06 March 2023

FREE 'Temp Check Challenge' promo packs now available

It's eight weeks until Strangles Awareness Week (1st - 7th May) and FREE promotional packs are now available to encourage horse owners to make regular temperature checking a habit and minimise the scale and impact of an outbreak.

There are two different packs - one for yards and event venues and another for vet practices.

The key feature of the campaign – now in its fourth year - is the ‘Temp Check Challenge’. Owners will be encouraged to take their horse’s resting temperature each day during the week and input it into a free online tracker. A high temperature is an early warning sign that your horse may have been infected with Strangles as well as the first sign for a range of health concerns – and will become infectious to other horses 2-3 days later - so getting to know your horse’s ‘normal’ temperature could prevent disease spreading and be the difference between one infected horse and many.

Excitingly, if you input your horse's reading three or more times you will be entered into a prize draw where you could win behind the scenes yard tours with either five-star Eventer Piggy March or top Dressage Rider and Showjumper Richard and Joe Davison.

Watch Piggy show you how to take a temperature for the first time here:

The free pack aimed at yards includes ten thermometers, artwork and post text for websites and social media, bunting, flyers and a poster to encourage people to get involved.

The free vet pack includes ten thermometers, five 'Ask Me About Strangles' pin badges, artwork and post text for websites and social media for a Big Thermometer Give-away and flyers to boost engagement with their clients.

You can sign up for a pack here and follow the Strangles Awareness Week Facebook page.

Andie McPherson, Campaigns Manager at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, said: “We really hope this year’s campaign will reach more horse owners than ever before.

"We're especially targetting yards this year. The Temp Check Challenge is a fun way to introduce temperature checking through an 'all yard approach' in addition to quarantine and screening measures.

"Event venues Hickstead, the All England Jumping Course, Hartpury University and Hartpury College and the Scottish National Equestrian Centre have all signed up.

"When we met and spoke to vets at conferences last year, they told us that their practices would support a big thermometer giveaway through their social media channels to raise awareness and prepare owners for the Challenge, and that is taking place during the first week of April.

"87 practices have signed up already, and we're really pleased to have support from BEVA, CVS Equine, VetPartners, XLVets Equine, a community of independently owned veterinary practices, and many other prominent names advocating for disease prevention and equine health.

"We welcome practices large and small to get on board and use the week to send their own messages about why temperature checking and disease awareness are so important.”

Strangles is the most diagnosed equine disease worldwide. Symptoms of the contagious respiratory illness range, but include a high fever, laboured breathing, difficulty eating, depression, thick nasal discharge and painful abscesses. In severe cases Strangles can pose a risk to the horse’s life. There are complications in approximately 30% of cases and it is impossible to know which horses will require extra care and treatment. For the cost of a thermometer and spotting fever, owners can minimise scale and spread.

For more information about Strangles Awareness Week 2023 please visit our Facebook page or www.redwings.org.uk/strangles/strangles-awareness-week