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Since 1999 our award winning lab has been offering an easy to use worm egg count and testing service to help you keep your horses and other animals healthy.
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Friendly vet approved advice. Subscriptions, season packs, commercial services for yards of 10+. 'More than just a worm count' not only the original postal worm count service direct to owners, yards, merchants, vets and charities, but also experienced, qualified advice to help you find the very best worming programme for your horses, using fewer wormers. Friendly SQP's (Suitably Qualified Persons) are here to help and all advice comes free as part of the service. For updates on poultry and other grazing animals such as chickens, ducks, sheep, cattle and goats please follow our sister page https://www.facebook.com/westgatelabs.smallholders

05/11/2026

🎉🏆 ⭐️ We’re thrilled that our very own Lab Technician and Research lead, Dr Nathan Kindred, has won the Rising Star Award at the 2026 Lab Innovation Awards!

Nathan was recognised for his pioneering work developing the UK’s first commercial large redworm larval culture service, helping close a significant diagnostic gap in equine parasite control.

From extensive scientific research and international collaboration to painstaking method development and microscopic identification, Nathan’s work is a fantastic example of innovation making a real difference to animal health.

As our Operations Director, Sarah Mitchinson, says:

“We’re incredibly proud of Nathan and delighted to see his hard work recognised with this award. At Westgate, we’ve always believed in staying one step ahead when it comes to parasite control, identifying emerging threats and finding practical ways to help horse owners protect their animals.”

“We’re a small specialist laboratory working from a farm in rural Northumberland, but we’ve always believed that investing in talented people and encouraging scientific curiosity can have a big impact.”

“Seeing Nathan recognised on a national stage amongst the wider UK laboratory industry is a proud moment for our whole team.”

Congratulations Nathan! We’re incredibly proud of you! 👏

The award was presented at Lab Innovations at the NEC Birmingham, 4 November 2026 by Matthew Partridge, Director of Outreach at the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Southampton.

04/11/2026

𝗬𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟬 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁?

🐴 Yards with 10 or more horses can access our commercial worm egg count rate when the samples are returned together in the same envelope. Included in the price is award winning, vet approved guidance from our experienced SQP team, helping you to interpret your results, reviewing your management and parasite risk, to discussing treatment options where necessary.

Shop test kits on our website, call, email or DM us for advice 📞

02/11/2026

🐴🍁 Our approach to encysted stages of small redworm is changing. As we learn more about wormer resistance, parasite behaviour and the effects of our changing climate, the familiar routine of treating every horse for encysted small redworm in the late autumn/winter is becoming much more individual.

🔬 This autumn, worm egg count for redworm and ascarids (and EquiSal saliva test for tapeworm if you haven't in the last six months) then Risk Assess to determine whether your horse is low, medium or high risk for parasite infection.

💊 We use this to decide on our approach to the encysted stages of small redworm and whether a larvicidal wormer is indicated between October and January.

🙋Not sure what’s the right approach for your horse? Follow our simple flow chart, shop tests and find seasonal parasite control advice 👉 bit.ly/encysted-redworm-update

30/10/2026

💀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀? 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲! Wormer resistance is a real-life spooktacular and one of the biggest challenges facing horse owners today. As parasites become increasingly resistant to the wormers we rely on, the threat of treatments no longer working is frighteningly real.

🧬💊 The days of blindly giving a wormer and expecting it to work are long gone. Every unnecessary treatment adds to the problem and we need to protect the effectiveness of the wormers we have left.

🐴🔬 Risk Assess. Test. Manage. We can all play our part in slowing resistance by taking a smarter, horse first approach to parasite control. Regular testing throughout the year, targeted treatment and good grazing management all help protect our horses and the future of effective worm control.

🎃 Blanket worm if you dare 👻

29/10/2026

🤩 We love getting out and about meeting customers and this time next week we'll be at Stoneleigh Park, busily setting up our trade stand ready for Your Horse Live, Fri 6th to Sun 8th November!

🔬🥼 When you visit, you get to meet the real team behind the lab coats! Many of you will also have chatted to us on the phone, via email or DM. You can be sure that all our team have unrivalled experience and knowledge to help you get the best worm control plans in place. Come and find us in our usual spot, Stand 96 in Hall 1, for a free parasite risk assessment, expert advice and some cheeky show offers!

28/10/2026

𝗣𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗺
..can be a tricky parasite to get on top of!

While it isn’t usually considered one of the most serious parasites affecting horses, it can cause considerable irritation and discomfort.

Signs to look out for include:
✅ Sticky yellow residue around the a**s
✅ Small, white worms, around 5cm long, with a tapered tail
✅ Tail rubbing or irritation

🔬🐛 Pinworm eggs are rarely detected by a standard worm egg count because female pinworms lay their eggs outside the horse beneath the tail. We can test for pinworm specifically.

If you're worried about pinworm, send us a DM for our expert advice and get your test kits in our online shop.

26/10/2026

🐴 𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴! Foals and youngstock need a different approach to worm control as they are particularly vulnerable to parasites while their immune systems are developing. A proactive worm control plan is essential for giving them the best start in life.

🔬 In this reel, Miri Hackett Equine chats with Westgate's Claire Shand about why proactive worming is especially important in the first six months, why orphan foals can be particularly vulnerable and how parasite control needs change as horses grow and develop greater natural immunity.

💚 As horses mature, they generally become more resilient to parasite challenges and are better able to suppress worm egg shedding. Until then, they need extra care and attention.

👉 Have a foal or young horse? Find out how to protect them with an age appropriate parasite control plan, linked in the comments below 👇

23/10/2026

🫏 Did you know we test donkeys and other equines too?

As not all chemicals are licensed for use in donkeys, let our team of award winning SQP's guide your decisions with treatment options for your long eared friends! 💊

🔬Westgate expertise in every result, always.
DM us for advice and shop all tests on our website, link in bio

Address

Westgate Labs, Middle Stobswood Farm
Morpeth
NE613AZ

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441670791994

Website

http://www.westgatelabs.co.uk/

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