Equine Biosecurity: Protecting Your Horse at Home, On the Road, and at Events
Following the recent outbreaks of equine influenza across the UK, biosecurity has become a hot topic among horse owners. Our recent post on how best to manage your horse to minimise risk of infection brought up a few questions around the best biosecurity procedures for yards to follow so we thought we’d put together another post summarising as much of the important information as we can in one go!
Many people associate biosecurity with large racing yards or professional competition stables, but the reality is that every horse owner can play an important role in preventing the spread of infectious disease.
Whether you're travelling to competitions, introducing a new horse to the yard, or simply managing your horses at home, good biosecurity practices help protect not only your own horses but also the wider equine community.
What Is Biosecurity?
Biosecurity refers to the measures we take to reduce the risk of infectious diseases entering or spreading within a horse population.
Diseases such as equine influenza, strangles, equine herpesvirus (EHV), and equine coronavirus can spread rapidly when horses mix, travel, or share facilities. While vaccination is a vital part of disease prevention, it should always be combined with sensible biosecurity practices.
Biosecurity at Home
Good biosecurity starts on your own yard.
Simple measures can significantly reduce disease risk:
Monitor horses daily for signs of illness.
Check temperatures regularly, particularly if disease outbreaks are occurring locally.
Avoid sharing buckets, water troughs, feed bowls, grooming kits, and tack where possible.
Clean and disinfect equipment routinely.
Ensure visitors and professionals follow sensible hygiene measures.
Keep stable blocks, walkways, and communal areas clean and well maintained.
Many infectious diseases spread before obvious clinical signs develop, making vigilance essential.
New Arrivals to the Yard
One of the highest-risk periods for disease introduction is when a new horse arrives.
Even horses that appear healthy can be incubating infectious disease.
When introducing a new horse:
Isolate New Arrivals
Ideally, new horses should be isolated for 14-21 days before mixing with resident horses.
Isolation should include:
Separate stabling.
Separate turnout if possible.
Dedicated equipment.
Separate water and feed buckets.
Limited direct nose-to-nose contact.
Monitor Health Closely
During the isolation period:
Record rectal temperatures daily.
Watch for coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes, or reduced appetite.
Please seek our advice if any concerns arise.
Check Vaccination Status
Ensure vaccination records are up to date before introducing horses to the wider yard population. Our office team are always at the end of the phone and are happy to help determine a horse’s vaccination status provided you have access to their records.
Moving Between Yards
Moving yards can be stressful for horses (and owners) and often increases susceptibility to disease.
When relocating:
Avoid moving a horse if it is showing any signs of illness.
Ensure transport vehicles are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before use.
Inform the receiving yard if the horse has recently been exposed to infectious disease.
Good communication between owners, transporters, and yard managers is essential.
Travelling and Transport Biosecurity
Horseboxes and trailers often act as important sources of disease transmission.
Before and after travel:
Remove organic material such as manure and bedding.
Wash surfaces thoroughly.
Apply an appropriate equine-safe disinfectant (read on to find our specific recommendation!)
Don’t forget to clean partitions and ramps - these are often neglected!
Disinfect water containers and feed buckets.
Avoid sharing transport with horses from unknown health backgrounds whenever possible. Long journeys can also increase stress levels leading to immunosuppression and potentially making horses more susceptible to infection so always endeavour to make travelling your horse as seamless as possible (easier said than done, I know!).
Biosecurity at Competitions and Events
Shows, competitions, clinics, and training events bring together horses from many different locations, creating opportunities for disease spread.
While attending events:
Before You Travel
Do not attend if your horse:
Has a cough.
Has a fever.
Has nasal discharge.
Appears lethargic or unwell.
Competing with a potentially infectious horse places the entire event at risk.
At the Event
Practical steps to take could include:
Bringing your own water buckets.
Avoiding communal water sources where possible.
Not allowing horses to share buckets.
Minimising nose-to-nose contact between horses.
Avoiding sharing tack, grooming kits, or equipment.
Washing or sanitising hands regularly - especially between handling different horses.
After Returning Home
Monitor horses closely for at least 7-14 days following attendance at a competition or event.
Take temperatures regularly and watch for any signs of respiratory disease.
Yard Visitors and Professionals
Farriers, physiotherapists, dentists, instructors, and other professionals often visit multiple premises in a single day.
While these professionals are generally very aware of disease risks, owners can help by:
Providing handwashing facilities.
Ensuring equipment is clean.
Informing visitors if any horses on the premises are unwell.
Restricting access to isolation areas where necessary.
Open communication is one of the most effective and easiest biosecurity tools to implement.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Cleaning removes dirt and organic material, while disinfection refers to the eradication of infectious organisms.
Importantly, disinfectants work best on clean surfaces.
A simple but effective cleaning and disinfection process would be as follows:
Remove organic material.
Wash surfaces thoroughly.
Allow surfaces to dry where appropriate.
Apply disinfectant according to manufacturer instructions.
Areas that should be cleaned regularly include:
Stables.
Horseboxes and trailers.
Buckets and feed bowls.
Grooming equipment.
Cross ties and stable doors.
Shared equipment and handling areas.
Hand washing facilities
Our Recommended Disinfectant
At OEV, we recommend Equine Bio Genie disinfectant as part of an effective biosecurity programme.
Equine Bio Genie has been specifically developed for equestrian environments and can be used across a wide range of applications including stables, transport vehicles, equipment, and communal yard areas.
When used correctly alongside good management practices, appropriate disinfection helps reduce environmental contamination and lowers the risk of disease transmission.
Remember that no disinfectant can replace sensible biosecurity, but it can form an essential part of an overall disease prevention strategy.
Contact our team if you have any questions around Equine Bio-Genie’s product range or are interested in purchasing some for your own use!
Biosecurity Is Everyone's Responsibility
Disease outbreaks can have significant consequences for horse welfare, competition schedules, training programmes, and yard operations.
The good news is that many of the most effective biosecurity measures are simple, practical, and inexpensive to implement.
By monitoring horse health, isolating new arrivals, maintaining good hygiene, using appropriate disinfectants, and taking sensible precautions when travelling and competing, horse owners can play a vital role in reducing the spread of infectious disease.
Good biosecurity isn't just something we think about during an outbreak—it should be part of everyday horse management for every yard.