October 2024 Issue

Page 30 October 2024 EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN To help horse owners learn more about hay and the factors impacting its quality, Penn State Extension will hold the interactive, virtual “Horse Hay Workshop” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, and Wednesday, Oct. 9. This program is designed for horse owners, horse farm man- agers and horse hay producers interested in learning more about equine clients’ needs. Since horses eat forage, it is important to understand how forage is made and how to feed it to horses, organizers noted. On the first night of the workshop, participants will learn how producers make hay and how to store hay safely. Instruc- tors also will provide practical advice for buying and selling hay. The second night will cover topics such as how hay and hay analysis fit into a horse’s nutrition plan, how mold and toxic plants can affect horses, and sugars in hay. Participants must register by 6 p.m. Oct. 7 to receive the link to access the webinar. The registration fee is $10. Registrants will receive a link to the recorded webinar within 10 business days after the live event. They can access the record- ing for six months after the event. More information is avail- able on the Penn State Extension website, extension.psu.edu/ horsehay2024. Horse owners and horse farmers can learn about parasite resistance and how to conduct fecal egg counts during Penn State Extension’s “Equine Para- site Workshop,” slated for 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 19, at the Dauphin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Center, 1451 Peters Mountain Road, Dauphin, PA. Organizers noted that equine parasite resistance to dewormers has become widespread, forcing horse owners and farmers to rethink the way they deworm horses. Instructors will explain how this resistance happened and what to do moving forward. The session will cover:  Equine parasite life cycles.  Resistance to dewormers.  Dewormer drug classes and management strategies.  How to perform fecal egg counts using a microscope. Participants will be able to analyze at least one manure sample from their own horse. At the end of the workshop, if there is time, participants can take turns analyz- ing additional manure samples. The registration confirmation email will provide sampling instructions. Space is limited, so prereg- istration is required. The registra- tion fee is $25, and the deadline to register is 11:45 p.m. Oct. 13. More information and registration are available at extension.psu.edu/ equine. More information is available on the Penn State Extension web- site at https://extension.psu.edu/ equine-deworming-workshop. Workshop Focuses on Parasite Resistance, Fecal Egg Counts Penn State Extension to Offer ‘Horse Hay Workshop’