Tag: Biosecurity

Rodent Control

Action Point: Keep grain in a sealed container.

Rational: Grain for the horses is kept in bags, not in a sealed container. This means that rodents could get in the grain. Not only does this create a mess and damage, it can also cause several diseases in the horses through feces or botulism. Rodents in my area include mice, squirrels, chipmunks, and raccoons.

Steps to Achievement: To achieve this I will buy plastic storage totes with a sealed lid, and transfer the grain from the bags into the totes.

Insect Control

Action Point: Hang insect strips in the barn and remove tall weeds in the paddock.

Rational: While I use fly masks and fly spray in the summer months, an insect strip and the removal of tall weeds would greatly reduce the insect population for my horses. Insects can carry disease which can’t always be vaccinated for, cause horses to scratch or rub on things (damage mane/tail and coat), and cause stress for horses.

Steps to Achievement: The steps to achieving this goal include purchasing insect strips (available at my local feed store) and taking the time to cut down weeds. Both steps are easy and inexpensive.

Grooming Equipment

Action Point: Buy each horse their own set of brushes.

Rational: My horses share brushes, which can cause skin infections (ex. rain rot) to spread. While it is important to still clean brushes regularly, no sharing ensures a higher level of cleanliness.

Steps to Achievement: In order to achieve this goal I will buy 2 new brush sets (I have 2 horses) and keep them sorted by colour. For example, the red brushes are Pache’s, blue are Shiloh’s. Here is an example of a grooming set; (https://www.horse.com/item/great-grip-8pc-grooming-package/SLT901699/)

Flooring

Action Point: Put rubber mats in the stalls and shelters.

Rational: The floors of my shelter/stalls are dirt. Porous materials are difficult to clean and easy for bacteria to multiply when other horses use the same stall. Dirt floors can only be cleaned by scraping away manure. Rubber mats can be cleaned with water and a disinfectant.

Action Point: Concrete flooring would be the best (and easiest to clean) choice, but is currently not financially feasible for me. Therefore in order to achieve my goal I will buy rubber mats such as these (https://www.amazon.ca/Rubber-Cal-Diamond-Rubber-Flooring-10-Feet/dp/B005SUIY0U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1549224949&sr=8-5&keywords=rubber+horse+stall+mat).