SEBRING — Equine influenza, or horse flu, recently killed a half a dozen Florida horses – with no cases diagnosed in Highlands County – although area horse owners are taking precautions.

Heartland Horses & Handicapped, Inc., a stable in Avon Park which specializes in equine-assisted therapy for those with special needs, cancelled a Ride-A-Thon at Henscratch Farms on Jan. 20 because of the outbreak.

Joy Ongley, of Heartland Horses & Handicapped, said equine influenza “really hasn’t affected us,” but since the virus is highly contagious, the stable took a cautious course.

A release from the group reads that several participants were very apprehensive about transporting their horses and participating in a group event.

Local veterinarian Jeff Saunder works with about 50 horses regularly in Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto counties.
He said the current flu strain afflicted horses in the Palm Beach, Martin and Marion counties. The vet also said that there is no threat to people and the flu affects only horses.

“If it’s not an absolute necessity don’t take your horses somewhere with a lot of other horses,” said Saunders.
Quarantines are in place for the current neurological form of the flu which attacks the brain and spinal cord.
The Florida Department of Agriculture has ordered quarantine of 10 impacted stables, said Saunders.

Horse owners at infected stables must take equine temperatures a minimum of twice per day and if fever reaches 101.5 degrees, it should be reported to a veterinarian, according to the state.

In addition to elevated temperatures, a horse might exhibit a loss of appetite and nasal discharge, not unlike a human suffering from the typical flu.

The horse flu is easily transmitted by sneezing or a harsh, dry cough.

Saunders recommended not sharing water and feed buckets, to disinfect with foot baths, to clean truck tires and incinerate manure.

The area’s rodeo, quarter and gated horses might all be symptom free, but preventive measures recommended by the state include regular hand washing, labeling individual equipment and minimizing shared equipment such as shovels, twitches, forks and bits which should be disinfected between uses.

Separate water buckets and feed trowels should be used while feed scoops should not have contact with a horse’s bucket or trough, according to Web site horses.about.com

Horses with influenza are best cared for in a clean, comfortable, draft and dust free environment, such as a box stall. Care includes, light exercise to start. With recovery, exercise should gradually increase, reads the website.