To subscribe to Equestrian Canada's notices regarding national and infectious diseases affecting horses, visit equestrian.ca/industry/health/disease.
Conditioning your Horse
Conditioning Your Horse
Here are some tips from your Equine Health and Welfare Committee regarding conditioning your equine partner for the riding season:
- Before starting any physical training, do a thorough health assessment. This will ensure there are no unseen issues that may arise as you get to work. A healthy horse is the first step in building up good condition!
- Have their feet trimmed, and if necessary shod. Remember, “No hoof, no horse!”
- Start with low intensity, low volume exercises. As fitness improves, you can consider increasing either the volume or the intensity. Try not to do both at the same time.
- Ensure your equine’s nutritional consumption meets their physical activity level. Consult your veterinarian for information regarding nutritional and supplemental support!
Equine Guelph has programming and information available as well. Check out this link to a video about conditioning.
Equine Conditioning - Dr. Hilary Clayton
Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System (CAHSS)
CAHSS is a distinct division of Animal Health Canada, established in 2015. Their focus is on animal health information. Their website include surveillance tools and up to date disease outbreak information. For more information visit https://cahss.ca/cahss-networks/equine
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
The CFIA is responsible for protecting human and animal health in Canada. They implement and monitor testing programs to prevent and control the spread of diseases to the livestock sector, including horses. In addition, the CFIA carries out programs related to horse health to guard against the entry of foreign animal diseases and prevent the spread of specific domestic animal diseases.
As per the CFIA, animal disease categories include:
- Reportable Diseases
Animal owners, veterinarians and laboratories are required to immediately report the presence of an animal that is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with one of the Federally Reportable Diseases in Canada.
- Immediately Notifiable Diseases
In general, immediately notifiable diseases are diseases exotic to Canada for which there are no control or eradication programs. Only laboratories are required to contact the CFIA regarding the suspicion or diagnosis of one of these diseases.
- Annually Notifiable Diseases
Annually notifiable diseases are diseases for which Canada must submit an annual report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) indicating their presence within Canada. In general, they are diseases that are present in Canada, but are not classified as reportable or immediately notifiable.
National & Infectious Disease Fact Sheets
The CFIA provides fact sheets and important information on reportable national and infectious diseases in Canada, including:
- Contagious Equine Metritis
- Equine Infectious Anemia
- Equine Piroplasmosis
- Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis
- Vesicular Stomatitis
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