Hiking and Horse Care: Tips for Keeping Worms at Bay

You know those trips you plan for months—the ones where you picture yourself wandering through wildflower meadows, your horses grazing peacefully nearby, everything Instagram-perfect?

Yeah, that was me last spring. I’d mapped out a weekend trek with two friends and three horses, convinced I had every detail handled. Feed, tack, water, first aid. What could go wrong?

Turns out, a lot—especially when you forget how stubborn horses can be about what they drink.

The first morning, I woke up to the sound of slurping. Not the clean, satisfying kind either. Our horses were going after the murky puddles left from last night’s rain, ignoring the fresh buckets we’d lugged all the way from the truck. The water was cloudy, with bits of grass and who knows what else swirling around. I watched, groggy, as one of the ponies nosed aside a floating stick and drank deeply.

Grossed out, I muttered, "There is so much larvae/worms in these puddles, and the ponies insist on drinking from there instead of the fresh water provided." I wasn’t the only one worried. Every time it rains they’re magically full of worms. WHY?

That moment when you realize nature doesn’t care about your plans.

I tried to shoo them away, but horses have a mind of their own. It didn’t help that the rain kept coming, turning every dip in the field into a wormy soup.

When Good Plans Go Bad (And Get Embarrassing)

By day two, my anxiety had doubled. I’d read enough horror stories online about parasites to know I was flirting with disaster. Still, I figured it couldn’t get much worse—until I saw one of our geldings, Max, take a big gulp, then promptly spit half of it onto my boots. The splash hit my socks. Cold, slimy, and definitely not the kind of wilderness experience I’d envisioned.

Cue the physical comedy: me, hopping on one foot, trying to scrape wormy water off my jeans with a stick. My friends were not helpful—they just laughed and snapped photos for "memories."

That night, lying in my tent, I kept replaying the scene. Aslong as they are wormed regular, are these horrible creatures any harm to my little guys? I wasn’t sure. And that uncertainty gnawed at me way more than the wet socks.

Digging Into the Problem: Why Worms Are a Real Threat

If you’ve ever camped with horses, you know how quickly things can go sideways. All it takes is a few days of rain and suddenly every water source is suspect. The trouble is, standing water is a magnet for larvae. Even if you bring your own supply, horses will find the muddiest, wormiest puddle and drink like it’s champagne.

I started researching on my phone, signal permitting, and what I found wasn’t comforting. Parasites don’t just cause an upset stomach—they can lead to colic, weight loss, and even long-term organ damage. And while regular deworming helps, skipping or delaying a dose can undo months of careful care.

Here’s what I learned the hard way:

Horses will always pick the worst water.
Rain equals more puddles, more worms.
Not all dewormers are created equal.
Expired or low-quality products can do more harm than good.
Prevention beats panic every single time.

I realized I’d been treating deworming like an afterthought—something I did when I remembered, not on a set schedule. No more.

The Search for a Solution (and a Little Peace of Mind)

Back home, still haunted by the memory of those wormy puddles, I knew I needed a better plan. I wanted something easy to use, effective, and—if possible—palatable enough that I wouldn’t have to wrestle a 1,200-pound animal just to get a dose down.

That’s when I came across this horse dewormer in apple flavor, priced at about $139.98 for a big box (I went for the 20-pack because, let’s face it, my horses aren’t getting any less stubborn).

What stood out? The apple flavor. I know, it sounds minor, but after years of battles with bitter-tasting pastes, this was a game changer. The paste-gel went down easily, and I didn’t have to bribe anyone with extra treats. The expiration date was far enough out (4/2026) that I could stock up without worrying about waste. And yes, it covered all the big threats—worms and bots—in one go.

Within a week, everyone was dosed and, for the first time in ages, I felt like I could relax. No more second-guessing every time it rained.

What About Alternatives?

Look, I’m not saying this is the only way to go. There are plenty of options out there—pellet dewormers you can mix into feed, liquid formulas, even herbal blends if you’re into that. But here’s what I found:

Pellets work, but picky eaters can leave them behind.
Liquids are messy and hard to measure on the trail.
Herbal solutions sound nice, but I’ve never seen proof they actually clear out parasites.
Some paste brands taste so bad, you need a rodeo belt buckle just to get them down.

For me, the apple-flavored paste just made life easier. It’s not cheap, but considering the vet bills I’ve avoided, it’s worth it.

Final Thoughts (and What I’d Tell Any Fellow Trail Rider)

Here’s what I wish someone had told me before my socks got soaked: plan for worms, not just weather. Whether you pick the same apple-flavored horse dewormer I used, or try pellets or liquids, just don’t leave it to chance.

Take care of the basics, and you can actually enjoy your time outdoors—no wet socks, no midnight parasite panic, just you and your horses doing what you love. Trust me, it’s a lesson you don’t want to learn the hard way.

Hiking and Horse Care: Tips for Keeping Worms at Bay