Biosecurity Considerations for Horse Show Travel

This plan is intended to give trainers and barn managers recommendations for general immune support and biosecurity practices during patient travel and showing.  For up to date information on current communicable disease cases, enroll in the EDCC Disease Outbreak Notification System: www.equinediseasecc.org/alerts

VACCINES

​All horses should be up to date on EHV-1,4 and Influenza Vaccination within the last 6 months and not expiring before their return home.  Starwood administering this vaccination provides patients with an Immune Support Guarantee - meaning if we suspect a patient develops a respiratory disease, the vaccine manufacturer will pay Starwood to run diagnostics. 

DOCUMENTATION

Desert International Horse Park Requirements:

• Proof of Vaccination
• Trainer/Barn shipping declaration (must be submitted to DIHP at least 24 hrs in advance)
• Statement of Health: EHV Free Premises and Clinical Signs for the past 28 days (signed by a veterinarian).  The exam must take place within 5 days of arrival at the Showgrounds.

Click the image to download a temperature log for your horse.

PRE-SHOW / TRAVEL

• EqStim injection to each horse prior to loading on trailer (immunostimulant): 5ml IV 
• Record temperature prior to loading on trailer
• Lysine (15g twice daily; start ASAP prior to leaving)
• Platinum Performance Immune Support: 1 scoop twice daily 
• Electrolytes and water available at all times. Stop more regularly to allow horses to put their heads down and clear the respiratory tract of debris.
• Before unloading, clean/disinfect stalls at the show grounds. (walls/doors/waterers)

AT SHOW

• Temp twice daily (individual thermometers per horse): >101.5 is a fever, notify show veterinarian
• Continue Lysine + Platinum Performance Immune Support 
• Bring your own water buckets and avoid dipping facility hoses into individual buckets
• Use individual grooming supplies / tack per horse (including wraps, halters, blankets, pads, etc.)  Have grooms wash mouths and noses with individual towels for each horse
• Grooms should wash hands between handling horses
• Avoid horse to horse contact;  don't allow public in barn aisle to pet horses (no horse to human to horse contact)
• Monitor for clinical signs: Nasal discharge, fever, coughing, decreased appetite, change in behavior / energy
• Keep horses well hydrated and offer electrolytes (no barn-wide water bucket or treat bucket)

POST SHOW

• Similar trailering guidelines
• No new horse arrivals onto property during this time
• Set up quarantine for the show horses and isolate for 14 days
• SAA Test horses on arrival home as an extra screening tool for possible infection 
• Record temperature twice daily while in quarantine
• Keep individual grooming supplies / tack for these horses 
  
• Handle these horses after the others in the barn
• Clean and feed these horses last
• Water/disinfectant bath at entrance to the "quarantine" barn
• These horses should not be ridden in the same space at the same time as other horses on the property