Strangles Virus

Some time ago many of Hidden Valley's horses were struck down with the "Strangles Virus" which had a devastating effect on the property and the members use of horses both on and off the Valley.

If a horse is infected with Strangles it can be fatal and that applies, be it a company horse or privately agisted. Once a horse or pony beats the infection there are many weeks of recuperating before the animal is ready to be ridden as it had been before.

The treatment of Strangles involves the horse receiving twice daily injections for a number of weeks until the infection is beaten, which takes it's toll on the actual horses and on our staff administering the injections.

The Board of Directors recognise the potential danger in allowing unknown horses onto the property quite some time ago and therefore installed By-Law number 44 which reads as follows:

A veterinary certificate must be obtained and handed to the property manager before any horse may be agisted on the property. Such certificate shall contain detail of the examination carried out by the veterinarian with particular reference to infectious diseases and or skin infections.

With the conditions similar now to how they were prior to the last outbreak of Strangles it is timely to remind all members of By-Law 44 and ask that they adhere to the By-Law and not place the well being of all horses on Hidden Valley in danger by introducing an un vetted horse or pony onto the property.

Vet checks should be carried out on the property your potential new horse is currently on and not on Hidden Valley after the move is made. Any one selling a horse should have no objection to you having a Vet check done before purchase and often a successful Vet check is a condition of the purchase.

Signed for and on behalf of the Board of Directors.