Equine Community for Ontario

Comment

Comment by Jennifer Garner on July 15, 2011 at 9:40am

I'm looking for 1977 - 1979 alumni of the Humber College Equine program.  Anyone out there?

Comment by Mackenna Roth on July 8, 2011 at 3:56pm

Hi Cindy,

I would love to see some pictures of your horses!
My family farm is based on the Equine industry, we have horse shows, hunter paces and other horse related events and clinics. We also offer boarding and lessons. Where abouts are you located??
Mac

Comment by Cindy Filmore on July 6, 2011 at 8:33pm

Lovely, Mackenna! Very nice horse. Once I figure things out a little more, I will attempt to post our horses.
Do you ride for pleasure, or is part of your farm business?
We have 4 horses for our own riding, and offer "byoh" camping to others. Lots of local trails here!

Comment by Mackenna Roth on May 10, 2011 at 2:12pm

My cute horse and I warming up in the arena

Comment by AgOntario on April 26, 2011 at 8:07am

Strangles Outbreak Northern Ontario

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs has recently been made aware of a number of premises in the Greater  Sudbury area and Manitoulin Island affected by Strangles.   Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial disease of horses characterized by abscesses in the lymphoid tissue of the upper respiratory tract. The causative organism, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, is highly host-adapted and generally produces clinical disease only in horses, donkeys, and mules.

Strangles is an endemic disease in horses and circulates relatively commonly in the horse population.   A significant number of affected premises in a relatively confined geographical area is a good reminder to horse owners and veterinarians to  practise appropriate biosecurity procedures for horses and equipment coming on and off the farm AND infection control within the barn. 

Transmission occurs via fomites and direct contact with infectious exudates. Sharing of halters and brushes that may contact the fluid from draining abscesses can spread the disease. The source of Strangles on any of these premises could have been the entry of a new horse, contact with a carrier somewhere off the farm (e.g. at a show) or on the clothing, hands or equipment of a visitor (such as a feed supplier, farrier or veterinarian who had recent contact with an infected horse).   Survival of the organism in the environment is dependent on temperature and humidity.   Under ideal environmental circumstances, the organism can survive 7-9 weeks outside the host. Paddocks and barn facilities used by infected horses should be regarded as contaminated for about 2 months after resolution of an outbreak.

Carrier animals are important for maintenance of the bacteria between epizootics and initiation of outbreaks on premises previously free of disease. Horse owners need to be aware that clinically recovered animals should have three negative nasopharyngeal swabs to be determined “Strangles-free”. 

Recommendations regarding vaccination can be found in the disease factsheets from the sources listed below.  These sources also contain excellent information on basic biosecurity practices and infection control.

Strangles is a good opportunity to remind your clients that the best disease control is disease prevention.

RESOURCES
OMAFRA
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/03-037.htm
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/prot_str...
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/facts/prev-dis...
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/horses/news/jul02.htm

EQUINE GUELPH
http://www.equidblog.com
http://www.equineguelph.ca/education/equiplanner_guidelines_strangl...
http://www.equineguelph.ca/pdf/facts/vacc_guidelines_print_FINAL.pdf

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF EQUINE PRACTITIONERS
http://www.aaep.org/strangles.htm

The Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association of Ontario
http://www.hbpa.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Strangles_Protocol...

Comment by OntAG Admin on February 20, 2011 at 5:33pm

Comment by OntAG Admin on January 30, 2011 at 11:39am

Here is a video from SPARK on the Equine Industry in Ontario.