All worm control planning should start with a RISK ASSESSMENT.
What's Your Worm Risk?
​​​Results from a risk assessment inform the next steps in worm control, including management approaches to apply, diagnostic tests to use, test frequency and, in some cases, when strategic treatments are needed to reduce disease risk.
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​Whatsyourwormrisk.com is a free, easy-to-use online risk assessment tool that helps horse owners and their wormer prescribers take the first steps in best practice, evidence-based worm control for the horse(s) under their care.
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Click on the logo (right) to take the first steps in evidence-based worm control for your horse (or your clients' horse).
Diagnostic-Led Worm Control
Faecal egg count (FEC) test
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These tests estimate the number of worm eggs in dung and can greatly reduce treatments. FEC analysis should be carried out every 8-14 weeks between March and October to assess levels of small redworm egg shedding in individuals. Horses that graze year-round may benefit from monitoring in late winter. FEC tests also detect eggs of other worms such as roundworm in foals.
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Antibody tests
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Small Redworm Blood Test: Worm egg shedding does not correlate with small redworm burdens, meaning that some horses show negative/low FEC results when they have a significant burden. During late autumn/winter, a blood test can be performed in horses assessed as being at low risk of small redworm infection. This is to confirm that the horse has a negligible/low burden not requiring treatment. Horses at higher risk of infection should receive a larvicidal wormer treatment.
​Tapeworm Tests
Best practice guidelines state that blood or EquiSal Tapeworm saliva testing should be conducted to detect tapeworm burdens. Testing should be carried out every six months, ideally in spring and autumn. Spring testing helps identify horses with burdens that will result in tapeworm eggs contaminating paddocks throughout spring/summer. Testing in autumn will help identify horses that have accumulated high burdens during the grazing period, which may put them at risk of colic.