It’s the season of spring cleaning, and where better to address your attentions than focusing on how to deep clean your stable yard. Spick and span doesn’t just look pretty, it’s healthier for horse and human, and we’re not just talking about mucking out here – we’re going the full hog.

How to deep clean your stable

Jayne Tansey is one of the yard supervisors at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital. A medical setting requires exemplary standards of cleanliness and hygiene. This is how she would deep clean a stable:

• Remove all faeces and urine, along with all the bedding, matting and equipment (buckets, tying-up string and so on)
• Empty and clean any associated drains
• Remove dust from all fixtures, such as lights, heaters, pipes, hayracks and from the rafters and roof
• Manually scrub walls and floors with an animal-safe general surface disinfectant (like this one) to remove organic matter and clean grossly contaminated areas
• Allow to dry
• For a really thorough clean, repeat steps four and five

Jayne recommends speaking to your local farm supplier to get advice on the best chemicals to use.

“We use non-residue high-level disinfectants that do not contaminate the environment,” she says. “Our disinfectants naturally degrade to water.”

Hygiene rules at home

Naturally, we may not be double-disinfecting our stables at home between each use as they do at equine hospitals, but clean beds go a long way in keeping horses healthy, especially when it comes to wind issues and infection.

Good hygiene is vital for equine health for three main reasons:

• It helps stop infections spreading from one horse to another
• It reduces a horse’s exposure to harmful bacteria in its environment
• It lowers the risk of pathogens (germs) passing between horses and the people who care for them

For Jade Roberts, head competition groom to five-star event rider David Doel, hygiene standards are very much part of the job description.

“If I tip water out of a water bucket into a glass – would you want to drink it?” she asks.

With the welfare of top competition horses at stake, it’s no wonder that Jade is so particular.

“Hygiene is extremely important, you’re trying to eliminate any disease and health issues,” she explains.

“We try to keep the same standards at home, when travelling and at competitions. I do all the international competitions, and the younger girls join me for the one-days at home, following the same procedures so everyone knows what they’re doing.”

Travelling horses to competitions, Jade is particularly concerned with hygiene in relation to their respiratory systems. “You don’t want any coughs or snotty noses.”

Cleaning routine on top event yard

Jade outlines the routine at David Doel’s.

• All the stables are mucked out every morning, and then also skipped out at lunch, in the afternoon (the slightly dirtier ones are mucked out again) and evening
• All water buckets and haynets come out before you start to muck out
• If a bed needs a top up, take the bank down and add fresh bedding to the banks rather than the middle of the bed to encourage rotation of the bed
• Loose bits are swept out rather than into the bed – fresh forage shouldn’t be put on top of the crummy bits, which are made up of bedding and seeds from the forage, as it festers and gets moist, which is not good for the horses’ respiratory systems.

How to deep clean your stable: what are you missing?

When it comes to maintaining good hygiene on our own yards, there are some commonly overlooked areas.

• Field troughs – standing water is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria
• Rubber matting – the stable looks clean but debris and moisture can build up underneath, so these need to be lifted regularly (use a mat mover tool like this one to help) and the floor properly cleaned and disinfected
• Tie-up strings – remove string between the turnover of horses, or use tie-up bungees that are washable
• Food and water bowls – these need washing with detergent and rinsing well
• Cross-tie clips if that area is communal
• Travel kit – anything that goes to competitions, clinics or camps, might need more frequent washing

Disinfecting a stable

Rosina Lillywhite, head of nursing at Liphook says that unfortunately, just sloshing around disinfectant isn’t the answer.

“Disinfectant is inactivated by organic material (like faeces and urine) so if you don’t remove that first, you’re just making your stable smell pretty.”

She also stresses the importance of correct contact time: “Disinfectant needs time to work, if it’s washed away it won’t be effective.”

Rebecca Bruford, head nurse at the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, agrees that there’s a difference between a stable looking or smelling nice and actually being hygienic.

“Cosmetic cleanliness is important, but it is sensible to focus on risk-based hygiene,” she says.

She also says it’s worth being prepared for the worst.

“It might seem like overkill, but have a kit ready for a disease outbreak like strangles – a footbath, disposable hazmat suits, gloves – if it’s ready to go, then hopefully you never have to use it,” she says.

Tips for deep cleaning stables

• Use mole grips or mat mover tools (like this) to help you move rubber mats
• Use a garden knapsack sprayer (like this one) to apply disinfectant – you can even take it away with you to a stay-away show
• Don’t try to substitute good old-fashioned elbow grease – you cannot beat manual scrubbing!

How do professionals deep clean stables: the gold standard

Abiee Olver is yard nurse manager at Liphook Equine Hospital. Hygiene and biosecurity are the top priorities, and it’s reassuring to see quite how high the standard is, even if our own yards are put in the shade.

“We care for in-patients such as newborn foals and horses with weakened immune systems, alongside some isolation cases, so it’s our most important focus,” she says.

The team at Liphook follow strict protocols, including removing all bedding, scrubbing walls, water buckets and feed buckets.

“We wash our hands between patients, and any time we touch a horse for a medical procedure, we wear gloves,” she says.

Jayne Tansey says the Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital is similarly meticulous.

“Hygiene and biosecurity within the hospital are a large part of the yard technicians’ and nurses’ role,” Jayne explains.

“After every inpatient is discharged, the bedding is removed, and the stable is thoroughly cleaned. Stables are only reallocated to patient use following a negative environmental swab.”

And it’s not just the stables that are tested for bacteria.

“Spot checks are carried out where any member of the team can have their hands swabbed at any point, which is sent to our onsite lab for analysis of bacteria.”

And while we don’t need to go as far as swabbing our fellow liveries, Jayne points out that keeping on top of germs in our own stable management routine is important.

“You may not need hospital level protocols at home, but biosecurity is still very relevant,” she says.

“Damp and warm environments, such as stables and high touch areas, act as the perfect bacterial breeding ground. Biofilms can form on these surfaces, building over time that can make it difficult to remove bacteria and disinfectant becomes less effective.

“So, it’s important to clean ‘high touch’ areas such as tack rooms regularly.”

Andrea O’Brien is company director at Equine International Shipping in Ireland.

“Hygiene is very important in the world of horse transportation,” she says. “For a number of different reasons, mostly biosecurity for safeguarding against the spread of disease, bacterial, viral or fungal infections, for example, ringworm.”

As well as maintaining hygiene standards for the horses in transit, they also have a layover yard where horses stay for their Department of Agriculture inspection, before leaving the country or on entry.

“Our layover stables have composite walls and sealed floors,” says Andrea.

“We empty every bit of shavings out of the box and wash down the walls with a soft brush, with disinfectant. We give the soft, sealed floors a brush down, let that dry and then later in the week we knapsack spray, then do all the feed pods, hay bars and the drinkers.”

Scientific understanding of bacteria, viruses, how they’re transmitted and the dangers of antimicrobial resistance is increasing all the time. Arming ourselves with the latest knowledge will help us keep our horses safe and reduce the risk of avoidable diseases.

Rosina says we shouldn’t be afraid to ask the experts around us: “If you’d like advice on hygiene and protocols, do speak to your vet or veterinary nurse as they’ll be happy to help you put a simple plan in place, so you can see what good practice looks like and where improvements might be needed.”

And, as Andrea concludes, “The cleaner the environment, the healthier the horse, at the end of the day.”

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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British equestrians travelling to Germany are advised to be vigilant – and not return with locally bought hay or straw – owing to a case of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the country.

Defra announced on 7 February that it had suspended commercial imports of hay and straw from German owing to the risks of carrying disease.

A case of FMD was identified in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin on 10 January – this was the first FMD outbreak in the EU since 2011.

Defra imposed restrictions as a result, on the import of susceptible animals. FMD can affect cows, sheep, goats, all other ruminants and pigs. Horses are not susceptible but can carry and transfer the disease, as can people and transport.

“Therefore, it is advised that anyone travelling to Germany with horses does not not come back with locally bought hay and straw,” a spokesperson for British Equestrian (BEF) said.

“Additionally, measures should be taken while in Germany to ensure that horses do not have contact with wild boar or deer, who could be infected with the disease, or have access to livestock pasture.

“Due to the safeguarding measures in place, horses travelling into the UK from Europe may be stopped on entry and any hay and bedding on board, including haynets, may be held. It’s advised that proof of purchase is made available for inspection.”

The BEF advises that on horses’ return home, strict biosecurity measures should be applied and vehicles thoroughly cleaned.

“These measures will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended by Defra,” the spokesperson said.

When Defra imposed the initial restrictions, farming minister Daniel Zeichner said: “The Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation’s farmers from the risk posed by foot and mouth disease.

“That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads. We will continue to keep the situation under review working closely with the German authorities.”

The last FMD outbreak in the UK was in 2007 and it was quickly contained. In 2001, a major UK outbreak affected more than 2,000 premises and led to the cancellation of events including Badminton Horse Trials and the Cheltenham Festival.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news from major shows throughout 2025, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Whether you’ve just got a new horse or are moving to new stables, knowing how to settle a horse into a new yard is key to make the move as stress free as possible for both horse and owner.

“The key to introducing any horse to a new yard is to be organised,” says the British Horse Society’s head of welfare, Gemma Stanford. “If the horse is new to you, do a risk assessment of the horse before it arrives, including where the horse is coming from, when was it last wormed, is it up to date with vaccinations and where is the horse’s passport?”

New horse checklist

1. Is the horse’s passport up to date? Ensure that the current owner’s details are on the passport before purchasing the horse as it can be a nightmare chasing previous owners. Also check that the animal’s equine vaccinations are up to date.

2. If the horse is microchipped, get the details transferred into the new owner’s name.

3. Preparation is key so grooming kits and stables should be fully disinfected prior to the horse arriving – here’s how to deep clean a stable. There should be kit that is used solely on the new horse (see more about isolation procedures below). Many yards now ask for horses to be tested for strangles prior to arrival.

4. When the horse arrives, perform a health check, such as general outlook, skin and hoof condition, droppings, behaviour etc. It’s also worth taking the horse’s resting pulse, respirations and temperature to check against should the horse fall ill.

5. Perform a faecal egg count and worm accordingly. You can also do a saliva test for tapeworms. Some yards prefer to keep horses in for a period after worming to avoid paddock contamination.

6. Integrate the horse slowly after the isolation period, for example, move the horse onto a yard or in a stable close to horses that he’ll eventually be turned out with so that he can become acquainted across the yard. Turn him out with one horse initially, and then integrate him with others gradually. Always be on hand when turning out for the first time in case of an incident.

7. Register the horse with a vet, farrier and dentist as soon as possible. It’s very important that you keep these details easily accessible so that the relevant person can be contacted in the event of an emergency. It’s also advisable to note down a brief veterinary history of the horse, for example if he has had colic surgery in the past, or is prone to tying up or allergic to any medication. Also, what you’d like to happen to your horse in an emergency such as a case of colic if you are unavailable. Make clear your wishes.

8. Keep important paperwork such as passports in a safe place on the yard where the horse is kept, such as a locked safe.

9. Make a note of when the horse last had the dentist, farrier and vaccinations and when they are next due.

Isolating new arrivals

Hannah Westen, campaigns officer for research and education at World Horse Welfare, explains the importance of isolation when bringing a new horse on to a stable yard.

“The aim of isolation is to protect other horses from becoming infected if a horse is suspected of having a disease, or if its health status is unknown,” says Hannah.

“Horses can sometimes be infected with a disease without showing any obvious signs, particularly in the early stages, so isolation allows time for clinical signs to develop, and for the outcome of diagnostic tests to be known.

“As a general rule, new arrivals should be isolated for at least three weeks. Ideally the horse should be able to see other animals but not come into direct contact with them. This includes separate air space, which means keeping them out of the range of droplets that may pass through the air when a horse snorts or coughs.

“Use separate equipment for each new horse including water and feed buckets, haynets, mucking out equipment and grooming brushes.

“In an ideal world one person would care for this horse as diseases can be spread on infected clothing and hands. If that isn’t possible, remove your overalls, wash your hands and clean and disinfect your boots before handling other horses.

“Be extra vigilant with horses from outside the UK because they may be carriers of diseases not currently found in this country. Such diseases may take longer to diagnose due to their unfamiliarity and may infect more horses due to a lack of immunity in the horse population.”

Help your horse to settle in

These useful tips from the Blue Cross are designed to help your horse settle into his new environment.

• Prepare the area that the horse will go into prior to arrival – so if you plan to stable him, bed down the stable, and get the hay/haylage net and water ready.
• If going out into the paddock, ensure the field is ready with secure fencing and water, and that any companions are in the correct place.
• Knowing the routine of the horse in their previous home will help you know where best to place the horse on arrival so that they can settle as soon as possible.
• Get headcollars, rugs and grooming kits ready. Make sure any equipment used previously on any other horses has been cleaned to reduce any spread of disease.

A little extra planning can go a long way with a new horse, so time spent getting organised before their arrival can pay off long-term with a healthy horse that is happy and settled in their new environment.

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From grassroots to championships, keeping competitors infection-free requires a robust routine. Lesley Barwise-Munro MRCVS explains

TRAVELLING to and staying away at shows again is an exciting prospect. To ensure a healthy, infection-free season, however, we must undertake thorough preparation to protect our competition horses from a variety of potential health threats.

The outbreak of the equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) paralytic strain this year in Europe was an extreme example, highlighting the risk of rapid spread of an infectious disease at a show.

Biosecurity – the term for the good hygiene practices that prevent disease transmission – must start at home. This means every yard should have an isolation system for newly purchased horses and short-stay visitors. Ideally, each incoming horse should undergo testing for strangles, equine influenza (flu) and EHV, prior to integration.

Currently, there is a health declaration form to complete for all competitions, to certify that horses arriving at a competition have no known signs of illness and have not had contact with any infectious diseases. This relies on the honesty and vigilance of owners in observing their horses in the run-up to the show, which should include temperature-taking at least once a day for a week or so in advance.

International eventer Oliver Townend is a great advocate of biosecurity. Having recently travelled two horses to the Kentucky five-star in the US – Cooley Master Class and eventual winner Ballaghmor Class (pictured in action at Badminton, left) – the Townend team quite rightly prides itself on effective quarantine and preparation of horses for top-level competition.

At home, Oliver runs a barn system where horses are stabled in small groups, so meticulous biosecurity measures can be applied and any health issues can be swiftly dealt with. Each barn has its own equipment, which is regularly disinfected, and grooms have a high standard of hygiene.

“We are incredibly careful about the isolation of our horses,” he explains. “Visitors and any grooms other than the horses’ own have minimum contact with them, both at the yard and away. Temperatures are taken daily at home, and at least twice a day when away at competitions – and for 48 hours upon return.”

TRIP HAZARDS

WHILE international competition brings its own challenges, any kind of gathering of horses from different yards will increase the risk of infection spread.

Make sure that your horse’s vaccinations comply with the requirements of your registered discipline. Plan ahead, as FEI rules stipulate that a horse should not be vaccinated for flu within seven days prior to entering the competition stables.

Flu and EHV vaccinations will help to protect against these diseases. While there is no specific vaccination against the EHV-1 paralytic form, it is thought there is some protection for vaccinated horses through herd immunity.

Keep the lorry well ventilated. It is advisable not to share transport with horses from different yards and, if possible, to travel to competitions daily to avoid the risk of cross-infection with others in show stabling.

Infection is not only transmitted directly, through horse-to-horse contact, but also indirectly, on hands, tack or other equipment. While viral particles and bacteria can live in an environment for several days, they can be killed with disinfectant.

Where an overnight stay is necessary, stringent hygiene measures are recommended. If your horse is the first into new temporary stabling, on grass, and the shavings bales provided are unopened, this should be fine in terms of biosecurity. Used bedding can be a disease transmission risk, however, in terms of nasal discharge or coughed aerosol droplets, so take your own if it is feasible to pack some in the lorry.

A horse can lick or nuzzle anywhere, so treat the stable surfaces with an approved disinfectant such as Virkon. Prevent nose-to-nose contact with neighbours, either through or over the top of stable walls – secure some waterproof material with cable-ties, in the absence of anything specifically designed.

Use your own equipment, and clean your hands regularly with antibacterial gel. Since communal hose pipes potentially harbour infection, take a supply of water with you. If you must use a shared hose pipe, disinfect the end regularly.

WORK:FEED RATIOS

ADDITIONAL health issues can crop up. To reduce the risk of the muscle condition exertional rhabdomyolysis (known as tying up, or azoturia), make a work plan right up to the day of travel – and during the away stay.

There are sometimes “easy days” at shows, but maintain a horse’s work and dietary balance. Follow a proper warm-up and cool-down routine to assist muscle recovery and repair.

“We kept the two horses that were travelling to Kentucky as fit as possible, right up to the point of setting off, knowing that they had to go into quarantine where the work level and feed would be reduced,” Oliver reports.

Some horses do not like a change of water, so encourage a poor drinker to stay hydrated to avoid impaction colic.

Biosecurity measures should continue at home, where thorough disinfecting of all equipment – including the lorry or trailer – is recommended. Isolate a returning competitor for a minimum of two weeks, where possible, monitoring for a raised temperature or signs of sickness, to lessen the risk of infecting other horses.

Bust stress to boost immunity

SOME horses travel well, while others become stressed by the experience. Stress is thought to have some impact on the immune system, making a horse more susceptible to infectious disease. By maintaining his routine and minimising the effects of stress, the better the chances that he will compete to his full potential.

In the run-up to a show, gradually introduce the haylage a horse will be eating while away. This may mean changing from a big bale to smaller, more convenient bales Or, as the Townend team does, take small bales with you made from the same haylage as the big bales.

Oliver helps protect his horses from the effects of stress by feeding probiotics prior to travelling and competing, which are thought to maintain healthy gut function, and veterinary-prescribed omeprazole to guard against gastric ulcers – which can also be triggered by stress. Electrolytes, given under veterinary guidance and always with free access to fresh water, are particularly beneficial in hot weather or when horses are working hard, to replace salts lost through sweat.

Horses arriving at a venue after a long trip, especially in the summer heat, can be more vulnerable to infection. Reduce journey stress by setting off in good time, and allow for some recovery time upon arrival. Hand-grazing is good for gut function, as well as enabling any fluid that has collected in the airways during travel to drain from the nostrils, but does pose an infection risk. It is imperative to find clean grass, which can be difficult at competition centres that have a high turnover of shows.

The vet

LESLEY BARWISE-MUNRO MRCVS, from Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group in Northumberland, attended the London and Rio Olympics – and hopes to travel to Tokyo – as an FEI treating vet. 01670 897597, alnorthumbriavets.co.uk

You can also read this feature in the 27 May issue of Horse & Hound magazine.

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Horses returning to the UK from areas of Europe at high risk in relation to equine herpes virus (EHV-1) should be isolated, British Showjumping (BS) has announced.

Owing to the current EHV-1 outbreak, which has caused international competition to be suspended in 10 countries, BS has put measures in place for returning showjumpers.

All horses returning from France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany and Slovakia should be isolated from others who may attend BS competition and training. BS strongly advises they are also separated from all other equines.

The same applies to horses who have travelled through these countries on their way to the UK.

Isolated horses must be kept in a building physically separated from other buildings housing horses, by the equivalent of a public road, and cared for by riders and staff not in contact with horses at other, non-isolated, premises.

Strict biosecurity measures must be in place, including facilities to sanitise hands between handling individual animals, foot dips outside every stable, and coveralls changed between caring for different horses. Each horse must have its own tack, equipment and buckets, and there must be facilities for disinfecting mucking-out equipment.

“British Showjumping expects members’ local veterinary surgeons to verify these standards are in place on the isolation premises,” a BS spokesman said.

Continues below…

International competition halted owing to ‘rapid evolution’ of EHV-1 outbreak

Yesterday (1 March) the FEI confirmed four horses had died in Valencia, 84 horses at the venue were showing clinical

‘Minimal risk’ of EHV-1 spread in the UK but riders urged to act ‘responsibly’

“This episode serves as a reminder of the importance of biosecurity, vaccination and having plans in place for protecting horses

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All horses on the premises must be monitored, including those who have not recently travelled in Europe, with temperatures kept twice daily and recorded, with records available to be reviewed by the vet.

All horses on the premises will be excluded from BS, and all other British Equestrian member bodies, training and competition.

These measures will apply until either all horses on the premises have been free of clinical signs for at least 28 days since the last horse returned from the areas above, or lab data showing all horses are free from disease is provided to BS. For details of this data, and the current views on vaccination, visit the BS website.

BS will continue to advise members as the European outbreak progresses.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Biosecurity may be a buzzword in veterinary circles, but what does it mean for the horse owner in practical terms?

Put simply, biosecurity refers to the good hygiene practices that prevent the transmission of infectious disease. Looking back at the outbreaks of equine flu and strangles that have ravaged the equestrian population this year, causing sickness and yard closures, the need for better protection is clear.

“Infections are constantly circulating, so the threat is always there,” says Fleur Whitlock MRCVS, who stresses that biosecurity is our first line of defence. “By adopting everyday yard hygiene habits, we can work to ensure that our horses stay healthy and infection-free.”

Protect your premises with some simple steps…

Understand the risks

“Biosecurity is applicable to the whole horse population,” says Fleur, emphasising that it’s not just the big, busy yards that need to worry. “It’s important to remember that infectious disease can be spread through direct and indirect contact.

“Infection is more obviously shared through direct horse-to-horse contact, occurring over the stable door or in the field, or at a show or event,” she explains. “But those stay-at-home horses are at risk, too, as we can spread infection on our hands as we touch or handle different animals or move between yards.”

Identify the essentials

The “gold standard” yard biosecurity measures are outlined in the Horserace Betting Levy Board codes of practice (codes.hblb.org.uk). Is it practical to implement all the recommendations, on a regular basis?

“There are many hygiene and management habits that should be undertaken daily,” says Fleur, who highlights examples such as disinfecting feed and water buckets, and cleaning your hands between touching different animals. “While the real benefits are gained when habits are carried out at all times, some may need to be adapted to your individual situation and escalated at times of increased risk. It takes time to make change, but persevere so that good hygiene becomes second nature.”

Draw up a plan

If you haven’t done so already, set out your yard biosecurity plan.

“Discuss your approach with everyone involved, including grooms and liveries, making sure that everyone knows the plan and sticks to it,” says Fleur. “This includes yard visitors, such as vets, farriers and clients.”

Keep things clean

Washing hands — even between horses on the same yard — will help halt the spread of infection, says Fleur. Another option is to use antibacterial hand gel placed at strategic points around the yard, such as the entrance gate and outside stables.

“Disinfect your hands and ideally change into clean clothes when dealing with groups of horses that would not normally have any contact,” she adds. “Designate horses to certain groups and keep these the same at turnout time and when stabling. Each horse should have his own equipment, such as headcollar, grooming kit and buckets, clearly labelled.”

Isolate new arrivals

“A new horse is a common cause of an infection outbreak,” says Fleur, who recommends a 21-day isolation period — even if the newcomer appears outwardly healthy. “Ensure that he is vaccinated against equine flu, but remember that he will only have protection from two weeks after the second vaccine in a primary course,” she adds. “Ask your vet about any tests for infectious disease, such as the blood test that can identify carriers of strangles.”

Be alert for signs

Reduced appetite? Runny nose? Not quite himself? These are all signs that a horse may be ill.

“Additional signs that suggest he has an infection could include lethargy, coughing, swollen lymph nodes in the throat area and a temperature of 38.5°C or above,” explains Fleur. “Taking and recording a horse’s rectal temperature daily is advisable, especially at times of high risk such as after attending a show or if another horse at the yard has been diagnosed with an infection.

“If you suspect infection, isolate the individual immediately and call your vet.”

Keep jabs current

“Flu vaccination is extremely important. It does not always prevent all clinical signs, but will reduce their severity — limiting the amount of virus a horse can spread and the length of time he spreads it for,” says Fleur, explaining that vaccination on a yard-wide basis is most effective. “Ask your vet about appropriate vaccines for other contagious diseases, such as equine herpes virus [EHV].”

Show common sense

Mixing horses that do not normally have contact ramps up the risk.

“Avoid horse-to-horse or -human contact at shows or events,” says Fleur, who also advises steering clear of communal equipment, grazing areas and water troughs. “Clean and disinfect temporary stabling before use and make sure that neighbouring horses can’t touch each other. Once home, disinfect vehicles and equipment — and monitor your horse for signs of illness over the coming weeks.

“Cancel any forthcoming travel plans if infection is suspected, or diagnosed at the yard.”

Comminicate

Should the worst happen, what next?

“Infection can occur, despite the best efforts,” says Fleur. “Outbreaks can be stressful for all involved, but it’s important to be open and honest with other owners and surrounding yards. Close monitoring of all horses and immediate isolation of infected animals will help to contain disease.”

Ref Horse & Hound; 19 September 2019

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Biosecurity has become a buzzword in the equine world.

The spread of disease has always been a threat, but now people are recognising and discussing the problems when previously infection control was a taboo subject due to the stigma associated with “contamination”.

Infectious diseases are, in fact, an ever-present health risk for every horse and a potential danger to the whole equine industry. Control in the form of well-considered biosecurity is important, although there can be a fine line between paranoia and responsibility.

Biosecurity needs to be a sensible, informed risk assessment. There are many more problems in large yards with transient horse populations compared to smaller groups of horses with minimal horse movements off-site, although infections can appear anywhere.

10 tips for infection control

1. Monitor your horses for signs of infectious disease and seek veterinary advice if you suspect a problem.

2. Establish a quarantine procedure for any new arrivals. Isolation for three weeks is generally adequate but check with your vet whether tests ­— such as swabbing or blood tests for strangles ­— are worthwhile.

3. Maintain high levels of hygiene at all times. Clean and disinfect yard areas and equipment regularly – here’s how to deep clean a stable.

4. Avoid sharing equipment, including tack, feed and water buckets and brushes.

5. Create adequate ventilation, especially in barns, to lessen respiratory irritation.

6. Reduce areas of standing water at the yard to control insects and vermin.

7. Segregate age groups where possible. Keeping pregnant mares separate is advisable in certain situations such as at studs. Ideally, you should segregate travelling horses on their return to the home yard to guard against infection.

8. At shows, limit horse-to-horse and horse-to-human contact.

9. Know your horse’s normal temperature and check it if you are concerned about his health.

10. Maintain an adequate vaccination programme — ask your vet for more details.

What are the global risks of infectious diseases?

One would hope that infectious diseases would have decreased as veterinary medicine has advanced, but this is not the case.

The last decade has seen the epidemic spread of West Nile virus in North America; a major equine influenza epidemic and alarming reports of the Hendra virus — which can cause both horse and human deaths — in Australia; plus outbreaks of contagious equine metritis reported in several countries.

In addition, there are increasing concerns regarding paralytic herpes virus (EHV-1) and multi-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens such as MRSA — an increasing issue across the globe. Then there are the equally distressing outbreaks of more common problems, ranging from strangles to ringworm, which disrupt our equine populations on a regular basis.

Some infections now appear to be more prevalent. Perhaps the causative agent is more potent, or maybe it is because there are more horses travelling to spread disease. It could just be the fact that outbreaks are more widely reported.

Either way, there are significant risks when large numbers of horses gather for specific events.

The potential for serious and widespread repercussions when these horses move on elsewhere was seen at a cutting horse event in the US state of Utah during 2011.

It is thought that exposure to a single horse shedding EHV-1 at this event resulted in more than 165 horses developing clinical signs that were known or suspected to be caused by the virus. Sadly, at least 13 horses died. The outbreak spread to at least 10 US states as well as parts of Canada.

Threats in the UK

The ever-present threat of new or exotic diseases could prove devastating for horses in the UK that have not been exposed to such infections before. There are also a limited number of contagious equine diseases already here that we need to be aware of and to try to control.

Respiratory infections are usually considered the most threatening type of contagious disease that can spread among our horse population. These include the equine influenza virus, equine herpes virus and strangles. The characteristics of these diseases are very different, so preventative strategies have to be planned accordingly.

Equine influenza is a major and economically important cause of acute respiratory disease in horses. It is highly infectious, because large amounts of virus are sneezed and sprayed from an infected horse as he coughs, similar to someone with a cold.

The incubation period is short — usually two or three days. This means that the virus can spread rapidly, especially as infected horses can shed the virus for up to 10 days.

Another challenge with flu viruses is that they can mutate and change their characteristics. This means that the vaccine needs to be updated regularly to ensure that the currently prevalent strains are included.

The extensive use of vaccines in the UK has reduced the incidence and severity of equine flu outbreaks.

Continuing the protection depends on an effective vaccination programme, with as many as possible of the equine population being properly vaccinated.

Outbreaks still occur and these can be controlled by rapid diagnosis. The Animal Health Trust (AHT), a charity established with the aim of fighting disease and injury in animals, has an excellent scheme whereby free samples can be sent to its lab by your vet, which is a very useful surveillance measure.

Silent carriers

Strangles is another highly contagious infection that is regrettably all too common.

The disease is very different from equine flu. Strangles is caused by bacteria that sometimes produce obvious abscesses, but on other occasions much more subtle respiratory signs. The challenge is that the disease is often introduced into a yard by a carrier animal, which can show no clinical signs but is still able to infect other horses.

Equine herpes virus is probably the most widespread of these infectious diseases. There are a number of different types of equine herpes viruses, but types 1 and 4 are the most important.

Infection by equine herpes virus-4 usually produces respiratory disease, whereas type 1 can also result in abortion, the birth of sick foals and neurological disease. Outbreaks of equine herpes virus-1 neurological disease in the past year have highlighted the significance of this infection.

The verdict on vaccination

Vaccination for flu is relatively routine. Although there is a herpes virus vaccine available, it is not thought to provide proper protection against the neurological form of the disease.

A vaccine now available in the UK can help to reduce the severity of the signs of strangles, but it is not used routinely and should be discussed with your own vet.

Vaccination is beneficial, but it is by no means the only answer to protection against infectious diseases. Continuous, sensible, protective precautions and proper management are equally important in the battle against bugs.

This article was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (31 July 2014)

Read all the latest veterinary advice from Horse & Hound

Vets are urging horse owners to beef up their biosecurity measures.

The threat of strangles, equine flu and equine herpes virus (EHV-1) remains strong in the UK.

Currently only around 38% of horses in the UK are vaccinated against flu, and after outbreaks of EHV-1 last year, vets fear biosecurity measures are below par at many yards.

As part of this, XL Equine launched a new booklet last week (13 May) — Plan, Prevent, Protect — in collaboration with the Animal Health Trust (AHT) to highlight the threat.

The booklet outlines main diseases, including signs and how to prevent them — such as implementing isolation boxes and not sharing equipment.

There is also a checklist that the vet can go through with the owner to determine how “at risk” their yard is.

XL Equine has 35 member practices across the UK who have free access to the booklet. Other vets can download it for £5. 

“This will hopefully raise the bar and encourage other vets to up their game when it comes to promoting biosecurity,” said Dr Andrew Waller, head of bacteriology at the AHT.

“This is a positive step for the equine community all round.”

Mark Tabachnik of Wright & Moreton Veterinary Surgeons said the booklet had been introduced due to “frustration” at the prevalence of strangles and that the group had been working on the booklet since last July.

“Owners need to make use of this with their vets, you can’t bury your head in the sand,” added Dr Richard Newton of the AHT.

For more information visit: www.xlequine.co.uk

First published in Horse and Hound on 22 May 2014.

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Biosecurity technology currently in use by a handful of racing yards is now available to competition yards across all disciplines.

Fixed and mobile systems based on the use of specialist disinfectants for stables, lorries and horses, have been created by JJ Equine, part of a company that supplies biosecurity products to the NHS.

The company has developed a mobile system based on spraying a fine mist of disinfectant over both the horse and horsebox prior to re-entering the yard.

Trainer Barry Hills has been using the high-density misting system for four years in one of the barns on his Berkshire yard.

Head lad Kev Mooney said: “The system has made a real difference. There are 41 horses in there and it’s helped cut vets’ bills and reduce the incidence of low-grade viral infections. We are now looking at extending it to all three barns.”

And Tattersalls introduced the system prior to the April sales.

“The chance for infection transfer at events is obvious, whether it is jockeys going from horse to horse, or via horses in the collecting ring,” said Dr Chris Pearson of JJ Equine.

“Bringing back something like ringworm or strangles can have disastrous consequences.”

For yards with a large number of high-value equines, the company also offers a fixed high-density misting system and a safe air system.

“The misting system sends a spray of gel disinfectant every 15 minutes — the gel becomes a gas as it is released and this circulates throughout the stable,” said Dr Pearson.

“With the safe air system, we use a filtered air system with a hydroxyl motor, which splits air vapour in the atmosphere — no chemicals are used, just the air system and a UV bulb.”

Costs start at £100 per stable for the high-density misting and £150 per stable for the safe air system, with running costs of 25p per horse per day for the misting system.

Dr Richard Newton of the Animal Health Trust said: “The herpes virus, for example, can transmit between adjacent boxes, so anything that limits the spread of airborne disease is potentially very useful.”

For more up-to-date news, see the current issue of Horse & Hound (28 April, 2011)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now