Posted 2011-09-08 5:18 PM (#137338) Subject: horse stalls and sickness
Veteran
Posts: 178
Location: Richmond, Ky
Just wondering if anyone has picked up sickness when going horsecamping. We did the last time and it spread to my other 2 horses in the field with them. What is a good way to prevent this from happening again, I heard of spraying the stalls with a bleach mixture but thought I'd ask it here, maybe someone can shed some info that would or could help every horse camper.
Posted 2011-09-08 6:34 PM (#137342 - in reply to #137338) Subject: RE: horse stalls and sickness
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri
Your diluted bleach idea is a great one. We haven't gotten anything yet, but, we usually re-scrape the pen or stall, then put down heavy shavings... I always worry about my horses getting some cooties if I see scruffy or mangy looking people and horses at camp. No, I am not a snob at all, but I love my animals and tend to be a little picky.
Posted 2011-09-08 7:39 PM (#137344 - in reply to #137338) Subject: RE: horse stalls and sickness
Regular
Posts: 95
Location: Seattle "pshaw, its not raining hardly at all!" WA
with my microbiologist hat on....a spray with bleach will kill germs, etc but only if it touches them. so if the bugs are buried in dirt, mud, wood, the cracks in concrete, manure, etc it cant get to them. and bleach is very toxic, even diluted (which is how it can kill bacteria, etc), so you want to be sure to rinse everything three times before using it, or be sure to let it offgas/dry on surfaces for at least a day (if you can smell it, that's chlorine gas, toxic in its own right.)
yes, I know lots of people use bleach spray and even put bleach in their drinking water. the human race (and horses) have survived. I'm not a fan.
hot water and old fashioned soap is a whiz bang disinfectant as it cuts through the organic layer that bacteria can shelter in AND kills them. in the lab, its our main and primary line of defense against contaminants.
when I go horse camping I bring my own electric paddock, and try to put it in a place where there havent been horses for a week. I bring my own (cleaned with soap and water) water buckets and a big garden trug I use for hay (to keep it off the ground). I use water that I bring from home, too. I wash my hands with hot water and soap CONSTANTLY and try to limit nose to nose contact with unknown horses, etc.
most disease carrying bacteria are pretty fragile. sunlight will kill most of them. unless they're able to hide in the dirt, or in the water, or in the algae/moss that coats everything out here :).
Posted 2011-09-09 5:51 PM (#137364 - in reply to #137338) Subject: RE: horse stalls and sickness
Member
Posts: 45
Yeehaw,
Being a fellow Kentuckian just a few miles south of ya', can I ask what kind of sickness did your horses get and where were you at where they got it? I am a stickler for annual vaccinations. Other than that I don't know if there's much else you can do. In any event I hope your horses are doing well.
Posted 2011-09-09 7:35 PM (#137366 - in reply to #137338) Subject: RE: horse stalls and sickness
Veteran
Posts: 178
Location: Richmond, Ky
My vet called it an upper respiratory infection??? it is very similar to what I would call shipping fever, snotty nose's and coughing, it is easy to transfer to others in the "herd". I did pick this up in the Big South Fork at a campground that requires you to stall instead of picket unless the barn is full. I think if I go back I'll pay the stall fee if they will let me picket it would be cheaper in the long run. I to vac. my horses but it didn't work this time!!!
Posted 2011-09-09 7:48 PM (#137367 - in reply to #137338) Subject: RE: horse stalls and sickness
Location: KY
Probably should consider booster shots for flu, rhino. The flu vaccines will not protect for a whole year. We try to avoid camps which require use of their stalls for exactly what happened to you. Hope your critters are better now.
Posted 2011-09-12 12:27 AM (#137434 - in reply to #137338) Subject: RE: horse stalls and sickness
Member
Posts: 5
I get pretty disappointed when my horse acts it up for some itch or some sore in his legs. I have a friend whose horse goes for barrel racing and even with such a big handicap he holds for not feeling well, he still gives it a go. I am not quite sure if that would be good for the general health of the horse but I would prefer that over an overacting job given by mine.
Posted 2011-09-16 10:41 AM (#137583 - in reply to #137338) Subject: RE: horse stalls and sickness
Regular
Posts: 93
Location: ark/ok border
No matter where we camp if the stalls are provided I have always put down lime, not sure if it helps but it sure will keep down the flies & our horses have never gotten sick. BTW we do a good cleaning of the stalls put down lime, then dampen it.