Intelligent worming service gets £610k of investment

Equine health company EPLA, which provides an innovative “intelligent worming” service for horse owners, has received £610,000 of investment from Welsh philanthropists.

Carmarthen-based EPLA will use the investment to build a specialist diagnostic laboratory and accelerate its growth.

EPLA estimates that there are over 70,000 horses owners in the UK and the equine worming treatment market is valued at £75 million-a-year.

But the company claims less than 10% of owners worm their horses correctly.

EPLA designs individual worming programmes for horses and delivers the treatment at the right time.

Founder, Diane Gilby developed its service in partnership with the University of Liverpool.

“We’ve developed a convenient, cost-effective service that provides peace of mind for horse owners and we’re already treating over 6,000 horses,” said EPLA managing director, Graham Williams.

“We can assess a horse’s worm infestation, carry out a risk assessment, devise an appropriate worming programme and automatically despatch treatments at the right time.”

EPLA received the investment from xénos, the Wales Business Angel Network, which brokers deals between rich and businesses seeking investment.

Colin Lucas, xénos’ manager said: “This is our largest investment to date and it’s an excellent example of xénos in action.”

Visit EPLA’s online shop www.intelligentworming.co.uk.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now