Worm-Ed

02/11/2026

Baby Worm-Ed Package: Competition Time
Early parasite management can make or break a young horse's long‑term health. Foals are highly vulnerable to parasite damage, and without proper monitoring, ineffective treatments can go unnoticed, allowing resistant worms to establish early. This is where performing a drench check on your foal comes in.

FIRST STEPS
Foals should begin their deworming program with “Baby Worm-Ed” from 8–10 weeks of age, following the same schedule recommended for high shedders. At this stage of life, they require a broad spectrum dewormer up until one year of age to ensure full coverage against the parasites most commonly affecting young horses, namely small strongyles (redworm) and ascarids (roundworm).

IS THE PRODUCT WORKING?
A two week drench check should be performed after one of these broad spectrum treatments. At this check the FEC should be very close to zero if the dewormer is effective. A drench check gives you confidence, accuracy, and peace of mind while confirming whether the product used has worked. Identifies any remaining parasite species that need to be targeted and ensures your foal stays on the correct treatment pathway from the start.
This drench check measures how effective the treatment has been and gives information on whether drug resistance is present. It is not a measurement of the foal's shedder status. We can measure their shedder status in their 3rd year of life once their immune system is established.

Foal Fact: Moxidectin is not recommended until the foal reaches one year of age.

THE PACKAGE
This year Worm-Ed is providing a Baby Worm-Ed package which covers all the information you need for deworming your newborn and includes a 2 week drench check for peace of mind.
Sign up with your foal's date of birth or expected date of delivery to have all the guesswork taken out of this season's deworming.

COMPETITION TIME
We have teamed up with Dr Rebecca Walker from Vetpost
For every foal signed up for the Baby Worm-Ed Package during November go in the draw to win a $50 voucher to spend online.

Baby Worm-Ed Package: Only $35 (+postage)
Plus a Chance to WIN a $50 Vetpost voucher

HOW TO ENTER
To set your foal up in the system, log onto your portal ( www.worm-ed.com )
1. Click “Add Horse”.
2. Enter a 'name' for the foal (this can be edited later).
3.Enter your foal's date of birth (DOB) or expected due date (EDD)
4. Select “Newborn Foal” under the deworming treatment list if they have not yet received a treatment. Otherwise, select the last product used
5. Order the Baby Worm-Ed Package
(If you have multiple foals, order all their kits under one purchase. Every kit ordered is one entry into the draw)
**Competition open to current Worm-Ed Clients**

Once these details are saved, you will be entered into the draw and you will then receive:
* A reminder for your foal's next deworming treatment
* A follow-up reminder two weeks later for the drench check FEC
* A detailed plan for the rest of the year

This ensures your foal begins its Baby Worm-Ed schedule on time and stays fully protected.
If you need any help, just reply to this email — we're always happy to assist.
Healthy foal, smarter parasite control, and a chance to save big.

28/10/2026

Greetings to you all from Christchurch amidst some seriously wild New Zealand weather lately 🌧️💨
​I’ve swapped my lab coat for a conference badge this week, attending the Parasite Advisory Day as part of the New Zealand Society of Parasitology annual conference.
​Even though the main agenda here is heavily focused on sheep, beef, and dairy production, the science is very applicable to equine.
One of the biggest highlights we discussed today was the power of cross-grazing with other species as a sustainable management tool to help break parasite life cycles on pasture. This is something you've often heard us discuss.
​When you combine that with the latest data on anthelmintic resistance mechanisms, diagnostic advancements, and refugia management, there is so much valuable crossover to bring back to equine parasite control.
Whether we're looking at ruminant or equine systems, the challenge of staying ahead of resistance is something our whole industry shares and diverse grazing strategies are a great piece of that puzzle.
Reach out of you'd like to discuss cross grazing or "vacuum cleaning" your property 😊

16/10/2026

Busy time at Equifest! Please call in to say Hi and pick up some gummy worms to give you shopping energy! I have my NZ Veterinary Association hat on this Equifest and am always up for an excuse to talk worms. Front and centre is our Fireworks campaign discussed today with Winston Peters and continuing to raise awareness regarding Strangles management. See us at A50 😊

07/09/2026

Client Feature - We Want to Celebrate You!
This month we have Jennie Boerema - Icelandic Horses; Skogarrond Ltd
My journey with Icelandic horses began in 1984. what started as a love for these remarkable gaited horses has become a very special part of my life. I love spending time with them in and out of the paddock, riding them, particularly enjoying the tolt, and breeding the next generation.
There is something unique about them—their power, intelligence, gentle character, and of course the special gaits. Next to walk, trot and canter they have the tölt, five gaiters and also the pace. Nothing beats riding Icelandic horses in tölt with beautiful flowing manes, powerful bodies, forwardness and lively personalities!
Due to the way Icelandic horses are traditionally raised most of them are well socialised, sure-footed and mentally mature and stable.
I currently own 7 Icelandic horses of mixed age: two riding horses, two older and retired horses in their twenties and 3 youngsters. Our youngest is a c**t, imported in his dam from Iceland/Europe; Tangó. He is out of a World Champion palomino stallion (T2, loose rein tolt) and very promising. Tangó is the highest ever assessed horse in New Zealand and has the highest breeding value Down Under according the worldwide database for purebred Icelandic horses, WordFengur.
Tangó is palomino, although you would hardly know it most of the time because he has a particular talent for finding mud. He also has the habit of rolling with his head in the feed bucket since he was very young, so keeping him looking like a world champion offspring is sometimes an ambitious project.

For me it was a no brainer to join Worm-Ed and have all my horses tested before treated. It is so important to know which horses are the high shedders of your herd so you could target them and while at same time saving on worming the low shedders. Much healthier for the horses and better for the environment. It really doesn’t take much time to collect manure from each horse. And there is something special about just sitting in the paddock and observing them!
If you want the best for your horses, I advise any horse owner to get to understand the worm status of your horse(s) and join the Worm-Ed program.
Take the guess work out of it!

Thank you for your continued support Jennie!

31/08/2026

Happy first day of Spring! It may not feel like it where you are but warmer days and grass growth are on the way and foals are starting to appear all over the country! This means its a great time of the year to touch base for your annual parasite management review. Many of you are well underway with testing and receiving your plan for the year, and this is critical so we can provide the most up-to-date advice and address any issues you may be having. It also allows us to provide the most cost-effective de-worming solutions. This year, we have switched things up by offering a range of de-worming solutions suited to different types of horses on your property, while taking into account your farm's risk profile. For example, a broodmare farm with lots of youngstock coming and going will have different requirements than a pony club property with two long-term companion ponies. To provide this range of options, you can now choose from several brands from the same family of active ingredients, which you can purchase from your local vet, or click a link to order through Vetpost and have it posted to you. We still have our range of powdered dewormers for feed administration which are available exclusively for our Worm-Ed clients and can also be ordered with one click through your portal (body weight measurements required).
Another change this season is an increased point of contact with your regular GP vet. As an equine vet myself, this ensures open communication channels for optimised care for your horse or pony. We are more than a FEC service we look at the whole health picture of your horse and farm and this often requires a team approach with support from your local vet as well.
We wish you all the best for the upcoming season and please fire through any questions about our new systems or mare and foal parasite management :)
Photo Credit Ohuatahi Warmbloods

09/08/2026

Client Feature – We Want to Celebrate You!
Each month, we will spotlight one of our amazing clients and their gorgeous equine companions.
This month we have Madeleine Flannagan A horse called Feijoa .
I work with unhandled wild and rescue horses, and I help with domesticated horses who have challenging ground behaviours. I take a careful, liberty-based approach founded on trust and mutual engagement, using positive reinforcement and kind pressure and release techniques. I find deep enjoyment, both emotionally and mentally, in the process of bringing a completely unhandled or anxious rescue horse into relationship with people. It is endlessly absorbing and never quite the same twice. I do also ride when I have the time, and I love teaching my horses liberty tricks.

I did not fully appreciate worms in all their forms until I began working with horses coming to me direct from either years of neglect or the wild. The night before the arrival of my very first straight-from-the-muster Kaimanawa horses, my foot was smashed by a deer strainer post. I was on crutches. My non-horsey adult daughter agreed to help with hay, water, and mucking out. The first morning I needed her help arrived. I pointed her to the poo cart and fork, then let myself into the yards and took a few hops on my crutches to check how the horses were settling. I hopped near a deposit and stood there staring. As my daughter came through the gate I called out: "You know how I told you they were drenched as they are loaded for delivery?" There was a pause while she digested my meaning. She said, "How bad is it?" I said, "Really bad." She came in, and I could see it taking everything in her to not quit. There seriously seemed to be more worms than poo. It was awful but weirdly engaging at the same time. 🤣🤮

I wanted to take the guesswork out of treatment timing and to support responsible worm management on my property. When I moved here 18 months ago, I knew I would be bringing in rescues, wild horses, and horses from various domestic settings, and I wanted to manage both my own horses and those staying temporarily in a resistance-aware way. My horses often act as paddock mates or support companions for those I am working with, so there is a real contamination risk. Worm-Ed gives me confidence that I have it all in hand.

Thank you for your continued support Madeleine!

09/07/2026

Great update to see. Only one new property affected since Monday and this is well contained.

Strangles Strangles: the most prevalent infectious respiratory disease in horses worldwide and endemic to New Zealand. Strangles Update | 9th July 2026Current status:The number of affected properties in the Waikato has increased by 1 since Monday 6th, with a clear link to a previous case, and is not...

08/07/2026

Hi everyone. As some of you may be aware, I have recently taken on a part-time role as Head of Equine Services for the NZVA, and as part of that role, I have been involved in communications with both our veterinary members and horse owners across NZ. I just want to reassure you that we are not concerned about a widespread outbreak, but vigilance is still needed around Thoroughbred horses moving from the Waikato. This little flowchart our team has put together should be very helpful. Thank you to all my Worm-Ed clients for your understanding regarding the postponements of my regular appointments this week. A hot tip is to jump onto the New Zealand Equine Health Association's page for the most up-to-date resources and a tally of properties affected.

09/06/2026

Busy mums, I see you 👋 Between school runs, work, family life and everything else on the to-do list, it can be hard to stay on top of every part of horse care. That’s exactly why we developed the Worm-Ed programme. It takes the guesswork out of treatments and testing with a convenient reminder system, tailored plans, and products delivered when your horse is due, making parasite management simpler for busy horse owners. PLUS the peace of mind that you are not over-worming with unnecessary chemicals. Worm-Ed also offers yearly reminders at the optimum time for faecal egg count testing and sends kits straight to your door, so it’s one less thing to remember.
As a mum myself, I know how little time there is for doing everything “right” including deworming your horse! Our programme helps take that pressure off, so you can spend less time worrying about schedules and more time enjoying the horsey moments that matter with your family. For a very efficient free 15-minute chat on setting up a plan that works for your farm, book me out at www.worm-ed.com
Enjoying the sun at Abderry with my own kids💚🐴
Photo credit: Carrie Gregory

28/04/2026

BOTS- it's THAT time of the year. I'm reposting last year's message with the addition of a brilliant video from Dr Martin Nielsen-an internationally renowned equine parasitologist. He busts myths around waiting for the first frost, whether botflies sting your horse and explores some hidden stages in the mouth!
"A sensible announcement on bot management from the horse's mouth...just because bots hang out here too!
Bot eggs are not picked up in faecal egg counts (FEC) because they are not a worm that lays eggs in your horse's gut! Your egg count is presented for you by the bot fly ON your horse. Does this mean FECS are useless and our horses are at risk of catastrophic bot related disease NO! FECS are still the cornerstone in all well managed parasite programnes as they give us information on the egg shedding patterns of the biggest killer: the small strongyle/cyathostomin known also as redworm and the Ascarid/Roundworm a killer of foals. BUT WAIT (I hear you type) "Don't you know it doesn't pick up on encysted redworm or Tapeworm Dr Blue? This FEC can still not be trusted".
This is not a situation to panic as any well managed worm programme will (amongst other things) identify your high shedding horses and therefore achieve THREE main outcomes:
🪱Reduce environmental contamination by up to 80%
🪱Reduce reinfection rates
🪱Have appropriate treatment frequencies and recommended treatments that cover all worms including encysted redworm, ascarids, Bots, Tapeworm, Pinworm and Tape.
The icing on the wormy cake is to test your horses 2 weeks after treatment to make sure the product has worked (no resistance).
Well managed programmes DO use FECs and DO NOT recommend horse's are not wormed. Even low egg shedding horse's should still receive 1 to 2 treatments per year covering all worms.
If you are still concerned about Bots please rest assured that although they are awful to see and annoying to deal with it is universally accepted that they do not cause death in the horse although they should still be minimised due to associated soft tissue disease. As opposed to redworm which has a mortality rate of up to 55%!!!! So if you want to AVOID increased death from redworm as our products begin to fail from overuse and resistance then please speak to us or your regular vet about tailoring a programme that is set up for your INDIVIDUAL horse requirements. This should be coupled with fly control and include appropriate manure management."

32 likes, 6 comments. "The Parasite Journey of the Horse 6"