Foot and Mouth Disease

Advice for horse owners during the foot and mouth outbreak, from the MAFF.

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Advice for horse owners during the foot and mouth outbreak

Though horses are not susceptible to infection by foot and mouth they may be involved in spreading infection.

Material from an infected animal (dung, hair etc.) could be carried on hooves, bodies and tack of horses and by the rider. It could be carried from areas containing infected animals to previously "clean" areas.

General advice

You should not ride on farmland or land where livestock has, is, or may be grazed. You should avoid land contaminated with manure or slurry. Respect all farm notices and notices on footpaths/bridlepaths as these may be closed to the public.

Some activities are prohibited in an infected area. These include hunting and point to point meetings.

Before and after riding you should:

1. disinfect all footwear used;
2. disinfect the outside of any item that may have been in contact with other articles in general use on a farm.
3. clean and disinfect the horse's feet

Practical advice to horse owners where horses are kept on farm premises

• Risk of spread of FMD by horse owners is by contact with livestock or spread of contaminated material on boots, clothes and equipment.
• Do not visit farm livestock and avoid areas contaminated with manure or slurry.
• Comply with farmer's own disease precautions.
• Only ride on roads, or by arrangement on dedicated farmland which has been free from livestock since 1st February 2001.
• Either keep a set of dedicated clothes on farm premises or arrive in clean clothes on every occasion.
• Immediately prior to leaving the farm for exercising your horse etc., ensure your feet are dipped in disinfectant and that your horses feet are picked out.
• If you have dismounted in the course of your ride, then disinfect your boots before entering the farm premises.
• Where possible leave vehicles outside farms or close to the farm boundary and away from livestock.

Horse in infected areas

Horses in an infected area or on an infected premises will not be slaughtered because of foot and mouth as they are not affected by the disease.

Horses will not be quarantined on farms in infected areas. Horses on infected farms will not be able to move off the farm until the restrictions (Form A) are removed.

Can horses be vaccinated against FMD?

No. Horses do not need to be vaccinated as they cannot catch foot and mouth disease.

Export of horses

These are not covered by the present EU export ban.

Individual countries may impose national rules. Always check with the authorities of the importing country

This info is the latest from MAFF at 21st April 2001
Check their latest info HERE

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