Biosecurity considerations to protect your equine investment
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EmailSimple biosecurity measures can help to reduce chances of infectious disease introduction to your horse or horse farm.
Many equine owners take advantage of the opportunities and activities that are offered and/or are available throughout the equine community. These activities may range from trade shows, exhibitions and fairs, horse sales, trail rides, to visiting other farms, etc. When planning activities, it is important to have a year-round biosecurity plan in place on and off the farm to reduce the risk of spreading infectious disease to your horse or farm. Here are a few practical biosecurity measures to consider:
- Precautions for visitors – Designate an area for visitor parking to prevent any unwanted traffic around your farm. Request that visitors have clean boots and/or provide them with plastic protective pull-on covers. Provide a hand washing/hand sanitizer station before having contact with horses.
- Clean equipment – Designate boots for your farm as compared to other farms, sale and show facilities. Change clothing (home vs. fair, show, trail ride, etc.) If borrowing equipment, clean before use and upon returning it. This includes: tack, trailer, tractor, etc. Additionally, it is never a bad idea to wash your vehicle’s tires occasionally.
- Feed and water – In an effort to prevent fecal contamination from mice/rats, birds, dogs, cats, livestock and other wildlife, store grain/concentrate in an appropriate container. When you are away from the farm, DO NOT use community water troughs, feed buckets or allow horses to graze with other horses. DO bring your own feed and water buckets if warranted.
- Isolation – Prevent horse nose-to-nose contact with unfamiliar horses when off the farm. Avoid shared feed, water and/or equipment with horses not from your farm. Have the appropriate updated documentation if needed: Official Certificate of Health, Coggins test, vaccination and deworming. If you have purchased a new horse or welcome a visiting horse, isolate this horse from other horses on your farm for 30 days. Your horses that routinely exit the farm for show, tail rides, etc., should be housed and pastured separately from the animals that never leave the property. Be sure to care for/visit quarantined horses last to avoid potential disease spread
- Insect control – Insects serve as vectors for disease. Debris management is critical in avoiding places for unwanted insects to thrive. Be sure to clean up spoiled feed, manure, used bedding and weeds. Attempt to eliminate any standing water in the area as mosquitoes can mature in a few days. In addition, water containers should be emptied, cleaned and disinfected regularly.
- Manure management – Limit fecal–oral contact by having an appropriate manure management plan. Composting manure works well to kill parasites and weed seeds. If planning to spread manure on pastures, do this during non-grazing periods when horses will be removed from the area. When away from the farm, clean up after your horse by using your own pick or shovel. If you lend your pick or shovel to someone else or clean up after someone else’s horse, be sure to clean and disinfect it before putting it back in your trailer or bringing it home.
Michigan State University Extension recommends that at minimum a biosecurity plan should include clean boots, clean hands, clean clothes and clean equipment. Remember to be aware of the risks and have a year-round plan to reduce those risks.
Additional information: The University of Guelph, along with Colorado State University and sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation (AAEP Foundation) and Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) have developed an equine biosecurity risk calculator that is available for horse owners to evaluate what their respective equine biosecurity risks may be.
