Shurgain, Vetoquinol and the Provincial Veterinary service‎ have joined together to bring information on biosecurity and answer any concerns people have about the recent strangles cases.

Meeting times:

Fredericton Shurgain - 6-8 pm - June 18th

Woodstock Shurgain - 6-8 pm - June 19th

Sussex Shurgain - 6-8 pm - June 20th

Moncton had one last week

The Irish Draught Horse Society of Canada will be holding inspections this fall. If you would like to have your Irish Draught Horse or Irish Draught Sport Horse inspected this year in Canada, please click here for more information. 

Extended Learning with the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture is pleased to announced two courses coming up in the very near future that might be of interest to you.  Please see descriptions and links below:

Equine Kinesiology Taping Basic Course

This 2-day course provides an introductory overview for horse owners, riders, trainers and coaches on the application and uses of kinesiology tape on their own horses.  Participants will learn through presentation/discussion, demonstration, and hands-on practice. The instructor for this course is Christa Veinotte, International Equine Massage Therapist and Rehab Specialist.  The course takes place July 9 and 10^th in Truro, NS on the Dalhousie Agriculture Campus.  The cost of the course is $560 + HST.  Registration deadline is June 25. Space is limited.  For more information, please click on the course name above.

Positive Animal Training: The Science of Applied Behaviour Analysis

This 12 week, ONLINE course, provides a one-on-one approach to help each student develop the necessary skills to train animals using positive reinforcement. This course offers a collaborative learning approach with students working through, lesson by lesson, at the same pace. As a student, you will be applying theory and scientific research to practice by documenting weekly progress through record keeping and videos. This course will help you become skilled at identifying wanted behaviours, goal setting, planning, training and understanding your animal. The instructor for this course is Melanie Smith.  She is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer & Behaviour Consultant, has been training dogs since the age of nine. In 2012, Melanie graduated from Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture (then Nova Scotia Agricultural College) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture majoring in Animal Science. She is a Certified Canine Massage Therapist and a member of the International Association of Animal Massage Therapists.  The cost for this course is $1446.35 + HST and runs from June 18- September 16^th.  Registration deadline is June 11, 2018.  For more information, please click on the course name above.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Extended Learning at 902-893-6666 or email [email protected]

A Second Advisory on Equine Strangles

The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Provincial Veterinary Service has confirmed a second case of Equine Strangles in the southern part of New Brunswick on May 28^th, 2018.

Equine Strangles is a bacterial infection that is highly contagious and causes horses to have a fever, cough, lethargy and reduced appetite.

This second case is located at a different barn from the previously diagnosed case.  A no-movement policy has been put in place at this second location which means that no horses can move on or off the property at this time.  The policy will be held in place for at least a few weeks while the horses are being monitored.  Temperature, nasal discharge, cough, appetite, jaw and throat latch swelling and overall behaviour of these horses are being monitored. 

Please call your local veterinarian if you have any concerns about your horse.  A biosecurity plan, vaccinations and general health plan should be discussed.  In a non-outbreak situation, preventative measures such as vaccination are available and may be appropriate. 

This second advisory is to provide an update to the equine industry of New Brunswick and to help reduce the spread and mitigate the risks of this contagious disease.

If you would like more information about strangles or a biosecurity plan then please go to:

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has guidelines on infectious diseases such as Strangles and its control at https://aaep.org/news/updated-biosecurity-guidelines-available-aaep-website (“Updated Biosecurity Guidelines available on AAEP Website”).

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) at www.equinediseasecc.org provides information on disease and biosecurity.

The Université de Montréal veterinary medicine school has information at http://chuv.umontreal.ca/le-chuv/hopital-equin/ressources-hopital-equin/articles-equins/gourme-chez-chevaux-questions-reponses/ about Strangles.

Please contact your local veterinarian or the Provincial Veterinary Service Regional office in your area for more information.

Offices are located at:

 Bathurst – 506-547-2089            Fredericton – 506-453-2210             Grand Falls – 506-473-7755

     Moncton – 506-856-2277           Sussex - 506-432-2001                    Wicklow-506-392-5101

Equine Strangles in New Brunswick

Statement from the N.B. Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries

Issued 11:00 a.m., May 23, 2018

Advisory on Equine Strangles

The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Provincial Veterinary Service has confirmed that a diagnosis of Equine Strangles has been made in the southern part of New Brunswick, on May 18^th.

 Equine Strangles is a bacterial infection that is highly contagious and causes horses to have a fever, cough, lethargy and reduced appetite.   A nasal discharge turning very thick and pus-like will develop and abscesses can occur under the lower jaw and throatlatch, making it uncomfortable for the affected animal to chew and swallow.  A horse may develop clinical signs of disease between three to 14 days after exposure.  A small percentage of horses may develop more serious complications, but most will recover in three to four weeks. 

There are some important practices that will help prevent the spread of Strangles to other horses.  Isolation of a sick horse should be done as soon as possible.  The disease can be spread by direct (nose to nose contact) or indirect contact with:

• Hands
• Clothing, foot wear
• Shared water buckets and feeding equipment and tubs
• Tack and grooming tools
• Barn cats and dogs

Barns that experience the disease should impose a no-movement policy (in or out of the barn), monitor animals closely, restrict visitors and prohibit new animals from entering the premises.

If you have any concerns, please contact your veterinarian who can provide you with treatment plans and management strategies.  Vaccines are not useful to prevent the spread of the disease on farms experiencing outbreaks.

In a non-outbreak situation, preventative measures such as vaccination is available and may be appropriate.  This vaccine, along with other vaccines and general health care can be discussed with your local veterinarian.

For more information, please see:

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) for guidelines on infectious diseases such as Strangles and its control at www.aaep.org  (“Updated Biosecurity Guidelines available on AAEP Website”)

The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) at www.equinediseasecc.org will give disease information and discuss biosecurity.

National Horse Day is June 2nd, 2018. Click for more details and ideas for hosting an event.

Both EC and the NBEA are offering prizes!

 A special edition of the NBEA Newsletter dedicated to your horse's health.

Click on the title above. 

The New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries has released a statement regarding its intentions with veterinary services to horse owners.

Click here to read the brief statement.  

Are you a resident of York County, headed to an agricultural or veterinary college or university this year? You may be eligible for the Frank Fraser Joslin and Blanche I. (Hood) Joslin Scholarship, with a minimum value of $6000. 

Criteria include:

• Student must be graduating from a York County, NB high school
• Student must be between the ages of 17 and 30 at the time of application
• Student must have been a resident of York County for at least three years prior to his or her application
• Student must show proof of application to an accredited agricultural college/university program or veterinary college/university program

Click here for more details and an application form. Deadline to apply is May 1^st.

 Click on the title above to link to the NBEA's newsletter for March. There's a lot to see! 

Combined Driving Clinic

Clinic: Driving Officials: Judges, Technical Delegates & Course Designer

          Open to those who want to develop as a Driving Official or those who want to understand the discipline of Combined Driving.

          The focus of the clinic will be understanding the rules the discipline is based on. 

Clinician: Francois Bergeron, EC Senior Combined Driving Judge & EC recorded Combined Driving TD

Date: May 18, classroom, May 19, 20, 21 2018 practical experience

Location: Denverness Stables, 1851 Brierley Brook, Antigonish , Nova Scotia B2G 2K8

Registration: novascotiadrivingsociety.ca

Registration Form

New Rules for Acquiring Antibiotics for Horses

As of December 1, 2018, Health Canada is making changes to the dispensing of all Medically Important Antimicrobials (MIAs). From that date onward, products containing antibiotics will require a prescription from a veterinarian, and can only be dispensed by a veterinarian, or licensed pharmacist. Health Canada is making these changes to aid in protecting human health by reducing the factors to the nationwide incidents of drug resistant organisms.

How does this affect horse owners and animal welfare?  Horse owners may have been in the habit of obtaining products containing antibiotics at feed stores or tack shops, rather than through their veterinarian.  They may also have imported products containing antibiotics for their own use from the US, or from online pharmacies in the past.  These options will no longer be available.  Those without a veterinarian, with whom they have a valid veterinary-client-patient-relationship, will not be able to access products that contain antibiotics without a prescription.  Horse owners in remote areas may have greater difficulty obtaining products containing antibiotics.

 ♦  Read more here, including links to Health Canada's guidelines for horse owners. 

 ♦  FACT SHEET

 ♦  List of Antibiotics requiring veterinary prescription

Introducing the 2018 UNB Sports Business Conference, an innovative initiative that is truly the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada! This weekend conference has the potential to help propel the industry in New Brunswick forward... be part of the conversation!

The theme of the conference is Be A Game Changer and focuses on innovation and forward-thinking. The vision behind the UNB Sports Business Conference is to inspire delegates to continue to make a significant difference in the industry. The conference will welcome 25+ captivating speakers and 150+ delegates from across the country to engage in a proactive conversation that will help propel the industry forward. From incredible professional development and networking opportunities to hearing 4 speakers talk about their 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic/Paralympic experience, this is an event never seen before in Atlantic Canada! 

Click here for more details, list of speakers, and link to register.  

As New Brunswickers, we are all too familiar with the damaging potential of snow melt run-off, ice jams in our streams and rivers, flash floods during a mid-winter rain storm, and spring freshet flooding. As a horse owner, are you prepared for flooding at your stable? It can happen nearly anywhere.

Check out the list of resources available at

The Horse Welfare Alliance

and check your emergency preparedness for flooding. 

♦♦♦♦♦

Keep an eye on the local situation with the NB River Watch website.

Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada

Survey Follow-up Results 

The initial equine Code survey results showed need for a follow-up survey to further assess respondent’s compliance with the Requirements in the Code. The follow-up survey ran from 27 NOV 2017 to 20 DEC 2017.

Attached is the summary report for the follow-up survey. The survey was sent to 207 people from the initial survey who indicated they were aware of the Equine Code and interested and willing to participate and provide further detail.

Follow-Up Survey Summary

 Code of Practice 

 for the 

 Care and Handling of Equines