High Risk Situations

A high risk environment is one where it is very likely that the horse will be taking in worm larvae constantly when he/she is grazing in the paddock or field.  This is most likely in the situations detailed below.  If your horse is kept in a high risk environment then it MUST be wormed in accordance with chemical interval worming, however this can be supplemented with a herbal wormer at certain times of the year.  An interval worming programme will provide maximum protection for the horse against worm damage.

If your yard, horse or pony is in one of the following situations and you are concerned about the high risk from worm infestation then please email us or contact us direct on 01267 241136.

 

Yards where horses come and go regularly

Yards where horses come and go regularly and share grazing have no control over the level of worm infestation in the pasture.  These could be dealing yards, livery yards, riding schools, rescue centres, rest homes or studs, as examples.  However, if the dung is collected or the horses are stabled and not turned out then these yards would not be high risk environments.

 

Fields that have been over grazed

A field that has been heavily grazed over a number of years or one that has more than one horse per acre is likely to have worm larvae contamination.  Once again the practise of dung collection could lower the risk grading in this situation.

 

DIY Livery yards that have no common worming programme

When worming is left to the owners discretion but grazing is shared with other horses then, unless an Intelligent Worming programme is in place, all horses must be wormed at the same time and with the same wormer.  If this does not happen then the level of worm larvae in the pasture will steadily increase.

 

Horses with a high level of worms

Some horses have a naturally low immune system and are very prone to high levels of worm infestation.  This is commonly either very young or very old horses.  These horses need a constant supplement to protect them from worm damage and should not be left exposed without any worm coverage. 
It is always worth finding out which risk grading your horse has by completing the risk assessment form. (If you do not have adobe 7.0 then this form will need printing and posting to us.  Alternatively please send us an email or call our consultants.  Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience.) Once you know for definite then you can make sure that you