Necessary to get New Horse Scoped for Potential Strangles?

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Mithras

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What do other people do? I'm buying a horse which has had two five stage vettings a month apart, and has been given a totally clean bill of health. Its coming from an area 500 miles away where there is no strangles reported currently and hasn't been for at least two years, according to the vet who did the vetting. It just didn't occur to me to ask the vet doing the vetting to also scope for strangles until the other two liveries started saying they didn't want the horse to come because it would be a risk that it would bring strangles with it.

The area I'm moving the horse too has constantly had yards being "closed" and shows cancelled due to suspected strangles outbreaks (although I'm not aware if any horses have actually been infected), and the new horse is going to be in a field isolated from the other horses in the yard for at least 2 months. ie there will be a roadway and another field between it and the other horses. I'm happy for my new horse to go in with my horses.

But the liveries say there is still a risk due to "airborne infection" and I mustn't go near their horses (why would I?). I don't want to subject a horse to unnecessary scoping and have delay and pay livery 500 miles away while waiting for the results. Are they being a bit OTT?
 
Sorry, I'd tell them to do one. But if you wanted to be absolutely sure then of course you could ask for a blood test - not a scope.

However, your horse is going to be isolated from theirs during the incubation period (7-14 days) so really they have nothing to worry about.

I'm assuming the yard is run professionally - so it's up to your YO not them how new horses are managed when they arrive.
 
Someone wanting to buy a foal off me mentioned that their yard policy means it would have to be strangles tested before it went home with them! Seems a bit excessive seeing as there is no history of it on the yard and it won't be in isolation till it goes and other people do go competing even if the foal doesn't leave the yard. At the end of the day, if they want to pay for it, that's their choice though. They have changed their mind anyway now.
 
Good god definitely OTT!!
Most yards I have been on you are lucky if anywhere to isolate a new horse so think you are doing great putting it in a field a bit away.
TBH there always a risk with anything but you are taking as much reasonable steps to limit those,more than most I think
 
Spring Feather said:
So when do they suggest this horse gets its scope/blood test for strangles? Today? The moment it leaves the old yard? After it's been on the horse transporter?
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Well, indeed. The transport company certainly haven't asked me for a blood test for strangles.

A nearby yard had to "close" to the outside world because someone put a rumour up that it had strangles when it didn't. Shows have been cancelled because there was a strangles case within 15 miles of the venue. Its actually rather difficult to work out whats rumour and whats scaremongering. I'm not aware of any horses in the area actually contracting strangles.

YO says its fine as long as I keep the new horse with my two at first, but the liveries are muttering about "airborne risk" and being a carrier even with no symptoms.

9tails - does your yard also require horses to be tested for strangles when they go to a 3 or 4 day show and stay overnight at the venue's stabling?
 
Are the liveries on your yard otherwise normal ? Slightly amazed at their weirdness.
Do they have any other tests they'd like done before the new horse arrives and does the YO ever manage to take on new liveries ?
 
I left a yard as they wanted me to blood test after every overnight show. This was after horse was blood tested when arrived! Excessive in my oppinion.
 
aimsymc said:
I left a yard as they wanted me to blood test after every overnight show. This was after horse was blood tested when arrived! Excessive in my oppinion.
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Very excessive!!Did they have any liveries??You could go on and on with this
Did they strip down the vet/farrier/feed merchants etc when they arrived just in case??
As long as people are sensible and honest and take proper precautions to prevent further spread it there is only so much you can do
Find up here the biggest pain is yards that you know have it point blank denying it and threatening to sue if anyone says they do !!!It is getting better with that tho.
 
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