gatz says.
The task force will develop a draft plan and send it to the American Horse Council for industry input, so there's an opportunity for horse owners and event organizers to get involved, she adds. "Think about what diseases you need to know about and what your concerns are. You can voice those concerns to breed or discipline associations or to your state horse council, which all communicate with the AHC."
Is It Safe to Show?
When Rancho Sierra Vista was quarantined, organizers canceled a hunter-jumper show scheduled for that weekend at the nearby Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. News of the outbreak also got the attention of exhibitors and organizers preparing for HITS Thermal, a six-week winter show series near Palm Springs, California, about 130 miles to the east. Then, on January 23, a horse was euthanized after developing neurological EHV-1 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, minutes from the Thermal show grounds. The two California outbreaks were unrelated but with two nearby facilities quarantined for the disease, was it safe to bring horses to the show?
"Where horses are commingled at events, there's always some risk that infectious disease will spread," says Dr. Traub-Dargatz, who was not involved in the specific cases at Rancho Sierra Vista or Empire Polo Club. In other words, whether or not an outbreak has been reported, you have to assume that your horse could be exposed to disease at any show or other event. Here are eight ways to lower the risk:
- Monitor your horse's health at the event. Know if he backs off his feed, often the first sign he is sick. "Checking body temperature is one of the easiest ways to monitor infectious disease status," says Dr. Traub-Dargatz, although not all sick horses get a fever. At some racetrack barns, she notes, grooms take temperatures twice a day and post the readings on each stall door. In other horse disciplines, this may not be part of the daily routine, but it makes sense in a risky situation. "It also gets the horse used to the procedure and ensures you have the equipment you need with you and that you know what is a normal temperature for your horse," Dr. Traub-Dargatz adds.
- Be sure his vaccinations are up to date. (Read more about the role of vaccinations in "How Vaccination Helps" below.)
- Don't let your horse drink from community water troughs (think germ soup). Give him his own bucket, and don't share it.
- Don't share equipment. Bring your own pitchfork and other gear. Keep your horse's grooming equipment and tack separate from others and don't wipe slobber, dirt or discharge off his muzzle with a community rag. "Use a paper towel and put it in the trash," Dr. Traub-Dargatz says.
- Minimize your horse's contact with horses and people outside his home group. Don't let him socialize nose-to-nose with other horses, and discourage visitors from petting him. "If they've had direct contact with other horses, they could spread disease," says Dr. Traub-Dargatz.
- Haul with horses from your barn and in your own trailer, if you can. "If he'll be in a mixed load with horses from other barns, ask about their health status," Dr. Traub-Dargatz says. Be sure the trailer was cleaned and disinfected after the last use.
- Clean your hands before and after you handle your horse. If soap and water aren't handy, use alcohol-based hand gel.
- When you return home, continue to monitor your horse's health. "Take his temperature daily for a week or two," Dr. Traub-Dargatz advises. If he picked up an infection despite all your efforts, you'll want to spot it quickly. Contact your veterinarian promptly and ask that your horse be examined and, if indicated, tested to determine the cause of his signs.
How Vaccination Helps
|Vaccination helps protect your horse by boosting his ability to fight infection and by reducing the spread of disease through his herd.
Your veterinarian can help you decide which shots your horse should get and when. Some vaccines are considered "core," recommended for most horses; others are optional, based on risks of infection. A horse who goes to shows or oth