As the days shorten and the grass slows down, it’s easy to think the worm season is over. In fact, Autumn is one of the most important times of year to get your horse’s worming plan right. And the smartest plan starts with one thing and that is testing.
Why testing matters:
Worming used to mean dosing every horse every few weeks, whether they needed it or not. We now know that is a big mistake. Overuse of wormers has led to resistance, which means the products we rely on are becoming less effective. Once resistance takes hold on a yard, there is no going back.
There is also a simple fact that surprises many owners: in any group of horses, only a small number (about 20%) typically carry much of the worm burden. Some horses need treating, whilst others barely need it at all. Without testing, you are simply guessing which is which.
Testing allows us to:
· Treat the horses that need it and leave the rest alone
· Save money by avoiding unnecessary wormers
· Protect the products that still work for when your horse really needs them
· Check that treatments are working by re-testing after a dose
· Spot problems early, before they show up as weight loss or colic
The tests we use in autumn:
Faecal worm egg count (FWEC). A small dung sample tells us how many worm eggs your horse is shedding. It’s the go to test for adult redworm and roundworm, and it helps us decide whether treatment is needed. We also do FWECs to check if a worming medicine is still effective, but timing matters here, so let me help you with your worm counts.
Tapeworm test. Tapeworm eggs are patchy in the way they are released and easily missed in dung, so a normal egg count isn’t reliable here. A saliva is far more accurate, and it shows whether your horse needs a tapeworm dose or not.
Encysted small redworm blood test. If your horse has had high FWECs this year, a test for encysted redworm could be worthwhile. Small redworm larvae burrow into the gut wall and hide there. A standard egg count can’t detect them. A blood test can indicate whether your horse is carrying a worrying burden, so we can make an informed decision about giving a winter dose of wormer.
What we will be treating:
Testing guides the plan, but in Autumn we will usually be considering:
· Encysted small redworm, does your horse need a blood test for encysted redworm?
· Tapeworm, based on test results, does your horse need treating?
· Bots, treated after the first frosts, once the adult flies have gone. Have you seen the little yellow, bot eggs on your horse?
· Adult redworm and roundworm, only when the egg count says it is needed.
Good pasture management, especially regular poo picking, works alongside all of this to keep the worm burden down. We can discuss this with you and see how we can maximise your worm control based on you yard facilities.
Book your Autumn testing and worming today:
At Worming Wisely, we offer a full postal service through our website, so you can get help wherever you are. You’ll also have access to our qualified, award-winning SQP, who is always happy to give you advice you can trust.
But if we are honest, what we really love is getting to know you and your horses! Why not invite us over for a visit? We will bring our weighbridge along and give you all the help and advice you need. From saliva tests and FWECs to sensibly priced worming medications, we can take care of the lot.
Is your horse carrying a little more condition than they should be? We also offer a weight management service with regular weigh-ins, so you can see how you are getting on and keep them on track.
So why not get in touch today? We will book in your testing, then put together a worming plan based on your horse’s actual results rather than guesswork. We’d love to hear from you!
Call Melanie on 07985 214864
Or get in touch via info@wormingwisely.co.uk
