Strangles tests on moving

[CluelessShowjumper]

Why would a yard insist on a strangles test pre move when the yard is a big competition yard and has horses coming and going from shows all the time?
Surely making people who move onto the yard have a strangles test makes zero sense when the horses that have been at shows are not tested or isolated each time they go out?

Asking as this is really putting me off moving to the yard.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

Do the competition horses mix with the yard horses?

If I'm out competing I try and avoid contact with other horses to minimise risk, and also just have to have faith that nobody there knowingly has any infections or from a yard that does

 

[OlderNotWiser]

I totally with what you’ve said. However in our part of Kent most yards ask now. A friend and I both had to have the test done moving to different yards earlier this year.

 

[Kaylum]

They do at most yards near us. I understand what you mean as you have no idea once a horse has been on a yard in and out.

We had one years ago that came in with strangles and we didnt know. Tests weren't a thing then and he very nearly died. The horses at our yard all had cold like symptoms but non good full blown symptoms. I think in those days a lot had been in contact with strangles but only a few got full blown symptoms. It built herd immunity.

 

[Vodkagirly]

Agree, there is a yard near us that has a month in isolation for new arrivals but the existing horses are off to competitions and camps all the time.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

It’s probably a requirement to make sure every horse comes in “clean” to the new environment. In Scotland every yard I moved to required a test…in England no one has asked.

 

[MrsMozartleto]

We don't but new ones go into two weeks isolation (they can see other horses). All retired here so no coming and going.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

It is very rare that the liveried horses are anywhere near the temporary or competition stabling. Horses almost always catch strangles from nose to nose contact - if grazing together for example. Most stay away competitions also have stabling that separates horses from each other, so there is no nose-to-nose contact. And obviously they don't graze together or groom each other over the fence the way the permanent resident horses do. It seems totally reasonable to me. It would not make sense for air-borne diseases but it is a sensitive precaution for strangles.

As for the liveries that come and go - there is almost no chance of Lottie picking up strangles at a comp because I don't allow her to nuzzle up to strange horses. And I can't imagine anyone would with their horse either. Horses 99%+ get strangles from living with another horses with strangles, not from going out to camps and clinics.

 

[Upthecreek]

It is very rare that the liveried horses are anywhere near the temporary or competition stabling. Horses almost always catch strangles from nose to nose contact - if grazing together for example. Most stay away competitions also have stabling that separates horses from each other, so there is no nose-to-nose contact. And obviously they don't graze together or groom each other over the fence the way the permanent resident horses do. It seems totally reasonable to me. It would not make sense for air-borne diseases but it is a sensitive precaution for strangles.

As for the liveries that come and go - there is almost no chance of Lottie picking up strangles at a comp because I don't allow her to nuzzle up to strange horses. And I can't imagine anyone would with their horse either. Horses 99%+ get strangles from living with another horses with strangles, not from going out to camps and clinics.

I agree. It’s completely different horses passing each other at competitions than horses living together. I’ve twice seen the consequences of horses not being tested before arriving at yards and it was horrendous. A lot of people are very blasé about strangles tests for moving yards if they’ve never experienced an outbreak.

 

[HorsesRule2009]

It is very rare that the liveried horses are anywhere near the temporary or competition stabling. Horses almost always catch strangles from nose to nose contact - if grazing together for example. Most stay away competitions also have stabling that separates horses from each other, so there is no nose-to-nose contact. And obviously they don't graze together or groom each other over the fence the way the permanent resident horses do. It seems totally reasonable to me. It would not make sense for air-borne diseases but it is a sensitive precaution for strangles.

As for the liveries that come and go - there is almost no chance of Lottie picking up strangles at a comp because I don't allow her to nuzzle up to strange horses. And I can't imagine anyone would with their horse either. Horses 99%+ get strangles from living with another horses with strangles, not from going out to camps and clinics.

Far better than I could have put it.
But what I was thinking above

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

It’s pretty normal for yards to request strangles tests these days. It’s not something that would put me off moving but it’s your choice.

I agree it’s not fool proof though for example one of the liveries on my last yard went away to another yard for a couple of weeks with the sharer whilst the owner was away and it came back with strangles.

Fortunately the yard layout meant we were able to isolate it. Sadly someone who’d qualified for the BD Nationals couldn’t go or rather decided it wasn’t fair to go to the potential risk.