Worm-Ed

19/12/2024

Foal season is here, and we can’t help but fall in love with those adorable little ones! But as cute as they are, foals are particularly vulnerable to parasites while their immune systems are still maturing. So, how can we protect them and ensure they grow into healthy, thriving horses?

🐛 From the moment they step onto pasture, young foals face a range of parasite challenges, including ascarids, redworm, and tapeworm. In fact the mare’s udder itself is a source of infection due to the presence of sticky eggs that can infect your foal at their first suckle!

If left untreated, parasites can cause serious respiratory and intestinal damage, stunt growth, and even lead to potentially fatal colic. To give your foal the best start, regular worm egg counts, combined with targeted treatments from 8-10 weeks old will help to protect them while their immunity builds.
Just remember: moxidectin (Equest Plus and Ultramox)) is not suitable for foals, so other deworming options should be used instead. We are happy to help with a tailored plan for your youngstock in their first few years of life until they are old enough to join the regular adult Worm-Ed programme :)

01/11/2024

Did you know that 80% of worm contamination on your farm comes from just 20% of horses? Yet, some people still "blanket worm" their entire herd year-round, even though most horses don’t need it. Half the adult horse population only requires 1-2 treatments per year! That’s why regular f***l egg counts (FECs) are so important. By testing with Worm-Ed, we can identify each horse’s egg-shedding level. Not all horses shed parasite eggs equally. In fact, research shows that a small group of horses, called “high shedders,” are responsible for releasing the majority of parasite eggs on the farm. This is the 80/20 rule: 20% of horses shed 80% of the eggs!

Drench resistance works like antibiotic resistance—the more we overuse them, the faster parasites build resistance. Eventually, the treatments we rely on could stop working altogether.

So, how do you determine which horses fall into the 20% of ‘high egg shedders’? And why are some horses more vulnerable to parasites, even when they’re kept under similar conditions? The answer lies mainly in their genetics. Some horses simply have stronger immunity to parasites than others. It doesn’t matter if they are in mixed grazing or alone; their genetic “stamp” will generally override other factors.

Effective worm control begins with testing. Worm counts help pinpoint which horses actually carry parasites, so you can target treatments only where they’re needed. Our testing services and kits come with free expert advice, making it easy to manage worms and ensure your horses stay healthy.

21/10/2024

Thanks Bex Tasker at Positively Together 🙏 Nice little plug captured from the crowd during a live demo at Equifest . Thank you to everyone that visited us at our NZVA booth. We had a really awesome weekend sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of vets ❤️

18/10/2024

A few hats on this weekend at Equifest as secretary of the Equine branch of the The New Zealand Veterinary Association we are showcasing our industry and inviting anyone with horse health questions or interested in becoming a vet to visit us. We are alongside the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation and the New Zealand Equine Health Association in the "Health Hub" we are LOVING catching up with you all 👌❤️

10/10/2024

This photo reveals all the cool prizes on offer from these awesome kiwi businesses!
Oakridge Equestrian Mac Wet Gloves
Ecohorse Crazy Candy Floss Bundle
Fabuleux Vous Socks, Tote bag and makeup purse
Barn and Anvil $100 voucher
Kirstin Kelly Equestrian one on one mindset training
Vivant Equi $100 voucher
teQ $100 voucher
Zeberdee Equine cover of your choice
Ridewell Trainwell online lesson
Go-Equine NZ $100 voucher
Punk Ponies Tack Shop $100 voucher
And from Worm-Ed $120 to be used on FECS, product or consultations 💚🖤
Click on their tags to follow them, then answer the fun quiz linked in comments to go in the draw to win this epic prize drawn at Equifest. Answers easily found on socials and websites 😉

09/10/2024

Simple and easy for you with scientific and precise results! 🪱💚
Perfect for those with busy lives - sign up, collect your horses 💩 sample and return it! Dr Holly Blue will handle it from there and send you your horses personalised treatment program and your products will arrive in the mail!
Takes all the thinking out of it while ensuring the BEST outcome for your horse! 🏇🏼🪱💚

05/10/2024

We are part of a group of small businesses run by some amazing women. Aside from the fact there are $1200 worth of goodies in the package below. You are actually helping to support these businesses by taking part. Thanks for your support and good luck. PS I can help with any quiz questions but they're super easy if you check out our pages ❤️

03/10/2024

Ayla is on duty defending us from fluffy snakes while we charge through all our lab samples! She is the adorable new addition for our wonderful vet nurse Kat. Not distracting at all 😅❤️😍

27/09/2024

Spring deworming update. We have been busy conducting a trial measuring the resistance to moxidectin, using Equest Plus which is the only available moxidectin source in NZ at present. I recently led a national study, surveying 1200 horses across NZ and we saw some worrying results emerging for moxidectin on some farms :(
I'm happy to report that on the farms we have surveyed managed by our Worm-Ed programme we have no evidence of significant resistance in the hundreds of samples we have surveyed so far :) Moxidectin is an important active ingredient to protect from resistance, due to its use in supporting clinical cases of redworm (cyathostome/small strongyle) infection. However, due to mass marketing and public perception for the past 15 years we have seen overuse and misuse of this product. This should be used prudently in advice with your veterinarian.
At Worm-Ed we conduct a risk profile of your farm and discuss the needs of your individual horses with our initial consultation and build up a picture of your requirements through FEC testing and additional clinical information. We do not just perform a FEC test and leave you in the dark we support you through each year's treatment plan often alongside your regular vet.
We have recently upgraded our portal and streamlined our individual reminder systems.
For the month of October we will be running a special to introduce our returning clients to the portal. For horses more than 12 months past their last FEC we have a RE-Introductory special of 20% of regular FEC testing. Please contact myself Holly Blue: [email protected] to have your portal activated for this October special. Please note this applies to existing clients only. To sign up to our regular programme there is a free booking button on our website at www.worm-ed.com

27/09/2024

Our Epic Announcement! We are so proud to be part of a team of passionate small businesses in NZ offering high quality services and products. This is the brainchild of my long-term friend Kirstin Taylor at teQ . Check out all the businesses offering services and products in this package valued at over $1200! This will be announced at Equifest but you do not need to attend to be in. Just click on the below link and follow the instructions :)

Thank you for joining our giveaway. Visit the trade-stands or Educator demos at Equifest, or visit our pages, websites or use your own knowledge of our businesses to answer all the questions below. There is one question per business. Oakridge Equestrian, teQ, Ridewell Trainwell, Eco Horse,....

26/09/2024

Stay tuned...

28/08/2024

Unsure about when to test or treat? We offer a seamless solution to simplify the process. We handle all the planning and send the appropriate test kits directly to your door, tailored to your horse’s individual needs.

25/08/2024

Apologies everyone we have a system update on the portal. Reports will temporarily be unavailable online. We will let you know when we are back up and running today. Have a great day 🪱 💚🖤

23/08/2024

As your broodmare prepares to welcome her little one, it’s essential to ensure she’s in optimal condition. Providing the best care before foaling not only supports her health but also sets the stage for a strong, healthy foal.

Around 4 weeks before her due date is time for her pre-foaling treatment. This is the perfect opportunity to help her eliminate pesky parasites that could potentially impact the foal’s health. Consider it a vital step in ensuring a smooth foaling experience.

At Worm-Ed, we love developing personalised deworming plans tailored to your mare’s specific needs and local parasite risks. Our expert advice ensures that both the mare and her foal are well-protected. It is important for your mare’s health to avoid using just any over the counter product without veterinary advice.

16/08/2024

Without Faecal egg counts, you’re completely in the dark. These counts provide crucial information to effectively target treatments – both in terms of timing and identifying the worms, as well as checking the treatment has worked.
Our NZ based studies have shown that we can no longer simply administer a wormer and expect it to kill worms, with resistance showing to all active ingredients we have available in our country. Redworm (small strongyle/cyathostome), is the most significant internal parasite, and is associated with a death rate of 55% in clinically affected horses! Testing before administering allows us to preserve the efficacy of wormers and protect the ongoing welfare of our horses.

Follow us to discover more ways you can help slow resistance and stay out of the dark!

09/08/2024

Hi to everyone who has enrolled on our first Spring deworming audit. This will be rolling out in the last week of August. Just touching base to highlight the key components of this package. You will receive TWO test kits PER HORSE. And included is a discounted treatment of moxidectin based on the weights of the horses you have provided. Further information will be provided in your packs and we are always available for support. Your horses will be loaded into the new portal as we test, so nothing to do there 😊
We have made this as economical as we are able to. This is in the interest of providing information as to how well this active ingredient is working on your farm. The sign up has now closed but we will be repeating this in the future so watch this space.
In the meantime if you have any questions around:

*I've signed up but haven't received confirmation

* Transitioning to the new portal

*Are my horses due a FEC?

*Anything worm related!

Please touch base with me
Holly: [email protected] or
Kat: [email protected]