How To Deal With Infectious Bacteria On Your Horse Farm

It is vital to accept that the risk of infection increases astronomically with larger numbers of horses having contact with one another.

It maybe impossible to avoid contact with infections which are windborne (carried on the wind).

Use vaccinations if your horse is going to be placed with large numbers of horses or exposed to potential infections in the environment such as tetanus.

Remember that some horses can react badly to vaccinations so ensure you ask your vet about side effects so you know what to look out for and what to do if they occur.

Infections can be picked up while at shows, race meetings or competitions.  The higher stress the horse suffers at these events the lower his/her immunity can be and the greater his or her risk of infection is.

Poor stable management and hygiene dramatically increases the risk of diseases spreading.  Wash surfaces, brushes, bits and buckets that come into contact with an unwell horse.  Separate the sick horse from other horses for at least 21 days and symptoms disappear to give the horse a chance to recover and not spread the illness.

Sunlight kills many harmful viruses so ensure your stable it well lit with great ventilation.

Good, well balanced diet of quality feed assists the horse's body to fight off any infections they come in contact with.

If your horse appears unwell, act quickly and contact your vet about a diagnosis and treatment.  Low grade infections can be best treated by providing a low stress environment, good quality food, quality shelter and access to grass.

The harder you work your horse the greater the risk they will get an infection so the better you manage them and the more thorough your knowledge is to act quickly and do the right thing, the better the outcome will be for your horses and your farm.

Dispersing horses from large groups to smaller groups assist in the control of diseases.  If disease has occurred in any of the members of the herd, the quicker it will pass through your herd and the less impact it will have on all the horses on your farm.

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