Biosecurity and hygiene for farriers and visitors to your horse

Farriers are requested to stay vigilant - and if you suspect any clinical signs of Equine Influenza whilst shoeing, you must report it to the EI hotline: 1800 675 888.

Farriers are urged to follow the guidelines listed:

Procedure

Contact and confirm with the owner or client to determine your expected time of arrival at the property

Advise the owner that a representative of the owner or the owner must be present during the farrier's visit to property – in other words, don't shoe anything without the owner or the client being present.

The farrier must inquire of the owner on arrival if any horse on the property has shown any clinical signs of Equine Influenza.
Biosecurity and hygiene for Farriers

Yourself

Follow a rigorous scrub in and scrub-out procedure when visiting horse properties, whether the horses are known to be infected or not.

Use tissues not hankies!

It is preferable to return home after every property visit, to shower and change your clothes- remember to change your caps and wash your hair. Remember also to disinfect your spectacles, including sunglasses.
If this is not practicable, wear a long sleeved overshirt with a collar, and change this after every property visit. Used overshirts should be placed in plastic bags and "tied up tightly".

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap or detergent – pay particular attention to under the fingernails, between the fingers and right up to your elbows for at least 2 minutes.Again, if showering between properties is not possible, "disposable wet wipes" available from chemists (like baby wipes), should be used to wipe your face and head including the back of your neck.
Disposable surgical shower caps are highly recommended.


Your Equipment

Equipment can harbour the virus from snot and mucus from horses – disinfect your equipment in front of the clients on arrival at the property – scrub in buckets or sinks with detergent and warm to hot water
All tools must be disinfected again prior to departure from the property – follow the same procedure as you did on entering the property.

• Do not share headstalls or halters between horses
• Leave used horse shoes at the property
• Aprons should be disinfected on entry and prior to leaving the property also, eg spray with diluted soap or detergent or household disinfectant.
• Don't let horses snot on your vehicle!
• Do not take dogs or other animals with you.
• Recommended disinfectants for surfaces
• Clean away all dirt and horse material with water and a household detergent then spray with a disinfectant such as household bleach.
• Read label directions and take recommended precautions when handling these disinfectants.
  Equine influenza
• Horses showing respiratory signs including raised temperatures, coughing and/or nasal discharge, are highly likely to have Equine Influenza.
• Infected horses excrete huge quantities of Equine Influenza virus when they cough or sneeze.
• People who have been in contact with infected horses have been shown to spread the disease.
• The virus can survive on hard, non-porous surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to 48 hours.
• It can survive on fabrics and skin for up to 12 hours or longer.
• It can be killed easily by paying attention to cleaning and disinfection, you must be thorough.
• When disinfecting yourself or equipment, make sure you pay extra attention to areas in the firing line of coughing, sneezing or snorting.
• Remove all snot and mucus!
  
  If you are aware of any horse with signs that suggest it may have Equine Influenza ring 1800 675 888.