The Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) and the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) have joined forces on a proactive approach to biosecurity in the horse industry.  A manual has been developed to address biosecurity principles and best practices for horse owners and caregivers.  The interactive manual, entitled Equine Biosecurity Principles and Best Practices was designed to inform horse owners and caregivers about biosecurity practices and to encourage consultation and discussion with veterinarians on disease control and prevention.  The Equine Biosecurity Principles and Best Practices manual will be used and distributed as the basis for equine biosecurity workshops that AEF is organizing and delivering throughout the province of Alberta.

Biosecurity includes the principles, actions, precautions and protocols that protect the health of livestock by preventing the transmission of disease through physical barriers, and hygiene practices. Biosecurity is protecting your animals, the farm community and the animal agriculture industry against disease causing agents.  It is a strategy of disease prevention; preventing introduction of disease and controlling and preventing recycling of disease within a herd, region, facility or community.

The AEF workshops are intended to bring biosecurity to a grassroots level.  The workshops will provide owners with necessary information and tools to develop a biosecurity program unique to their individual needs and risks in consultation with their veterinarian.  These resources were developed for all horse owners and custodians including AEF members, stable owners, users, recreational riders, serious competitors, show officials, administrators, and facility operators.  The intention is to affect incremental change in the equine industry, one horse at a time.

Check the AEF web site (www.albertaequestrian.com) for information on biosecurity and details on the workshops.

As a horse owner or custodian, you are responsible for the care of your animal's health and well-being.  Disease risks and health hazards such as the recent EHV-1 outbreak indicate that we require effective risk and disease management strategies that should be an equal priority to riding in a safe and responsible manner.  This obligation extends to the equine community that surrounds your horse's home, but also encompasses any event or venue your horse may journey to.  Your actions or conversely lack of actions may have positive or negative effects - the choice is yours.

Funding for this project was made available through Growing Forward, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. Together, the governments of Canada and Alberta are investing $273 million over five years (2009-2013) for flexible and innovative programs for Alberta's agriculture industry.