Understanding equine helminth transmission through integrated diagnostics and management assessment across five UK premises

Summary Background Anthelmintic resistance poses an increasing threat to equine health and welfare, making sustainable, evidence‐based parasite control essential. Effective helminth management requires integration of risk assessment, pasture management to reduce transmission and diagnostic testing to identify horses that require treatment. While these principles are widely promoted, there is limited empirical information describing how they interact at yard level. Objectives To investigate relationships between helminth infection risk, horse signalment, management practices and diagnostic outcomes and to assess how specific yard‐level management factors relate to parasite exposure/transmission. Study design Descriptive, cross‐sectional study of multiple equine premises. Methods Data were collected from 180 horses across five premises in southern England using owner/yard manager questionnaires to record horse demographics and management practices. Strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) were performed in summer and autumn using a modified McMaster technique. In winter, serum and saliva antibody tests were conducted for cyathostomins and Anoplocephala perfoliata , respectively. Descriptive analyses compared test data between premises and management‐based risk categories and explored relationships with specific management practices. Results Substantial variation in FEC and parasite‐specific antibody levels was observed between premises, likely reflecting differences in infection pressure and management effectiveness. Diagnostic outcomes were significantly associated with premise‐level risk, dung removal (including removal frequency), harrowing and co‐grazing with nonequine species. Main limitations This study included only five premises in southern England, which may limit generalisability to wider equine populations. Reliance on owner‐reported data may have introduced misclassification and reporting bias. Conclusions Combining parasite test results with assessment of onsite management practices provided insights into factors associated with helminth infection risk. The findings of this descriptive analysis align with current UK parasite control recommendations and support the use of management strategies to reduce pasture contamination and parasite transmission on equine paddocks.