
HBLB Press Release
Equine Disease - Codes of Practice for 2017
The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has published the 39th edition of the Codes of Practice on equine disease, in preparation for the 2017 equine breeding season. This is available online only at http://codes.hblb.org.uk/
The online version may be accessed as a full document or as separate sections. It may be downloaded in pdf format for printing or viewing offline.
Applying to all breeds of horse and pony, and to both natural mating and AI, the Codes are an essential guide for the prevention and control of equine diseases which represent a potential major threat to equine breeding:
· Contagious equine metritis (CEM)
· Equine viral arteritis (EVA)
· Equine herpesvirus (EHV)
· Equine coital exanthema (ECE)
· Equine infectious anaemia (EIA)
· Dourine
· Guidelines on strangles
· Guidelines on artificial insemination (AI)
For each disease there are sections which describe transmission and clinical signs, as well as advice on prevention, diagnosis and control of infection. The Codes explain the notification requirements that apply for the four diseases that are notifiable by law: CEM, EVA, EIA and Dourine.
The Codes of Practice are reviewed annually by an expert Sub Committee of HBLB’s Veterinary Advisory Committee. The Sub Committee includes representatives of:
· Thoroughbred breeders in Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy
· The non-thoroughbred sector
· Defra
· Equine veterinary practitioners
· Scientists expert in infectious disease.
These codes contain useful advice if you are intending to breed your Cleveland Bays in 2017.
The 2017 HBLB grant support for the breeding of UK-based Cleveland Bay horses owned by CBHS members will again be targeted to those who have their mares/stallions CEM tested before being used for breeding.