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The primary objective for the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy campaign was to raise awareness of the poor vaccination rates for Equine Flu, Tetanus and Strangles amongst horse owners and riders and to provoke an improvement in those rates.

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Horse Health Week gets the trade talking Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy (KBHH) – a high-profile nationwide campaign, supported by BEVA (British Equine Veterinary Association) and the AHT (Animal Health Trust) – is launching Horse Health Week from September 21-28 2015.

uring an action packed week, which introduces the seven pillars of preventative health care, KBHH will bring the industry and all horse enthusiasts together to celebrate great British horses. The campaign encourages individuals to ‘play your part’, taking personal action to increase the health of our nation’s herd. As part of the wider equestrian industry, retailers and trade outlets are also encouraged to get involved, as Jane Buchan from Bailey Horse Feeds explains: “With nutrition included as one of the seven pillars of preventative health care covered during Horse Health Week, there is an ideal opportunity for retailers to reinforce the message about the importance of correct feeding. All reputable feed manufacturers, including Baileys, offer training in general equine nutrition and product application. Now may be the time to tap into this service and ensure staff knowledge

12 Equestrian September 2015 Business www.ebmonthly.co.uk

is updated and that they are able to advise on both the most appropriate products and suggested feeding rates. “Baileys also offer a yard visit service where horses can be assessed individually and diets tailored accordingly. Retailers can work with their local Baileys representative to promote this service and, with offers or discount vouchers, trade can be driven through their store. The additional attraction of a horse weighbridge, to assist in assessing feeding rates, will also help owners when looking to administer wormers or other medications correctly.”

Seven pillars

During Horse Health Week, KBHH will be looking at the seven pillars of responsible horse ownership in order to continue to raise awareness of horse health, specifically, preventative healthcare and responsible horse ownership.

The KBHH Seven Pillars of Responsible Horse Ownership are: 1. Infectious disease 2. Parasite control 3. Nutrition and weight management 4. Teeth and dentistry 5. Hoof care and farriery 6. Well-being including environmental management, breeding and end of life care 7. Taking on a new horse You can encourage customers to visit the KBHH website throughout the week at www. healthyhorses.co.uk where they will find participating veterinary practices. They will have an opportunity to download horse owner guides, each of which covers one of the Seven Pillars of Responsible Horse Ownership. Local veterinary practices supporting the KBHH Horse Health Week initiative will also be getting involved with many activities planned

throughout the week and there is also an opportunity for you to get involved too with trade initiatives such as those proposed by Baileys Horse Feeds. Additionally, why not do something in store to support Horse Health Week, such as promoting healthcare products, or creating a healthy horse display? Put the date in you diary now and get ready to support, and take part in, what promises to be the most worthy week of the year.

free advice For lots of fun facts, healthcare advice, free downloads and much more... plus a chance to win in a daily prize draw, direct your customers to www.healthyhorses.co.uk during the week of September 21-28 2015.

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SOU_F

BIO SECURITY

EVERY RESPONSIBLE HORSE OWNER HAS THE WELFARE OF THEIR HORSE AT HEART

HEALTH & WELFARE

AVOID GIVING HORSES COMMUNAL WATER SUPPLIES

MONITOR YOUR HORSE FOR CLINICAL SIGNS OF DISEASE, SUCH AS NASAL DISCHARGE

CLOSELY OBSERVE HORSES THAT MOVE ON AND OFF THE YARD FOR SIGNS OF ILLNESS OR DISEASE

ENDURING YARD BIOSECURITY With the prevalence of horse movement between yards and to and from competition venues increasing, vigilance in terms of disease prevention is becoming more important than ever for individual owners and yard managers. We asked Nicola Snowden BVM&S MRCVS Equine Veterinary Advisor for Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy about biosecurity and accepted protocols in the fight against equine infectious diseases. OPTIMISING HEALTH Endurance horses are meticulously trained and no chances should be taken with their welfare as the gruelling distances often travelled require optimum health and peak fitness. Vaccinating against equine flu is mandatory for any competitive horses, but it is equally advisable for horses at all levels, even those youngsters who remain at home undertaking fitness training. Not only are unvaccinated horses at risk of ill health themselves, but they also endanger the well-being of other horses within the herd through facilitating the spread of disease. 34

WHAT IS BIOSECURITY? In general terms, biosecurity encompasses procedures or measures designed to protect the equine population against harmful substances that may cause infection or illness. In the equestrian setting, this includes all actions undertaken to prevent the introduction of disease agents into an equine establishment in the first place but also to limit any spread of disease should an outbreak occur. In its broadest sense, equine biosecurity looks at three areas: the immunity of the individual horse, the infectious disease and how it spreads, and the environment and set up of the yard, all of which contribute to the risk of disease occurrence. The aim of biosecurity is to improve the generic immunity of the horse so it is able to resist infection, reduce the risk of introduction of a disease, and limit the spread of the disease within the horse’s environment and surrounding area. Biosecurity procedures that aim to reduce or eliminate the risk of infectious disease introduction and limit the spread of a potential outbreak often involve the following:

EQUINE HEALTH PRACTICES SUCH AS VACCINATION Pasture and stable management practices which include: disinfecting stables, gates and equipment between horse use, using separate grooming and feeding equipment and pest control measures Infection control measures which encourage owners, staff and visiting personnel to wash their hands before handling different horses • Clearing and disposing of manure off the pasture • Having individual water supplies for each horse • Close observation of those horses that move on and off the yard for signs of infectious and contagious disease to allow prompt isolation if necessary. • Quarantine and isolation of new arrivals for a minimum of two weeks. Policing biosecurity measures can be a challenge, especially where there is a high volume of equine traffic and travel, such as at endurance events. Official members publication for Endurance GB

None of these procedures are difficult or particularly time consuming, but they can have a huge impact on how effective yard biosecurity is. PREVENTION Review your yard’s history regarding infectious diseases and how previous episodes of disease were dealt with. Conduct a visual assessment of the establishment, aiming to identify where your high-risk areas are, then implement some practical management changes that can be used on an everyday basis. Areas to concentrate on are: • Keep feed in rodent proof containers and eliminate any areas where water may collect and become stagnant. • Ensure your vaccination plan is in place and all boosters are kept upto-date. Many horses succumb to preventable diseases. • Prevent the use of shared water and feed containers as well as grooming equipment. • Prevent your horse from making contact with unknown horses, for example when at events do not let your horse sniff others. • Wash your hands thoroughly with disinfectant and warm water and ask others to do so before handling your horse, including farriers, vets, and

others attending your horse such as physios or someone clipping your horse for example. • When transporting horses or stabling away, disinfect the areas that they will come in to most contact with, such as the front bars and the doors. • Know what is normal for your horse: take your horse’s temperature and learn what is usual for him in terms of behaviour so you have a baseline to help you recognise when something may be wrong. • Monitor for clinical signs associated with a possible infectious disease, such as a fever, nasal discharge, coughing or diarrhoea. Any such signs should prompt you to move your horse into an isolation area until your vet can confirm freedom from disease. ISOLATION For a new horse entering a yard, or where you suspect a horse may be showing signs of having contracted an infectious disease, it should be isolated from all other horses as an immediate prevention measure and kept in isolation for a minimum of two weeks for new arrivals, or until confirmed free of disease by the vet. In its strictest sense, this means a separate stable with separate staff, separate protective clothing,

separate utensils/equipment and thorough steam cleaning and disinfection of stables between each occupant. In an ideal situation personnel dealing with horses in isolation would not have contact with any other horses. Mostly this is impractical so horses in isolation should be dealt with last of all. Hands and boots should be disinfected before moving out of this area, even when protective clothing is worn. WHAT DISEASES CAN BE VACCINATED AGAINST? Vaccination of each horse is an essential part of an effective biosecurity protocol. KBHH strongly recommends that British horses are immunised against equine flu and tetanus and where appropriate also strangles and herpes. The individual vaccination schedules and timings for first injections vary somewhat for each disease and each vaccine manufacturer but generally there is a need for a primary course of two injections followed by regular boosters thereafter. Visit the KBHH campaign website for further information on the campaign, expert advice and to find an equine practice participating in Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy at www. healthyhorses.co.uk.

Endurance September/October 2015 35

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Talking about tetanus Tetanus is almost always fatal and despite being easily preventable by vaccination, 40 per cent of our horses remain unprotected. Here, Vicki Farr, equine veterinary advisor for the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy Campaign, tells you more about the disease

eeping Britain’s Horses Healthy (KBHH) was launched in 2014 to wide acclaim. A high-profile campaign, supported by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the Animal Health Trust (AHT) among others, it aims to reduce the risk of illness and disease to Britain’s one million horses by raising awareness of the benefits of preventative healthcare. Last year, KBHH established Horse Health Week, which focused on the seven pillars of responsible horse ownership:1. Infectious diseases; 2. Parasite control; 3. Nutrition and weight management; 4. Teeth and dentistry; 5. Hoof care and farriery; 6. Wellbeing, including environmental management, breeding and end of life care; 7. Taking on a new horse.

During the very successful week, there were a number of initiatives run by vets and veterinary practices to increase awareness of horse health in general and one of the interesting things to emerge was a lack of knowledge surrounding tetanus. Despite being preventable, it’s estimated that 40 per cent of the UK’s equines are not vaccinated against tetanus. Here, Vicki Farr BVetMed MRCVS, equine veterinary advisor for Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy, sets out how important – and simple – it is to protect your horse from this potentially deadly disease.

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is an infectious disease which causes the gradual paralysis of a horse’s muscles, almost always leading to death. It is caused by a bacteria found in soil called Clostridium tetanii, which thrives in anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions and enters the body through wounds, with puncture wounds providing the perfect environment. Horses are particularly susceptible to this disease. Although tetanus is preventable through vaccination, the current volume of tetanus vaccination boosters suggests less than 60 per cent of the UK’s equine population is protected. The reasons for this are varied, from people not understanding the risk factors and how a horse can get tetanus to not appreciating its potentially fatal nature. This is why the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy campaign is working to raise awareness amongst owners and is aspiring to get every horse vaccinated.

How the disease occurs Vaccination is effective at preventing tetanus

88 AUGUST 2016

All horses and ponies are at risk of tetanus because they can easily pick up wounds – even a small wound can be enough to allow

KBHH vet advisor Vicki Farr says tetanus is nearly always fatal

the bacteria to enter the system and begin to produce toxins. The neurotoxin causes muscular spasms and rigidity by affecting muscles’ nerve endings. This initially presents as the horse adopting a rigid posture and being reluctant to walk. Other signs include the third eyelid protruding and a strange startled facial expression, with rigid ears, flared nostrils and retracted lips. The horse won’t be able to chew and will find it difficult to drink. His dock will become rigid and stick out, which combined with his stiffened limbs, can make him look like a rocking horse. External stimulus like noise or light can exacerbate these signs, which increase until the horse is unable to get up, with death occurring from respiratory failure as the muscles between the ribs and the diaphragm are affected. By the time the first signs of tetanus develop, the wound that admitted the

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Tetanus is caused when bacteria found in soil enters a wound

infection may no longer be visible – the neurotoxins can take effect within days but it may also be longer before signs occur. Wounds to the foot are especially quick to heal – if a nail punctures the sole or frog and is removed, in just a few hours you won’t be able to see where the entry hole was.

Treatment options

Although it is possible to treat some cases, sadly tetanus often proves fatal and advanced cases should be euthanased on welfare grounds. Treatment involves high doses of penicillin to kill any bacteria within the horse’s system, to prevent production of more neurotoxins. Tetanus anti-toxin is also used to bind any toxins not already attached to muscle

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neurotransmitters, but there’s no treatment to remove bound toxin. If the original wound is still identifiable, this should be cleaned to remove any remaining tetanus bacteria, then it’s a case of supportive care, which may include IV fluids and possibly a sedative to control any seizures. Placing the horse in a dark, quiet stable will also help. If the horse does survive, it can take weeks and even months for the signs of tetanus to disappear, and the degree of recovery will depend on the amount of damage done.

Prevention is better than cure

It’s simple enough to protect your horse from tetanus – vaccination is effective at preventing

the disease. Initial vaccination involves two primary injections, usually one month apart, then regular boosters – the frequency depends on the vaccine used, but will be every two to three years after the first booster. If you get a new horse it is crucial to investigate his vaccination history. If you can’t be sure he’s up to date, you should treat him as if he’s never been vaccinated and start from scratch. g l To find out more about KBHH and participating veterinary practices, and to learn more about how infectious diseases can affect your horse, visit: www.healthyhorses.co.uk

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Securing good health

Set an isolation policy A new horse entering a yard – or one you think may be showing signs of an infectious disease – should be isolated from other horses as an immediate prevention measure. New arrivals should be isolated for at least two weeks, and sick or potentially ill horses isolated until freedom of disease has been confirmed by a vet. In its strictest sense, this means a separate stable with separate staff

wearing protective clothing. The horse should have its own utensils/ equipment and the stable should be steam cleaned and disinfected between each occupant. If this is impossible, there are alternatives such as an isolated paddock with a field shelter. More information on setting up a suitable isolation area can be found at www.healthyhorses.co.uk, within the ‘Yard Owners’ section.

such establishments have a constant stream of visitors who may not be well educated on the importance of biosecurity procedures. However, none of the procedures listed are difficult or particularly time consuming, but they can have a huge impact on how effective yard biosecurity is.

Reducing the risk

Instigating some simple measures can safeguard the health of our equine population

Draw up a plan to help prevent your horse contracting an infectious disease. Equine vet Nicola Ratcliffe shows you how...

he norm for keeping horses is to have them stabled together in a yard situation, but this means they are more susceptible to an array of infectious and contagious diseases. Luckily, many of the common equine diseases are easily preventable – vaccination being a fundamental starting point. Launched in 2014, Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy (KBHH) – a high-profile nationwide campaign, supported by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the Animal Health Trust (AHT) — is committed to minimising illness and disease amongst Britain’s one million or so horses. The campaign advocates the benefits of preventative healthcare, through an integrated

82 DECEMBER 2015

approach incorporating appropriate vaccination, sound equine husbandry and biosecurity. But what does the term ‘biosecurity’ actually mean?

A protection plan Biosecurity encompasses procedures or measures designed to protect the equine population against harmful substances that may cause infection or illness. In an equestrian setting, it means actions undertaken to prevent the introduction of disease agents into an equine establishment in the first place, and to limit any spread of disease should an outbreak occur. In its broadest sense, equine biosecurity looks at three areas, which all contribute to the risk of disease occurrence:-

our experT Nicola Ratcliffe Nicola is the equine veterinary advisor for the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy campaign.

1. Immunity of individual horses and the herd. 2. The infectious disease and how it spreads from one individual to another. 3. The environment and set up of a yard. The aim of biosecurity is to improve the generic immunity of a horse so he is able to resist infection, reduce the risk of introducing a disease, and limit the spread of the disease within his environment and surrounding area. Procedures that aim to reduce or eliminate the risk of infectious diseases and limit the spread of a potential outbreak may involve:l Equine health measures, such as vaccination. l Pasture and stable management practices, including disinfecting stables, gates and

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equipment between horse use, using separate grooming and feeding equipment and pest control measures. l Infection control measures which encourage owners, staff and visiting personnel to wash their hands before handling different horses. l Clearing and disposing of manure from pasture. l Individual water supplies for each horse. l Close observation of horses that move on and off the yard for signs of infectious and contagious disease, to allow prompt isolation if necessary. l Quarantine and isolation of new arrivals for a minimum of two weeks. Policing biosecurity measures can be a challenge, especially where there is a high volume of equine traffic and travel, such as at studs – where mares are moving in and out on a daily basis – and at shows and events. Even in yard situations where horses do not come and go – such as riding schools – the potential for contamination is still great, as

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It is often difficult to know where to begin in defining new protocols to improve preventative healthcare, but consulting your veterinary surgeon is an ideal starting point. Vets can advise and – if required – assess biosecurity risks, offer practical tips on how to reduce the occurrence of infectious diseases and provide ongoing observation. Your vet will be able to help you come up with an effective biosecurity plan, as he or she will know your horses and your yard. Having identified the risks, your vet can put the outcomes and then the prevention plan in writing so nothing gets overlooked. Remember to share any plans with all of the people on your yard, and ensure everybody understands what they need to do and why. Areas to concentrate on are:l Pest control – keep feed in rodent-proof containers and eliminate any areas where water may collect and become stagnant. l Ensure a vaccination plan is in place and that all boosters are kept up to date. l Avoid the use of shared water and feed containers and grooming equipment. l Prevent your horse from making contact with unknown horses – for example, when at a show, do not let your horse sniff others. l Wash your hands thoroughly with disinfectant and warm water and ask others to do so before handling your horse, including farriers, vets, and others attending your horse, such as physios or someone clipping him. l When transporting horses or housing them at shows, disinfect the areas they will come into most contact with, such as the stable doors.

If a horse shows signs of illness, isolate him

l Know what is normal for your horse: take his temperature and learn what is usual for him in terms of behaviour. This will give you a baseline to help you recognise when something may be wrong. l Monitor him for clinical signs associated with a possible infectious disease, such as a fever, nasal discharge, coughing or diarrhoea. Any such signs should prompt you to move your horse into an isolation area until freedom from disease can be confirmed by your vet. g

Disease prevention Vaccination of each horse is an essential part of an effective biosecurity protocol. KBHH strongly recommends British horses are immunised against equine flu and tetanus and, where appropriate, strangles and herpes. Individual vaccination schedules and timings for first injections vary for each disease and each vaccine manufacturer, but generally there is a need for a primary course of two injections, followed by regular boosters thereafter. Keep up to date with vaccinations

l For expert advice, more information on the campaign, and to find an equine vet practice participating in Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy, visit: www.healthyhorses.co.uk.

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Safety in numbers

Equine flu can spread rapidly and bring yards to a standstill, yet it can be easily prevented by more owners having their horses vaccinated

eterinary experts have issued a timely reminder to owners to ensure their horses are vaccinated against equine flu, after new outbreaks continue to be recorded in the UK. From July to early October 2015, the Animal Health Trust (AHT) has confirmed eight new cases, the latest being on a premises in Kent. This follows over 30 cases of equine flu recorded in the UK during 2014, with 28 cases confirmed in the period from mid-August to the end of December 2014. So, now is the time to be ultra vigilant. “Equine flu is a highly contagious disease,” says Nicola Ratcliffe, equine veterinary advisor for the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy campaign. “Yet adopting preventative healthcare practices, such as vaccination, can reduce the impact on both individual horses and the wider equine industry.”

The warning signs Equine flu is a highly contagious and infectious viral disease that can cause acute respiratory disease. Symptoms including high fever, coughing and nasal discharge. Depression, reduced or absent appetite, and weakness are also frequently observed. Most adult horses recover from the initial episode within a few weeks. However, the time taken to regain full health and to resume normal activities may be many months and performance could be impaired. In foals and horses with a compromised immune system, the outcome can be fatal.

A nasal discharge is a sign of equine flu

Keep your horse’s vaccination programme up to date

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The more horses that are vaccinated, the better the protection against disease

How it is spread Flu is an airborne virus and can rapidly spread through a yard, and even to neighbouring yards under the right prevailing weather conditions. Outbreaks may quickly spread locally and to other regions, particularly if there are large numbers of unvaccinated horses.

Protection is key “Vaccination is key in the prevention of infectious and contagious diseases such as flu,” says Nicola. “Not only are unvaccinated horses at risk of ill health themselves should they become infected, they pose a risk to other horses as they shed large amounts of the contagious virus. “Although vaccination does not provide complete protection against disease, the clinical signs and level of virus shedding after infection is significantly less. “For vaccination to be most effective and to control infectious and contagious disease, consideration needs to be given not only to the individual horse but also to the immunity of the equine herd.” Herd immunity describes the situation when a sufficient proportion of a population (a yard, for example) – though not necessarily all – are vaccinated against a disease. If there are too few susceptible horses in a population, the disease is unable to spread. The minority of horses who aren’t vaccinated will receive protection because the spread of disease is contained by the large majority that

are. Essentially, the principle can be described as safety in numbers. Data drawn from the number of flu vaccinations sold to vets in the UK last year indicates that less than half of the UK’s one million or so equine population is vaccinated*. This is not enough to establish herd immunity and therefore leaves our UK population of horses at risk from flu. The best way to protect your horse against disease caused by influenza is through vaccination. Vaccination in large enough numbers can also protect the herd, whether this is your horse’s field companion or the other equines on your yard. Vaccinating a large proportion of the equine population will limit the ability of the virus to spread, so reducing the incidence of outbreaks. To minimise the risk to your horse, and to prevent the spread of equine flu in your area, ensure your own horse is up to date with their vaccinations. Also encourage owners of horses surrounding yours to ensure their animals are also vaccinated against equine flu. g

Stay informed To find out more about equine flu, contact your veterinary practice or visit: www.healthyhorses.co.uk for expert advice on preventative healthcare to help keep Britain’s horses healthy. * Vaccination rates calculated on the assumption of one million horses in the UK. Vaccine doses sold based on GFK July 2015 MAT.

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In association with

Put your horse first by improving your knowledge of health and welfare topics

Targeted worming In terms of parasite control, most of us understand the need to worm our horses regularly, but there is evidence to suggest that many of us are not treating our horses in the most effective way. With an increasing risk of resistance to anthelmintics (wormers), it is vital that we adopt a proper worming strategy to protect our horses and ponies from the threat of irreversible damage. The Responsible Horse Owner’s guide to worming covers the types of internal parasites and how they cause damage. It offers information on faecal worm egg counts Wormers should be used responsibly (FWEC) – what they are, and what the results mean. There is also a clear explanation on resistance to wormers and They do not disregard the need to seek the types of active ingredients horse owners advice from your veterinary surgeon if you should be aware of. Targeted worming are at all worried about your horse, but will programmes are fully explained and top tips provide peace of mind that you are aware for worm control are provided. of the issues surrounding preventative The other guides contain comprehensive health care, ensuring you are one of KBHH’s information and advice on each subject. responsible horse owners.

Be a responsible owner Get set for Horse Health Week which takes place in September and aims to help owners keep their horses happy and disease free. Here’s how you and your horse can benefit

quine welfare is paramount to everyone involved with horses. With that in mind, Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy (KBHH) – a high-profile nationwide campaign, supported by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and Animal Health Trust (AHT) – is launching Horse Health Week. The week, which runs from 21-28 September, is a key element of KBHH’s mission to reduce

86 OCTOBER 2015

the risk of illness and disease in the one million horses stabled in Britain today. Taking responsibility for educating and raising awareness of the benefits of preventative healthcare and encouraging its adoption amongst owners, KBHH has produced Responsible Horse Owner booklets. The booklets are available to download, free-ofcharge from the campaign’s website during Horse Health Week, visit: www.healthyhorses.co.uk.

about strangles – yet less than one in 10 vaccinated against the disease. Indeed, only 37 per cent of respondents were aware One in 10 people surveyed that you could vaccinate said they get advice on against strangles! preventative healthcare consult Internet “Strangles is a highly from Internet forums, with 18 contagious, seriously forums. per cent of those debilitating disease, which will admitting that they do so cause any responsible horse owner’s because the advice is free. heart to miss a beat,” says Nicola Snowden, The Responsible Horse Owner equine veterinary advisor for KBHH. “Vaccination guides provide excellent information is a valuable tool and used alongside good and advice on preventative healthcare. biosecurity measures can be used in yards at risk They are a good place to start if you need some of disease.” initial information before contacting your vet, if The survey results concerning equine flu and you have any concerns. tetanus were far more encouraging. Over 90 per cent of respondents said they vaccinate against Reducing the risk tetanus and 88 per cent against equine flu. Preventative healthcare encompasses many “It is reassuring news from this group of survey aspects of horse management, but a key priority respondents,” says Nicola. “But from data we is vaccination against infectious diseases. have collected from veterinary practices, it is Half of owners completing the survey mentioned not actually representative of the UK equine earlier (55 per cent) said they were most concerned population as a whole, with vaccination rates for

Did you know

Gain access to free information guides on horse health The booklets topics reflect the Seven Pillars of responsible horse ownership: infectious disease prevention and vaccination; parasite control; nutrition and weight management; teeth and dentistry; hoof care and farriery; wellbeing (including environmental management, breeding and end-of-life care) and taking on a new horse. In a recent survey, 62 per cent of horse owners confirmed they would go to their vet to get advice on preventative healthcare. However, one in 10

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equine flu nearer 50 per cent and for tetanus at around 60 per cent. “The focus of the KBHH campaign in 2014 was to move vaccination levels towards achieving a level of herd immunity across the UK’s population of horses. The message to ensure you vaccinate your horse and keep his vaccinations up-to-date thereafter is still key to an effective healthcare prevention plan. “If the levels of vaccination as suggested in the survey were to be repeated across the UK, we would achieve our ambition of herd immunity.” There is a Responsible Horse Owner guide on infectious disease and vaccination. It puts the most up-to-date information at your fingertips on UK infectious disease threats and exotic diseases, and offers advice and top tips on biosecurity and herd immunity. g

l To find out more about The

Responsible Horse Owner’s pack, Horse Health Week, KBHH and participating veterinary practices, visit www.healthyhorses.co.uk.

OCTOBER 2015 87

In association with

our experT Vicki Farr BVetMed MRCVS

Vicki is the equine veterinary advisor for the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy campaign. Visit: www.healthy horses.co.uk

Little things mean a lot

A few small actions can make a big difference to your horse’s health and welfare, says vet Vicki Farr, veterinary advisor for Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy

reventative healthcare is as important for horses as it is for humans. Taking care of the small things around your horse or pony, and the yard, can help keep him safe, happy and healthy. The first thing to ensure is that you know what is normal for your horse, so you can quickly spot things that are out of the ordinary. There is no substitute for interacting with your horse and observing him closely every day. Examples of what to look for are:

What are his eyes like? Are there any changes in his appetite or his droppings? Is he happy or does he seem out of sorts? Some changes that indicate disease or injury may be obvious. Other signs might be more subtle at first and spotting them will allow for early intervention and increase the chance of a successful outcome. It is really important to know your horse’s normal temperature, pulse and respiration rate. These should be checked regularly as a rise in temperature can be the first sign of some diseases, such as strangles:Know what is normal for your horse so you can spot signs of a problem early on

l Temperature: a healthy horse’s temperature will be between 37.5°C and 38.5°C, (just a little higher than a human’s average temperture, which is 37°C); l Pulse: between 28-44 beats per minute, when the horse is at rest; l Respiration: eight to 14 breaths per minute, at rest.

Other important checks

It is also sensible to check the temperature of each hoof – if they are warmer than normal this can be a sign of conditions such as laminitis or an abscess. Picking out your horse’s feet on a daily basis also provides an ideal opportunity to look for problems such as thrush, loose shoes or lost nails. Taking the time to observe how your horse is moving daily will also help you to recognise any changes or lameness. Discuss any concerns you may have with a vet. Changes in your horse’s appetite or drinking habits can be signs he is feeling unwell, so keep an eye on the amount of food and water he is consuming, especially during the summer months. Monitoring urination and checking droppings for any changes is something else you can do which will help you spot a problem sooner. Other regular checks include inspecting tack or equipment worn by your horse, such as a rug, headcollar or grazing muzzle. It is also sensible to check tack and equipment before each use as well.

Yard and paddock precautions

Infectious diseases can quickly get out of hand on a yard and it’s much easier and less costly to prevent them from taking hold in the first place, than it is to treat them. Small measures can make a big difference to protecting your yard from disease. The

82 september 2016

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Pick out hooves daily and check for signs of conditions such as thrush

wash down areas, and yard equipment such as forks, shovels, and wheelbarrows are important jobs which will help limit disease transfer. Remember to clean and disinfect your vehicle too, especially if you’re travelling to different places where there are horses, as this will help you to prevent diseases being carried into your yard or stables.

Consult a professional

good news is it’s simple and straightforward to put protocols in place to prevent or control a disease outbreak. It is really important that every yard has an isolation facility, which can be as simple as a separate area of a field. In addition, daily checks should be made on the overall health and appearance of all horses on a yard. Fencing, stabling and shelters should be safe, secure and undamaged and daily chores such as mucking out undertaken every day without fail. Cleaning and disinfecting feed bowls, troughs, sinks and hand washing facilities,

We’ve all gone to the first aid box and found it empty, or something vital missing, and in a time of need you’ll thank yourself for replenishing your kit or replacing anything that is out of date. Make this a regular monthly job – ask your vet if you are not sure what an equine first aid kit should contain. Make sure you have good communication with your veterinary practice, as being forewarned is forearmed. Your vet will be happy to inform you if there are infectious diseases locally, so you can be extra vigilant. When in contact with your vet, take the opportunity to book your horse’s vaccinations and annual health check at the same time, so you don’t forget! Making use of qualified professionals to help keep your horse fit and healthy can help

HORSE HEALTH WEEK IS COMING! SAVE THE DATE IN YOUR DIARY

Throughout the week we will be raising awareness of the benefits of preventative healthcare, putting forward all the small things horse and yard owners can do for the health of our nation’s horses. For more information and to complete the survey to be in with the chance to win a gilet* visit www.healthyhorses.co.uk/horse-week

TAKING CARE OF THE SMALL THINGS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE. * For full terms and conditions please see www.healthyhorses.co.uk MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes, MK7 7AJ.

A focus on horse health Horse Health Week, which will run from 26-30 September, will highlight the benefits of preventative healthcare for horses. It is being run as part of the Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy (KBHH) campaign. To find out how you and your own horse or pony can benefit from Healthy Horse Week, visit: www.healthyhorses.co.uk

prevent many issues. Vets will advise on faecal egg counts (FECs) and worming treatments. A qualified saddler should check your tack every six months, or when there has been any significant change in your horse’s body shape, type of work or behaviour. Your horse’s hooves should be seen by a farrier, usually every six to eight weeks, and book a vet or qualified equine dental technician to look at your horse’s teeth at least every six months. g

In association with Regular hoof care is essential

Hoof care and farriery Hoof care is an important aspect of horse ownership but is an area that can get overlooked in an owner’s busy day-to-day schedule. During the week of activity, KBHH will look at basic routine foot care, showing how to establish what is normal and how to check for potential problems, such as thrush, heat, punctures, cracks. Together with vets and farriery partners, it will be offering practical advice on how problems can be avoided.

Health watch

Didyou KNOW?

Discover more about an exciting horse health campaign that aims to minimise illness and disease in Britain’s equine population

quine welfare is paramount to everyone involved with horses. With this in mind, Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy (KBHH) – a high-profile nationwide campaign, supported by BEVA (British Equine Veterinary Association) and the AHT (Animal Health Trust) – is launching Horse Health Week. During this special week, which runs from 21-28 September, KBHH will be promoting Seven Pillars of responsible horse ownership. The Seven Pillars are:1. Infectious disease prevention; 2. Parasite control; 3. Nutrition and weight management; 4. Teeth and dentistry; 5. Hoof care and farriery; 6. Wellbeing, including environmental management, breeding and end of life care; 7. Taking on a new horse.

88 SEPTEMBER 2015

Infectious disease prevention Vaccination is key in preventing infectious disease – it helps protect the individual horse and reduces the ability of disease to spread to other horses. Information and advice on infectious diseases will be highlighted during Horse Health Week, including how they can best be prevented. Some of the diseases being covered are equine influenza (flu), tetanus, strangles, herpes and exotic diseases. Information will be presented on biosecurity, including quarantine best-practice, and on vaccination and herd immunity. KBHH strongly believes in the concept of herd immunity and will strive to improve vaccination uptake to help protect the entire equine population, prioritising diseases that are widespread in Britain.

Modern pasture and forage A further subject to be has been shown to be deficient explored, will be that of in certain nutrients, particularly responsible breeding. quality protein and some minerals. Taking on a The campaign nutrition new horse To achieve an effective level partner, Baileys Horse Getting a new horse can of herd immunity against Feeds, will be sharing advice be a daunting time, and equine flu, between 60 and on forms of supplementary new owners may have lots of 70 per cent of our horses feeding to supply these essential questions they need answered. need to be vaccinated. nutrients and provide a fully Horse Health Week is the ideal balanced diet. time to pose these questions and In addition, its nutrition experts will get sensible, knowledgeable answers on be looking at how to optimise weight control, pre-purchase examinations (vettings), passports, basic feeding dos and don’ts and advising on microchipping and horse insurance. appropriate feed for the workload undertaken. Consideration of the Seven Pillars in the every-day care of your new horse will ensure you are off to a great start in becoming a caring, Teeth and dentistry responsible owner. Many horses suffer silently from dental disease During Horse Health Week it’s not only so it is important to have regular check-ups to the individual owner who can benefit from ensure their mouth is healthy. an increased awareness of the all-round benefits Another key message that KBHH will be aiming of a preventative approach to to communicate in Horse Health Week, is that equine healthcare. with youngsters it is sensible to start routine Livery yards and riding dental care in the first year of life, with check-ups schools will benefit from every year thereafter. However, once a horse a healthier population of reaches 12 years of age, the time between checkhorses in a yard, leading to ups should be reduced to every six months. an environment with happy Campaign vet horses, happy owners and a Nicola Snowden General wellbeing positive yard reputation. g While wellbeing is concerned with the horse’s will share tips overall physical health, you also need to consider mental, emotional and environmental impacts on the horse. l To find out more about Horse Health Horse Health Week will investigate quality of Week, KBHH and participating veterinary life issues and tackle the difficult subject of endpractices, visit: www.healthyhorses.co.uk. of-life care.

A special week aims to improve horse health

All yards should have a quarantine policy for new arrivals

Parasite control We are all aware of the need to protect our horses from parasites, but gone are the days when we would simply worm our horse to a regular pattern and forget about it. As Horse Health Week will show, no single active ingredient is effective against all types and stages of worms, so it is vital horses are treated with the right wormer at the right time of year through a targeted worming programme. A targeted approach includes treatment for encysted and inhibited small redworm larvae, tapeworm and bots. Horses are then wormed during the grazing season, if required, based on the results of a faecal worm egg count.

Nutrition and weight management It goes without saying that a balanced diet is crucial to help ensure a fit and healthy horse.

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SEPTEMBER 2015 89

Biosecurity

PREVENTION

is better than cure

aunched in 2014, Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy (KBHH) – supported by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the Animal Health Trust (AHT) – is committed to minimising illness and disease amongst Britain’s one million or so horses by advocating the benefits of preventative healthcare, through an integrated approach incorporating appropriate vaccination, sound equine husbandry and biosecurity. However, whilst we may have heard of the term biosecurity, many of us are not really sure what it means, or involves. In general terms, biosecurity encompasses procedures designed to protect the equine population against harmful substances that may cause infection or illness. In the equestrian setting, this includes all actions undertaken to prevent the introduction of disease

fastfacts

H2O NO-GO! Avoid giving horses communal water supplies

Just like humans, horses are susceptible to an array of illnesses and diseases, many of which are common, yet readily preventable. Every responsible owner has the welfare of their horse or pony at heart. With that in mind, Nicola Snowden BVM&S MRCVS Equine Veterinary Advisor for KBHH tells us about biosecurity and what we can do to help in the fight against equine illness agents into an equine establishment but also to limit any spread of disease should an outbreak occur. Equine biosecurity looks at three areas: the immunity of the individual horse, the infectious disease and how it spreads, and the environment and set up of the yard, all of which contribute to the risk of disease occurrence. The aim of biosecurity is to improve the generic immunity of the horse so it is able to resist infection, reduce the risk of introduction of a disease, and limit the spread of the disease within the horse’s environment and surrounding area.

Biosecurity procedures often involve the following: l Equine health practises such as vaccination l Pasture and stable management practises which include: disinfecting stables, gates and equipment between horse use, using separate grooming and feeding equipment and pest control measures l Infection control measures which encourage owners, staff and visiting personnel to wash their hands before handling different horses l Clearing and disposing of manure off the pasture l Having individual water supplies for each horse l Close observation of those horses that move on and off the yard for signs of infectious and contagious disease to allow prompt isolation if necessary. l Quarantine and isolation of new arrivals for a minimum of two weeks.

Policing biosecurity measures can be a challenge, especially where there is a high volume of equine traffic and travel, such as at studs, where scores of mares are moving in and out on a daily basis, and at shows and events. Even in yard situations where horses don’t move in and out, such as riding schools, the potential for contamination is still great – as such establishments have a constant stream of visitors who may not be well-educated on the importance of biosecurity procedures. However, none of the procedures are difficult or particularly time consuming, but they can have a huge impact on how effective yard biosecurity is. ;