Over the weekend, I saw an emergency resulting from an all-too-common practice: A boarding facility that allows the immediate “integration,” if you will, of a new horse into the barn’s larger horse population. Fast-forward from one to four weeks and other horses are becoming ill. At the emergency call, I evaluated a recently weaned filly, ~7 mo of age, whom had a lump under the jaw. A Strangles infection is feared. The barn had introduced a couple of young, “off the track” Thoroughbreds only two weeks back.

“The Lump” strikes fear into the hearts of barn owners and managers everywhere–and immediate action is taken. But by the time the lump appears, or other signs are manifest, it is often too late to control a potential influenza, rhinopneumonitis, or strangles outbreak. The time to have acted was on the introduction of new horses to the barn. We’ll see over the coming days if we’re dealing with a Strangles infection and if the infection spreads. Hopefully, it’s just a false alarm.

In either case, though, the lesson is the same: isolate new horses (for at least a two week period) before their introduction into another horse population. This lesson is especially true in the case of an unknown or incomplete vaccination record. The consequences of failing to isolate new horses are severe. There is 1) the impact on the health and well being of the barn’s horse population; 2) the high cost of intensive and prolonged veterinary care; 3) the financial harm from disruption of a horse boarding business; 4) the damage to the barn’s reputation; 5) the potential liability from failing to take “basic” measures to protect horses under your care.

There are other lessons here as well. Barn owners should require a complete vaccination history from all boarders prior to accepting a horse into their barn. This history should include a current Strangles and Flu/Rhino vaccination. If these vaccinations are not current, they should be required PRIOR to the horse being allowed onto the premises. The same vaccination requirements also hold for horses that are showing or otherwise being introduced to a larger horse population.

Dr. Aimee Eggleston

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