What would you think of a yard that doesn't ask new arrivals for a strangles test and doesn't quarantine?

It very common where I am to not quarantine at all, I think it depends where you are in the country too and what if any outbreaks there have been in the area. I know some parts of the country do a 2 week isolation period etc but haven’t heard of any yards in my area that do this. I think it’s good biosecurity to do it, I do understand why etc. same for strangles testing, some yards insist on it prior to moving x
 
This I think it does depend where you are/where new horses have come from. Some areas it’s very common to request testing, others it just doesn’t happen
Traks said:
It very common where I am to not quarantine at all, I think it depends where you are in the country too and what if any outbreaks there have been in the area. I know some parts of the country do a 2 week isolation period etc but haven’t heard of any yards in my area that do this. I think it’s good biosecurity to do it, I do understand why etc. same for strangles testing, some yards insist on it prior to moving x
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In my area, normally its just 2 days stabled for worming and check no worrying signs. There is one yard that does 1 month isolation but i dont know of any others.
Tbh my horses wouldnt cope with isolation and i dont think i would want to put a horse through that unless there was an issue. Seems like a sure way to get ulcers
 
Also worth bearing in mind that horses can “pass” a blood test, not show any signs of infection during isolation, and STILL be carriers.
 
blitznbobs said:
Tbh if be upset if they did - I want my horses to walk off a wagon into a field so that they have the best chance to settle…
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This.
Having had to isolate a new horse on a new livery yard for 2 weeks was hell on earth. The horse was extremely stressed and miserable.

To make matters worse the YO had a random policy where new liveries had to isolate but they regularly stables horses that came for shows in the area on the main yard.
She claimed having had a stangles outbreak she was adamant her process was robust. Only to find out from one of the liveries that the outbreak came from one of the polo pony teams she offered temporary stabling to.
 
The most I've had to do is worm my horse and put him into one of the yards for 24 hours. (A yard here is a small enclosure, which apparently most countries call a paddock.)

I would prefer to put my horse straight into a paddock (which is a large field, or even a whopping field). But I think part of the reason that this was done was so that the managers of the complex could photograph the horse etc.
 
Gamebird said:
As a vet I'd be bloody delighted if a yard didn't ask for a strangles blood test. They are bloody pointless and don't mean what people think they do.

Quarantine, however, is to be recommended.
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This, (though I'm not a vet) having fallen victim to a false negative blood test the only test I'd rely on is a guttural pouch wash and many people wouldn't be happy subjecting their horse to it as it's invasive and expensive. We do 3 weeks isolation with temperature monitoring as recommended by our vets. .
 
EventingMum said:
This, (though I'm not a vet) having fallen victim to a false negative blood test the only test I'd rely on is a guttural pouch wash and many people wouldn't be happy subjecting their horse to it as it's invasive and expensive. We do 3 weeks isolation with temperature monitoring as recommended by our vets. .
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I had one YO telling me they’d need to talk to their vet after gutteral pouch scope was clear “but the horse failed the blood test you did before the scope”
 
I’d say 90% of yards around my area do neither, a few do one or the other and a very small number do both.

Yard I’m currently on is only place I’ve been that does do both.

If the rest of the yard setup suits then I will admit to not being overly fussed. (As long as common sense is applied)
 
My horses go to one of two yards when I go on holiday. The holidays have been every month.

My horses are otherwise kept at home but do meet others when hacking, hunt rides, clinics etc.

I would not use a yard who demanded a test or wash before every visit. I'm happy for them to be somewhat isolated and have temp taken. As it is, they have always been the picture of health and are low risk, as I never let them associate with others when out and about, except for camp, where they touch noses through the bars.

I spoke with my vet about the strangles vaccine but they didn't recommend for mine. Mine are considered low risk, and the vaccine is a frequent one.
 
Dave's Mam said:
I know a lady who had a new horse arrive on yard, not isolated, presented with snotty nose, still not isolated.
Friend lost her previously healthy young horse to Bastard Strangles not long after. She'd had him since a foal.
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I know the owner and horse too and it was absolutely tragic. The yard was dodgy AF as not only did they hush up symptoms but they inisted she hush up too, and kickled her off when she refused. Forcing an acutely ill horse to travel.

My old yard insists on the blood test and a pouch test if the test is positive. My new yard does neither. But very few horses move on or off - it's a pretty stable herd. I am very careful when out and about to avoid shared water sources and any nose to nose contact. Most horses don't get it out and about, they get it from nose to nose contact with horses on their yard. I do wish my yard would isolate new arrivals though.

I'd rather a yard used some precauations than none, and yards that attempt to hide strangles are beyond the pale.

A related question, I once sold a horse and buyers yard insisted on a blood test. That was positive. That left me with a positive test that my own YO insisted I follow up with the pouch wash. Which was horrible and instrusive. It was negative and I'd rather not have known! So WWYD if a buyer inisted on a strangles test as part of the vetting? Ie can walk away if it's positive. Which so many are. That FB post Gamebrid posted was interesting. I knew there were lots of false positives but I did not realise it did not detect carriers! Which truly does make it pointless then. In future I think I will refuse and send them the link to that!
 
Honestly it wouldn’t bother me. I’ve only been on one normal livery yard that insisted on it. All studs I’ve sent mare/foal to have insisted though.

I find it completely pointless when I would routinely truck horses round competitions.

I think the most important thing is to quarantine horses arriving from an unknown location (ie new purchase from sales/iteland/via big transporter), and diligence in isolating liveries if they are symptomatic for ‘something’
 
Agreed, if I'm bringing a horse I've had for 10 years from home to a livery yard there's no real risk. If I've just bought something from a dealer with a high turnover that needs isolating.
 
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