We are all concerned about the coronavirus pandemic right now. What a crazy time we are living in.
As worldwide concerns about COVID-19 continue to grow, the Coastal Equine Services team is here to help you navigate this time as much as possible.
Our number one priority is the safety of our equestrian community.
Are horses susceptible to the coronavirus?
Horses can get corona virus but for them it is an intestinal virus. At this point there is no evidence that they can contract, harbor or spread Covid19.
What recommendations do they have for barns?
Barn recommendations include basic hygiene standards. Wash your hands, maintain social distancing, if possible don’t share things like brushes and tack to minimize risk of transferring the virus between people. If you are feeling sick, if possible, do not go to the barn. If you must go, warn people who come in close areas with you, try to go to the barn when it is least busy, do not touch other people and give your trainer/barn manager/anyone else you know will be there a heads up before arrival so they are able to maintain their distance.
If you participate in or hold equestrian activities in the next 45 days, we ask that you treat the CDC/WHO guidelines for COVID-19 social distancing with the same commitment you would give strangles prevention protocols. That includes ensuring:
· A minimum space barrier of 6 feet between yourself and other people at all times
· No more than 10 people in an area or present at an activity at one time · Sanitization of all common surfaces/items handled by multiple people
COVID-19 person-to-person transmission primarily occurs when an infected person sends out respiratory droplets via either sneezing or coughing. Please practice and enforce the 6 feet social distancing rule until it becomes second nature to you. That means no hacking out horse side-by-side, no casual chats with friends in the tack room, and no standing next to one another watching a clinic.
Pets and Coronavirus
If you have concerns about your pets and coronavirus, the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has written a very good article titled Covid-19: FAQs for Pet Owners that is recommended reading.
Another great resource is the Worms and Germs blog whose most recent post titled COVID-19 Miscellaneous FAQ also provides great information. The Worms and Germs blog is published by the University of Guelph Centre for Public Health & Zoonoses.
Both of these websites are great resources to stay informed of the latest updates on pets and coronavirus as events unfold and our knowledge of this disease increases.
We hope that you and your loved ones are all healthy. Let’s all be mindful of others and do what we can to prevent the spread of disease and help each other in our local communities and as a country. We’re all in this together. We need to support each other in this difficult time.