What would you do?? Moving and strangles related dilemma

[Dexter]

Long story short, my mare is currently on a DIY yard that has confirmed strangles. She has had no contact with any of the infected horses, nor been turned out or in any area they have been in. Shes also very low risk being a 12yr old ex ja. We have not had anymore diagnosed cases for nearly 2 weeks.

I moved her to the yard with the intention of making use of the school to bring her back into work. Turns out the school is unusable, she is also having ZERO turnout Shes coping fine, but shes not really happy I am now resigned and happy with the idea of her being out 24/7 eventually one way or another.

Vet has said so long as she has no symptoms, in particular no raised temp, which she doesnt have, there is no issue with moving her.

I have 2 fields, one is a no go as we have the youngsters out and they arent gelded yet. The other is 3 acre paddock, totally isolated from all other horses (1/4mile from the youngster field, no passing horses etc)

She wont turn out alone so she would have to have company. My sisters mare is lame and needs to be turned out (vets advice) but also wont turn out alone. How much of a bad idea would it be to turn her out with my sisters mare?

I know my thoughts but would love to hear others.

 

[Daisychain]

To be doubly sure i would have her blood tested, this will check to see if she has had any contact with the strangles virus, as although she may be free of the disease herself she could unknowingly be carrying it. Which could then pass it on to another yard.

 

[Mrs B]

Hmm. If neither mare will turn out alone, I'd be worried how you were going to work yours ie separation anxiety - especially if your sister's mare is lame and might hoon around without yours there making things worse. Difficult one for you

 

[helencharlie]

On the yard that I am on, 2 horses were moved from a confirmed yard with strangles to my yard. The horses had had no contact with the confirmed horses. However, the uproar and upset that was generated in the local area over these people moving these horses was not pleasent. The horses had blood tests and these did come back negative. But in the ideal world horses should not really be moved yard to yard if there is a threat of strangles. I would wait until you have had blood tests done and the yard is confirmed to be free from strangles before moving any horses.

 

[Dexter]

Hmm. If neither mare will turn out alone, I'd be worried how you were going to work yours ie separation anxiety - especially if your sister's mare is lame and might hoon around without yours there making things worse. Difficult one for you

Theres no issue with working her, as yet again my plans are on hold The youngsters get gelded at the end of the month, and the plan is to have them all out together in the summer, which, sadly, is probably going to be the first chance I get to do any sort of proper bringing back into work riding

 

[Dexter]

On the yard that I am on, 2 horses were moved from a confirmed yard with strangles to my yard. The horses had had no contact with the confirmed horses. However, the uproar and upset that was generated in the local area over these people moving these horses was not pleasent. The horses had blood tests and these did come back negative. But in the ideal world horses should not really be moved yard to yard if there is a threat of strangles. I would wait until you have had blood tests done and the yard is confirmed to be free from strangles before moving any horses.

Things have got a bit nasty on the current yard without anyone moving anything, so I understand that completely! Its a bit different in that there would only be my mare and my sisters so no 'risk' to anyone else.

I'm a bit concerned that the vet has not mentioned blood tests though! Shes mentioned swabs which are pretty hit and miss! Its not 'my' vet thats been dealing with it, so its prob worth while having chat with my vet who I trust a 100%.

I know how I feel about the idea, but its a proper heart vs head situation! My head says my mare, my sisters mare, and both of us would be much happier with them out and the risk seems to be minimal, but strangles strikes fear deep into my heart

 

[Tinsel Town]

Personally I wouldnt move any horses off a yard that has strangles, even if they havent had any contact with the affected horses. I would wait for it to subside before moving your horse.
As for turning her out with your sisters horse, I think if shes got the all clear once the strangles has gone, and they are turned out and brought in at the same times so that one isnt left on their own, go for it!
Your girly will be much happier I'm sure!

 

[Dexter]

If I turn her out she will be out 24/7 with the other mare. No bringing in or turning out, no other horses nearby. The closest will be our youngsters who are a good 1/4 mile away. My issue isn't with the problems of turning out 2 slightly batty mares! well it might be at a slightly later date, just not right now! That we can work round, the issue is the strangles risk :/

 

[PC Mum]

Long story short, my mare is currently on a DIY yard that has confirmed strangles. She has had no contact with any of the infected horses, nor been turned out or in any area they have been in. Shes also very low risk being a 12yr old ex ja. We have not had anymore diagnosed cases for nearly 2 weeks.

I moved her to the yard with the intention of making use of the school to bring her back into work. Turns out the school is unusable, she is also having ZERO turnout Shes coping fine, but shes not really happy I am now resigned and happy with the idea of her being out 24/7 eventually one way or another.

Vet has said so long as she has no symptoms, in particular no raised temp, which she doesnt have, there is no issue with moving her.

I have 2 fields, one is a no go as we have the youngsters out and they arent gelded yet. The other is 3 acre paddock, totally isolated from all other horses (1/4mile from the youngster field, no passing horses etc)

She wont turn out alone so she would have to have company. My sisters mare is lame and needs to be turned out (vets advice) but also wont turn out alone. How much of a bad idea would it be to turn her out with my sisters mare?

I know my thoughts but would love to hear others.

Be very careful, some strains of strangles do not show symptoms until 14 days after the infection and some yards now routinely isolate new arrivals for at least 3 weeks. Of course horses could have been infected and show no symptoms yet be able to pass on. The only safe way is to get blood tested (but does not show any infection that happens approx two days before test) so at least two tests are needed 10 days apart to make sure; and of course horse must be totally isolated in that time.

 

[Clippy]

Worst case scenario is that your sisters horse gets Strangles. If her horse is healthy other than the lameness, then I guess i'd risk it personally as both would benefit from being out more than the chance of getting strangles

 

[PC Mum]

On the yard that I am on, 2 horses were moved from a confirmed yard with strangles to my yard. The horses had had no contact with the confirmed horses. However, the uproar and upset that was generated in the local area over these people moving these horses was not pleasent. The horses had blood tests and these did come back negative. But in the ideal world horses should not really be moved yard to yard if there is a threat of strangles. I would wait until you have had blood tests done and the yard is confirmed to be free from strangles before moving any horses.

Ideally we would all wait until a yard is clear of strangles, however some yards deal with this differently to others and so may not be clear for many months, if you can isolate your horse blood test and move somewhere it can be isolated then you should be ok - if you can find anywhere that would take you - the hysteria mentioned in your mail explains why some yard owners will accept horses not tell other liveries. How would you feel if you had a competition horse or a young horse that needs to be doing something and and although they were pefectly healthy you had to stay on a yard with strangles until it all ends (and when possibly the yard then carrier horses who may then move on). Moving healthy horses can reduce the unnecessary number of horses infected and the number of carriers that can go on to cause problems elsewhere. There is now a vaccine available again and my horse has had it already - its not 100% (what vaccine is) but I feel much better taking him out now. If all yards asked for horses to be vaccinated and had good isolation facilities for new animals then the spread of strangles could be really dealt with.