This simple, user-friendly resource, titled ‘What’s Your Worm Risk?’, has been developed by Austin Davis Biologics in collaboration with equine industry.
Anthelmintic resistance poses a significant threat to equine health and welfare, with cases now reported in all common horse worms. Effective worm control begins with assessing a horse’s risk of infection, providing essential information for decisions regarding management, testing, and treatment.
The tool uses widely accepted principles of equine worm control to classify each horse's risk of infection as low, moderate, or high, based on details provided by the owner. It also accounts for the potential impact of grazing companions, where applicable.
Jacqui Matthews, a specialist in parasitology and director of veterinary science at Austin Davis Biologics, explains: “The tool is designed to support horse owners in assessing their horse’s risk of infection, helping them make informed decisions about testing and treatment.”
To reduce the risk of wormer resistance, experts recommend combining excellent pasture management—reducing worm transmission from paddocks—with regular testing to guide treatment decisions.
- Faecal worm egg count (FEC) tests provide an insight into worm egg shedding levels in manure.
- Antibody tests reveal the horse’s exposure to worm infections.
This approach minimizes the need for blanket wormer treatments, which are known to promote resistance and reduce the effectiveness of essential drugs.
The ‘What’s Your Worm Risk?’ tool has been optimised for use on smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers and is tailored specifically to UK conditions.
By integrating testing and evidence-based treatments into worm control plans, horse owners can protect their animals while reducing the risk of drug resistance in the equine population.
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