14/05/2026
Is your horse due a worm egg count?
Regular faecal worm egg counts are one of the most important ways to keep your horse healthy while helping to reduce unnecessary wormer use and resistance.
A worm egg count checks the level of worm eggs being shed in your horse’s droppings and helps us decide whether treatment is actually needed.
We generally recommend worming horses with results over 300 eggs per gram (epg). Horses with lower counts may not require treatment at that time, allowing for a more targeted and responsible approach to parasite control.
It is important to remember that a standard worm egg count mainly detects small and large redworm, but does not reliably detect tapeworm or encysted small redworm.
Tapeworm testing should also form part of your horse’s parasite control plan, as tapeworms require specific testing and targeted treatment.
Horses with PPID (Cushing’s disease) may carry higher parasite burdens, so regular monitoring is especially important. Young horses may also need closer monitoring due to increased susceptibility to worms.
Even horses with low worm egg counts may still require treatment for encysted small redworm during the autumn or winter months, depending on their age, management, health status and individual risk factors. We would always recommend discussing this with your vet before administering wormers unnecessarily, to ensure the most appropriate and targeted treatment plan for your horse.
We generally recommend testing every 8–12 weeks during the grazing season, alongside good pasture management such as:
-Regular poo picking
-Avoiding overstocking
-Mixed grazing where possible
Routine worming without testing can contribute to wormer resistance, making treatments less effective in the future. A strategic parasite control plan combines testing, targeted treatment and good pasture hygiene.
If you would like advice on testing or creating a tailored parasite control plan for your horse, please get in touch with the team on 01342 823011.
