Equine Biosecurity at the Olympic Games
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As horses from all corners of the world gather for the Olympic Games, Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has taken steps to minimize equine infectious disease risks. “A tiny virus can cause enormous destruction, so prevention is the key word here,” said Anne Couroucé, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECEIM, veterinary services manager for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, being held in Versailles.
In addition to mandatory equine influenza vaccinations, horses must have had rectal temperature checks twice a day for the three days prior to arrival in Versailles, according to the FEI’s 2024 Veterinary Regulations. All six readings must be entered into the horse’s account on the FEI Horse App.
Stabling and Biosecurity at The Olympics
Upon arrival at the show grounds, each horse will undergo an immediate veterinary inspection, including an official temperature check, prior to entering the stables. If the horse’s rectal temperature is higher than 101 F or he shows any signs of neurologic disease, officials will isolate him—as well as all other horses that traveled with him—immediately and test for equine influenza and equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
Jean Morel, sport manager at GL Events Equestrian Sport, in Lyon, France, and the official organizer of the 2024 Olympic equestrian events, announced that the stables at Versailles have been organized by discipline. This new approach contrasts with previous events, where officials grouped horses by national federation, regardless of discipline. The goal is to group horses that arrive and leave at the same time, said Morel during his presentation at the FEI’s 2024 Sports Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Eventing horses will arrive first and stable in the barn closest to the exit. A few days later dressage horses will fill the second stable, closer to the show arena entrance. After the eventing horses depart and their stable is fully cleaned and disinfected, show jumping horses will arrive and occupy that barn.
Once admitted to the stables, each horse’s caretakers will take rectal temperatures twice a day as long and record those readings in the FEI Horse App for the duration of the animal’s stay. In addition, FEI veterinary officials can conduct spot temperature checks on any horse at any time. Regulations mandate they perform these spontaneous checks on 5% of the horses daily throughout the competition.
Reducing the Spread of Equine Diseases on the Show Grounds
On the Olympic show grounds, horses cannot share water buckets, halters, leads, blankets, tack, feeding equipment, or face-grooming towels unless this equipment has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. They cannot be cross-tied in the stable aisles and should not touch noses with horses from other home farms.
Meanwhile, people in the stables must wash their hands with disinfectant or change gloves before handling different horses. Officials have limited the number of people authorized to enter the stables to the bare minimum—grooms, riders, veterinarians, and up to two owners per horse.
Managing Biosecurity Risks in Versailles
If a horse’s health status changes, such as a rise in temperature or increase in nasal discharge, the regulations state that FEI veterinary officials must be notified immediately. Sick horses, along with any horses exposed to those animals, must be quarantined in isolation stables provided on site, and horses with fever or neurological signs must undergo testing for viruses. In case of an outbreak, the FEI general secretary reserves the right to cancel Olympic equestrian events entirely to preserve horse health and welfare.
The 2024 veterinary regulations authorize the FEI veterinary team to implement extended biosecurity measures if they determine there is a heightened disease risk during the Games.
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