Equine anthelmintics: survey of the patterns of use, beliefs and attitudes among horse owners in the UK.
Authors: Allison K, Taylor N M, Wilsmore A J, Garforth C
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Anthelmintic Use Patterns and Owner Attitudes in UK Horse Populations A 2011 survey of 574 UK horse owners—predominantly leisure riders across diverse disciplines—revealed significant gaps between current worming practices and owner confidence in those practices. Less than 60% of respondents felt satisfied with their existing anthelmintic programmes, with a quarter actively wanting to reduce treatment frequency, yet fewer than half consulted their veterinary surgeon for worming advice. Notably, nearly half of yard-kept horses operated under collective anthelmintic protocols imposed by livery management, and 45% of these owners disagreed with their yard's approach, suggesting misalignment between standardised protocols and individual circumstances. Whilst respondents demonstrated general awareness of anthelmintic resistance as a concern, the disconnect between anxiety about resistance and reliance on non-veterinary information sources—or absence of any structured programme—highlights a critical need for improved professional guidance. These findings underscore the value of veterinary input in designing tailored, evidence-based worming strategies that balance individual horse requirements with responsible resistance management.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Many horse owners lack confidence in their worming protocols and would benefit from improved veterinary guidance on tailored anthelmintic programmes
- •Livery yards should reconsider one-size-fits-all anthelmintic policies, as nearly half of users are dissatisfied with imposed programmes
- •Veterinarians have an opportunity to increase their role as primary advisors on anthelmintic use, as currently under 50% of owners consult them for worming advice
Key Findings
- •89% of respondents were leisure riders engaged in various equestrian activities
- •Less than 60% of respondents were comfortable with their existing anthelmintic programme
- •25% of respondents expressed a desire to reduce anthelmintic use in their horses
- •49% of livery yard users reported that their facility imposed a common anthelmintic programme, with 45% of those dissatisfied with it
- •Less than 50% of respondents consulted a veterinary surgeon as a source of advice on worming