competition stabling.

[Bubblewrap]

Last year one of our horses stayed over at a big competition venue for a few nights. Ten days after we came home he came down with a horrid virus, a bit like a bad head cold, which he then gave to my other horses, (obviously turned out together before the virus showed itself). All made a full recovery after a couple of weeks, but not nice all the same. The Vet said he probably picked it up in the venue stables, it is a very busy venue. I agreed with this as he hadn't mixed with any other horses bar mine or been out competing in the month before. So this year I'm a bit worried about staying away. The stables were completely mucked out and i took my own bedding. Never had a problem before in all the years of Pony Club camps etc. so don't know if this was just bad luck.
Talking to a local show jumper she said she, well, her groom, always disinfects any stables her horses go into.
This is now my plan for this year, what do others do?
Do I go for a full fumigation or take the Dettox spray? Will that do the job?

 

[be positive]

I think they risk picking up a virus every time they leave home, not just when stabled as a virus is so easily spread, if they are downwind of a sneeze or cough they can pick up something so I would just call it bad luck as most people will avoid taking an unwell horse to a competition.
I think you would need to do a really thorough job to reduce all risk and even then you will be in close contact with so many other horses and people while you are there it probably is a waste of time, the groom is doing her job but if they go out a lot their horses probably have a strong immune system to help fight off the normal bugs that go round.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I paid £45 a night for stabling at Addington asked for brick boxes rather than the temp tents as my horse is big.

The stable was filthy, a foot of damp ***** shavings in it, muck up the walls and it stank. Not impressed as we were there 3 nights.

Be positive is right, all you can do is take a healthy horse and hope it comes back healthy.

 

[Goldenstar]

I agree it's in the lap of the gods you can only hope .
One of mine has a night away next month I am worrying about it already .