Every horse is different. So is their parasite risk.
Parasite control isn’t a one-and-done process. Regular worm egg counts throughout the grazing season and an EquiSal saliva test for tapeworm every six months, are essential for staying ahead of parasites.
Autumn is traditionally known as ‘tapeworm time’ as this was a good point in the year to worm hunting horses coming in from a summer at grass. It can be a useful way to remember to target tapeworm but there’s no reason to stick to this routine if another serves you better – and certainly no point in giving a wormer for the sake of it without knowing if there are parasites present to treat and if so, which ones?
Put Your Horse First This autumn
We've had a warm summer which are ideal conditions for parasites. As responsible horse owners our job is to keep parasite levels in check so that our horses remain healthy and to use the drugs we have responsibly to minimise the build-up of resistance to worming chemicals.
This means being aware of which parasites to target seasonally or in specific conditions so there are often a few considerations to take into account.
This autumn plan a worm count for redworm and roundworm and EquiSal test for tapeworm if you haven't in the last six months. Keep an eye out for bots and pinworm activity as this will help you to decide which wormer to treat with for your winter dose.
Autumn parasite control means:
- worm egg count every 8-12 weeks
- EquiSal test for tapeworm if you haven't in the last six months
- look out for bots, pinworm and ticks
- monitor sand levels in the gut with a faecal sand test
What to do when will depend a little on your management routine and personal choice along with the parasite risk factor of your horse. Young, old and rescue horses will need more consideration at this time of year than healthy adult horses.
Every Horse is Different. Know Their Risk.
Best-practice approach is to first plan a test-based programme, the interval of testing based on a horse’s relative parasite risk profile as low, medium or high for disease caused by worm burdens. CANTER helps you understand yours:
- C – Clinical history (underlying health conditions?)
- A – Age (young or older horses are more vulnerable)
- N – Number of horses on grazing
- T – Test results (is your horse a high egg shedder?)
- E – Environment (pasture rotation, poo picking, cross-grazing)
- R – Risk profile (low, medium, high)
When you know your horse's risk profile, you can devise a tailored parasite control plan for the season and year ahead, ensuring that testing and treatments are aligned with your horse’s specific needs.
For more about parasite risk, visit our web page all about it: 'Assess your horse's parasite risk'
If your horse is considered high risk then consider testing for large redworm which is an emerging threat and particularly recommended for studs and breeding operations with youngstock, competition and sales yards, highly stocked land, horses on minimal or selective worming schedules. Find out more here: Large Redworm
If in doubt about the best plan for your horse, please call our friendly helpline to speak to one of our qualified expert advisors, or chat to your prescriber to plan a best course of action.
OR
For a pdf. of the full CANTER Risk Profile table click on this table image.
WATCH OUR VIDEO HERE
Please note the above video was filmed before the redworm blood test that also detects encysted stages of the small redworm was available.
A bit about Tapeworm
Tapeworm should be targeted twice a year, every six months with an EquiSal Tapeworm test to determine whether your horse is one of the minority (fewer than 29%) of infected horses requiring treatment. Whether you test now in conjunction with your autumn worm egg count or at the same time as you treat or test for encysted redworm depends on your schedule and preferred wormer choices.
Horse Worm Treatment Prescribing Options
If treatment for just tapeworm is indicated then a praziquantel only wormer would be the preferred choice, now available only as a 'special' through your vet. Alternatively, a double dose of pyrantel can be recommended for administration if;
- ascarids are also present (more likely in foals or youngstock)
or - the redworm population in question is known to not be resistant to pyrantel.
Where treatment for redworm is indicated at the same time as tapeworm treatment, then an ivermectin + praziquantel combination wormer would be the recommended selection through Spring, Summer and Autumn.
TESTING FOR WORMER RESISTANCE
Where you do need to step in and give a chemical to target redworm (strongyles) it is a useful exercise to do a reduction test at least once per year to check whether any resistance to the chemical is present on the grazing land. Following a positive test result, give a wormer then 10-14 days later conduct another worm egg count to check that treatment has been effective.
Bots
Bots are not worms but the maggot stage of a large fly which is active during the summer months. It lays eggs on the hairs of the horse’s coat that appear like tiny cream or yellow flecks. These eggs are ingested by the horse as it scratches and hatch in the mouth, slowly migrating to the stomach where they can cause mild irritation. Treat with ivermectin or moxidectin after the first frost has killed off fly activity. You could delay treatment to combine this with your winter encysted redworm dose.
