Strangles Cases Detected: Important Information for Trainers and Horse Owners

Trainers and horse owners are urged to stay alert following the recent detection of Strangles cases in the Waikato Region.

At this stage, the outbreak is confined to the Waikato region and is not linked to the harness racing industry. However, because Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial disease, everyone should remain vigilant and follow good biosecurity practices to help protect the health and welfare of our horses.

We encourage all trainers and horse owners to take proactive biosecurity measures, monitor their horses for any signs of illness, and follow best practices to prevent the spread of infection. Early detection and responsible management are crucial in helping to protect our equine community.

What is Strangles?

Strangles is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus equi that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract in horses. It is highly contagious and spreads rapidly through:

· Direct Contact: Nose-to-nose interaction between horses.

· Indirect Contact: Shared equipment, contaminated water buckets, feed bins, grooming equipment, tack and clothing.

· Environmental Contamination: The bacteria can survive in the environment for days to weeks under favourable conditions, increasing the risk of indirect transmission.

While most horses recover with appropriate care, the infection can lead to serious complications such as abscess formation in other parts of the body ("bastard strangles"), prolonged illness or, in rare cases, death.

Some horses can continue to carry and spread the bacteria after they appear to have recovered. For this reason, it is important to work closely with your veterinarian before returning horses to normal activities.

Symptoms to Watch For

· Fever: Temperature above 38.5°C

· Nasal Discharge: Thick, pus-like discharge

· Swelling/Abscesses: Around the head and neck (lymph nodes)

· Reduced Appetite or Difficulty Eating

· Respiratory Noise or Difficulty Breathing

How to Protect Your Horse

1. Vaccinate: Speak with your veterinarian about whether Strangles vaccination is appropriate for your horses. While vaccination cannot completely prevent infection, it can reduce the severity of disease and help limit its spread.

2. Limit Contact: Avoid direct contact with unfamiliar horses and do not share equipment with other properties.

3. Restrict Horse Movements: If Strangles is suspected or confirmed, do not move horses on or off your property. Horses showing signs of illness should not attend workouts, trials, race meetings or any other equine event until your veterinarian advises it is safe to do so.

4. Travel Carefully: Assess the need for transport, particularly if your horse has recently mixed with unfamiliar horses or is showing any signs of illness.

Be Vigilant: Additional Precautions for Trainers and Horse Owners

· Take your horse's temperature daily if they have recently travelled, attended workouts, trials, race meetings, sales or equestrian events, or have been in contact with unfamiliar horses.

· Avoid sharing water buckets, feed bins, gear, towels or grooming equipment between horses.

· Wash or sanitise your hands after handling unfamiliar horses.

· Clean and disinfect horse floats, trucks and other transport vehicles between uses.

· If introducing a new horse to your property, keep it separate from resident horses for 10–14 days where practical while monitoring for any signs of illness.

· Ensure anyone visiting your property follows good biosecurity practices.

If You Suspect Strangles

If your horse develops a fever, nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes or any other signs consistent with Strangles:

· Isolate the horse immediately from other horses.

· Contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

· Do not move the horse on or off your property until advised by your veterinarian.

· Monitor any horses that have been in contact by taking their temperatures daily.

· Treat the horse as a suspect case until veterinary advice or testing confirms otherwise.

· Do not present a horse suspected of having Strangles to workouts, trials, race meetings or any other equine event.

Early action is the best defence. Promptly recognising symptoms, isolating affected horses and contacting your veterinarian can significantly reduce the spread of Strangles.

Important Reminder for Trainers

Under the HRNZ Rules of Racing, trainers are responsible for the care, control and supervision of the horses in their charge.

If a horse is showing signs of illness, including fever, nasal discharge or swollen lymph nodes, it should not be transported or presented to workouts, trials or race meetings until veterinary advice has been obtained.

Doing the right thing helps protect your horses, fellow participants and the wider racing industry.

Working together and acting early will help protect the health and welfare of our horses while minimising disruption to the wider racing industry. Good biosecurity not only protects individual horses, but also supports breeding, racing, sales and New Zealand's reputation for maintaining a healthy horse population.

To see more from the New Zealand Equine Research Foundation click here  

By remaining vigilant and practising good biosecurity, we can all help protect our horses and limit the spread of Strangles.

To see more click here