Ringworm

Mahoganybay

Mahoganybay

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Anyone got any experience on Ringworm in horses! New horse arrived three weeks ago on Sunday with ringworm on its face.

Sold by a dealer to novice first time owners who did not know what it was. Only when the yard owner came out a couple of hours later to see the horse is it discovered.

Now we were due to turn the horses out two weeks ago and and have been told no turnout! As the horse stabled next to the new horse was seen touching it, and yard owner does not want the risk of any possible infected horse going into fields and touching wooden fences etc.

My horse is pretty fed as are a number of liveries, we are in an area where you can't get winter grazing for love nor money, so horses have been in since December!

I have googled and lots of different answers re incubation period, and I wondered what people experiences are of this?
 
It doesn't cause any harm unless in areas where tack might rub, should clear up within 1-2 months of its own accord. I think it's a little excessive not to turn any horses out, is there no way the infected horse can just be turned out away from the others? It is contagious but it tends to only really spread in a herd situation (ie. if they are all stabled and have little contact it's unlikely to spread.) The owner of the horse needs to clean head collar and tack after use, and wash their hands if they stroke another horse.

Realistically it's just aesthetic, so compromising welfare by not turning out seems very over-dramatic in my opinion!
 
I wonder if you could electric tape an area for turnout? No issue for spreading to fences then. Or, just disinfect fences. It is a while since I had to deal with it, but I am sure painting on a solution of disinfectant would reduce the already small risk.

Seems strange the YO would not isolate a new arrival, but then keeps everyone in. Personally I would keep that infected one in, and the one that has been touching it, and allow the others out.
 
Have seen a few cases of Ringworm over the years. It will clear up on its own within about 6 weeks. But to keep everyone else on the yard happy get some Imaverol to wash the horse and Virkon S Sachets to wash headcollars, tack, brushes even mucking out tools, hay nets, the stable etc etc - basically use it to clean everything and anything that is used daily with the horse and there is no rinsing required!!!. We have a large spray bottle made up with a solution of Virkon outside the horses stable and even spray our hands with the stuff after dealing with the infected horse. You can also use it to treat any fencing that the horse comes into contact with. So basically treat the horse as normal just avoid cross contamination by avoiding direct contact with other horses. Its not a killer disease its just a little fungal infection which with a few basic hygiene procedures in place need not disrupt the whole yard.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone, I am so cross that the horse wasn't at the very least inspected before it came on the yard as there was an obvious round ringworm patch on its face! It's not covered in the stuff.

Owners are following vets advice and I do feel for them, but am fed up that it has stopped turnout for all the horses! I feel it is extreme.

Great idea of electric fencing inside a field, will suggest that to yard owner.
 
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