WITH HORSE SHOW SEASON IN FULL SWING, here is a reminder about BIOSECURITY AT EQUESTRIAN EVENTS!
How can YOU, as horse owner/rider, help reduce the spread of infectious disease?
BEFORE THE EVENT
Make sure your horse is UP TO DATE on vaccinations (most importantly equine respiratory viruses aka Flu/Rhino).
MONITOR horses for any signs of illness in the days before an event (temperature, appetite, behaviour) and DO NOT take your horse to an equestrian event if he is showing active or recent signs of infectious disease such as fever, cough, yellow/green nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes under the jaw.
DURING THE EVENT
MONITOR your horse’s rectal temperature daily.
Bring your own equipment to the event, DO NOT SHARE equipment (tack, feeding, cleaning or grooming) or medication. Do not let horses drink out of the same water buckets/ troughs.
AVOID nose to nose contact between horses and keep your contact with other horses at the event limited.
WASH YOUR HANDS frequently and use alcohol gel hand sanitizers regularly.
AFTER THE EVENT
Clean and disinfect all equipment taken to the event including water buckets, stall cleaning equipment and wheelbarrows (including wheels).
Clean and disinfect your truck and trailer after the event.
If possible, ISOLATE horses returning from an event from on farm horses for a period of 2 weeks.
MONITOR horses for signs of illness (temperature, appetite, behaviour).
Any questions? Call the team at WEVS 604-888-0087
We hope everyone has a healthy and successful show season!