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National Farm and Facility Level Biosecurity User Guide for the Equine Sector
Annex 8: Sample letter to participant

Dear participantFootnote 29,

Protecting the health and welfare of your horse and other horses at this event is of primary importance to event management. Biosecurity measures are being implemented to reduce the risk of the introduction and spread of infectious diseases.

All horses entering the grounds will be subject to examination by event officials and/or designated representatives. Such examinations are to determine the horse's health status. If after such examination, an official believes the health of a horse places other horses at risk, the officials may separate and restrict the movements of the horse(s) and others that may have been infected or exposed, or, if necessary, require horse(s) to be removed from the event premises.

All participants must agree to fully cooperate with examining officials and abide by their decisions and instructions. Failure to comply with officials shall be grounds for immediate expulsion of the participant from the grounds and potential disciplinary action(s) by governing bodies.

The equine health entry requirements for this event include: (event manager may choose one or more and delete others)

  1. Horses displaying obvious signs of clinical disease, such as fever, abnormal nasal discharge, consistent frequent coughing, neurologic signs of ataxia or significant hind limb weakness are not permitted to enter the event grounds.
  2. Event no fever policy:
    1. Each horse entering the premises must have documentation attesting to having body temperatures monitored space daily with no readings above 38.5°C (101.3°F) for adult horses or for foals 38.9°C (102.1°F) at rest or for space days before arrival at the event premises.
    2. Show officials will obtain a body temperature of all horses at the time of arrival to the event premises and all horses will be subject to periodic inspection by event officials during the event.
    3. Horse owner/custodians will monitor and document on a log the body temperature of their horse(s) space times a day during the event.
  3. Health certification policy: Horse owner/custodians must present to event officials at the time of arrival to the event premises, proof (a health certificate) of a veterinary inspection conducted within the past space hours indicating the horse is free of infectious and contagious diseases.
  4. Event participation declaration: (Refer to Annex 7 for Sample Horse Event Participation Declaration)
    1. Horse owner/custodians must sign a health certification statement verifying that the horse(s) has/have been healthy with no signs of infectious disease for the preceding space days and a body temperature below 39°C (102°F) during the past space hours before arrival at the event premises.
    2. Horse owner/custodians must provide event officials with the address of the premises where each horse was located immediately before arrival at the event and the address of the intended premises of destination for each horse following departure from the event premises.

In addition to the above requirements, participants are asked to comply with the following:

  1. Dogs are not permitted on the event premises OR All dogs on the event premises must be kept on a leash;
  2. Stable horse(s) only in assigned stall;
  3. Restrict your access to only your assigned housing/stabling area;
  4. Limit horse-to-horse contact;
  5. Limit horse-to-human-to-horse contact;
  6. Do not share equipment between horses from different owners (tack, water buckets, brushes, and rags etc.);
  7. Do not submerge the end of water hoses in water buckets;
  8. Do not allow horses to drink directly from a water hose;
  9. Avoid tying horses to fences or gates near the competition area;
  10. Cover (store) all feed and hay to prevent access by pests, birds or other animals;
  11. Monitor your horse frequently for signs of disease during the event;
  12. Immediately report any sick horse(s) to event officials;
  13. Thoroughly clean and disinfect all equipment before use at the home premises;
  14. Separate and monitor all horses upon return to the home premises.

In the event of an emergency or infectious disease incident at the event, all participants and horses will remain at the event venue until event officials provide clearance for departure from the premises. If an infectious disease is identified event officials will evaluate individual horse disease exposure risk and provide horse owner/custodians with follow up disease monitoring instructions. If movement restrictions are put in place, each horse owner/custodian is responsible for the care and maintenance of their respective horse(s) on the premises.

We appreciate your compliance with event management's efforts to maintain biosecurity and the health of all horses at the upcoming event.

Sincerely,

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(Signature)

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