Equine Basic Biosecurity

Handling Sick Horses

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

Follow disinfection techniques with allequipment that comes in contact with sick horses (see disinfection section).

Consult with Dr. Garfinkel about needed health care or vaccination protocols.

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

Use a shallow basin full of properly mixed disinfectant for staff to wash their shoes in before leaving the area containing sick horses.

Offer hand sanitizers to any and all people who have touched sick horses before healthy horses are touched.

Carefully read and follow directions on thelabels of any disinfectants or sanitizers used.

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 Dr. Garfinkel to obtain CVI (Certified Veterinary Inspection) health papers.

At Home Precautions

Work with Dr.Garfinkel 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 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 Dr.Garfinkel about ongoing wellness care for your horses, including regular physical and dental examinations and a recommended deworming program.

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, groomingequipment, 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.

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