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Step by step ‘APPEAR’ guide to setting up a yard plan
Biosecurity is a set of management practices that reduces the potential for the introduction or spread of disease causing agents. Setting up a yard
plan and maintaining good biosecurity practices will:
• help prevent the introduction and spread of infectious, exotic and notifiable diseases;
• assist in keeping the horses healthy and performing well;
• help prevent unnecessary disruption to equine activities and the operation of an equine business and the considerable associated costs.
Setting up a yard biosecurity plan
Assess
Complete a risk assessment of your yard with your vet to assess your overall risk level and highlight areas of particular risk for
your situation.
Produce
Based on the risk assessment and the advice for biosecurity practices for your risk level, with your vet draw up a biosecurity
plan with procedures and rules for your yard.
Prepare
Ensure all equipment and facilities are in place to allow all staff and horse owners to easily follow the plan. Set a time goal to
complete the preparation.
Educate
Meet with everyone who uses the yard, explain to them the importance of biosecurity and talk to them about the biosecurity
plan and their role within the plan. Explain the consequences of not following the plan. Provide a copy of the relevant
yard protocols to every employee and horse owner on the yard and display copies of the rules and reminder notices in
relevant areas.
Audit
It is vitally important that your plan is followed by everyone all the time. It is therefore important to regularly check that all
biosecurity procedures are being completed properly.
Reassess
It is important, in discussion with your vet, to reassess the plan on an annual basis or following the outbreak of disease; in order
to highlight any new areas of risk and assess the success of the plan.
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Plan. Prevent. Protect