Biosecurity for Equine Respiratory Infections: Protecting Your Horses

Biosecurity protocols tailored to equine respiratory pathogens prevent disease introduction and limit outbreak spread when infections do occur.

Key Facts

Equine influenza, EHV-1/4, equine rhinitis virus, and Streptococcus equi spread via direct contact and fomites
New horses arriving at a yard should be quarantined for 14-21 days before mixing with resident horses
Temperature monitoring of new arrivals identifies febrile horses during the quarantine period
Shared equipment including water buckets, grooming tools, and headcollars transmit pathogens
Shows and competitions create high-risk exposure events requiring enhanced post-event monitoring
Hand hygiene, footwear disinfection, and designated visitor routes reduce fomite transmission
Outbreak management requires prompt isolation of affected horses and enhanced disinfection

Welfare Considerations

Respiratory disease outbreaks cause widespread suffering across yards - multiple horses ill simultaneously, disrupted training, and horses worked through early infection because signs were missed. Biosecurity prevents this suffering before it occurs. Quarantine of new arrivals, temperature monitoring, equipment separation, and post-competition vigilance are practical, achievable measures that protect resident horse populations from introduced pathogens. Yards with robust biosecurity culture suffer fewer outbreaks and smaller outbreak size when infections do occur.

What You Can Do

Quarantine all new arrivals for 14-21 days with daily temperature monitoring
Designate separate equipment for quarantined horses - no shared buckets, headcollars, or grooming tools
Implement post-competition surveillance including temperature monitoring for 10-14 days
Establish a clear outbreak response protocol before you need it
Report suspected strangles to your vet immediately and implement isolation protocols