Horse owners urged to be vigilant over strangles risk 7/8/11
Western Isles horse owners are being urged to be vigilant in an bid to prevent a strangles outbreak on the islands.
It follows cases of the potentially deadly disease in the Black Isle and Turriff plus other suspect outbreaks in the Highlands.
The highly contagious infection causes abscesses around the horses’ throat making breathing and eating difficult. It may result in death if it spreads to other parts of the body.
Any horse or pony which has been on the mainland recently should keep away from the annual Lochside Horse Show in Stornoway this Saturday say event organisers.
A spokesperson for the event said: “Our local vet has recommended that we ask all horse owners within the Western Isles to be extremely vigilant with their horses and ponies.
“Any horse that has been taken to the mainland since 29th July 2011 and brought back to the island could potentially be a carrier of the Streptococcus Equi virus (Strangles) and should therefore not attend the 2011 Lochside Annual Horse Show on Saturday 13th August 2011.
“Care should also be taken with any equines mixing with horses or ponies that have recently visited the affected areas and returned to the island.”
She added: “We fully acknowledge that this ruling might cause disappointment for some horse and pony owners in the island. But we feel that by taking the necessary precautions now we can maintain a healthy horse population within the island.
“Competitors attending the show will be asked to sign a disclaimer stating that their horse or pony has not recently returned to the island or been in contact with any horse that has returned to the island within the last 14 days.”