EAM - can precautions be taken?

[kibob]

I keep getting sent e-mails and have read various articles regarding Equine Atypical Myopathy, as I'm sure many of us do. It's grim reading for sure, but are there precautions we can be taking or really do we have to just keep our fingers crossed?.

I've read that keeping horses off pasture is the best preventative measure .... I'm sure it is, but is this really feasible?

Stabling overnight is another suggestions as the toxins are thought to be more dangerous during night time/early morning?

Raking leaves from paddocks or moving horses to paddocks with no leaves is another suggestion I have read (short of moving all horses to the middle of Dartmoor I can't see this one being practical for most owners either)?

I have liveries asking me what they should do... and I don't know Unfortunately it seems to me that, other than stabling 24/7 we have to take our chances and just be vigilant for the first signs of any symptoms.

So, would be interested to hear if anyone is taking steps to try and prevent the risk to their horses.

 

[Louisa J]

I'm based in West Cornwall and the livery yard where I keep my horse has lost 2 horses to this in the past 4 weeks or so. We are not taking any chances and all horses are in overnight and not turned out until day break. Although this may not eliminate the risk completely we are trying to reduce the risk. My advice would be to get your horses in overnight if you can.