Equine flu outbreak at charity HQ

By Justine Thompson

General news

24 May 2010 12:17

Old and weak animals at The Bransby Home of Rest for Horses could face euthanasia following last week’s news of an outbreak of equine flu.

The charity says it has been devastated by the discovery among its 271-horse herd, which lives at the centre near Lincoln.

It does not yet know which horse was the carrier of the infection, and says it cannot understand where it has come from as all new horses are quarantined for four weeks and then tested before being mixed with the main herd.

Equine Welfare manager Sally Howard said she was ‘devastated’ by the development.

“This will have serious consequences for the charity and the horses it cares for, especially over the next couple of months,” she said.

“Some horses are likely to become very poorly and there is the possibility that older and weaker ones may need to be euthanased, which is, of course, a matter of last resort and great regret.”

She said the charity could not afford to protect all the 271 horses with vaccines on an ongoing basis.

In an effort to contain the infection, which has been confirmed by the Animal Health Trust, visitors to the site are being restricted to the shop/café and education area.

A fundraising Open Day, planned for Sunday June 6, has been cancelled.