27 April 2023

Ben's story

Year of outbreak: 2018

Our livery yard had a strangles outbreak just a few months after we set up the business. It was a really tough time. But the vet was great and we got quarantine set up really quickly so that only two horses on the site were ill. The second horse to get strangles was very sick, it was really sad to see.

It took a lot of hard work to get through those weeks, it sometime felt like it was never going to end! Once we knew the yard was clear, I was determined to do what I could to make sure we don’t have to go something like again. I worked with the vet to set up a system so that all new horses on the yard are kept in quarantine while they have a blood test to check for strangles. This works well, and I think more owners are starting to expect to go through this when they go to a new yard. I always make sure we’ve got plenty of disinfectant in stock and I’d never take a chance on a horse that had a snotty nose or something – I’d be on it straightaway and expect the owner to be the same!

I'd say that having a strangles outbreak is something to be avoided at all costs. If you can do something to protect yourself then I'd recommend you do – no question.

Ben's story

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Welfare is at the heart of everything we do

Ben's story

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Welfare is at the heart of everything we do