Trusted products for smart equine parasite management
Words: Zoetis
Effective parasite control is a key factor in keeping horses healthy, energetic, and performing at their best.
Today’s approach emphasises strategic, evidence-based programmes that reduce parasite burdens, prevent resistance, and keep dosing simple and safe.
Equest Plus Tape, Promectin Plus LV, Promectin Plus Paste, and Lice N Simple are all useful options within a comprehensive worm and lice management programme.
In adult horses, the main internal parasites of concern are small strongyles (cyathostomins), with tapeworms and roundworms more relevant in younger horses.
External parasites like biting lice cause intense itch, hair loss, and poor coat — especially in winter in older horses or in herd situations.
A targeted deworming schedule anchored to faecal egg counts (FEC) is ideal. Horses should be tested at least once per year to help identify whether they are high or low shedders.
More frequent treatments can then be targeted at the high shedders which will reduce pasture contamination for both them and the low shedders.
Horses should generally only be treated when their FECs are over 200 eggs per gram, however, this will depend on their age, health status and how hard they are working, with higher FECs acceptable in low-risk animals.
Ideally a FEC should be repeated two weeks after treatment to check drench efficacy. Strategic annual treatments for tapeworm are commonly timed in late autumn/winter.
Effective deworming is only one component of parasite management; reducing pasture contamination remains key.
To that end, picking up dung and cross grazing with sheep or cattle is also vital if our products are to remain effective.
Equest Plus Tape paste is a powerhouse option for broad coverage, including tapeworms. Its standout feature is an extended egg reappearance period of approximately 16 weeks, meaning longer protection between doses especially in contaminated environments.
With a potent dose of moxidectin, it is one of the few wormers able to kill encysted cyathostomes, which can emerge in spring in large numbers, causing colic, diarrhoea and severe illness in some horses.
It’s also a low-dose palatable gel, making administration easier for both horse and handler.
For routine strongyle control in horses needing a lower-volume dose, Promectin Plus LV offers a compact formulation that’s practical for horses that can be difficult to treat with larger syringes.
It is available in two sizes, for foals and ponies 150–300 kg and horses 300–600 kg, and contains ivermectin and praziquantel.
Promectin Plus Paste, containing abamectin and praziquantel, provides a traditional, easy-to-use option with reliable efficacy against common nematodes.
There is a Zoetis deworming option available for any horse based on the horse’s weight, temperament, pasture contamination levels and dosing preference.
Accurate dosing matters. Weigh horses or use a weight tape to avoid underdosing — an important step in preventing resistance.
The other common parasite horses may be afflicted by are biting lice, Werneckiella equi. Lice thrive in cooler months and close-contact groups. Signs include rubbing, patchy hair loss, and lice visible in the coat or mane area.
Lice N Simple provides straightforward, effective lice control. It is not a knockdown insecticide but stops the immature nymph stages from progressing into adult lice.
It produces a rapid decline in lice numbers with trial data demonstrating good lice control seven weeks following treatment.
Treat all in-contact horses on the same day and repeat as directed to break the life cycle. Clean rugs, grooming tools, and stables; wash or freeze rugs and quarantine new arrivals during lice season.
A good plan ensures the right product at the right time, integrates FEC testing, and tailors strategies for foals, seniors, and performance horses.
By combining smart monitoring with trusted products, horses can be kept comfortable, healthy, and ready for whatever’s next.