CANTER has played a key role in supporting British Equestrian’s Worming Week, 26 January 2026, an industry wide awareness campaign aimed at improving understanding of equine parasite control and addressing ongoing confusion around worming, testing, and treatment decisions.
Worming Week, supported by Agria, brings together expert voices from across the equine sector to provide clear, practical guidance on this important area of horse health, to reduce reliance on chemicals and protect the effectiveness of wormers for the future. Through a series of podcasts chatting to CANTER Core Steering Group members, and accessible resources and graphics, the campaign focuses on three key themes that underpin sustainable equine parasite control.
Testing For Parasites
The first theme explores the parasite testing calendar, including which parasites horses should be tested for, how often testing is recommended, and how different tests fit into a year-round control programme. In the first podcast episode, veterinary surgeon Tim Mair explains the different parasite tests available and the factors that should be considered when developing a parasite control programme tailored to the individual horse, taking into account management, exposure risk, and transmission pressures.
When to test or treat
The second theme focuses on when to test and when to treat. In the second podcast episode, veterinary surgeon Nicola Housby Skeggs and social scientist, Dr Tamzin Furtado discuss how treatment decisions should be informed by evidence rather than routine. The episode highlights the importance of assessing individual risk and explores how unnecessary anthelmintic use contributes to resistance, posing a significant threat to the national herd.
Impact on the environment
The final theme addresses the environmental impact of anthelmintics. In the third podcast episode, SQP Claire Shand and Ruth Dancer from sustainability consultancy White Griffin, examine how wormers can affect biodiversity and ecosystems at both a local and wider level. The discussion also shares practical, achievable steps that horse owners and carers can take to reduce environmental impact while continuing to safeguard equine health.
By supporting Worming Week, CANTER aims to reinforce the importance of sustainable, evidence led parasite control and to encourage horse owners, prescribers, and carers to make informed decisions that balance horse welfare, resistance management, and environmental responsibility.