Biosecurity During COVID-19 for Horse Owners

The horse industry in all fashions have taken a hit because of Covid-19. Many horseshows cancelled, trail locations closed, and boarding facilities under stricter regulations have horse owners “biting at the bit” (pun intended) to get back in the saddle. However, horse owners should take precautions to protect themselves and their horses. Below are some tips for practicing biosecurity during a pandemic at either horse shows, trail riding locations, barns, etc.

 

According to the CDC, there has been no report of horses being infected with the SARS-coV-2, virus that causes Covid-19. However, biosecurity measures should be in place to prevent the spread of other potential equine diseases.

·       Horses should not be co-mingled. One carrier animal can potentially infect not only the other horses at the event, but those pathogens can be taken home and shared with the rest of the horses at the home farm if precautions are not taken.  

·       Be sure that the trailer used to haul the horses is clean, as well as equipment and tack.

·       Talk to your veterinarian about any concerns of horse health, make sure the vaccinations are up to date, discuss any disease concerns in the area(s) to be travelled through, and any other health concerns.  

·       Don’t share tack, grooming supplies, feed pans, or water buckets. Most equine diseases are spread by direct contact. Direct contact not only includes nose-to-nose contact, but contact with surfaces that may have gotten saliva, respiratory secretions, or manure contamination from an infected horse.  

·       Keep the area clean around your horses.  Fully clean and disinfect any stalls to be used before putting your horses in.  Do this even if the event host has already promised that the stalls were cleaned and disinfected.

·       Keep an eye on your horses for any sign of illness.  Check for fever, and keep track of feed and water intake while away from home.  

·       When returning from an equine event, isolate the horse that has traveled for at least a week. Monitor for any symptoms, like fever, off-feed, etc. If symptoms are seen, veterinary care can be given. 

·       Clean and disinfect the trailer, tack, and equipment when returning from events.

·       Keep your horse’s stress level as low as possible. Stress can cause the
horse’s immune system to become compromised. Continue a familiar feeding regimen to keep your horse on schedule to avoid stress and colic. If your horse is not used to being in a stall and gets stressed when they are in one, taking them out frequently and hand-walking them can help decrease their stress level.  

 

The CDC recommends these tips below for persons organizing livestock shows:

·       Split classes to limit the number of animals in the show ring.

·       Limit the number of people and/or animals in a ring to ensure that at least 6 feet is kept between an animal and its handler and other people and animals including judges. The number of exhibitors and animals that can safely fit in a show ring or exhibit area may limit the number of animals that can be shown at one time.

·       Provide separate entry and exit points for visitors so they do not need to pass close together while coming into and going out of the ring.

·       Stagger activities in washing and grooming areas, or other shared spaces, so that animals from different farms or households do not interact unnecessarily.

·       Stagger animal move-in/move-out times to reduce contact between people and animals.

·       Consider a “show-and-go” with animals stalled at a trailer and leaving immediately after the show if this will not compromise animal welfare, for example, because of weather conditions such as high temperature and humidity.

 

Lastly, horse owners should take precautions to protect not only their horses, but themselves. The CDC recommends that persons should

·      Wash their hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water

·      Use a hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol

·      Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

·      Avoid close contact with other persons

·      Maintain at least 6 feet

·      Cover your nose and mouth with a mask

·      Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces

·      Monitor your health daily for symptoms

 

If you have any questions about biosecurity for horses, please contact your local extension agent. Happy riding!!

Article written by Taylor Chavis, Livestock Agent in Robeson County.