Fun and Frivolity at the National Equine Show Underlines Serious Message
03 March 2025
in Every Horse needs a Worm Egg Count Campaign
PRESS RELEASE issued 3rd March 2025
Horse health company, Westgate Labs, launched their new campaign urging ‘every horse needs a worm egg count’, at the National Equine Show, 1st and 2nd March 2025. The message encourages horse owners to conduct faecal sampling for ‘every horse, every size, every season’ with lab technician Isla Dagg donning a giant inflatable poo emoji on event to drive home the need for effective parasite control.
“It’s certainly attracted a lot of attention this weekend!” commented Westgate Labs Business Director Kristy Hodgson. “The fun and frivolity is great, but it underlines a serious message. Too many horses are exposed to unnecessary risks of parasite infection and disease because owners test too infrequently or not at all.
“Blanket worming is outdated, yet still common practice in many yards. With resistance rising, we can no longer simply administer a treatment and expect it to work. Testing first is the only way to slow resistance and protect our horses’ health.”
Concerning Knowledge Gaps in Horse Owners
A Westgate Labs survey of over 150 horse owners at the show found that nearly a third either never test their horses for worms or do so too infrequently, putting their animals at unnecessary risk.
Kristy explained:
“The lifecycle of the small redworm is particularly fast—around 4-5 weeks. A burden left unchecked can quickly escalate. That’s why we recommend:
- Routine worm egg counts every 12 weeks for healthy adult horses (or every 8 weeks for young, older, or high-risk horses).
- Tapeworm testing every six months, as tapeworms do not show up in standard worm egg counts.
- A risk-based approach to encysted small redworm, assessed in winter to either test and/or treat.
- Good pasture management, including regular poo picking and sensible grazing strategies.
“You can’t tell just by looking at a horse whether it has worms. Once symptoms appear, the disease is often already advanced.”
Why Every Horse Needs a Worm Egg Count
No matter the size, breed, or workload of a horse, all equines are at risk of internal parasites. Miniature ponies, leisure horses, performance athletes, and retired companions alike can all carry worm burdens, and managing these effectively is key to their wellbeing.
A worm egg count is a simple, non-invasive test that analyses a dung sample to detect the level of worm eggs present. Westgate Labs makes this process easy with their postal laboratory service, offering rapid, reliable results and expert guidance on whether treatment is necessary.
Join the Movement for Smarter Equine Care
The “Every Horse Needs a Worm Egg Count” campaign is designed to educate, empower, and support horse owners in making informed decisions about their horse’s health. As part of this initiative, Westgate Labs is offering:
- Free expert advice to help owners create effective parasite control plans.
- Educational resources across their website and social media platforms.
Take the first step towards smarter worm control: Order a test kit today!