Professor Caroline Jacobson joins us to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in horse ownership: parasites and worming. As Head of the School of Agriculture at Murdoch University and one of the authors of Australia's Equine Internal Parasite Management Guidelines, Caroline explains why traditional worming programs have changed, how resistance develops, what worm egg counts can (and can't) tell you, and the practical strategies every horse owner should be using. Whether you own one horse or manage an entire property, this conversation will help you make better decisions for your horse's health while protecting the effectiveness of worming treatments into the future. In this episode we discuss: Why blanket worming programs are becoming outdatedUnderstanding worm egg countsDrug resistance and why it mattersParasite management for foals versus adult horsesTapeworms, bots and small strongylesPractical paddock management strategiesThe new Australian parasite management guidelines This is one of those episodes every horse owner should hear. Show Notes & Links Australian Guidelines For Equine Internal Parasite Management Beasley, A., Abbas, G., Hughes, K., El-Hage, C., Jacobson, C., Bauquier, J., Wilkes, E., Carrigan, P., Cudmore, L., Hurley, J., Beveridge, I., Nielsen, M., & Jabbar, A. (2025). Australian guidelines for equine internal parasite management. Australian Veterinary Journal, 103(4), 151-158. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13424 To find out more about Professor Caroline Jacobson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolinejacobson-livestockscientist/ To find out more about Dr Shelley Appleton and Kathryn Christieson and to support Canter Therapy Podcast: https://www.cantertherapy.com.au
