11/05/2026
Absolutely not worth cutting corners with biosecurity or vaccinations. Flu & tetanus required unless there is a vet certificate stating why they are exempt.
Foxfields does not require the strangles vaccination presently as it could do with a bit more research. Just my opinion. However, we take biosecurity very seriously. New horses are quarantined and require a strangles blood test. If it comes back positive, guttural pouch wash treatment will be required.
We don't require this every time the horse mixes with others off the yard, we just ask you to observe biosecurity when out and about.
Welfare is priority.
The Equine Flu Outbreak, Sweeping Across Wales, Has Shown Genuine Responsibility, Sacrifice and Welfare‑First Behaviour.
Thank you to everyone who has put horse welfare first over the past few weeks.
Events have been cancelled, clinics postponed, and many yards have temporarily stopped taking new liveries.
These decisions all have financial implications, especially in the current climate, and they deserve recognition.
This outbreak has shown genuine responsibility, sacrifice, and welfare‑first behaviour across Wales.
If your yard has acted responsibly during this outbreak, tag them — responsible decisions deserve to be acknowledged.
Equine flu is airborne.
It spreads through droplets released when a horse coughs or sneezes, and those droplets can travel across shared spaces on a yard.
It can also spread via clothing, equipment, and close contact.
This is why limiting movement and reducing mixing makes a difference.
Biosecurity matters.
Pausing new liveries, avoiding shared equipment, isolating new arrivals, and monitoring temperatures are practical steps that reduce transmission.
If you’re unsure about symptoms or exposure, speak to your vet for guidance.
Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the severity of flu and limit how much virus a horse sheds.
It doesn’t stop flu from existing, but it does reduce the impact and helps protect the wider yard.
And while flu is the current focus, tetanus shouldn’t be overlooked.
Tetanus enters through wounds — even tiny ones — and is often fatal.
Treatment is intensive and costly, and prevention through vaccination is far more reliable.
We know many owners are under real financial pressure.
But vaccinations and basic biosecurity are not the safest places to cut costs.
When things go wrong, the emotional and financial impact escalates quickly.
Prevention is better than cure — and in situations like this, it’s better than crisis.
