Safety When Traveling
 

• Be sure to maintain an up-to-date Coggins test for all your horses and carry it with you when you travel, along with a list of all current vaccinations and any medications needed.

• Do not use common water buckets or feed areas at shows or event grounds.

• Do not share twitches, lip chains, halters, or other items that may touch a horse’s eyes, nose or mouth.

• Keep daily temperature logs for your horses, particularly if they show signs of malaise or inappetence.

• Isolate any sick animals immediately when signs are recognized.

• If you are traveling out of state, contact your veterinarian to obtain CVI (Certified Veterinary Inspection) health papers.

 

At Home Precautions

 

• Work with your veterinarian to design an appropriate vaccination program for all horses in your care.

• Be sure that horses entering your facility have up-to-date vaccinations as required and that they are free from communicable diseases.

• Isolate incoming horses for at least 2 – 3 weeks before allowing them exposure to horses currently on the grounds.

• Do not share water or feed buckets among horses.

• When filling their water the tip of the hose should never be dunked into the water as that will contaminate the end of the hose.

• When cleaning buckets, be sure not to let the hose nozzle touch the bucket itself.

• Assign a set of grooming tools to each horse in your facility and clean them regularly.

• Remove all manure and waste products to an appropriate location away from the barn.

• Take steps to limit horses’ exposure to pest disease vectors – such as flies.

• Consult with your veterinarian about ongoing wellness care for your horses, including regular physical and dental examinations and a recommended deworming program.

 

Handling Sick Horses

 

• Immediately isolate sick horses away from the rest of the herd.

• Follow disinfection techniques with all equipment that comes in contact with sick horses (see disinfection section).

• When filling their water the tip of the hose should never be dunked into the water as that will contaminate the end of the hose.

• Utilize a foot bath outside the stall or pasture of the infected horses so that everyone can dip their shoes prior to walking anywhere else on the property. (See attached information pamphlet on making an effective foot bath).

  • In the short term bleach can be used however it becomes inactivated quickly with dirt/organic material in it so it would need to be replaced daily. Also, your foot bath will last longer if you have a way to scrub off dirt and debris prior to dipping feet in the bath. Lysol spray can also be used on boots after all dirt/debris has been removed.

• Hand sanitizer should be used by any and all people who have touched sick horses before healthy horses are touched.

• Ideally different clothes would also be worn when going near the infected horses before entering the rest of the property.

• The infected horse should be fed last.

• Carefully read and follow directions on the labels of any disinfectants or sanitizers used.

• Carefully sanitize all stalls, buckets, flooring and other equipment when a sick horse leaves the facility.

• Consult with your veterinarian about needed health care or vaccination protocols.

 

Disinfection

 

• Remove all excess debris or dirt from items to be disinfected.

• Wash the item first with a detergent such as laundry or dish soap.

• Follow this washing by dipping the item in a disinfectant.

• For disinfection, you may use commercially available brands such as Roccal-D Plus.

• Be sure to follow label instructions.

• Disinfection can be completed on items such as nylon halters, bits, lip chains, grooming equipment, shovels, pitchforks and even shoes.

• Be sure to rinse the disinfectant off completely. Use clean water at least 2 – 3 times before you use the item to be certain the excess disinfectant is removed.