Worming is an important part of keeping horses healthy, but effective parasite control involves more than administering a wormer. Understanding how parasites spread, managing pastures and choosing appropriate treatments can all help reduce worm burdens and minimise reinfection.
At ValuePlus, we believe informed horse owners are better equipped to manage parasites responsibly. Here’s what you need to know about building a more effective worm management program.
How Do Horses Get Worms?
Many equine parasites spread when horses ingest infective larvae while grazing contaminated pasture. Parasite eggs pass into manure, and under suitable environmental conditions, some develop into larvae that horses can ingest while feeding.
This means a horse can become reinfected after treatment if its environment remains contaminated.
To help reduce exposure:
- Remove manure regularly from yards and small paddocks.
- Avoid overstocking and manage grazing areas carefully.
- Keep feed bins clean and minimise ground contamination.
- Consider rotational or mixed-species grazing where appropriate.
Harrowing should be approached cautiously, as it can spread infective larvae in warm, moist conditions.
Why Do Different Wormers Matter?
Different active ingredients target different parasites. Choosing an appropriate treatment means understanding which parasites need to be controlled and whether the product is effective against them.
Our ValuePlus horse worming range includes three products:
- ValuMAX® Red Tube — Abamectin + praziquantel: A broad-spectrum allwormer paste for tapeworms, large and small strongyles, roundworms, pinworms, bots and other specified parasites. It also controls specified cutaneous parasite larvae associated with summer sores.
- Expel Yellow Tube — Abamectin + morantel tartrate: Combines two active ingredients to control a broad range of parasites, including tapeworms, strongyles, roundworms, pinworms and bots.
- Equinox Orange Tube — Oxfendazole: An anthelmintic paste for the control of specified parasites, including large strongyles, roundworms, pinworms and susceptible small strongyles.
Each product has its own labelled spectrum of activity. No single product should be assumed to control every parasite or every stage of its lifecycle.
What Is a Faecal Egg Count?
A faecal egg count (FEC) measures the number of parasite eggs in a manure sample. It helps identify horses shedding higher numbers of eggs, which can contribute to pasture contamination.
FEC testing can help horse owners and veterinarians:
- Identify high egg-shedding horses.
- Make informed decisions about treatment.
- Reduce unnecessary worming.
- Monitor parasite shedding over time.
Not all parasites are detected by routine egg counts, so results should be interpreted alongside your horse’s age, health, grazing conditions and treatment history.
Follow-up testing may also help assess whether a wormer has worked effectively and identify possible resistance.
Why Is Wormer Resistance Important?
Repeated exposure to the same active ingredient can contribute to parasite resistance, meaning some worms survive treatment and pass on that resistance.
The solution isn't simply to rotate products on a fixed schedule. Instead, work with your veterinarian to select treatments based on parasite risks, test results and previous treatment effectiveness.
Keep records of product names, active ingredients, treatment dates and faecal egg count results. This information helps you make better-informed decisions about future treatments.
Build a Smarter Worm Management Program
Effective worm management combines appropriate worming treatments with pasture hygiene, monitoring and veterinary guidance.
At ValuePlus, our ValuMAX®, Expel and Equinox range provides different active ingredient options for managing equine parasites according to their product labels.
Good worm management starts with informed decisions. By understanding how parasites spread and combining suitable treatments with practical pasture management, you can help reduce reinfection and support your horse’s ongoing health.
Explore our horse worming range at valueplus.au and speak with your veterinarian about a program suited to your horse and property.
Always read and follow the product label. This article provides general information and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.