10/08/2026
RE: Low Risk Strangles Event at FCSC
Out of an abundance of caution, the RRC Board would like to relay the following: a low risk, potential Strangles exposure that occurred this Sunday at the Franklin County Saddle Club (FCSC). Please note the following:
• The FCSC Board learned 10/6/26 that a horse participating in a weekly group lesson on 10/4/26 at FCSC is stabled with another horse that tested positive for Strangles. The horse that tested positive competed at a dressage show in Yakima, two weeks ago.
• The horse from the FCSC group lesson is being carefully monitored by the owner’s veterinarian.
• There is a remote (low) possibility that the other horses in the group lesson may have been exposed to Strangles bacteria; exposure doesn’t automatically mean the exposed horses will develop the disease.
• The FCSC Board have asked all group lesson horse owners to: (1) voluntarily quarantine their horses, (2) follow proper bio-security (cleaning and disinfection) measures , (3) monitor their horses’ temperatures (daily) and (4) to consult with their own veterinarians.
• All horse owners from the lesson group will voluntarily refrain from bringing their horses to FCSC for a period of fourteen (14) days, until 10/19/26.
• A Steve Rother clinic was held at FCSC this last weekend, however the group lesson riders and the clinic riders were not in the same arena or area. Clinic attendees will be notified of this event by the clinic host.
Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial upper respiratory infection in horses, donkeys, and mules caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, characterized by high fever and painful abscesses in the lymph nodes of the jaw and throat. The bacteria spreads through direct nose-to-nose contact with infected equines and/or spread indirectly via contaminated water troughs, feed buckets, tack, grooming tools, human hands, or clothing. The best defense is to limit your horse’s direct nose contact with other horses, check the Equine Disease Communication Center site (https://equinediseasecc.org/alerts) for outbreaks in your area and/or a location where you intend to show your horse. Always maintain appropriate bio-security conditions in your barn, by disinfecting your stall(s) and equipment (especially grooming tools, water buckets, feed buckets, etc.).
Updates will be released in a timely manner. The RRC Board will provide additional updates as they become available. Questions may also be directed to the FCSC Board, who have already begun a series of Facebook posts. The FCSC board email address is [email protected].
Thank you for reviewing this message.
The RRC Board of Directors
Updates on current disease outbreaks are listed here as they occur and will include the date listed, disease name, location and current status. Specific premises will not be named but the general location by town, county and state will be listed. When locations, events or horses are at risk they wil...
