Strangles outbreak in Berkshire

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Iknow

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There is at least one yard with confirmed Strangles in Berkshire and around 5 others who have suspected cases. I am concerned that this is being kept quiet and farriers/instructors etc may be visited infected yards. Has anyone else heard about this ?
 
I've heard about the outbreak at the yard in Wokingham, we're at a livery yard not too far from there. After talking to one of the vets (not from Scott Dunn) it was suggested that we not hack out of our yard at the moment. Does anyone know where the other affected yards are?
 
What would anyone recommend doing if you know a horse on your yard has confirmed Strangles, but the yard owner seems to be in denial and is not taking quarantine and disinfecting seriously ?
 
Iknow said:
What would anyone recommend doing if you know a horse on your yard has confirmed Strangles, but the yard owner seems to be in denial and is not taking quarantine and disinfecting seriously ?
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Is strangles a reportable disease in the UK? If so, call a vet and make sure that the case is known.

If not then you will have to do all the work for your horse yourself and insist noone else touches him. Disinfect everything religiously, every time you go in and out of his box. Can you keep a separate supply of hay, feed and bedding to prevent contamination from someone else?

PS If you leave you risk spreading the disease further if your horse is a carrier.
 
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Iknow said:
What would anyone recommend doing if you know a horse on your yard has confirmed Strangles, but the yard owner seems to be in denial and is not taking quarantine and disinfecting seriously ?
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4x4 said:
Leave?
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And then potentially spread strangles further??

I'd be putting my horse into isolation, and getting my vet to do a strangles test. I'd be keeping my horse in isolation for the designated period whilst the vet continually tests (I think they need 3 clear swabs over a 3 week period??)
I'd be disinfecting EVERYTHING, putting signs up asking people not to come near my horse, not sharing any equipment, not allowing horse out of box without supervision (so they cannot go and lick the wall a contaminated horse has licked)

Then, when I know my horse is 100% clear ... then I'd be moving!
 
Trolt said:
And then potentially spread strangles further??

I'd be putting my horse into isolation, and getting my vet to do a strangles test. I'd be keeping my horse in isolation for the designated period whilst the vet continually tests (I think they need 3 clear swabs over a 3 week period??)
I'd be disinfecting EVERYTHING, putting signs up asking people not to come near my horse, not sharing any equipment, not allowing horse out of box without supervision (so they cannot go and lick the wall a contaminated horse has licked)

Then, when I know my horse is 100% clear ... then I'd be moving!
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^5 this


how can you leave 4x4 when some one has it no yard will thank you for bringing it to their yard, that would be irresponsible.

I would isolate my horses put cone in front of their stable and tape across saying isolation area do not enter.

Very poor show owner not taking this seriously the yard next t door to me had it last year the guy did exactly the right thing he kept it contained to his yard even tho we share the same drive and our entrance is only 50 feet away from his
 
I'm doing my best to keep everything isolated and disinfected, but the staff on the yard don't seem to give a monkeys and I think it is unbelievable irresponsible. Their attitude comes from the yard manager who seems to think it will just go away ... I would love to leave now, but understand from my vet that I must wait at least 4 weeks after the last horse on the yard has got over the disease. With 20 odd horses on the yard, this could take all year !! Do you think Defra might be able to insist on precautions being taken ?
 
You should speak to your vet. But remember, that the horse should be receiving some veterinary assistance - and if it's not it could be classed as a cruelty case, in which case the RSPCA should be informed.

The your YO would sit up and take notice.
 
A few years ago I was on a yard that had a strangles outbreak, the owners were fantastic and isolated etc only 3 horses out of the 22 on site were infected.

I however had two horses qualified for national competitions the vet blood tested then we kept isolated for a week. then moved to a private yard with no other horses (lucky the yard owners parents had a paddock and stables unused) They were retested and given the all clear to compete.

These horses were clear on blood tests so swobs were not necessary.

It does seem that some get it whilst others don't 4 gelding were togther 3 got strangles the 4th one never got it!!!
 
jellyshark said:
These horses were clear on blood tests so swobs were not necessary.

It does seem that some get it whilst others don't 4 gelding were togther 3 got strangles the 4th one never got it!!!
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What is the blood test testing for? Similar case on my yard - I want to move but there has been three cases of suspected strangles. My horse is not sick and I had been planning to move in Jan. When can I move and how will I have proof he's in the clear? Total nightmare!
 
I know of one yard in the midst of an outbreak with four cases and have heard people talking about several more local yards with cases in Berkshire.

The confirmed yard is only a couple of miles away and we aren't hacking or leaving the property at the moment – no hunting for us.

I wish it was a reportable disease, so there could be a 'strangles map' online then we wouldn't have to rely on a grapevine of whispers about a very problem.
 
One of mine had strangles earlier in the year, she had been in with my others and none of the other 5 she had been in contact with got it. She didnt need any vet treatment and was fit and well throughout . the two that compete were seperated and after two weeks the vet was happy for me to take them out we just kept ourselves to ourselves and put red ribbons on their tails to keep people away and we heard of no other cases anywhere near us . we made it very public at the time because if we had known it was about we would have picked it up a lot sooner
 
We have two yards in the fifield/ windsor area with strangles confirmed.

Lakeside has taken the action to put straw/virkon down at the entrance to the farm we request all farriers/vets/dentists etc coming from other yards to use hand sterile soaps before attending client horses and Foot dips are provided for horses and persons entering the yard.

We have excellant Vetanary service in the area of Scott dunn who will keep us informed immediatly and reasure where needed.
So let these professionals do the job to their best ability, to a quick and final end.

Lakeside has requested to its clients currently not to hack out and if they must away from the effected araes and we are monorating all new information.
The wellington website has some useful info on strangles.

Lakeside is fully clear of strangles.

We have requested new clients coming in to the yard for a blood test and that they are not from any yard that has or is in an outbreak.

We request that all other yards in the area take simular action to prevent the spread and retain the outbreak to these two yards.
 
It is unbelieveable that this disease isn't notifable. Why can some yards be so irresponsible and others really stringent.

I was one a well know large equestrian centre near three mile cross a couple of years ago and they tried hard to handle it at first and then started losing revenue so continued with events and everyone was told to be quiet and carry on.

There are several yards in ascot and along the forest/drift road area that i have heard have the outbreak, let's hope they are more professional.
 
The message below had been sent out in early February 2012 please read my posts for an accurate date

Today I contacted Simon Knapp of Scott Dunns, who has informed me that the recent outbreak of Virus that resembles Strangles has been retained with in the two effected yards.

Since the outbreak swabs and blood tests have been taken from horses on those yards that could be reactors and all have come back Negative.

On this basis we have been advised that from now on we can continue life as normal, I have to day advised Georgi to allow clients to hack out and to clear the straw with Virkon away from the yard entrance.

We advise all yards to remain vigulant and to keep their Bio security to a high standard.
 
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I had a pony around that time in Wokingham that came down with strangles, I had the vet out and she was quarantined so I did all I was meant to. No other horse at my yard contracted it after. Didn't help that she had not long been brought from the new forest and was completely wild, having to treat her daily began our amazing bond. Positive outcome out of a negative situation.
 
A yard in Berkshire lost their BHS status because they continued to ride out when there was Strangles in that yard.

For a yard and people to be so Irresponsible when others are being good is unbelievable.
 
paulineh said:
A yard in Berkshire lost their BHS status because they continued to ride out when there was Strangles in that yard.

For a yard and people to be so Irresponsible when others are being good is unbelievable.
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That was not my yard due to no one rode at ours at the time and its a farm.

Very irresponsible to the people at the yard you have mentioned.
 
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