Responsible horse owners care about their equine’s health and the world in which they live in, and the Equine Health Plan provides preventative healthcare while promoting sustainable practices to protect the environment. 

At less than 70p per day*, the Equine Health Plan focuses on preventative horse care, such as vaccinations, dental treatment and parasite control, while also offering members further discounts on other areas, such as diagnostic testing and long-term medication**.

Preventative healthcare

Unlike traditional insurance, which covers accident and illness, the Equine Health Plan focuses on preventative healthcare to help ensure that the horse stays healthier and happier for longer.

The plan makes managing a horse’s healthcare easy, with scheduled reminders and pre-arranged visits where possible, so that the owner can focus on enjoying their time with their four-legged best friend without the stress of appointment planning.

With a convenient monthly payment structure, equestrians can spread the cost of routine healthcare across 12 months rather than dealing with large, unpredictable bills.

Additionally, the plan renews automatically every year, ensuring continuity of care.

Testing before worming

Worms pose a significant risk to equine health, but indiscriminate worming is no longer the best approach.

Resistance to wormers is increasing, and these treatments can be highly toxic to beneficial invertebrates, such as dung beetles, which play a crucial role in maintaining soil health.

Historically, wormers were given at regular intervals throughout the year to prevent disease due to worm burden.

Due to the increasing evidence of resistance to wormers on the market, experts now recommend a risk-based, diagnostic-led worming programme.

Instead of routinely administering wormers, the Equine Health Plan prioritises testing first and treating only when necessary.

This evidence-based approach reduces the overuse of wormers, helping to preserve their effectiveness for the future while protecting the environment and its ecosystems.

Included in the plan

The following is included as part of the Equine Health Plan…

Faecal worm egg counts (FWEC)

  • An FWEC is a simple test that measures the number of worm eggs a horse is passing in their droppings and therefore onto the grazing.
  • It doesn’t test for pinworms, bots and tapeworms, nor encysted small redworms.
  • The faecal worm egg count will determine if the horse needs to be given a wormer. The frequency of a FWEC is determined by a number of factors, which can be advised by a vet.

Red worm test

  • This blood test is performed in the autumn/winter to test for the presence of encysted small redworms.
  • A vet will advise on whether the horse in question would benefit from a red worm blood test based on a risk assessment.

Tapeworm saliva test

  • This is a non-invasive way to check for tapeworm infections, thus eliminating guesswork.

Worming treatment (if required)

  • If the horse tests positive, or the vet advises due to risk factors, the appropriate worming medication is included in the plan.

Four reasons to sign up

The Equine Health Plan covers a comprehensive range of essential services, including:

  1. Annual vaccinations, general health check and weight check, protecting against equine flu and tetanus.
  2. Annual dental treatment, including sedation.
  3. Worming tests and treatments. Evidence-based testing before treating to prevent unnecessary medication use.
  4. 10% discount on diagnostic tests, visit fees and selected lifetime medications and supplements***.

Why choose the Equine Health Plan?

1 Proactive, preventative care

A well-maintained horse is a healthier horse. Regular check-ups, vaccinations, dental care and responsible parasite management keep a horse in top condition while reducing the risk of costly emergency treatments.

2 Sustainable healthcare for a healthier planet

By reducing unnecessary worming, owners are protecting vital ecosystems and slowing the development of resistant parasites.

3 Peace of mind

Spreading the cost of preventative care over 12 manageable monthly payments avoids large lump sums and gives horse owners peace of mind while they benefit from valuable discounts.

Investing in wellbeing

The Equine Health Plan is the perfect choice for horse owners who want to provide top quality care while embracing sustainable practices.

With affordable monthly payments, scheduled preventative treatments and environmentally responsible healthcare, owners can invest in their horse’s wellbeing while also protecting the planet.

Find out more about the Equine Health Plan

*Cost per day is based on the annual cost of the plan of £239.88. */**/*** T&Cs apply. For more information, and to find the nearest participating practice, visit equinehealthplan.co.uk. The Equine Health Plan is part of Independent Vetcare Ltd. The horse must be registered at one of the company’s practices to be able to join the Equine Health Plan.