For Anna and her horse Roo, dressage has been a journey of partnership and progression. From their first unaffiliated competitions to now competing at affiliated elementary level with British Dressage, their success has relied not only on training but also on Roo’s ongoing health and wellbeing.
Anna says, “alongside regular saddle checks, physio, and nutrition, one of the biggest pieces of our puzzle, that I’m so passionate about sharing has been parasite control, guided by Westgate Labs.”
A risk-based approach to parasite control
Anna follows a simple test-based programme for Roo’s parasite control, established by assessing his parasite risk profile using the CANTER profiling tool, with help from prescribers at Westgate Labs, guided by ongoing interpretation of his test results.
This easy-to-follow table sets out the factors influencing each horse’s individualised parasite risk profile, using the CANTER acronym, and allows each horse to be graded low, medium or high risk of parasite infection using the following parameters:
- C – Clinical history (has your horse got underlying health conditions such as PPID, EMS or had previous problems with parasite infection?)
- A – Age (younger and older horses are more vulnerable)
- N – Number of horses on the grazing (the more horses, the more worms shed)
- T – Test results (some horses are natural high egg shedders)
- E – Environment (is pasture rotated, poo picked, or cross-grazed?)
- R – Risk profile (low, medium, or high)
Working through these factors, owners can build a picture of whether their horse is low, medium or high risk, how often to test, and crucially, when a wormer is genuinely needed.
Establishing Roo’s Risk Profile
Roo is a 15-year-old fit, healthy gelding with no underlying conditions; he grazes with just one field companion of a similar age, and his pasture is regularly poo picked, which helps break the parasite life cycle. Roo’s historic worm egg count results have consistently been low.
Pulling these elements together, Kristy from Westgate Labs categorises Roo as low risk. His programme is structured around worm egg counts every three months and saliva tests for tapeworm twice a year. Only if a test shows a positive result does treatment follow, reducing unnecessary use of wormers and protecting effectiveness of medicines for the future. Anna addresses possible encysted small redworm in the winter by blood testing/treating? and is not in a risk category to need to test for large strongyle, lungworm, liver fluke or pinworm.
Why Westgate Labs Have Been Instrumental
When Anna first took responsibility for Roo’s parasite control, she admits she “didn’t know what she didn’t know.” Like many horse owners, she had relied on others on the yard to make decisions. Reaching out to Westgate Labs gave her the knowledge and confidence to take control.
The expert guidance, backed up with straightforward, accessible testing kits, helped Anna understand the value of evidence-based parasite control. For her, this support has been “simple, understandable, and really reassuring.” With Westgate Labs behind her, she knows she is making the right decisions for Roo’s welfare, while also helping to protect key medicines from resistance for the wider horse population. She says “So if there’s anyone like me who feels they don’t really know where to start with testing, I can’t recommend the support and advice from Westgate Labs enough!”
A Call to Action for Horse Owners
Anna’s story highlights how effective parasite control is central to a horse’s overall health and performance. By embedding CANTER risk profiling into Roo’s care, Anna ensures he receives the right treatment at the right time, keeping him in peak condition to dance down the centre line.
This autumn, why not take the first step in protecting your own horse’s health? Start with a risk assessment using the CANTER framework and a worm egg count with Westgate Labs. Evidence-based testing is the simplest way to safeguard your horse’s wellbeing while preserving vital worming medicines for the future.
For a pdf. of the full CANTER Risk Profile table click on this table image.
