Ginge Crosby
Well-Known Member
We are by no means at the center of the outbreaks, however there have been 2 cases highlighted in the area. I run a small (12 boxes) livery yard, with the majority of liveries out competing often, to areas near to where there have been cases of EHV confirmed.
Last night our local competition center announced that following AHT guidelines they are putting in place measures to help stop the spread of EHV, including withdrawing from competitions they were planning on attending themselves in the areas concerned, and having a vet onsite at their own competitions to check all visiting horses for visual signs plus high temps, if anything suspicious is found they will not be allowed off the box, and asked to leave premises immediately.
It's got me thinking; without wishing to panic my liveries, are there simple measures I should be taking to help prevent EHV getting onto my yard, considering how many of the girls go out competing? I had a chat with one of them yesterday as I know they are out competing again this weekend, and made some suggestions as to what they should do.
These included:
*when at competitions, avoid direct contact with other people's horses, do not allow their horses to touch or share equipment with others
* before returning to the yard, stop at home or the local petrol station/pressure washer to hose down wheels/undercarriage of the vehicles
* disinfect all kit on return
* do not allow competing horses to mix with resident horses upon arrival home (at the moment the turnout groups work out well to prevent this)
Other measures i'm considering include having a bucket of disinfectant by the yard doors, and asking visiting farriers/dentists/vets etc to wash off boots, and use antiseptic hand wash before coming on to the yard.
Are these reasonable precautions to take? Am I over reacting? I just worry, recently I saw a post on here from someone who had a suspected case of strangles on their yard, but wanted to go competing to a championship and would it be a good idea to go.... I'd hate for one of my girls to go to a competition and bring something nasty home with them because of someone else's ambition to compete at all costs. But at the same time, as we're not in a high risk area, I don't think banning them from going out competing is entirely rational.
Thoughts?
Last night our local competition center announced that following AHT guidelines they are putting in place measures to help stop the spread of EHV, including withdrawing from competitions they were planning on attending themselves in the areas concerned, and having a vet onsite at their own competitions to check all visiting horses for visual signs plus high temps, if anything suspicious is found they will not be allowed off the box, and asked to leave premises immediately.
It's got me thinking; without wishing to panic my liveries, are there simple measures I should be taking to help prevent EHV getting onto my yard, considering how many of the girls go out competing? I had a chat with one of them yesterday as I know they are out competing again this weekend, and made some suggestions as to what they should do.
These included:
*when at competitions, avoid direct contact with other people's horses, do not allow their horses to touch or share equipment with others
* before returning to the yard, stop at home or the local petrol station/pressure washer to hose down wheels/undercarriage of the vehicles
* disinfect all kit on return
* do not allow competing horses to mix with resident horses upon arrival home (at the moment the turnout groups work out well to prevent this)
Other measures i'm considering include having a bucket of disinfectant by the yard doors, and asking visiting farriers/dentists/vets etc to wash off boots, and use antiseptic hand wash before coming on to the yard.
Are these reasonable precautions to take? Am I over reacting? I just worry, recently I saw a post on here from someone who had a suspected case of strangles on their yard, but wanted to go competing to a championship and would it be a good idea to go.... I'd hate for one of my girls to go to a competition and bring something nasty home with them because of someone else's ambition to compete at all costs. But at the same time, as we're not in a high risk area, I don't think banning them from going out competing is entirely rational.
Thoughts?