Page 1097 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

ISOLATION

VetBooks.ir It is sometimes necessary to isolate an individual horse or a group of animals away from

other horses on the premises. This is usually owing to an outbreak of an infectious disease
such as strangles or while an infection such as herpesvirus is suspected and being

investigated.

‘Isolation’ in the strictest sense, means a completely separate unit with its own staff.
Items such as protective clothing, tools and equipment are only used on that unit and not

taken anywhere else. The stables should be steam cleaned and disinfected between each
occupant.

Ideally, the following guidelines from the Horserace Betting Levy Board
(www.hblb.org.uk) are adhered to.

Premises

• The isolation unit should be a separate, enclosed building of sound, permanent
construction, which is capable of being cleaned and disinfected effectively.

• It should ideally be at least 100 m away from buildings, fields, bridleways and roads used

by other horses.
• Adequate supplies of fresh, clean water should be available for drinking water and

cleaning purposes.
• Enough food and bedding for the whole of the isolation period must be stored within the

facility before isolation commences.
• All equipment used for grooming, cleaning and feeding must only be used within the

isolation facility.

• Protective clothing should be available at the entrance to the facility. It should not be
removed from the premises.

• The isolation unit should have its own muck heap.

Procedures

• Before the unit is used, all of the equipment and tools should be disinfected with an
approved disinfectant (ask your vet or look on the DEFRA website www.defra.gov.uk).

• People caring for the isolated horses must not come into contact with any other horses

during the isolation period.
• The isolation period will be advised by the vet. No horse should be allowed to leave until