ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Strangles Question

[endurance] Strangles Question

Colleen Carlton (ESRLCAC@mvs.oac.ucla.edu)
Wed, 08 Nov 95 07:09 PST

Hello Everyone,

Count me as another reader who would rather post general questions
to the endurance group, rather than rec.equestrian.

My question: a neighbor's herd of horses has contracted Strangles,
which I believe is a highly contagious disease spread easily among
equines. How close does contact need to be for a healthy animal to
be exposed? This neighbor is a couple miles away from me and my
horses, but I ride past their property depending on the training
route I'm taking. How "air born" is the virus (if it is a virus)?
One of my favorite training routes would take Naseyn and I within
a quarter mile or less of these horses. This may be dumb question,
but can we pass safely at this distance?

Also, is there any vaccine to prevent Strangles? I don't know of
any. My horses are current on all the usual vaccines. I'll be
administering their annual boosters soon.

Thanks in advance for all your advice.

Colleen Carlton
Palmdale, CA