Using Common Sense To Ensure Horse Safety

The summer horse show, rodeo and parade season will soon be upon us. Following the diagnosis of seven horses in Oregon recently with Equine Herpes Virus, it is important for all horse owners to use practice biosecurity measures to protect their horses from diseases like equine herpes, strep or the flu. Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine internal medicine specialist Dr. John Schlipf says if you participate in horse shows or other events being aware of possible contamination and doing your part to prevent that contact with other horses can go a long way.
Schlipf: “Limit contact with other horses. If you are in contact with other horses, know that some of these viruses or bacteria can be carried on your hands or someone else who is coming into the stall. So good hand care, as far as washing your hands frequently. Putting those hand sanitizer outside of the stall. Don’t share tack. Don’t share water buckets with other horses. Anything that reduces that potential of exposure to this virus or bacteria — as the case may be — reduces the risk that your horse is going to be affected. Making sure that your horse is vaccinated well prior going on the road. So again it reduces the risk that it may become infected or if it does, it may have some protected antibodies from the vaccine that it will be a less severe form of the disease.”