Spring Time Problems - What to Watch for and How to Manage Them

Spring brings green paddocks, longer days and a bounce back in appetite — but it also brings parasites, muddy feet, and skin and hoof nasties that can slow your horse down. Below is a practical guide to common spring issues (worms, hoof problems, fungal skin conditions) plus sensible best-practice steps you can take — and the products many NZ yards use to help manage them.

Worms

Spring is prime time for horses to pick up internal parasites. Warmer, damper conditions mean eggs and larvae on pasture survive and contaminate grazing, and horses coming out of winter can be more vulnerable. In New Zealand there is growing evidence of drench (anthelmintic) resistance on many properties, so blind, routine drenching without a plan is no longer best practice. 

Best-practice worm control in spring:

• Do a faecal egg count (FEC) before treating if you can. FECs tell you whether your horse is shedding large numbers of strongyle eggs and help you target treatment — fewer unnecessary treatments reduces selection for resistance. Veterinary labs and many equine clinics in NZ offer FEC testing.

• Targeted/tactical treatment: use test-and-treat approaches (treat only shedders or treat specific risk groups like foals, youngstock, or new arrivals) rather than blanket drenching every 6–8 weeks. Work with your vet to build a program suited to your yard.

• Use appropriate actives for the parasite you’re targeting. Some products will treat tapeworms plus the common nematodes; others only target strongyles. Follow veterinary advice and product labels carefully.

• Pasture management: remove faeces regularly, rotate grazing where possible, avoid overstocking and keep young horses away from areas heavily contaminated by older stock. These non-chemical measures cut pasture contamination and reduce reliance on drenches.

If you’re looking for a broad-spectrum, single-dose allwormer paste commonly used in NZ, Promectin Plus is formulated to cover a range of parasites including tapeworms and strongyles. Follow the product directions for liveweight bands (Promectin Plus mini covers horses in the 300–600 kg band and LV cover foals and ponies), and always dose to the correct weight and follow withholding/label instructions. Talk to your vet before introducing any wormer into your yard’s program — especially in light of resistance concerns.

Promectin Plus mini Allwormer Paste for Horses

Hoof Care

Spring can be wet and changeable — hooves that spent winter soft and flakey start to grow out, but prolonged moisture and muddy yards increase the risk of hoof problems like thrush, white line disease and fungal infections.

Hoof-care checklist:

• Daily inspection: check frogs, white line and soles daily. Remove mud and bedding build-up that can hide thrush and fungal spots.

• Keep a regular farrier schedule: spring growth means more trimming/reshaping may be required to keep balance and prevent undue stresses.

• Use protective/conditioning products where needed: moisturising balms during dry spells and breathable dressings during wet periods can support horn quality. Products like Equine America Hoof Balm that include natural oils and antifungal ingredients help maintain hoof integrity while discouraging fungal overgrowth.

Equine America NZ supplies several hoof-care and fungicidal topical products (for example, hoof balms and Fungatrol hoof dressings) intended to support hoof horn health and provide anti-fungal/antibacterial support — useful as part of an overall hoof hygiene plan (cleaning, trimming, environment control). Always follow product directions and consult your farrier or vet about product choice for specific problems.

Equine America Hoof Balm 500ml

Skin and Fungal Conditions

Spring can bring a rise in superficial skin fungal problems such as ringworm (dermatophytosis) as horses shed winter coats, roll in pasture, and mingle at events. Typical signs include small round patches of hair loss, scaly crusts, or slightly raised circular lesions; lesions can be itchy or not, and they’re contagious to other horses — and in some cases to people.

Management essentials for skin fungal infections:

• Isolate suspect cases while you investigate to reduce spread.

• Confirm the diagnosis with your vet where possible (clinical signs can mimic other conditions).

• Topical treatment and hygiene: medicated shampoos, topical antifungal washes and environmental disinfection help reduce spread and speed recovery. Lime sulphur dips or veterinary-recommended antifungal rinses are commonly used — follow veterinary advice for product selection and application. Clean tack, rugs and stable surfaces thoroughly.

Equine America and other NZ equine suppliers stock topical products that support fungal control and hoof hygiene — these can be helpful adjuncts while you follow veterinary treatment protocols. Remember that many fungal infections will resolve slowly, and consistent hygiene plus topical care is the key.

A Spring Action Plan:

1. Schedule FECs for your herd in early spring and work with your vet to design a targeted worming plan. Avoid automatic repeat treatments without evidence of need.

2. Weigh or estimate accurately when dosing Promectin Plus or any anthelmintic — under-dosing contributes to resistance; overdosing risks toxicity. Use weight tapes or scales where possible and follow label instructions.

3. Improve paddock hygiene: pick up droppings, reduce stocking density where possible and keep manure away from grazing.

4. Keep hooves clean and trimmed; use hoof conditioners/dressings when needed and treat early signs of thrush or fungal hoof issues. Consult your farrier and consider Equine America hoof products as part of your hygiene kit.

5. Isolate and treat skin lesions promptly, disinfect tack and rugs and follow veterinary advice for topical or systemic therapy for ringworm or other dermatophytes.

Final Note

Spring brings fabulous paddocks and fresh energy — but also parasites and hoof/skin challenges. The best outcomes come from combining evidence-based parasite management (FECs + targeted treatments), good pasture and stable hygiene, regular farrier sessions, and sensible topical treatments for hooves and skin. If you’re considering product changes, consider Promectin Plus into a targeted worming plan, and consider Equine America NZ hoof and fungal-care lines as part of your spring toolkit — but always use products as part of a program designed with your vet/farrier to suit your horses and property.