Biosecurity: What Is It and Why Is It Important

Have you ever thought about how diseases are spread and how to prevent that? This is the basis for biosecurity, which refers to what people do to keep diseases, and viruses, and bacteria, and funguses, and parasites, and other disease-causing microorganisms, away from their animals, farm, and people. The information below is from the Equine Disease Communication Center which is powered by US Equestrian and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. As you read through the information and resources think about how you can improve biosecurity for your horses! 

What is Biosecurity?

Biosecurity is any procedure or measure designed to protect the population against harmful biological or biochemical substances (source). In the equine industry, biosecurity refers to the precautions we take to limit the spread of disease when working with horses. These preventative measures are vital to maintaining the health of all horses regardless of their occupation, whether they be a companion animal, a working horse, or a show animal. Even the smallest precautions can help to keep horses safe from infectious diseases. 

Prevention is Key

Best practices in disease prevention include a combination of following a vaccination plan and taking simple, but important, biosecurity measures in your barn, while traveling, at events, and when caring for your horse. Suggested biosecurity protocols differ depending on the situation and location. Listed below are some general biosecurity resources. Take a look at the biosecurity subpages which provide resources that are specific to common situations and locations to help you keep your horse safe, happy, and healthy at all times.

• USEF Biosecurity Video
• Biosecurity Toolkit for Equine Events
• Breeding Operations
• Disinfection
• Events
• Facilities
• Isolation and Quarantine
• Racetracks
• Travel

Here are a few things that everyone can do to help prevent the spread of disease:

1. Optimize Resistance to Disease.
   1. Vaccinate. The first step to prevention is to keep your horse on a vaccination program that takes into account his/her job (pleasure horse, show animal, working animal, companion), general health status (age, history of illness, etc), amount of travel, and location (some regions pose more risk of disease than others). This vaccination program should be discussed and implemented with your veterinarian.
   2. Reduce Stress. Stress can compromise the horse’s immune systems and make him more susceptible to infection. Happy horses are more likely to be healthy horses.
   3. Optimize Nutrition. Adequate nutrition keeps your horse strong and healthy and gives him the tools he needs to fight off possible infections. 
2. Reduce Exposure.
   1. Practice Biosecurity. Use all of our resources to determine what aspects of your horse’s daily life put him at risk for disease and establish a plan for reducing those risks.
   2. Limit horse-to-horse and horse-to-human interaction. This one is easier said than done given the gregarious nature of the horse but is vital to horse health. Horses and humans can be carriers for the pathogens that cause disease. Establish groups of horses on your facility to reduce intermingling and encourage all humans to avoid interacting with multiple animals without disinfecting between contact.

How are diseases transmitted?

 

Additional Resources for General Biosecurity

AAEP Biosecurity Guidelines, AAEP

Biosecurity Tips for Horse Owners, USDA/APHIS

Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity (video), The Horse

Protect Your Horse from Infectious Diseases (Poster), Equine Guelph

Biosecurity for Horse Owners- Information Sheet- Equine Guelph

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. 

Biosecurity Tips for Travelling with Horses

Here are some tips to use when travelling with your horse to reduce the risk of infection.  Horses are frequently co-mingled at various equine events such as horse shows and trail rides.  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.  

Before setting out on the trip, be sure the trailer is clean, as well as all the equipment and tack.  Talk to the veterinarian about any concerns about 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.  Bring along cleaning equipment and the equine first aid kit for use at the event. Hopefully the first aid kit won’t be needed.

Since most contagious diseases are spread through some form of direct contact, don’t share tack, grooming supplies, feed pans, or water buckets. 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.  Again, be sure to pack the equipment needed so borrowing something like a water bucket won’t be necessary.  If equipment is borrowed, be sure to wash and disinfect thoroughly before allowing your horse to use it.

While at the event, 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.

While at the event, 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.  If needed, check with your veterinarian for information.  The veterinarian will also demonstrate any “how-to” topics if needed.

When returning from an equine event, segregate the travelling horses from the rest of the horses at home.  Isolating and monitoring for a week or so will give time for any disease that may be incubating to show symptoms.  If symptoms are seen, veterinary care can be given.  If no symptoms are seen and the horse is healthy at the end of the isolation period, the travelling horses will gladly rejoin the horse herd upon release from isolation.

One last chore once the trip is over is to thoroughly clean and disinfect the trailer, tack, and equipment.  This will make it easier to get ready for the next trip to an equine event.

Vaccinate Against Mosquito-Borne Diseases and Rabies

Follow the link to read an important message about vaccinating your horse against mosquito-borne diseases and rabies. 

http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/release/2018/Troxlerencourageshorseownerstovaccinateagainstmosquito-bornediseasesandrabies.htm

Keeping Your Horse Healthy While Traveling

‘Tis the season for horse shows and trail rides! As the weather warms up more and more horse
owners will be traveling and coming into contact with new places and horses. It is important to follow
some simple guidelines to ensure that your horses stay healthy when traveling.

When horses travel, they come into contact with new surroundings and new horses increasing their
risk of getting an infectious disease. Making sure your horse is up-to-date on their vaccinations and
following a good biosecurity plan can help keep your horse healthy throughout the show and trail
riding season. It is recommended that horses get vaccinated at least 30 days prior to traveling to
ensure they have had enough time to process the vaccines and mount a good immune response.
Horses should get their core vaccines, including Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis,
rabies, tetanus, and West Nile virus. Your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccines based on
your geographic location and where you plan to travel. Additional vaccines include equine influenza,
equine herpesvirus, and strangles to name a few.

Having a biosecurity plan means you are taking steps that are intended to protect your horses against
disease or harmful biological agents. It provides another layer of protection for your horse when they
travel to new places and are around new horses. Here are some recommendations that can be
incorporated into your biosecurity plan.

• Use your own equipment - especially buckets! Clean and disinfect your buckets and any other

  pieces of equipment (water hose, muck bucket, pitchfork, etc.) used when away when you get

home from traveling before putting them away or using them on your farm. This will help make sure

you are not introducing anything onto your farm that you may have picked up while traveling.

• Do not let other horses drink from your buckets.
• Do not get water from a communal water hose. Use a water hose or spigot to collect water or

bring your own. If you do use a water hose or spigot that is not yours, keep the hose nozzle

above the water level and don’t let the nozzle touch the water or sides of the bucket.

• Make sure the stall is clean of any organic material, such as manure, from the previous stall

occupant. You can also spray the stall with a mild disinfectant before allowing your horse to enter.

• Avoid nose-to-nose contact with other horses. The equine herpes virus and strangles virus can

be transmitted during contact. Humans should also avoid contact with other horses because they can

transmit diseases back to their horses.

• Be cautious in communal grazing areas as well because bacteria and parasites can live outside

of the host. Be especially cautious around other horses’ manure as that can be a source for parasites.

Another tip while traveling is to 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.  

You love our horses and traveling with them. It is important to take steps that will keep them healthy as
you go on your adventures. If you have more questions on this topic or any others you can always
contact your local Extension Agent.