Strangles Awareness Week Podcast Redwings Horse Sanctuary

Hosted by Lydia, Campaigns Manager at Redwings Horse Sanctuary
This episode features a fascinating conversation between Abigail Turnbull (co-owner of Richmond Equestrian Centre) and Jonathan Cleaver (co-owner of Ivesley Equestrian). Abigail and Jonathan share honest insights on the impact of the Strangles outbreaks on their yards, discussing everything from business operations to the well-being of their equine community. Their candid discussion sheds light on the challenges faced during an outbreak and some of the lessons learned along the way.
Despite the initial shock and challenges posed by a Strangles outbreak, Abigail and Jonathan exemplify resilience and proactive leadership in crisis management. Their experiences depict the critical need for preparation, transparency, and community cooperation to mitigate the impact of equine diseases like Strangles.
Together, let's commit to safeguarding the health and welfare of horses everywhere. Because every horse can get Strangles and every person can make a difference. Thank you for your support and dedication to Strangles Awareness Week by listening to this episode.
Podcast Highlights
·        Discovering your yard has an outbreak – not always the way you’d like!
·        The financial, logistical and reputational implications
·        The benefits of responding quickly and containing infection
·        Making difficult decisions
·        Does insurance cover a Strangles outbreak?
·        The diverse effect of Strangles on horses
·        Positive and negative impacts on client relationships
·        The importance of veterinary support
·        Getting a handle on social media
·        Facing challenging attitudes and unsolicited advice
·        Balancing equestrian freedom and business interests with biosecurity
·        How simple biosecurity measure make a real difference
·        Working with equine professionals
·        How the equestrian sector has lessons to learn from farming
·        Why the new Strangles vaccination could be a gamechanger
·        Why Strangles is a real risk to ANY yard




Enter our SAW 2024 competition to win an equestrian bundle of prizes worth over £5,000:
Subscribe to the podcast: https://stranglesawarenessweekpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Become a SAW Ambassador: Strangles Awareness Week 2023 | Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StranglesAwarenessWeek/
TikTok: SAW (@stranglesawarenessweek) | TikTok
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stranglesawarenessweek/

How do you manage a Strangles outbreak in a herd of semi-feral ponies? 
In this fascinating podcast we hear from two inspiring individuals as they explain why and how they took a proactive approach to clearing the disease from a group of Dartmoor ponies in 2021.
Meet Dru Butterfield, Chief Executive of the Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust, who was determined to stop Strangles in its tracks when it was causing serious illness among the 27 ponies then in the charity’s care. Dru explains how taking responsibility for trying to contain the disease, being completely open about their outbreak and working collaboratively to find the most practical and effective solutions all paid huge dividends.
We also hear from pony-keeper Tracey Lear, whose family have maintained a small herd of pure-bred ponies on Dartmoor for many years. Tracey tells us how she felt about finding out that some of her own ponies had been diagnosed with Strangles, and how much she learnt from finding out about the disease and supporting vets as they carried out checks on ponies recovering from infection.
Hosted by Redwings Horse Sanctuary for Strangles Awareness Week 2022, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone who wants to find out more about some of the challenges a Strangles outbreak can bring, and be encouraged that the infection can be eradicated in even in situations that are not straightforward to manage.
(Disclaimer: these are personal recollections from individuals are not veterinary advice. If you suspect a horse has Strangles, please contact your vet for guidance and support)
Do you have experience of Strangles, or particular concerns about the disease? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. If you have any questions feel free to post them as a comment and we’ll do our best to answer them.
Get involved in Strangles Awareness Week 2022 by taking the #TempCheckChallenge - www.redwings.org.uk/tempchecker 
Please follow the Strangles Awareness Facebook page at www.facebook.com/StranglesAwarenessWeek and find out more on the SAW webpage at www.redwings.org.uk/strangles/strangles-awareness-week 
The following links will take you to free, verified sources of Strangles information:
Redwings Strangles Information Pack www.redwings.org.uk/sites/default/files/redwings_strangles_pack.pdf 
BHS Strategy for Eradication and Prevention of Strangles (STEPS) https://   www.bhs.org.uk/~/media/documents/welfare/steps-to-eradicate-and-prevent-strangles-leaflet.ashx?la=en 
SRUC’s Premium Assured Strangles Scheme (PASS) www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/what-is-your-goal/veterinary-laboratory-services/horse-health-schem
Enter our SAW 2024 competition to win an equestrian bundle of prizes worth over £5,000:
Subscribe to the podcast: https://stranglesawarenessweekpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Become a SAW Ambassador: Strangles Awareness Week 2023 | Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StranglesAwarenessWeek/
TikTok: SAW (@stranglesawarenessweek) | TikTok
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stranglesawarenessweek/

Everyone knows that vets are absolutely critical to tackling this notorious equine infectious disease  but what's it like for vets facing the bug itself and the worried owner?  We caught up with two special horse vets to tell us more about what makes the disease 'special' and how outbreaks can be managed effectively.

First, Professor Scott Pirie has over 30 years of experience specialising in internal veterinary medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at University of Edinburgh with a particular interest in respiratory infections in horses.

Then, listen on to hear from boots-on-the-ground Veterinary Surgeon Amy Smith from Alnorthumbria Vet Group who is fresh from successfully supporting the eradication of strangles on one large yard in the early part of 2021.

Strangles Awareness Week is a campaign that aims to promote openness around the disease and make biosecurity a part of everday horse care across the Equine Industry. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the British Horse Society, Intervacc, Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Scotland’s Rural College’s Premium Assured Strangles Scheme (PASS), Surveillance of Equine Strangles (SES), The (Dick) Royal School of Veterinary Studies and World Horse Welfare and the podcast has been coordinated and produced by Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
 
 You can find more information about the campaign and share resources on Facebook or YouTube
 
For more on Strangles:
·         Redwings Strangles Information Pack  and Strangles Hub referenced by Amy
·         BHS Strategy for Eradication and Prevention of Strangles
·         SRUC's Premium Assured Strangles Scheme
·         Keeping Britain's Horses Healthy Strangles Advice
·         World Horse Welfare's Disease prevention guidance
 
For vets and equestrian professionals listening to the podcast episode. You may be interested in the latest publication of Rendle et al (2021) "Streptococcus equi infections: current best practice in the diagnosis and management of ‘strangles’" published in UK-Vet EquineEnter our SAW 2024 competition to win an equestrian bundle of prizes worth over £5,000:
Subscribe to the podcast: https://stranglesawarenessweekpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Become a SAW Ambassador: Strangles Awareness Week 2023 | Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StranglesAwarenessWeek/
TikTok: SAW (@stranglesawarenessweek) | TikTok
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stranglesawarenessweek/

With so much stigma attached to it, Strangles can be a difficult thing to talk about so we are very lucky to have two horse owners, Angie and Michelle, with us in this episode.
Angie’s three horses were infected after she purchased a Shetland foal and Michelle’s horse contracted the disease after changing yards. Find out more about their stories; what helped and what hindered and where they found the silver linings to their outbreaks.
Disclaimer: these are personal recollections from individuals and are not veterinary advice. If you suspect a case of Strangles, please refer to your vet for any clinical advice and treatment.


Strangles Awareness Week is a campaign that aims to promote openness around the disease and make biosecurity a part of everyday horse care across the Equine Industry. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the British Horse Society, Intervacc, Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Scotland’s Rural College’s Premium Assured Strangles Scheme (PASS), Surveillance of Equine Strangles (SES), The (Dick) Royal School of Veterinary Studies and World Horse Welfare.
 
  You can find more information about the campaign and share resources on Facebook or YouTube
 
For more on Strangles:
·         Redwings Strangles Information Pack 
·         BHS Strategy for Eradication and Prevention of Strangles
·         SRUC's Premium Assured Strangles Scheme
·         Keeping Britain's Horses Healthy Strangles Advice
·         World Horse Welfare's Disease prevention guidance
With  special thanks to Angie and Michelle.
 
 Speak Out On Strangles is a Redwings Horse Sanctuary Production. All opinions are those of the individual guests and not necessarily shared by all the collaborating organisations.
Enter our SAW 2024 competition to win an equestrian bundle of prizes worth over £5,000:
Subscribe to the podcast: https://stranglesawarenessweekpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Become a SAW Ambassador: Strangles Awareness Week 2023 | Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StranglesAwarenessWeek/
TikTok: SAW (@stranglesawarenessweek) | TikTok
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stranglesawarenessweek/

In this conversation we hear from Andrew Stennett, founder of BHS Approved Centre – Grove House Stables as he shares with us all his lived experience of strangles and why it is so important for him to speak out and for us all to come together to help tackle this devastating disease.

This podcast episode was produced by the British Horse Society

For more information on Strangles:

Redwings Strangles Information Pack - https://www.redwings.org.uk/sites/default/files/redwings_strangles_pack_single.pdf ​
British Horse Society Strategy for Eradication and Prevention of Strangles -
https://www.bhs.org.uk/advice-and-information/horse-health-and-sickness/strangles​
SRUC's Premium Assured Strangles Scheme -
https://ww1.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/what-is-your-goal/veterinary-laboratory-services/horse-health-scheme/premium-assured-strangles-scheme/​
Keeping Britain's Horses Healthy Strangles Advice -
https://www.msd-animal-health-hub.co....​
World Horse Welfare's disease prevention guidance - https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/adv...​



Enter our SAW 2024 competition to win an equestrian bundle of prizes worth over £5,000:
Subscribe to the podcast: https://stranglesawarenessweekpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Become a SAW Ambassador: Strangles Awareness Week 2023 | Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StranglesAwarenessWeek/
TikTok: SAW (@stranglesawarenessweek) | TikTok
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stranglesawarenessweek/

In this final Strangles Awareness Week podcast conversation, we hear from Dr Lisa Lidbeck, Equine Vet for Sweden’s International Eventing Team and David Honnet who is Show Groom for Olympic TeamGB Gold Medalist ScottBrash MBE.
In this candid conversation with David we hear him speak openly and passionately about the importance of  learning about  Strangles and he admits even he could learn more. We hear why protocols at shows are so important to keep disease control in the hearts and minds of riders and their team.

Lisa then shares her experience as an FEI International Vet and explains how the top sports horses benefit from 5 star treatment but that there is still more that can be done especially in the wake of the EHV-1 outbreak in Spain.

Both call of openness and communication about the disease so please join us in listening to their unique take on the topic and spark conversations amongst your equestrian network by sharing this episode far and wide.

 Strangles Awareness Week is a campaign that aims to promote openness around the disease and make biosecurity a part of everyday horse care across the Equine Industry. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the British Horse Society, Intervacc, Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy, Redwings Horse Sanctuary, Scotland’s Rural College’s Premium Assured Strangles Scheme (PASS), Surveillance of Equine Strangles (SES), The (Dick) Royal School of Veterinary Studies and World Horse Welfare and the podcast has been coordinated and produced by Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
 
 You can find more information about the campaign and share resources on FaceBook or YouTube
 
For more on Strangles:
·         Redwings Strangles Information Pack and Strangles Hub
·         BHS Strategy for Eradication and Prevention of Strangles
·         SRUC's Premium Assured Strangles Scheme
·         Keeping Britain's Horses Healthy Strangles Advice
·         World Horse Welfare's Disease prevention guidance
With thanks to David and to Lisa. Find out more about them here:
Scott Brash MBE equestrian
Lisa Lidbeck

Speak Out On Strangles is a
Enter our SAW 2024 competition to win an equestrian bundle of prizes worth over £5,000:
Subscribe to the podcast: https://stranglesawarenessweekpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Become a SAW Ambassador: Strangles Awareness Week 2023 | Redwings Horse Sanctuary
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StranglesAwarenessWeek/
TikTok: SAW (@stranglesawarenessweek) | TikTok
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stranglesawarenessweek/