World Horse Welfare acts to protect UK horses from disease

World Horse Welfare acts to protect UK horses from disease Leading international horse charity, World Horse Welfare, has launched an informative guide on preventing disease spread, to help horse owners protect their horses against the ever present but growing threat of disease. Following the two cases of EIA earlier this year, the UK horse industry has been on alert, to minimise the risk of other serious and contagious diseases from entering the country. This new pack, titled Keep Your Horse Healthy, aims to highlight the need for every horse owner to be aware of disease and the simple steps they can take to minimise its entry and spread. As well as compromising a horse's welfare, a disease outbreak could be catastrophic for the equestrian industry. However, the charity warns that some worrying findings from its 2009 Livery Yard Survey clearly show that many owners are not aware of the risks or what preventative action should

be taken; 61% of stables were not cleaned out between occupants, 48% said there were no isolation facilities and 38% said there were no procedures to exclude horses with disease.

Roly Owers, Chief Executive, comments: "The pack has been created to give horse owners and keepers practical advice as to how they can minimise the incursion and spread of disease. Simple, everyday actions such as good hygiene, avoiding mixing with unfamiliar horses and maintaining good routine health care are essential in the fight against disease.

"Our research has shown that we are not even minimising the risk of the current disease threat.  However, the growing popularity of horse riding, global warming and the ever-increasing transport of horses, both within the UK and overseas, are just some of the key reasons why the UK disease threat is on the increase. We are extremely concerned that if more is not done to prevent the spread of disease that we will have an epidemic situation on our hands. Education is vital to protect our nation's horses.  Every horse owner has an obligation not only to their horse but to the horses in their yard and across the country.  The spread of disease does not respect borders."

The pack can be obtained by calling 01953 497232 or visiting http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/diseasepack

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