Why do yards try to keep strangles outbreaks secret?

YorksG

YorksG

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A local(ish) yard has an outbreak of strangles, which they were trying to keep secret :eek: Why do yards insist on doing this? Surely we all know that this is just one of those unfortunate things that can happen (the illness) but it is so irresponsible to try and keep it secret IMO. This yard also has a riding school attached, I do not know if that is still open or not, but hope they stress the importance of biosecurity.
 
I Too would like to know the yard name if you're willing to PM it to me....I'm in Leeds but near the Leeds Bradford border and just want to be safe!

Why would anyone want to keep an outbreak of an infectious ndisease a secret! It's absolute madness and totally irresponsible.
 
Lionman, Unfortunately not all yards use the same vets and not all yards can even be expected to call a vet should stranges (or other infectious diseases) be found to be on the yard so, yes, if my vet KNEW I'd hope he'd tell me (he would I'm sure, or he'd at least tell our YO) but I wouldn't put money on him knowing.
 
Because of the stupid people that over react.

It is not a nice disease, but if the horse world was a little bit more sensible about the information they are given then maybe just maybe people would not feel like they have the black plauge and feel the need to keep it quiet.
 
But if yards were to act responsibly, then there would be no need for people to have to make such a big deal. If people would insist on sensible behaviour and not insist on taking horses who may infect others out and about, insist on sensible precautions during an outbreak and tell their neighbours there would be far less panic and over reaction.
 
Totally agree with Gingerwitch.
The general equine community forces yards to react like this.
Perhaps if people didn't over react in a massive way, yards would be much more forth coming with information and honesty.
 
Welshie Squisher said:
Totally agree with Gingerwitch.
The general equine community forces yards to react like this.
Perhaps if people didn't over react in a massive way, yards would be much more forth coming with information and honesty.
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I dont think that a yard should take responsability of keeping an outbreak of strangles quiet. I think it is an illness that has to be registstered with the authorities.
 
It's not a notifiable disease and therefore doesn't need reporting. It used to but not any more. Many vets give no treatment unless there are difficulties in breathing or eating, which are naturally more difficult and painful with the condition, so may not know the yard has it I'n the first place. It's not a nice condition, but the majority come out the otherside with no complications.
 
I don't think it is a notifyable disease, however the irresponsible people who attempt to keep outbreaks quiet cost the industry far more than those who inform others and manage the situation properly IMO
 
There is a stigma attached to Strangles - nobody seems to realise that it's just an illness and everyone wants to blame someone. We had an outbreak on our yard a few months ago when a new horse came to the yard. The owner spotted it straightaway, the proper measures were put in place and not one other horse contracted it.
But the messages that were left on local message boards were pure evil - speculation and blame was rife.

One of the local vets came to the yard and gave us a talk. Actually when you know a bit about it, it's not the plague you think it is. Easily transmitted, yes - but tranmission can also be easily prevented with quick action.
Its the very young horses which are more prone to it. A lot of older horses have been in contact with it at some point in their lives and will have an immunity to it anyway.
 
Holly Hocks said:
There is a stigma attached to Strangles - nobody seems to realise that it's just an illness and everyone wants to blame someone. We had an outbreak on our yard a few months ago when a new horse came to the yard. The owner spotted it straightaway, the proper measures were put in place and not one other horse contracted it.
But the messages that were left on local message boards were pure evil - speculation and blame was rife.

One of the local vets came to the yard and gave us a talk. Actually when you know a bit about it, it's not the plague you think it is. Easily transmitted, yes - but tranmission can also be easily prevented with quick action.
Its the very young horses which are more prone to it. A lot of older horses have been in contact with it at some point in their lives and will have an immunity to it anyway.
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But surely keeping it secret only adds to the stigma, if people were more honest about the situation, managed it properly and insisted on good hygene around horses then there would be no problem.
 
Holly Hocks said:
There is a stigma attached to Strangles - nobody seems to realise that it's just an illness and everyone wants to blame someone. We had an outbreak on our yard a few months ago when a new horse came to the yard. The owner spotted it straightaway, the proper measures were put in place and not one other horse contracted it.
But the messages that were left on local message boards were pure evil - speculation and blame was rife.

One of the local vets came to the yard and gave us a talk. Actually when you know a bit about it, it's not the plague you think it is. Easily transmitted, yes - but tranmission can also be easily prevented with quick action.
Its the very young horses which are more prone to it. A lot of older horses have been in contact with it at some point in their lives and will have an immunity to it anyway.
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But it is good to be aware that strangles is there to put quick action into practice. xx
 
lionman said:
But it is good to be aware that strangles is there to put quick action into practice. xx
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Yes, I totally agree. The problem comes afterwards, when the infected yard's riders go out competing again - even several weeks after they have been on lock down - they are treated like lepers at shows - mainly by the uneducated, but even so it wasn't pleasant for them.

The lack of education and hysteria around Strangles is astounding.
 
YorksG said:
But surely keeping it secret only adds to the stigma, if people were more honest about the situation, managed it properly and insisted on good hygene around horses then there would be no problem.
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It was managed perfectly - as I said - NOT one other horse on the yard contracted it. No horses left or were allowed onto the yard for three weeks. Nobody hacked out. We didn't HAVE to do this, it was voluntary, and we did it, but the attitude from other yards was disgusting.
 
I think it's a very mid understood condition which everyone naturally wants to avoid. If people understood more about it and dealing with out breaks then it wouldn't be such an issue. A lot of yards are paranoid about contracting it as quarantine facilities or procedures are not available, I'n place or understood.
 
Holly Hocks said:
It was managed perfectly - as I said - NOT one other horse on the yard contracted it. No horses left or were allowed onto the yard for three weeks. Nobody hacked out. We didn't HAVE to do this, it was voluntary, and we did it, but the attitude from other yards was disgusting.
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I think that prooves my point, surely, a responsible yard managed it properly. If all yards had the same attitude the problem would not exist.
 
lionman said:
They tried to keep Foot and Mouth quiet, look what happened.
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I'm sorry but in no way can Strangles even begin to be compared with Foot and Mouth!
Strangles is an unpleasant and unfortunate disease but (apart from the odd very unlucky animal) it is more of an inconvenience than anything else. No one is going to come to your yard, diagnose one horse with strangles then shoot every other horse in a defined radius of that yard.

Foot and mouth destroyed the lives and livelihoods of thousands, not really the same as an unpleasant inconvenient equine condition!
 
Vets have some strange idea on client confidentiality and are not obliged to say anything, they could hardly be expected to report to all their clients.
Riding schools/yards don't want to close as they lose money, it is as simple as that.
 
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