Ensuring the health of horses at USEF Competitions is a top priority for the Federation. To that end, the US Equestrian has produced resources to be utilized by competition management, trainers, owners, and riders.

Importance of Isolation

Isolation of sick horses is critical to ensuring the health of the other horses on the competition grounds. Isolation is the separation of healthy horses from those suspected or confirmed to have an infectious disease. Understanding what appropriate isolation is and why it is important is critical to controlling a disease outbreak. Reducing the risk and spread of infection is especially important when horses are congregating and commingling at competitions. Knowing which horses have been exposed helps decrease the further spread of disease. In addition to isolation of sick horses, basic biosecurity steps can be taken such as limited horse to horse contact, equipment should not be shared and cleaning and disinfection of stalls, feed and water buckets, temporary stall panels, etc. should occur regularly and routinely.

Federation Isolation Rules

Beginning December 1, 2024, under GR 874, competition managers are required to upload isolation plans 14 days prior to the start of the competition. Isolation plans are to be completed using the Isolation Plan Template on the Federation's website or can be submitted through the Competition Manager's Dashboard. Isolation plans will be required to be printed and posted on the showgrounds. 

Competitions that do not offer stabling or are one day shows are not required to submit an isolation plan.

Competitions that offer stabling are required to submit an isolation plan. If a show offers stabling for more than 10 days, onsite isolation stabling is required. The start date is when the stabling opens to competitors. If a show does not offer stabling for 10 days, they have the choice to choose onsite isolation stabling or offsite isolation stabling. 

Onsite isolation stabling isolation plans require a map upload of the facility. This map must include the show grounds as a whole and indicate where on the property the isolation area is located. All barns, arenas and isolation areas should be clearly marked and labelled. 

Video Resources

    Development of an Isolation Plan                                        Implementation of an Isolation Plan 

Support

Questions related to submitting isolation plans, determining if an isolation plan is needed for a competition and all other isolation items should be directed to the Equine Health Team at [email protected].