Unit 01 – My Equine Virtual Farm

Confidence Index

Action Point: Keep confidence index for skills from beginning of the course in mind while I go through the units.

Rationale: Help to focus on the big picture for the course, if there are times when the details are overwhelming.

More details:

Identify the value of effective communication as it pertains to your horse’s health; 8
Identify individual needs of your horse regarding health management and disease prevention;6
Identify common health problems and strategies available to prevent and/or manage them; 5
Perform a daily health check and relay important data to your veterinarian that will aid in the health and welfare of your horse; 5
Analyze biosecurity risks and determine the factors needed for infectious disease prevention strategies; 7
Differentiate when immediate medical aid may be required or not, and identify first aid measures in different emergency scenarios; 6
Ask your veterinarian educated questions, and discuss problems relating to your horse’s health in an informed manner so that you may assist in the formulation or revision of your preventative health program 6
Find, interpret and critically appraise new information in order to update your background knowledge on a topic of interest. 6

Standard Operating Procedure 4- Health Management Plan

Action Point: Establish a Health Management Plan

Rationale: Establishing protocols, in consultation with my vet, for management areas will optimize health and reduce risks for disease or miscommunication relating to the welfare of our horses.

More detailed plan:

IAW Recommended Practices (Ref 1)

Health Management Plan will include:

Protocols for Biosecurity (SOP 5.0 and 5.1)
Protocols for Disease Prevention, Detection and Treatment (SOP 1.0)
Protocols for Pest and Insect control
Schedule for Vaccinations and Parasite Control Strategies
Staff Training
Vet Contact information for emergencies

Ref 1: Code of Practice For The Care and Handling of Equines, Section 4- Health Management Plans

S.O.P: 3.4.0 Isolation and Hospital Stable admissions

Action Point: Establish standard operating procedures for isolation and hospital stable.

Rationale. Establishing new standard’s for Isolation and Hospital Stable Wing. IAW Canada Code and Biosecurity Code. This will reduce the incidence of disease transmission thereby increasing the overall wellness and health state for the barn and farm operations

The new policy will incorporate recommendations from:

Canada Code section 4.2 Sick, Injured or Compromised Horses and Biosecurity code, section 4: Principles of Infection, Prevention and Control Programs

Biosecurity code: Section 4: Principles of Infection, Prevention and control programs

section 4.1 Sources of Pathogens

Section 4.2 Methods of Transmission

Section 4.3: General Concepts of Infection and Control

For any horse that is suspected of carrying a communicable disease, they will be transferred to the Isolation/Hospital barn.

They will be assessed and monitored and Veterinary Staff notified.

Health Record will be available for review as required.

The horse will remain in Isolation until the risk of transmission has been reduced to not pose threat to the herd.

Welcome to My Equine Virtual Farm

Welcome to Horse-N-Hound, Equestrian Services

This page outlines the Standing Operating Procedures. Standing Operating Procedures are an important tool for the staff at any barn, as they provide guidance on what to do and actions to carry out from Emergency Procedures to Pest and Parasite control.

You will notice that the SOP’s are clearly identified so that when needed the reference can be found quickly. These SOP’s will also be available in hard copy and posted for quick access to all staff.

This is a work in progress and will never truly be finished, as when our knowledge and experience grows so should our S.O.Ps

This is also promulgated with the help of all the staff. If you see something that could be done, better, more efficiently, speak UP!!