Fall deworming, teeth, and hauling: what do people actually do?
Whether to fecal-egg-count before the fall deworming, when the teeth check should happen relative to winter hay, and what changes for a horse who gets ulcer-y when he travels.
Schneiders Learning Center · Updated August 12, 2026
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All three are vet conversations rather than product decisions. In broad terms: fecal egg counts have largely replaced blind rotational deworming, teeth are best checked before winter hay rather than after, and travel-related ulcers are managed with a vet's diagnosis rather than an over-the-counter guess.
These are the three autumn questions where the right answer is usually "ask your vet, then act," rather than "buy this." We stock what you'll need for all three -- but on parasites in particular, what you give should follow what a test tells you, not a calendar.
Fecal egg count before the fall deworming, or stick with the rotation my vet set up years ago?
A programme designed years ago may predate that shift. That's a reasonable thing to raise at your next visit rather than a reason to change anything on your own.
Once you know what you're treating, the active ingredient is what matters, not the brand. Ivermectin and moxidectin products target different stages and species than the fenbendazole and pyrantel ones, and a fall treatment often includes a tapeworm component -- which is what Zimecterin Gold and similar combination products are for. Your vet will tell you which class your horse needs.
Weight matters as much as product. Underdosing is one of the ways resistance builds, so use a weight tape rather than a guess before you set the syringe.
Fall teeth check -- before winter hay or after?
It also lines up neatly with the condition tracking worth starting now -- teeth are one of the first things to rule out when a horse starts losing weight.
How often a horse needs checking varies with age and history. Your vet or equine dentist will tell you what interval suits yours.
Fall show season means hauling again. What changes for a horse who gets ulcer-y when he travels?
The distinction worth knowing: UlcerGard is the over-the-counter preventive, given around a known stressor. GastroGard, the prescription version, is for treating ulcers a horse already has. If you suspect existing ulcers, that's a scope and a vet conversation, because symptoms alone don't tell you what's there or how bad it is.
An empty stomach on a moving trailer is the part you control for free. Hay in transit, and turnout rather than stall confinement at the other end, are the usual adjustments. Digestive support supplements are worth a look for horses who travel often, alongside the forage rather than instead of it.
If you're competing, check the current medication rules for your discipline and association before giving anything, including over-the-counter products.
We can help with hay nets, feeders, and travel gear -- ask our team. For deworming, dental, and ulcer decisions, please talk to your vet.