09 February 2021

Are you affected by a strangles outbreak?

An outbreak of strangles in any horse or on any yard is invariably a stressful, emotional, exhausting time. Having been through our own outbreak in 2015, Redwings knows from experience how strangles can take over everything, and life as we know it is put on hold for weeks or months while the disease is cleared.

Seeing a much-loved horse dealing with the infection can be incredibly hard, and practical and/or emotional support for affected owners and yard managers may make all the difference at a difficult time. The first step in any suspected outbreak should always be veterinary involvement so horses can benefit from clinical assessment and appropriate care. A vet will also be able to help advise on steps needed to minimise the spread of disease between horses and between yards.

For additional support, Redwings has a range of free online resources developed with the help of our own vets and staff who have dealt with strangles first-hand. Here, we bring together free information and downloads to help people faced with the disease in their own horse or on their yard.

If you are currently dealing with a strangles outbreak, we hope the following resources may be useful. We send you our sincere best wishes for a speedy and full recovery for all the horses involved.

Strangles pack (PDF 1.0 MB)

A practical guide to strangles including outbreak management, nursing an infected horse and preventing horses from becoming strangles carriers (endorsed by the British Equine Veterinary Association).

Outbreak animation

A short film showing how Redwings contained and cleared a strangles outbreak from our largest sanctuary site in 2015.

Setting up as isolation area

Quarantine doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective. Our how-to film explains the key ingredients needed to keep infection contained.

Isolation notice download (PDF 62 KB)

Print off isolation signs to help mark a quarantine area.

Isolation checklist download (PDF 510 KB)

Save or print a checklist to help you set up a quarantine area with confidence.

Isolation guidelines download (PDF 93 KB)

A step-by-step guide for people entering and leaving a quarantine area.

How to spot fever in your horse

A short film showing how to take your horses rectal temperature to help monitor horses who may have been exposed to strangles.

Self-care during an outbreak (PDF 892 KB)

Tips to support your own wellbeing during an outbreak.

What’s involved in guttural pouch endoscopy?

Redwings vet Nic takes us through the process and explains why endoscopy is the most accurate way of knowing when a horse is clear of strangles.

How does a horse become a strangles carrier?

A quirky animation explaining why checking horses recovering from strangles can prevent them becoming a long-term carrier of the disease.

These resources are also available on our Strangles Hub, alongside additional information and resources to help those looking to use biosecurity to protect horses from the disease.

You can also visit the Hub to take our free Stamp Out Strangles pledge. By pledging you are joining a network of horse owners, yard managers and equestrian professionals who want to protect horses from this horrible disease. Pledgers also receive regular emails to help both you and your horse stay a step ahead of strangles and keep up to date with developments in infectious disease prevention and management.