22/05/2026
*** Equine Influenza***
You may have already seen the updated Equine Flu advice from organisations and venues. We have also received advice on procedures directly from BRC. In order to help keep our beloved horses safe, and to help limit the spread of disease, the following will take immediate effect:
☑️ Horses booked onto any club clinic at any venue will need to have their passport checked for a correct and up to date flu vaccination record in advance of the clinic.
☑️ A photo of the flu vaccination page needs to be sent to the clinic organiser, along with the passport name of the horse. The dates of the vaccinations needs to be clear and ALL injections shown, from the initial two jabs, right up to the most recent booster.
☑️ The photos of the vaccinations will be sent to the venue, at their request, to ensure all visiting horses are covered under the current rules.
☑️ If you don't know the flu vaccination rules, they can be found here: https://www.bhs.org.uk/british-riding-clubs/brc-handbook/
The current rules are still for 12 month boosters, but 6 months is highly recommended.
☑️ If you do not send a photo in advance of the clinic, you will need to show your horse's passport to the coach or organiser when you arrive at the venue BEFORE unloading your horse. If all is well then you can carry on, but if there is any problem with the vaccination record you will not be allowed to unload and will be sent straight home.
☑️ The club will keep a record of the correct passports seen so you will only have to do this once (or until your next booster is due)
We thank you in advance for your co-operation in this - believe me, the committee could do without the extra admin, but it'll be well worth it if we can keep the spread of equine flu to an absolute minimum (preferably zero...)!
In addition, please observe the following:
* You are encouraged to regularly check your horse's temperature at home to establish a normal baseline.
* Do not attend events if your horse is showing any signs of being unwell, no matter how insignificant.
* Minimise horse-to-horse contact wherever possible.
* Space parking to maintain distance between horseboxes and trailers.
* Only use your own equipment, such as buckets, grooming kits, tack, or water sources and do not share.
* Do not hand graze anywhere on site.
* Isolate and immediately report any horse showing symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, or raised temperature.
* Do not travel horses that have recently been in contact with any suspected or confirmed cases.
* Volunteers or friends/family that are at the clinic with you should be reminded to limit contact with horses wherever possible, to sanitise hands regularly and have a change of clothes/footwear available between attending their own horses and helping at an event.
* Make sure you do not allow horses to make contact with one another in the lorry park, or in the arena when standing around - think of the Covid days and keep to social distancing!
We all want to continue to have a lovely summer with our horses, so common sense at all times will keep things on track.
Thank you.
The BRC Handbook contains everything you need to know to compete in official competitions.
