Worming made simple. Using  Equest in winter and summer and Pramox in autumn and spring will treat every stage of every worm and also control the larvae of Bots.
For many people this will be the best and most economical programme but we are happy to suggest alternatives

Alternatively if you prefer to treat your horse for tapeworm separately, then EQUITAPE, containing praziquantel, is available.

EQUITAPE is licensed to control tapeworm with a single dose, and can be used on its own to treat tapeworm infested horses, or alongside EQUEST as part of a comprehensive worm control programme.

Pramox
This is the only "complete" wormer available and there is no need for "double dosing" with two syringes for tapeworm
Palatable Gel  and ideal to use in Spring and Autumn
Tapeworm 6 months protection
Redworm 13 weeks protection
Is licensed for the use in foals from 6 1/2 months of age
SHOULD NOT BE USED ON PREGNANT OR LACTATING MARES
Each Equest Pramox wormer syringe will treat 575kg
Do not use in sick or neglected horses. If a horse is has a very large worm burden use of Moxidectin (Equest or Pramox) or Ivermectin (Eraquell, Eqvalan, Furexel etc) may result in swellings etc where
large numbers of microfilaria living under the skin are killed.
We recommend that all new horses or any that have not been wormed regularly and effectively should first  be treated with Panacur Equine Guard and Equitape before bringing into a programne.
Equest Pramox contains Moxidectin and Praziquentel. This is a combination of two drugs in one horse wormer treats roundworm, tapeworm, bots, and encysted redworm larvae stages in horses.
Use Equest Pramox wormer alternately with Equest every quarter for a years complete worming programme. Thats just four single doses a year, one for each season!

Equest

Equest is suitable for foals over four months and pregnant mares

Equest lasts 13 weeks

Equest wormer treats all common horse worms apart from tapeworms, including Bots (Bot fly larvae )and developing and inhibited encysted small redworms at the standard dose

Moxidectin is the active ingredient in Equest an anthelmintic which is the first new ingredient for a horse wormer since the introduction of ivermectin horse wormer

Equest is packed as a ‘melt in the mouth’ clear gel

For sick or debilitated horses DO NOT USE EQUEST

One tube of Equest will treat a 575 kg horse

Granules are not available.

The importance of Encysted Small Redworms
What are they?
Worm larvae which have burrowed into the gut wall to form cysts which can remain dormant for up to two years
Q If they are dormant, do they do any harm?
YES! They kill horses! When they emerge at the end of the dormant period there is massive inflammation and colic plus poisonous toxins released. If the horse survives, the gut wall may be so damaged that it is prone to twisting.
Q But I worm regularly!
Most wormers are effective only in the gut so they do NOT treat encysted stages. THIS MEANS THAT WORMERS BASED ON IVERMECTIN OR PYRANTEL HAVE NO EFFECT.
Q What does kill these then?
There are only two treatments licenced: Equest and Equest Pramox (moxidectin) or Fenbendazole (eg Panacur Guard given for five days). Research has shown that Equest (moxidectin) has up to 99.9% efficacy against developing stages of encysted small redworm and over 90% against the inhibited stages when given as a normal single dose. Fenbendazole (Panacur Equine Guard) needs to be given daily for 5 days to control encysted small redworms and is usually given in November and January for this purpose. There is research to suggest that these two courses of Fenbendazole may lead to resistance.
Q I always used to use a different wormer each time to avoid resistance- was this wrong ?
Yes it is very bad practice. Traditionally wormer families were rotated annually to reduce the risk of resistance developing, but there is now evidence that Moxidectin (Equest) may be used for longer periods.  However worms which  become resistant to Ivermectin may then retain resistance to Moxidectin as well.
It is essential that whichever programme is used the correct doses are given- Under-dosing is NOT an economy but promotes survival of resistant strains.

Worming Foals
Foals need special attention as the have no resistance to worms. Mares with foals should preferably be grazed on pasture that has not been grazed by other horses for the previous 12 months. If this is not possible, delay turning them out until June.
Manufacturers specific recommendations for worming foals:- Pyratape/Strongid P/Exodus need to be used from 4 weeks of age every 4 weeks until 8 months old. Ivermectin such as Eraquell or Eqvalan should be used from 6-8 weeks of age and repeated regularly. Panacur may be used to treat diarrhoea caused by Strongyloides westerei in 2-3 week old suckling foals at a rate of one syringe per 90kg bodyweight. As a routine wormer for other worms it is given every 6-8 weeks.
Equest Is not recommended for use in foals until they are 4 months old.
Equitape This can be used in foals of any age but they are unlikely to have tapeworm before 2 months of age so earlier treatment is unnecessary.

Worm Counts
These can be useful to check the efficiency of a worming programme or if there are worries about 'resistance' but it is important to understand their limitations. It is best to have TWO tests carried out before and a short period after giving a worming dose. This establishes the initial worm burden and confirms the effectiveness of the wormer. Worm counts cannot show the extent of any tapeworm infection or presence of encysted small redworms. The laboratory report should give the numbers of eggs found per gramme of sample and also identify the species found. Worm count kits are the most convenient way to do this.

Pasture Management

Remove horse droppings from your pasture regularly – at least twice weekly during the grazing season, and once a week between November and March. Twice weekly removal will need to be continued year round if the autumn and winter remain mild and wet as high levels of infective larvae can occur at any time of year when rainfall and mild temperature coincide (Love S, 2003). Particularly important where pasture is ‘over-stocked’. Don’t overstock pasture - ideally fields should contain no more than one or two horses per acre, as horses lower down the pecking order will be forced to graze the rough pasture where worm burdens will be higher. Divide paddocks into smaller areas so they can be alternatively grazed and rested, reducing pressure on the pasture, and making it easier for you to remove droppings! Alternate pasture with cattle / sheep if possible: parasites are host specific and so ingested equine parasites will be destroyed by cattle / sheep – known as the “biological vacuum cleaning effect”. Resting pasture is a good idea but does not guarantee them to be worm-free, as some larvae can live for many years both on pasture and in horses so simply resting a pasture does not guarantee it being worm free. Harrowing is only advisable in dry hot conditions where exposed worms are killed by the heat. In damp conditions harrowing simply spreads worm eggs and larvae over the pasture and so increases their chance of being ingested by horses. Avoid grazing foals alongside older horses as they can be a major source of pasture contamination, and require more regular worming.

Worming Tips

Aim to keep your worming programme as simple as possible, that way you will be more inclined to stick to it. Consult your vet for the appropriate programme for your horse's particular needs. Beware of new horses! Worm new horses with a wormer licensed to control benzimidazole- resistant worms, such as a moxidectin-based wormer. Keep new arrivals stabled for 48 hours to ensure eggs are passed out of the horse before being let out to pasture to avoid pasture contamination. Dose your horse accurately according to its weight. Using a reduced dose results in more worms surviving leading to pasture contamination, as well as contributing to the development of resistance. Weight can be established by means of a weigh tape or ideally weigh scales. Follow manufacturers' recommended dosing intervals based on brands' active ingredient, i.e. moxidectin 13 weeks, ivermectin 8-10 weeks, pyrantel 4-8 weeks, fenbendazole 6-8 weeks and mebendazole 6 weeks. Treat your horse at least annually against encysted small redworm, such as with a single standard dose of moxidectin. Periodically, (i.e. annually) monitor your worming programme by means of a Faecal Worm Egg Count. Worm pregnant mares before and after foaling. Treat for tapeworm in the spring and autumn. Worm all horses sharing grazing or on the same yard at the same time with the same product. Keep a record of when you worm and what you use.