Short grazing has left more horses at risk, say experts.
Grazing on grass made sparse by the hot summer means more horses have been picking up worm eggs.
Westgate Labs says its laboratories, which test faecal samples for worm egg levels, are seeing an increased number of results necessitating treatment.
However, that doesn’t mean every owner should panic and reach for a wormer, they add. Worm egg counts should be carried out first.
Westgate Labs’ ‘The Horse First. Every Time. Every Season.’ campaign urges tailoring parasite programmes to individual horses, protecting both their wellbeing and the effectiveness of worming medicines for the future.
“Many paddocks were completely burnt off this summer, so that horses were cropping nearer to the ground and closer to dung piles to find forage, so the chances of infection are likely to rise,” says Westgate Labs’ director Kristy Hodgson.
“Regular worm egg counts and tests, supported by risk assessment and good field management like poo picking, really help.
“Monitoring egg shedding means treatments are only used when necessary. That reduces costs for the owner, supports horse health, and helps slow the spread of anthelmintic [wormer] resistance across the equine population.”
Westgate Labs supports use of the CANTER risk profiling tool. Developed by the pan-industry group Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly, it helps owners understand whether their horse is low, medium or high risk of parasite infection.
By using this framework to inform a test-based parasite control plan, Westgate helps owners build a bespoke programme for their horses.
