Biosecurity Protocols For LVDA
The goal of a biosecurity plan is to prevent the transmission of infectious agents among individuals. The reemergence
of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHV-1) has prompted the establishment of preventative measures to restrict the spread of the disease. The following information was developed for LVDA members who will be competing locally and those who plan to travel with their horses outside NJ or PA.
At Your Own Barn
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Wash your hands or clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizer when working with multiply horses or when going stall to stall.
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Plastic gloves are suggested in stall cleaning.
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Try to have a set of clothes and shoes just to be used for barn
work. A container with disinfectant can be used to walk through when leaving the barn. -
Avoid placing the hose inside water buckets when filling them and keep buckets scrubbed periodically.
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Each horse should have its own feed and water buckets.
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Each horse should have its own equipment, tack, & grooming supplies. Periodically disinfect your tools and supplies.
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Advise boarders to use sanitizer and to launder equipment before sharing items.
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Horses should graze in pastures with the same small groups. It is advisable not to permit hand grazing in heavily used traffic areas, such as just outside an arena door.
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All horses should be kept up to date on vaccines and Coggins.
Sick horses should be isolated if at all possible until the veterinarian has examined the animal.
At An LVDA Show or Clinic
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Horses are REQUIRED to have up-to-date Coggins. If the show secretary does not receive a current Coggins prior to the event, she has the right to deny the horse access to the grounds.
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Keeping a chart of your horse’s temperature at different times of the day, such as before or after work can be beneficial. Recording your horse’s temperature the morning of a show is important. If the temperature is elevated from normal readings on your chart, you should refrain from taking your horse off the property.
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Refrain from hand grazing your horse while visiting another barn. Only give treats to your own horse.
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Bring your own buckets for water. If you must use the hose at the host facility, do not immerse the hose end into your water bucket when filling it.
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Avoid sharing equipment with other competitors; if you must borrow something disinfect it first with sanitizer wipes or spray.
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Do not allow nose to nose visiting between horses.
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The use of stabling and the indoor arena is at the discretion of the host. Refrain from taking your horse into the host barn.
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Visitors should disinfect their shoes before entering the host barn if they must enter the barn.
It is also recommended to remove & disinfect your show boots before returning home. -
Washing your hands or using an alcohol-based hand cleaner before touching someone else’s horse is highly recommended. People can spread the virus from horse to horse if they do not sanitize their hands.
• Clean up and remove manure, either take it home or dispose of it in designated area.
TRAVELING TO ANOTHER STATE
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It is your responsibility to contact the management of the farm or competition grounds you will be traveling to; they may have a mandatory biosecurity plan in place.
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A Certificate of Health from your veterinarian is important when traveling into other States. The Certificate is normally issued no sooner than 10 days before departure and it is applicable for one month from being signed by the veterinarian.
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It may be mandatory to present the Certificate of Health to the show secretary upon arrival at the competition, even if you are coming from within the same state.