If you’ve had horses for any length of time, you’ve likely heard of Lyme disease and Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM). These two common diseases are spread by pests and can wreak havoc on a horse’s health and performance career.
Lyme Disease, a bacterial infection most common in the Northeastern U.S., is transmitted to horses by ticks. Not all infected horses develop symptoms, which can include neurological issues, inflammation and swollen joints, and sporadic lameness.
EPM is a neurological disease spread by a protozoal parasite called sarcocystis neurona, which horses contract by ingesting possum feces, often through contaminated food or water. The parasites travel from the intestines into the bloodstream, cross the blood/brain barrier and attack the central nervous system.
The best cure for both Lyme and EPM is prevention. Andrea Bomkamp, broodmare manager at Iron Spring Farm, shares how we mitigate ticks and possums here at the farm.
Reducing Exposure to Ticks
At ISF, we have a year-round tick management system. Many people don’t realize ticks are active in every season, including winter.
Mice carry ticks and are an important part of the tick and Lyme lifecycle. To keep the mice population as low as possible, we have cats who are excellent mousers. We also try to reduce the number of areas where mice tend to live. This means keeping pastures clean of debris where mice could nest. We also fence the pastures so they’re free of woody areas, which reduces mice habitat.
A common belief is to keep lawns no more than 3-4 inches tall to reduce ticks. However, that is often too short for healthy pastures. The biggest risk of ticks in your pasture is grass so tall it stays wet all day. Ticks need moisture to survive, so if your grass dries out well during the day from sunlight and air movement, ticks are less likely to be found on blades of grass.
We normally spray horses with a fly spray designed to repel ticks. Our horses also wear fly sheets, which may offer some additional protection. Each horse is checked for ticks after returning from the field, including the tail and mane.
The bottom line–the best way to reduce ticks is sunny pastures and a wide berm between fence lines and tree lines.
Possum Patrol
We try to keep our facility as unappealing to possums as possible. Their natural habitat is woody areas, so keeping trees away from the barns and out of pastures is ideal. Possums have adapted to modern living and will burrow under a garage or other outbuildings.
It’s also important to clear fields and barnyards of brush piles, leaf piles or any other debris that may attract possums to set up a den. Inside the barns, we keep grain in bins with tight lids behind closed doors. Hay is stored in areas not easily accessible to wildlife. Cat food also attracts critters, so we feed our cats out of reach of mice and possums.
Possums can range up to two miles each night looking for food. They also prefer to be close to a water source. Most of our fields have automatic waterers that are tall, smooth-sided and not easy to climb.
While wildlife often finds a way into barns and fields, diligent management that makes your facility less attractive is the best way to prevent the spread of Lyme disease and EPM.
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All content provided by Iron Spring Farm is general and for informational purposes only. Content may also not constitute the most up to date information. Nothing in this content is intended to constitute veterinarian advice or to serve as a substitute for consultation with a veterinarian. Always seek the advice of your veterinarian or other qualified provider with any questions that you may have about the treatment and care of your horse.
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