Quarantine

• Create a quarantine protocol for new horses to the farm.

Barn Design

• Add fans and open windows to enhance air circulation.
• Create tall, solid stall walls or leave an empty stall in between horses to prevent horse interactions.
• Waterproof/seal untreated wood or replace stall materials to make stalls easier to disinfect.
• Group horses by the owner or by use and age.
• Create a quarantine area/facility away from the resident horse housing.
• Place a footbath at the entrance to the quarantine area/stall when horses are present.
• Create clear signs and barriers for the quarantine area.
• Make the feed room as resistant to infestations as possible.

Horse Handling

• Train staff and owners on proper horse handling.

Paddocks/Pastures/Fields

• Separate paddock fences by at least 3 feet.
• Give horses in private turnout their own water buckets that are sanitized between horses.
• Exclude natural water sources when designing paddocks.

Vector Control

• Fill holes, replace the water in troughs, and avoid housing horses near streams or ponds.
• Create a rodent and vermin control program to keep wildlife from the barn.

Horse-specific Equipment

• Each horse has their own dedicated equipment, including buckets, halters, tack, and brushes.

General Equine Health

• Require horses to be on a parasite control program.
• Post signs with healthy horse vital signs and clinical signs of disease.
• Learn healthy vital sign values and teach them to staff.

Medical & Travel Records

• Map your farm, with locations of stalls and paddocks for each horse.

Waste Management

• Provide separate equipment for feeding horses and removing waste.
• Remove waste from the property weekly.

Visitors

• Keep a log of visitors to the farm, including contact information.

Returning to the Farm

• Quarantine horses that have been off the property.
• Keep a temperature log of quarantined horses.

Cleaning & Disinfection

• Place footbaths at the entrance to the farm/barn.
• Follow the manufacturer’s directions for the disinfectants.
• Clean and disinfect stalls between horses using them.

Training Farm Employees

• Train employees in good biosecurity practices.
• Education & Announcements
• Place educational posters about best practices around the farm.