Low Risk Situations

 

A low risk environment is one where it is very likely that the horse will NOT be taking in worm larvae when they are grazing in the paddock or field.  This is most likely in the situations detailed below.  If your horse is kept in a low risk environment then it probably does not need to be constantly wormed with chemical wormers and can move to a monitoring program using worm egg counts.

The ideal solution for horses in a low risk environment is Intelligent Worming.  We will ensure that the horse or pony has worm egg counts to monitor the level of worms in their system but also that treatments for encysted worms and tapeworm are included at strategic times of the year.    Please email our consultants if you think you are in a low risk situation and want to join Intelligent Worming.


Horses that are stabled 24 hours a day

If a horse is stabled 24 hours a day then it will not be grazing on pasture that contains worm egg larvae.  Therefore the likelihood of the horse contracting worm infestations is practically impossible.  The only thing that would affect this is whether they already have a worm burden.

 

Yards that graze horses in individual, ‘closed’ paddocks or horses kept at home.

If horses are grazed in individual paddocks and the dung is collected then once again there is only a very low risk that they are contracting worms as they graze.  Historic levels of pasture contamination could affect this.

 

Livery yards, etc with dung collection practises

If your horse is kept at livery but the dung is collected daily or weekly then the worm larvae will be removed from the pasture.  The horses can be looked at individually in this circumstance and only the ones with worms will need treating .  All of the rest can be monitored with worm egg counts between two and four times a year.

 

Horses with a low level of worms

Some horses have a naturally strong immune system and have low levels of worm infestation.  These horses can be kept in a high risk environment but on a low risk monitoring program.


There are many advantages of a low risk worming program to you, your horse and the environment.  It is worth finding out which risk grading your horse has, to see if you can benefit at all.  Once you know for definite then you can make sure that you are worming your horse correctly.