1. Prepare the essentials

1. Arrange an equine veterinarian and farrier before arrival. Obtain identification, feeding, dental, vaccination, parasite, and medical records, and agree on a newcomer-introduction plan.
2. Inspect fencing, gates, shelter, footing, and water. Provide a safe area for handling and emergency access. Have a knowledgeable horse person assess the setup if you are new.
3. Plan appropriate forage and any additional ration with qualified help. Use hay testing and body-condition checks; needs change with season, age, workload, and health.

2. Notice small changes early

1. Observe appetite, water intake, comfort, movement, manure, and the condition of the living area. Keep fresh water available and inspect feet as part of a learned daily routine.
2. Keep farrier appointments at the interval recommended for this horse. Put veterinary, dental, and vaccination reviews on the schedule set by those professionals.
3. Call the vet promptly for signs of colic, choking, inability to bear weight, major injury, or difficult breathing. Do not wait for a scheduled reminder or give unplanned medicine that may obscure the problem.

3. Use the current equine parasite approach

1. Ask your vet to set the horse’s baseline and targeted treatment plan. AAEP’s 2024 guidance discourages fixed year-round treatment every two months and blind rotation of drug classes.
2. AAEP recommends fecal egg counts once or twice yearly to classify shedding, with treatment-effectiveness testing through an annual fecal egg count reduction test. Foals and young horses need their own plans.
3. A fecal egg count is not a stand-alone diagnosis of disease. Let the vet interpret the result and decide medicine, timing, and rechecks. Keep manure management and grazing decisions in the same plan.

Keep a useful record

Give each animal or group a clear name. Record the date, what you observed, feed changes, test results, treatments actually given, and the next instruction. Let another caregiver see the current plan.

How to arrange testing and collect a manure sample

Source links checked September 14, 2026. This guide provides general education. Your veterinarian determines tests and treatment for your animals; product labels and the vet’s instructions determine safe use and food withdrawal periods.