DEFRA announced on Friday 3rd August that Foot and Mouth Disease had been confirmed on a Farm in Surrey. The movement of farm livestock has been banned throughout the UK. This does NOT apply to horses.
Foot and Mouth disease is the most infectious viral disease known. It can affect cattle, sheep, pigs and deer. It does NOT affect horses and they cannot act as direct carriers of the disease. It is possible that horses could pick up contaminated material from cattle / sheep faeces on their feet and inadvertently spread the virus to other locations.
At present there are no cases reported in Staffordshire or Derbyshire and therefore horse owners do not need to be too concerned. Simple precautions which could help prevent Foot and Mouth disease from spreading should nevertheless be observed.
- Until the emergency is ended do not ride through fields currently being grazed by farm animals.
- If you live on a farm with livestock and there is any contact between horses and cattle / sheep you should not attend shows and competitions for the time being.
- If your horse is at livery on a farm and there is direct contact between horses and cattle / sheep you should not attend shows and competitions for the time being.
There is no more danger of horses spreading Foot and Mouth disease than humans or dogs or cats.
We will keep you posted of any further developments.
Further information can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth.
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