Biosecurity on the Horse Farm INAG 120 – Equine Health Management December 7, 2011

Group Discussion 1.How do diseases spread? 2.What biosecurity/farm management practices would you put into place on your horse farm?

How Do Diseases Spread? 1.Air 2.Living animals of the same species 3.Living animals of other species 4.Dead or sick animals 5.Feed 6.Water 7.Movement of contaminated personnel, equipment and vehicles 8.Movement of effluent between properties

Control of Infectious Diseases  The plan for infection control entails two main components  Avoid or minimize exposure  Optimize resistance  Vaccination  Optimize overall health care  Areas to consider  Nutrition and training/exercise schedule  Ventilation and airflow in stabling area  Insect control  Deworming schedule

Equine Disease Control Program 1.Optimize health and nutrition plans for animals 2.Use rodent, parasite and vector control programs throughout the year 3.Do not allow horse access to streams and waterways 4.Contract with a veterinarian and clearly post their contact information

Equine Disease Control Program 5.Communication is key 6.Limit human access to barns if they are not clientele or workers 7.Clean and disinfect barns, stalls and equipment regularly 8.Discard all manure and bedding from stalls that house sick horses

How do we control disease?  Vaccinations  Farm Management

Horse Lifestyles – Pasture Potatoes!

Breeding

Showing and trail-riding

Risk of Disease  Varies by type of horse population!  Some horses predisposed to disease if exposed:  Foals, old horses  Problems with digestive function  Drug treatments  Situations can increase risk of exposure  Comingling with other horses  Exposure to insects

Controlling Infectious Diseases  Two main components: 1.Avoid or minimize exposure 2.Optimize resistance VaccinationVaccination Optimize overall health careOptimize overall health care OtherOther

Minimize transport stress and optimize ventilation and nutrition

Insect Control

Examples and Methods of Exposure Method of Exposure Other Horses Equine events, new arrivals, visiting horses Environment Feed, water, stabling, trailers, insects People and things that move with them Horse caretakers, veterinarians, farriers

What are your options?  Not as easy as ONLY vaccinating  Risk aversion of the operation or horse owner?  All will come at some cost!

Options for managing risk posed by horse contact  Establish health requirements for visiting horses  Establish health requirements for new arrivals  Horses returning after an event?  Isolation/monitoring of new arrivals  Segregation by risk level  Monitoring for illness + plan of action

Examples of Health Requirements  Certificate of veterinary inspection (health certificate)  Timing of exam vs. arrival of horse?  Ask about past medical history  Illness in this horse or others it has been around  Examine horse when it arrives  Test for infection  Coggins test  Others (i.e., screening for strangles)

Isolation of New Arrivals  Adequate facilities?  Adequate equipment?  Enough personnel?  All must be present to ensure good infection control!

Facilities  Separated from other horses for (ideally) a minimum of 3 weeks  How far apart?  Distances diseases travel not established  “35 feet” rule for neurological herpes virus?  Management  Separate equipment  Do new horses last

Where does the drain go?

What if facilities or schedules don’t allow isolation?  Group horses according to use/exposure potential  Commingled horses are of equal status – exposure WILL happen between them

Keep number of horses per group as small as possible

Minimize contact between groups

Communication with staff!  Make sure they know the rules!  Language barriers?  Signage

Spread of disease can happen easily!

Visitors and employees?  Ask! Especially if there is a current disease outbreak in the area  Use good hygiene methods  Have a plan in case of outbreak

Consider all means of disease transmission  Route of exposure? Can you control it?

Insects, rodents, other animals!

Early detection is key  Determine cause of disease  Allows you to develop a control plan  Isolate ill horse(s) at first sign of disease  DO NOT MOVE EXPOSED HORSES  Until you have determined they don’t pose a risk to unexposed horses  Monitor exposed horses for illness

Facility Design  Think about infection control before you build  Alleyways  High traffic areas  Treatment areas (stocks, wash stall, etc.)  Ease of cleaning  Can it be isolated?

Traffic patterns  People, animals, vehicles  Farm personnel  Veterinarians  Farriers  Visitors  Horse owners (boarders)  Wheel barrows, trucks, trailers, tractors, 4- wheelers, etc.