allows easy soaking if necessary!

Sound interesting? Read about the many more benefits of our hay feeders at - www.eazigrazer.co.uk