British Showjumping Biosecurity Guidance Notes
Monday 25 March 2013
To safeguard the horse population within an establishment we recommend that the following basic steps within these guidance notes are taken. You should also be aware of disease prevention, identification and hygiene procedures.
Vital Health Signs
The following are a set of vital signs for the normal healthy horse and appropriate examinations for general health:
Temperature 36.5-38.5C
Breathing rate 8-15 breaths/min
Heart rate 25-45 beats/min
Look for eye or nose discharges
Observe how the horse is standing
Check for consistency and number of droppings
Check consumption from water buckets and feed bowl
We recommend good records are kept in the yard diary and that rectal temperatures are taken twice daily (as it is a very good indicator of disease).
Biosecurity
1. Isolate new arrivals for a period of 10 days or introduce horses from properties with a known high health status only. Isolate and pay particular attention to horses from sales /competition complexes, from unknown mixed population yards and those that have used commercial horse transport servicing mixed populations.
2. Verify the vaccine status of new arrivals.
3. Keep records of horse movements so that contacts can be traced in the event of a disease outbreak.
4. Regularly clean and disinfect stables between inmates and also clean and disinfect equipment and horse transport between journeys. Remember to remove as much organic material as possible before disinfection.
5. Maintain good perimeter security for your premises and maintain controlled access for vehicles and visitors.
6. Ensure that everyone understands the hygiene principles and thereby do not pass disease to horses at other premises.
7. Eliminate the use of communal water sources. Instruct staff not to submerge the hose when filling water buckets.
8. Horse specific equipment (feed and water buckets, head collars etc) should be clearly marked as belonging to an individual horse and only be used on that horse.
9. Any shared equipment (lead ropes, bits/bridles, Chiffneys, twitches, thermometers, grooming kits etc) should be cleaned of organic debris and disinfected between horses.
10. Equipment that cannot be properly disinfected (like sponges or brushes) should not be shared between horses.
11. Cloth items such as stable rubbers, towels, bandages etc should be laundered and thoroughly dried between each use disinfectant may have to be used as part of the rinse cycle, e.g., Virkon.
12. Isolate horses at the first sign of sickness until an infectious or contagious disease has been ruled out.
13. Contact your veterinary surgeon if any of your horses show clinical signs of sickness.
14. Do not move sick horses except for isolation, veterinary treatment or under veterinary supervision. Attend to sick horses last (i.e., feed, water and treat) or use separate staff.
15. Provide hand washing facilities and hand disinfection gel for everyone handling groups of horses and provide separate protective clothing and footwear for those handling and treating sick horses.
16. The isolation/quarantine unit should have a changing area for staff so that clothing and footwear worn in the restricted area are not worn elsewhere.
17. Barrier clothing, waterproof footwear and disposable gloves should be used when working with sick and in-contact horses and after use they should be disposed of or laundered and disinfected.
18. When using disinfectants, always follow the instructions on the label. Select a Defra approved disinfectant and chose from the general order disinfectants that have documented effectiveness in the presence of 10% organic matter, works in the water hardness of the locale and is safe to use in the environment of horses and people. www.archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/control/disinfectants.htm
19. Stables, mangers and yards should be kept clean, free of standing water and thoroughly scrubbed and cleansed with an appropriate detergent/disinfectant after use and then allowed to dry.
20. Take care when using pressure washers as those set at greater than 120psi can produce aerosols that spread infectious agents through the air.
Further facts in respect of EHV1 can be found by clicking here.
The BEF and British Showjumping would like to thank Clive Hamlyn MRCVS and the National Trainers Federation www.racehorsetrainers.org for their help in producing this document.
The following information has been given to show venues.
British Showjumping
E H V Virus
There have been confirmed cases of the EHV1 virus in several horses in Gloucestershire and in an endeavour to reduce risk of contamination, Show venues in the Gloucestershire and surrounding areas are encouraged to put control measures in place.
Stables should be emptied of bedding and stables be disinfected between shows and between the transition of horses/ponies arriving at a show. (Competitors may require more bedding than usual)
Shows venues are encouraged to have available isolation stables for any horse/pony that may show signs of being unwell to avoid any possible contamination.
Show venues are encouraged to have foot baths and hand wipes available.
The incubation period for the Equine Herpes Virus infection is up to 10 days and it is strongly recommended that anyone who has hunted, or may have come in to contact with anyone that has hunted, with the Heythrop on 13th March or the Beaufort or Berkeley since 6th March 2013 DO NOT travel their horses.
In order to ensure safety of all horses/ponies attending shows in this vicinity members are recommended to have their animals checked by their own Veterinary Surgeon prior to travelling and temperatures recorded – if your horse/pony has a temperature over 38.5 degrees, the animal SHOULD NOT BE travelled. Show Organisers, MAY, turn any horse/pony away should they consider an animal is unwell.
Members are encouraged to act responsibly and are encouraged to check the clinical signs to look out for:
1: Temperature increase. Check your horse’s temperature twice daily and if above 38.5C this is a suspicious sign
2: Dull and off food
3: Respiratory signs, ie coughing or nasal discharge
4: Abortion in pregnant mares
5: Neurological signs, ie incoordination or unsteady on limbs
Transmission is via direct horse to horse contact or by direct aerosol transmission from infected horse usually in shared airspace ie close stabling, transport or group of horses.
Additionally, when at a show, members are encouraged to check their horse’s/pony’s temperature twice daily.
.jpg "Miles O'Donnell and Tabitha Rose Callow round out a weekend of Second Round Qualifiers")
