Keep your horse healthy with our free disease pack
We have recently launched a free information pack that will help UK horse owners protect their horses against the ever-present and increasing threat of infectious disease. It has never been so important to minimise the risk of serious and contagious diseases from entering or spreading across the country.
The pack can be obtained by calling 01953 497232, or online by clicking here
The UK horse industry has been on high alert after two cases of EIA were diagnosed earlier this year. Keep Your Horse Healthy aims to highlight the need for every horse owner to be aware of diseases such as EIA, strangles and flu, and offers simple steps to help protect against their entry and spread.
An outbreak of disease could be catastrophic for the equestrian industry as well as threatening the welfare of horses in general. Some worrying findings from our 2009 Livery Yard Survey show that many people are not aware of the risks or what preventative action should be taken:
• 61% of stables were not cleaned out between occupants
• 48% said there were no isolation facilities
• 38% said there were no procedures to exclude horses with disease
Roly Owers, Chief Executive, comments: “The pack has been created to give horse owners and keepers practical advice as to how they can minimise the incursion and spread of disease. Simple, everyday actions such as good hygiene, avoiding mixing with unfamiliar horses and maintaining good routine health care are essential in the fight against disease.
“Our research has shown that we as an industry are not addressing the current risk of disease. With the growing popularity of horse riding, climate change and the ever-increasing movement of horses, both within the UK and overseas, the threat of disease is on the increase. We are extremely concerned that if we as a horse owning nation do not act now we will have an epidemic situation on our hands. Education is vital to protect our horses. Every horse owner has an obligation not only to their own horse, but to the horses in their yard and across the country.”
The pack can be obtained by calling 01953 497232, or online by clicking here
Taking preventative steps against the spread of disease is one of our recommended summer welfare tips. To view the whole article, click here
