Assessment of Deworming and Reproductive Management Practices among Foal Owners in the Coastal Region of Gujarat, India

Horses have long been partners to human life, serving as transport, labor, and companions across the globe. In the coastal regions of Gujarat, India, these animals remain central to local culture, tourism, and small-scale farming. Yet, keeping a horse healthy requires more than just good intentions; it demands specific knowledge about how to manage their bodies and their families. Two critical areas of care are preventing internal parasites and managing reproduction. Parasites are tiny worms that live inside the gut, stealing nutrients and causing illness, especially in young foals. To fight them, owners must decide when and how often to give medicine. Similarly, raising the next generation of horses involves knowing when a mare is ready to breed, how to detect that readiness, and how to care for her during pregnancy and birth. Without proper management in these areas, the health of the herd can suffer, and the economic livelihoods of the owners can be threatened.

A recent study set out to understand how horse owners in the coastal districts of Gujarat actually handle these challenges. Researchers traveled to seven districts south of the Narmada River, including Surat, Navsari, and Valsad, to speak directly with 150 horse owners. They asked detailed questions about how the animals are fed, how often they are treated for worms, and how breeding decisions are made. The goal was not just to count how many owners followed the rules, but to see where their practices matched scientific advice and where they relied on tradition or guesswork. The findings reveal a community that cares deeply for its animals but often lacks access to the latest veterinary guidance, leading to a mix of good habits and potentially harmful routines.

When it came to protecting horses from worms, the owners showed a strong willingness to act. Three-quarters of the people surveyed said they deworm their adult horses on a regular schedule. Most of these owners chose to treat their animals every three to six months, a rhythm that suggests they understand the need for periodic care. However, the picture became more complicated when the researchers looked at how often the owners treated their foals, the young horses. While about half of the owners said they dewormed their foals regularly, the timing of these treatments varied wildly. Nearly half of the owners who treated their foals did so every two weeks, and another large group treated them once a month. This frequent dosing is a significant departure from modern veterinary advice, which suggests that giving worm medicine too often can actually make the parasites stronger and harder to kill in the future. The study indicates that while the owners are eager to keep their young horses healthy, they may be using too much medicine because they do not have access to specific testing or updated guidelines.

The management of breeding and reproduction showed a similar pattern of traditional knowledge mixed with emerging scientific awareness. A large majority of the owners, 80 percent, said they chose breeding partners based on the family history of the horses, known as pedigree, rather than picking mates at random. This shows a clear desire to improve the quality of their stock. When it came to knowing when a mare was ready to breed, most owners relied on watching for physical signs, such as the movement of the vulva or changes in the horse's behavior, rather than using advanced medical tools. Consequently, the vast majority of breeding still happens through natural mating, with very few owners using artificial insemination.

The owners also demonstrated a good understanding of the timing for breeding. More than half believed that a mare should have her first foal between 30 and 35 months of age, which aligns with expert recommendations for a healthy start. Most also agreed on the best window for breeding during the mare's cycle and the number of times she should be covered. Perhaps the most encouraging finding was that nearly 80 percent of the owners said they checked to see if a mare was pregnant. This is a crucial step in ensuring that resources are not wasted on non-pregnant animals and that pregnant mares receive the right care. When it came to the actual birth, most owners relied on trained staff to assist, though fewer than one in five called in a veterinarian, likely due to the cost or difficulty of reaching one in remote areas.

Despite these positive steps, the study highlights that the path to optimal horse health is still blocked by several barriers. The owners face high costs for feed and veterinary services, a shortage of skilled farriers to care for hooves, and a lack of technical training. These constraints mean that even well-meaning owners often fall back on old habits or guesswork, such as the overly frequent deworming of foals. The researchers conclude that while the horse owners in coastal Gujarat are dedicated and aware of the basics, they need better support systems. To truly improve the health and welfare of these animals, the community needs access to affordable veterinary care, training on modern parasite control strategies, and guidance on balanced nutrition. Without these resources, the gap between what owners want to do for their horses and what science says is best will remain difficult to close.