Biosecurity Measures
Introduction to Biosecurity
Biosecurity is critical to limit exposure to infectious disease and the spread after exposure to a contagion. This document is intended as a review for horse owners and horse facilities.
Personal Hygiene and Equipment
Humans are the biggest risks to spreading disease. Excellent hand hygiene via washing, alcohol-based disinfectants, and use of gloves will help reduce spread of disease. Limiting use of and disinfecting shared tack and equipment is also important. Horses should not use the same feed and water buckets and you should avoid communal water sources. Scrubbing all buckets with the same brush can also spread disease. Refilling the water buckets with the hose handle in the water will spread disease to every bucket that hose reaches.
Key Points
- Wash hands before and after handling each horse.
- Wear gloves.
- Use dedicated grooming tools, tack, and buckets for each horse.
Stable and Facility Cleanliness
Disinfecting stalls between horses helps to limit the spread of disease. The shavings should be composted or disposed of away from the facility. Storing used shavings for pickup in high traffic areas is a risk for spreading disease. There are many disinfectants used effectively in areas with high organic debris. Bleach is not an effective disinfectant for areas with organic debris. The use of an accelerated hydrogen peroxide or a phenol is our recommendation. Removing and safely disposing of all organic debris, and scrubbing with soap is the biggest help when disinfecting.
When possible use space and solid walls to limit the nose to nose contact and aerosolized spread of disease. While people are the biggest problems during an outbreak, isolating sick horses and creating barriers between horses should also be utilized.
Key Points
- Avoid nose-to-nose contact.
- Employ high-level hand hygiene.
- Use empty stalls or barriers between horses.
Visitor and Staff Protocols
People are the biggest challenge when managing a biosecurity program. Limiting visitors and foot traffic will help greatly to reduce exposure and risk. Ensure all personnel know and follow hygiene protocols.
Transport Biosecurity
Nothing is closer contact than being on a horse trailer. One infected contagious horse on a trailer can infect the entire load. The virus can persist for several days in the environment. Hauling only horses that have been together (no mixed loads) may limit introducing new diseases. Disinfecting the trailers between loads will reduce the viral load. Bleach is not the best disinfectant for facilities, trailers, or any areas that have organic debris.
Emergency Protocols
All horses should be examined and rectal temperatures taken every day. A temperature higher than 101.5°F is considered febrile. If a horse shows symptoms, isolate immediately, contact your veterinarian, and notify barn personnel. Any horse that begins to show clinical signs should be isolated and the veterinarian notified.
Isolation Strategies
Purpose of Isolation
Isolation is the single most important tool for preventing additional cases of EHV-1 and EHM. Horses may shed virus before showing symptoms, which means separating exposed animals protects both the herd and any horses scheduled to travel or perform.
Setting Up an Isolation Area
Choose a Physically Separate Location
Ideally, use a separate barn, shed row, or pen. If that is not available, use a dedicated aisle or block of stalls at the far end of the barn.
Create Physical Barriers
Keep 2–3 empty stalls (or a minimum of 30–50 feet) between exposed and unexposed horses. Use solid stall walls, temporary panels, or closed doors to reduce aerosol spread and prevent nose-to-nose contact.
Control Traffic
Mark the area as “Isolation – Authorized Personnel Only.” Use designated entry and exit points.
Managing Horses in Isolation
Dedicated Caretakers (Ideal)
Assign a single handler who does not touch horses outside the isolation area.
If Separate Staff Is Not Available
- Care for isolated horses last on the chore list.
- Change clothes or use disposable coveralls.
- Use gloves and disinfect footwear when entering and leaving.
Dedicated Equipment
Use separate buckets, halters, lead ropes, pitchforks, hoses, thermometers, and other tools. Clearly mark them “ISOLATION ONLY.” Never share equipment with the main barn.
Manure and Waste
Muck and dispose of waste in a separate pile if possible. Disinfect tools after use.
Monitoring and Daily Care
Temperature Monitoring
- Record temperatures twice daily (ideally three times if high-risk).
- A fever (>101.5°F) should be treated as an active case until proven otherwise.
Symptom Surveillance
Monitor for:
- Nasal discharge
- Lethargy
- Hind-end weakness
- Ataxia
- Dribbling urine
- Inability to tail pull normally
Any clinical signs require immediate veterinary involvement.
Stress Reduction
Provide slow-feed hay nets, visual contact with other horses from a distance, and consistent routines. Stress can worsen viral shedding.
Length of Isolation
Standard Recommendation
- 21–28 days from the last known exposure.
- 21–28 days after the last new fever on the property.
Shorter quarantine periods are not safe or reliable—especially when horses will be traveling to high-density events.
Before Releasing Horses From Isolation
- Consult with your veterinarian.
- Ideally, perform PCR testing on nasal swabs before reintegration or shipping.
Reintegration Into the Main Herd
Reintroduce horses gradually after the isolation period and/or after negative PCR testing. Continue temperature checks for several days after reintegration. Delay travel or event participation if any new fevers occur on the property.
State Regulations and Compliance
EHV-1 and EHM Are Reportable Diseases
In Texas and most U.S. states, Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1)—including the neurologic form Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM)—is a reportable disease. This means that veterinarians are legally required to notify state animal health officials when they identify or strongly suspect a case.
Reporting allows the state to:
- Track disease spread.
- Provide guidance to affected facilities.
- Limit movement of exposed horses.
- Protect the broader equine population.
Owners should cooperate fully with state animal health authorities and their veterinarian during any investigation.
It is also important that trainers, facilities, and farms are open and transparent about potential exposure and cases. This is a small pandemic and the more information that is shared, the better it will be for everyone. If you have a suspected case, you should notify the horse owners, trainers, and visitors that may have been in your facility and make them aware of possible exposure and the need to quarantine and monitor.
How and When Cases Are Reported in Texas
In Texas, suspected or confirmed cases are reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).
TAHC Central Number: 512-719-0700
Regional Office for Navasota (Giddings Region): 979-212-5440
Reporting is typically done by the attending veterinarian, but owners should be aware of the requirement and support the process.
Triggers for reporting include:
- A horse showing neurologic signs consistent with EHM.
- A positive EHV-1 PCR test (nasal swab or whole blood).
- Rapid onset fever clusters in a high-risk exposure setting.
- Any veterinarian-suspected EHM case.
Movement and Travel Regulations
During an outbreak—or when a premises is under investigation—state officials may recommend or require movement restrictions, including:
- Temporary no-movement orders for affected barns.
- Mandatory quarantine of exposed horses.
- Documentation of horse travel in and out of the premises.
- Release from quarantine only after meeting defined criteria (often 21–28 days fever-free and/or negative PCR tests).
Owners should expect that new fevers on the farm will delay release and prevent health certificates from being issued. No veterinarian will sign a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) if there is active fever or disease on the premises.
Health Certificates and Interstate Travel
Events such as the NFR in Las Vegas, major futurities, and out-of-state rodeos require a valid CVI (health certificate) and often:
- Proof of no exposure to reportable diseases.
- No fever in the last 72 hours.
- Sometimes event-specific EHV-1 statements.
- Increasingly: incoming PCR testing, especially in outbreak years.
If a new fever is detected on the property:
- No horse on that premises should receive a CVI.
- The entire group must remain in observation until cleared.
Owners traveling to large shows should contact their event organizers to confirm current requirements—they change rapidly during outbreaks.
Event-Specific Requirements (NFR, BFA, Major Rodeos)
High-density equine events may implement:
- Mandatory nasal PCR swabs on arrival.
- Temperature checks at check-in.
- Stalling in controlled biosecurity zones.
- Immediate isolation for any horse showing fever or neurologic signs.
- Veterinary approval before reentering competition areas.
Owners should be prepared for:
- Possible delays.
- Additional costs for testing.
- Denial of entry if any risk is identified.
Cooperation With Regulatory Authorities
Owners, trainers, and facility managers should:
- Provide accurate travel and exposure histories.
- Follow all instructions regarding quarantine and movement restrictions.
- Maintain temperature logs for each horse.
- Notify their veterinarian immediately of any new fevers or neurologic changes.
- Avoid transporting any horses—even healthy-appearing ones—from a farm with active disease activity.
Full cooperation reduces the impact of the outbreak and protects horses across the region, especially those traveling to events.
