Infection Control and Prevention in Your Barn

Step 1: Prevention

• Clean equipment between horses (bits, halters, twitches, etc)

• Avoid shared water sources

• Wash hands regularly or use hand sanitizer

• Have designated barn boots that are cleaned regularly

• Vaccinate against influenza and herpes viruses routinely

• Isolate new or competing horses for two weeks

Step 2: Observe Daily

DEPP (Drinking, Eating, Pooping, Peeing): know what is normal for your horse so you can intervene early

• Watch for signs of infection: coughing, runny nose, loose stool, and low energy

• Temperature: take your horse’s temperature if these signs occur. Normal temperature is 98.0-101.5.

Step 3: Initiate Sick Horse Biosecurity Measures

• Isolate horse in a separate barn or stall away from other horses

• Place signs: inform others so they can take precautions to decrease the spread of infection

• Equipment: label buckets, shovels, and tack just to be used with that horse

• Work with the sick horse last

• Hands: wear gloves or wash hands after handling a horse

• Feet: wear shoe covers or set up a foot bath outside of the stall

Step 4: Contact the Veterinarian

• Depending on the situation may recommend diagnostics, treatments, and further advice on monitoring and biosecurity measures.

Step 5: Clean Up

• Keep horse isolated and at home for 28 days

• Manure/bedding: place in manure bin to compost before spreading or place in compost container that is commercially removed

• Disinfect: clean equipment and stall with a detergent followed by a disinfectant