• the chances infectious diseases will be carried onto the farm by animals or people; and 
• the spread of infectious disease on farms.

  

Shed row type housing can reduce disease transmission because horses are not sharing the same air space

• Bring in only animals from herds where you know the health status.
• Bring in only animals from herds with a known effective vaccination program. Get specific information about the vaccination history, such as what vaccine was used and when it was given. If killed vaccines were used, make sure that a primary series (2 doses given a few weeks apart) was given.
• Avoid purchasing animals from unknown sources or that have mixed with many other horses before sale.
• Ensure all horses have a negative Coggins test prior to finalizing the purchase.
• Transport purchased horses or show animals in your own vehicle. Start with a clean truck or trailer and clean it out after transporting newly purchased horses. If someone else transports for you, make sure they start with a clean vehicle.

• Quarantine new animals for 30 days before allowing contact with animals on-farm. 
• Designate a quarantine area, well separated from other horses on your farm. The degree of isolation determines your success in preventing disease transmission. To prevent spread of respiratory diseases, do not let quarantined horses share the same airspace with resident horses. To prevent spread of strangles and respiratory viruses, do not allow quarantined horses to touch resident horses. Ensure personnel change coveralls and boots before moving between barns.
• Do not allow quarantined horses to share feeders, waterers, halters or grooming equipment with resident horses.
• Check the isolated animal's temperature every day, or at least every second day, to see if it develops a fever. If it does, call your veterinarian. Don't assume it's something routine.
• Vaccinate horses while they are in quarantine to make sure they are integrated into your farm's vaccination program.
• Test all purchased horses for infection with equine infectious anemia.
• It can take 1–2 weeks or more to get test results, so collect and submit the samples as soon as the animal arrives.

    It helps to know the previous health history of the horse(s) and the herd you plan to purchase from. Horses coming from outside North America go through an inspection and quarantine period dependent on the country of origin. For horses from the USA, pay special attention to diseases such as vesicular stomatitis, potomac horse fever, and equine encephalitis. The equine viral encephalitis diseases include Eastern, Western and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis. West Nile encephalitis is new to North America and has infected people and horses in 1999 and 2000. (These occurred in some regions of the USA more than others.)

• Limit people's access to your brood mare and foaling barn(s).
• Limit people’s access to barns housing horses returning from major shows or events where respiratory coughs are commonly present.
• Have a separate area for horses that are continually moving to and from the farm to shows, races and competitions.
• Use new sterile needles and syringes for all medications.
• Use separate halters and lead shanks for each horse or, at least, limit their use to one group of horses.
• Keep horses coming to the farm for short periods of time separate from the resident horses.