Patchetts EC closes after strangles blow
Patchetts Equestrian Centre in Hertfordshire will be closed for four weeks after a horse in livery at the yard was diagnosed with strangles on 12 June.
All events at the centre are cancelled but the clubhouse and shop remain open.
The centre’s manager, Anna Ross Davies, told H&H: “We isolated the horse immediately as it had a snotty nose, although we never imagined it had strangles. We had it tested for everything just as a precaution and have followed veterinary advice to the letter.”
The isolated horse is no longer showing any symptoms and never developed abscesses. He will be re-swabbed in early July, when Patchetts hope to be given the all-clear.
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Sarah has worked at an equestrian journalist and editor since 2004 and has held the position of Horse & Hound Editor-in-Chief since 2014. She has reported for Horse & Hound from major championships including Europeans and World Equestrian Games. She has co-written books on horses and horse sport including The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. She has owned and ridden horses since 1993, and worked for and trained with Olympic gold medallist event rider Leslie Law prior to going to university. While studying for a BSc at London School of Economics Sarah also worked for top British dressage rider Louise Spate.