Recommendations for Responsible Use of Horses in a Foot & Mouth Disease Outbreak

1. Horses cannot be infected with the foot and Mouth Disease virus and are not covered by the Foot and Mouth Disease control restrictions.
2. The Foot and Mouth Disease virus can be spread mechanically by contaminated equipment, vehicles, or distributed on the feet of horses or riders.
3. To reduce any risk of such indirect spread of virus by the equestrian community, stringent hygiene precautions are essential.**
4. If horses are to be moved, they must be effectively segregated for at least 14 days from all susceptible livestock. In particular, there should be no sharing of farmyards, grazing, housing, other buildings, equipment or personnel. If they cannot be effectively segregated, they should not be moved.
5. When away from home, owners must ensure that all horses avoid land where susceptible animals graze, or have been kept.
6. Whenever horses are moved, they must only be transported in thoroughly cleaned and disinfected (with a MAFF approved disinfectant), dedicated equine transport.**
7. ALL UNNECESSARY MOVEMENT SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

** Strict hygiene precautions must include:

• On leaving the premises, pick out feet and clean thoroughly. Disinfect feet with a suitable MAFF approved disinfectant, safe to come into contact with skin. The process should be repeated whenever horses return.
• Riders' boots should be cleaned and dipped in disinfectant before and after riding.
• Particular attention should be paid to cleaning and disinfecting vehicles wheels.

Where horses are kept on premises with other susceptible livestock:

• Comply with the farmer's own disease precautions, including only leaving the premises in clean clothes.

Recommendations for Event Organisers

1. Cancel all activities planned on or close to land where susceptible livestock have recently been grazing.
2. Following advice from your local MAFF DVM (ring 0845 0504141) as to whether or not the event or show is or is likely to be situated in an infected area and should take place.
3. Ensure that the protocol above is followed by all entering the venue.
4. Provide only one combined entrance and exit and ensure that all vehicles travel over a disinfectant soaked straw bed or suitable equivalent.
5. Only horses and pedestrians should be allowed onto the venue. Dogs and other animals should not be allowed to enter.
6. All horses should be led over a MAFF approved disinfectant soaked straw bed immediately after unloading at the venue and before leaving.
7. All pedestrians should be required to clean and disinfect footwear on arrival at and departure from the venue.

This protocol has been drawn up and agreed by:

• The Animal Health Trust
• The British Equine Veterinary Association
• The British Equestrian Federation
• The British Horse Industry Confederation
• The Thoroughbred Breeders Association
• The Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• The National Trainers Federation
• The Masters of Foxhound Association
• The National Office of Animal Health
• The Hurlingham Polo Association
• British Eventing
• British Dressage
• Sport Horse Breeding of Great Britain
• The Newmarket Stud Farmers Association
• Greenwood Ellis and Partners (Veterinary Surgeons)
• Rosedale and Partners (Veterinary Surgeons)
• Fellowes Equine Clinic (Veterinary Surgeons)
• The European Breeders Fund
• The Pony Club
• The Horserace Betting Levy Board
• The British Horseracing Board
• The Racehorse Owners Association
• The Racehorse Association
• The Jockey Club
• The British Show Jumping Association
• The Federation International Equestre
• The Racehorse Transporters Association

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