As we gallop towards the summer season, it’s time to make sure you and your horse are ready for all the fun ahead. But before you head out to camps, clinics, and stay-away shows, let’s talk about keeping your horse happy and healthy!
First things first, check those vaccinations!* Make sure they’re up to date and double-check the vaccination rules of the centre you’re attending or the discipline you’re competing in. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. And speaking of safety, do a quick health check—look out for nasal discharge, enlarged lymph nodes, raised temperature, diarrhoea, cough, or any neurological symptoms. If something seems off, it’s best to stay home and get things checked out.
While you’re prepping, don’t forget to ensure your horse’s yard-mates are healthy too. Illness spreads fast, and prevention is key
Give all your equipment a good clean and disinfect, including your horse box or trailer. Pack your gear neatly in boxes, and grab our EndoSan disinfectant travel pack to spray your stable upon arrival—because clean stables mean happy horses.
Make sure your lorry or trailer has proper ventilation; overpacking can restrict airflow and make the journey uncomfortable. Bring your own water, and don’t forget to clean those containers with EndoSan 8 water treatment to kill pathogens, remove and prevent algae growth!
Now, about that journey—give your horse plenty of hay or forage to keep them occupied, rug them appropriately for the weather (it gets toasty in the lorry!), and if you’re traveling more than three hours, plan stops to let them rest. Remember, every hour on the road equals an hour’s worth of exercise, so be kind and allow them time to recover once you arrive.
Once you’re there, be mindful of where you put your horse. Avoid stables that still have bedding from previous horses, and always disinfect with EndoSan disinfectant before moving in. If you’re staying for a while, keep disinfecting regularly. Keep your gear packed away to prevent cross contamination by other horses, humans and dogs. Discourage other people from touching your horse—equine germs spread fast! Be sure to wash your hands if you’ve been touching other horses and never share buckets, brushes, or mucking-out tools unless they’ve been thoroughly disinfected. Also avoid standing too close to other horses in the collecting ring, line ups or group lessons. And as tempting as it is, don’t let your horse graze while you’re away. Instead, bring along some juicy carrots and apples for a treat and take them for a walk to stretch their legs.
Muck heaps? A contamination hotspot! Keep your wheelbarrow outside your stable to avoid unnecessary exposure. Avoid shared water troughs, don’t use automatic waterers in stay away stables – wrap them up and use a bucket instead, you’ll not only prevent cross contamination via the water source, but you’ll be able to monitor their drinking. If you need to use a feed manger, make sure it’s squeaky clean and disinfected with EndoSan before use.
Always have the stable manager and vet’s number on hand—just in case. Leave your mobile number displayed on your stables, so that you can easily be contacted.
Once home, ideally, your horse should be isolated for three weeks, but if that’s impractical, check their temperature daily for three weeks and be on the lookout for any symptoms of travel sickness.
As you unpack, clean and disinfect everything before putting it back in the yard to keep everyone safe and healthy.
With a little preparation and care, you and your horse can enjoy the season ahead with confidence. Happy travels, and see you out there!
* The FEI has launched mandatory recording of Equine Flu vaccinations on the FEI HorseApp in addition to being recorded in the horses’ passports from 2nd February 2025. Link https://inside.fei.org/fei/your-role/veterinarians/department-updates?year=