Trinity consultants horse health recommendations


No matter whether your horse is for recreational or commercial use, it must be in good health for optimum performance. Your attention and care towards your horse are certainly reflected by its health and well-being. Addressing  horse health is not limited to vaccination and deworming, but a comprehensive plan for handling any sudden disease outbreak and other health issues. Coming up with a good preventive care program may save you a good amount of time and money in the long run.

The popularity of horse riding as a sport or pastime is increasing day by day, indicating more horses are being imported in most of the countries in Europe. This increasing number is posing threats to both new and existing horses. The threats we are mostly concerned with are infectious diseases. However, there are non-infectious diseases as well as malnutrition, genetic diseases, autoimmune diseases, etc. In this article, we will consider general principles for preventing common equine diseases.

How diseases spread

There is no question of spreading non-infectious diseases. However, if the disease is caused by an infectious agent, there is a certain risk of catching a disease from living or non-living subjects contaminated with the agent. Various modes of disease transmission include-

  • Direct contact between same species (i.e. horses).
  • Direct contact with other animals like pets, humans, wild animals.
  • Insect bites. Some insects are prone to carry certain infectious agents.
  • Droplet infection. Coughing, sneezing, may release water droplets containing infectious agents which if inhaled by other horses, can cause the disease.
  • Through excreta of infected animals.
  • Contaminated water, food, or bedding.
  • Vertical transmission. Infected mother horse can transmit the disease to its baby during pregnancy through the placenta, or after delivery via milk.

So, why should we be interested in preventing the spread of disease? The simple answer is to get optimum performance and prolong the active lifespan of the horses. In addition, preventing disease means reducing your chance to contribute to an epidemic of a serious disease. Certain equine diseases can be transmitted to humans such as ringworm, typhoid. By taking preventive measures we can minimize the risks of those infections as well. Last but not the least, the cost related to the treatment of an illness certainly outweighs costs related to preventive measures.

Basic principles of horse disease prevention

Unfortunately, there is no surefire way of preventing illness. Most of the horses will encounter some sort of common disease at some point in their life. But, it does not mean that we will sit reluctantly and leave everything on luck. A fruitful prevention program will include being aware of common diseases, maintaining good hygiene, conducting routine health check-up, timely vaccination, keeping horses away from others with unknown health status, isolating ill horses, prompt treatment, and so on. Some key elements of a comprehensive prevention program are discussed here.

Keep the place neat and clean

There is no alternative to a clean environment and proper hygiene for preventing disease and illness. Installing a stable can be the initial challenge. Remember to follow local guideline and get an idea about a basic installation process in this article

Make sure you clean all equipment and utensils on a regular basis. These include feed and water buckets, bedding, grooming kit, tack, etc. It is ideal to have separate sets of individual horses. If it is not possible, disinfect equipment before using on another horse. Disinfection is most important after a horse has been ill. Consult a vet regarding other essential measures to take for a diseased horse. Excreta from stables and fields must be disposed of properly. Dung heaps should be made at a distant place so that there is no contamination of feed and water. It is important to clean your outer clothing and boots as well particularly if you come in contact with unfamiliar horses (such as, at a horse race).

Outdoor care

You are not going to prison your horse in its stable. It is natural that the lovely animal will go out in a show or a hiking with you. There is always a risk of contracting an infection from other animals out there. Try to avoid direct contact with sick or unfamiliar animals.

Routine health care

Vaccinate your horse against tetanus and influenza as per immunization schedule. Keep vaccination record for future reference. Horses are susceptible to worm infestation as they walk barefooted. A good worm control program should be kept in place for a healthy horse. Contact your vet for the local guideline for worm control. To prevent vector-borne diseases, you should take appropriate measures. Common vectors include mosquitoes, flies, mites, tics, etc. Simply destroy their breeding places to control those vectors. For instance, look for stagnant water and remove it where mosquitoes might breed. Clean nearby drains and use fly repellent, mosquito net, etc. to keep your horse safe from those insects.

Know the signs of common diseases

Common infections affecting equine species include tetanus, influenza, herpes virus (EHV), strangles, ringworm, typhoid, etc. It will be great if you can identify an infection early so that prompt measure can be taken. For example, an episode of influenza will start with raised temperature (fever), nasal discharge or a runny nose, cough, rapid breathing, and depressed mood. Bacteria causing tetanus reside in the soil and enter the body through a wound. It is a rare but deadly disease starting with difficulty in eating and drinking, muscle spasm, photosensitivity, difficulty in breathing, and ultimately death.

There are a lot of guidelines for preventing and treating diseases of the horse. You can download one here. However, personal awareness is of great value because you are the one who cares most about your loved animal.