Worming

Having the right parasite testing and treatment programme in place is an important part of keeping our horses healthy and also helps to protect the national herd. However, it can sometimes be tricky to know what the right option is for your individual horse, from testing and treatment to managing the risks of transmission and resistance.

On this page, you'll find all of the resources we shared as part of our Worming Week campaign in January 2026. The 

Top tips for effective parasite control

It's important to work with your vet or prescriber to create a personalised parasite testing and treatment plan, based on your horse's individual needs and circumstances. However, here are some general top tips to employ on your yard to help prevent the spread of parasites.

1. Perform routine faecal egg counts (FEC) and annual FEC reduction tests.
2. Use serum or saliva tests twice a year to assess tapeworm burdens.
3. Avoid unnecessary anthelmintic use and consider alternative control methods.
4. Regularly poo-pick fields to limit the spread of worms and other parasites.
5. Quarantine and test new arrivals on the yard before turning them out with resident horses.
6. Rest fields and manage stock density as part of effective pasture control

You can print off these tips in poster form by using the link below. 

Effective parasite control poster

Worming Week podcast series

Having the right parasite testing and treatment programme in place is an important part of keeping our horses healthy and also helps to protect the national herd. Rachel chats with vet Tim Mair to explore the different parasite tests and what factors need to be considered when putting together a programme to suit the needs of our individual horses. 

Rachel chats with Nicola Housby Skeggs, Veterinary Director at The Horse Trust, and Dr. Tamzin Furtado from the University of Liverpool. They take a closer look at what factors need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to test or treat our horses for common parasites, and why overuse of anthelmintics poses such a risk to our national herd. 

Rachel is joined by Claire Shand from Westgate Labs, who sits on the core steering group of cross-industry organisation CANTER, and environmentalist Ruth Dancer from sustainability consultancy White Griffin to find out the effects that that anthelmintic drugs can have, not only on a local level but also on the wider ecosystem. Plus, Ruth shares insight into the importance of caring for our soil and Claire amazes everyone with some hard-hitting statistics. 

Worming and the environment

The anthelmintic drugs used to treat parasites can be extremely harmful on our environment. While it's still important to treat a high burden of parasites, it's important to do this in a way that minimises the wider impact, both within your yard environment and the wider ecosystem. This includes...

1. Avoiding unnecessary treatment by using a test-led approach.
2. Stabling your horse or putting them into a smaller paddock during peak excretion times.
3. Not allowing them access to watercourses for one week after treatment.
4. Poo-picking daily to remove contaminated dung.
5. Siting muck heaps away from grazing areas and watercourses.
6. Not spreading contaminated manure that hasn't been properly composted. 

You can print off these tips in poster form by using the link below. 

Reduce the environmental impact of worming

Key messages to take away from worming week

1. Choose a test-led approach to parasite control, conducted at regular intervals.
2. Assess your horse's risk profile for parasite transmission.
3. Work with your vet or prescriber on a personalised plan for your horse's needs.
4. Tailor your management strategies to minimise the spread of parasites. 
5. Avoid unnecessary treatment to reduce the risk of anthelmintic resistance.
6. If treatment is necessary, take steps to limit the environmental impact. 

You can print off these tips in poster form by using the link below. 

Key messages from worming week

ONline resources

CANTER is a collaborative, industry-led organisation dedicated to tackling resistance to wormer (anthelmintic) treatment, made up of experts from across the equestrian industry. Their guidelines provide evidence-based information on the key principles of sustainable equine parasite control and are used by many vets and prescribers, so are a really useful resource when putting together a parasite testing and treatment plan for your horse.

You can read the guidelines here. 

CANTER has also produced a handy matrix that guides you through assigning a parasite risk profile to your horse, based on their clinical history, age, stock density, previous test results and environment. A risk profile plays a key part in deciding whether or not to treat your horse, so it's useful to have the information to hand when you speak to your vet or prescriber. 

You can find the risk profile matrix here.

You can also find lots of general information about testing-led deworming on the British Horse Society website.