What are the opening hours?

Monday 10am - 12:45pm 4pm - 8:30pm Tuesday 10am - 12:45pm 4pm - 8:30pm Wednesday 10am - 12:45pm 4pm - 8:30pm Friday 10am - 12:45pm 4pm - 8:30pm Saturday 10am - 12:45pm 4pm - 8:30pm Sunday 10am - 12:45pm 4pm - 8:30pm

https://www.facebook.com/102661478857685/

OUT Of the Arena Ranch livestock Rescue, Sanger, CA (2026)

10/14/2026

🩸 What Every Horse Owner Needs to Know About EIA

Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), sometimes called “swamp fever,” is a serious viral disease that affects horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules.

The biggest concern? A horse may look perfectly healthy while carrying the virus for life and potentially spreading it to other equines.

🔬 What is EIA?

EIA is a bloodborne viral disease. There is currently no cure and no approved vaccine to prevent it. Infected horses remain carriers for life, even if they never develop obvious symptoms.

🚩 Signs to Watch For

Some horses show few or no signs. Others may develop:

- 🌡️ Repeated episodes of fever
- 😴 Depression, weakness, or unusual tiredness
- ⚖️ Weight loss and loss of appetite
- 🩸 Anemia and pale or yellowish gums
- 🦵 Swelling in the legs or underneath the belly
- ❤️ Rapid heart rate or breathing
- 🔴 Small red or purple spots on the gums or other mucous membranes
- 🩸 Nosebleeds in some cases

These symptoms can resemble other illnesses, so a veterinarian and laboratory testing are needed to diagnose EIA.

🦟 How Does It Spread?

EIA can spread when infected blood reaches another horse through:

- Biting flies, especially horseflies and deer flies
- Reused needles or syringes
- Contaminated IV equipment or instruments
- Blood transfusions involving infected blood

This is why proper equipment hygiene and fly control matter so much.

🧪 What Is a Coggins Test?

The Coggins test is a well-known blood test used to detect EIA. Testing is important when bringing new horses onto your property, before certain events or travel, and according to applicable regulations and your veterinarian’s recommendations.

A recent negative result is useful, but a test performed too soon after exposure may not detect infection. Ask your veterinarian about the appropriate testing schedule.

🛡️ How Can We Protect Our Horses?

✅ Use a new, sterile needle and syringe for each horse.

✅ Never share blood-contaminated medical equipment.

✅ Keep biting flies under control.

✅ Request appropriate EIA testing before introducing a new horse to your herd.

✅ Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for testing and biosecurity.

✅ If EIA is suspected, contact your veterinarian promptly and follow their instructions and any directions from animal health authorities.

❤️ Why Does This Matter?

A positive EIA result has serious consequences because an infected horse can remain infectious for life. Depending on applicable rules and the circumstances, management may require euthanasia or strict, permanent isolation and quarantine.

This is not a diagnosis to make based on symptoms alone, and a suspected horse should not be moved or sold to avoid testing or reporting requirements. Work with your veterinarian and animal health officials to determine the proper next steps.

Knowledge, responsible testing, and good biosecurity help protect the entire equine community. 🐴

📚 Trusted resources:

- USDA APHIS: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/infectious-anemia
- Merck Veterinary Manual: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/horse-owners/infectious-diseases-of-horses/equine-infectious-anemia

Out of the Arena Ranch — Educating horse owners, protecting horses, and building a stronger equine community.

📣 Share this post with a horse owner who believes prevention starts with education!

10/14/2026

🐴❤️ **OUR JOURNEY INTO HORSE RESCUE: WE DON'T JUST WANT TO RESCUE HORSES. WE WANT TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM.** ❤️🐴

As we continue building our horse rescue program, we want to share a little more about our vision and what will make our approach different.

We believe rescue should be about more than pulling horses out of difficult situations. It's about education, responsible placement, accountability, and making a lifelong commitment to the animals who depend on us.

🐎 **1. LONG-TERM LEASING INSTEAD OF PERMANENT ADOPTIONS**

We believe every horse deserves a safe, loving home, but we also recognize that life circumstances change.

That's why our goal is to establish a long-term leasing program. Horses will be able to live with approved individuals, families, and equestrian facilities while remaining owned by our rescue.

If a lease no longer works, the horse will have a pathway back to us. Our responsibility doesn't end when a horse leaves our property.

❤️ **2. HORSE OWNERSHIP EDUCATION**

We're excited to offer horse ownership education programs to help individuals and families better understand what it truly means to own and care for a horse.

From daily care, nutrition, and hoof care to veterinary expenses, safety, responsible riding, and the long-term financial commitment, we want people to understand what horses need before taking on that responsibility.

Education is one of the most important ways we can help prevent horses from ending up in rescue in the first place.

🏇 **3. PARTNERING WITH ESTABLISHED EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES**

We're excited to build relationships with established barns and equestrian facilities, including places such as **Verd View Farms**, to create opportunities for horses and riders.

For children interested in programs such as 4-H, our vision is to place suitable horses at facilities where those activities and shows already take place. This can help provide consistency for young riders while ensuring horses are placed in environments equipped to support their needs.

We're also interested in partnering with English riding barns, Western riding programs, and lesson facilities that may be able to provide appropriate homes and meaningful work for some of our horses through carefully structured lease agreements.

Every placement will need to be a good fit for the individual horse, with clear care expectations and regular visits to help ensure their well-being.

🐴 **4. WE WANT TO END THE RESCUE PIPELINE, NOT FEED INTO IT.**

This is one of the most important parts of our mission.

We don't want to rescue horses only to send them away without accountability or a plan for their future.

We want to take responsibility for every horse that comes into our care. That means thoughtful placements, ongoing relationships with our leaseholders, responsible education, and a commitment to helping horses when circumstances change.

Our goal is to create a system in which horses have opportunities to thrive without losing the protection and support of the rescue that took them in.

❤️ **THIS IS BIGGER THAN RESCUE. THIS IS ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY.**

We're building something that we hope will make a lasting difference for horses and the people who love them.

Through education, partnerships, long-term leasing, and a commitment to continued care, we want to create a future where rescued horses have more than a second chance — they have a safety net for life.

We know this journey will take a community. We're excited to connect with barns, 4-H families, riding instructors, property owners, horse enthusiasts, and anyone who believes horses deserve better.

🐎 **Help us build a different kind of rescue. One horse. One partnership. One second chance at a time.**

10/10/2026

😂 WHAT IN THE WORLD DID THE PREVIOUS OWNERS HAVE GOING ON OUT HERE?! 🤣🐴

We’ve been discovering all kinds of interesting things around the ranch, but THIS one has me questioning everything! 😂

Old telephone wires wrapped around a metal fence post like somebody was trying to build a homemade communication tower out in the middle of nowhere. 📞🤔

I have SO many questions, and absolutely ZERO answers! 😂

Apparently part ranch ownership, part treasure hunt, and part archaeological investigation. You never know what you’re going to uncover next! 🤣

Tell me I’m not the only one who has found some absolutely WILD things left behind by previous property owners! 👇😂

What’s the strangest thing YOU have ever found on your property? Drop it in the comments because I need to know! 🤣🐴🌾

10/10/2026

🐴🦟 DAY 3 OF 7: EQUINE DISEASE EDUCATION SERIES

WEST NILE VIRUS • EEE • WEE

🚨 THREE VIRUSES. ONE COMMON ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION. SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

Today we're talking about mosquito-borne diseases that every horse owner should understand.

These viruses can affect the brain and spinal cord, potentially causing severe neurologic problems, permanent disability or death.

And the frightening part? Early signs may be as subtle as a horse being quieter than usual or not finishing its feed.

🦟 1. WEST NILE VIRUS (WNV)

West Nile virus is transmitted primarily by infected mosquitoes that acquire the virus from birds.

Horses and humans can both become infected, but horses do not ordinarily transmit West Nile virus directly to other horses or people. Mosquitoes are the primary route of transmission.

⚠️ Warning signs:

🌡️ Fever
🥕 Decreased appetite
😴 Depression or unusual behavior
🐴 Stumbling or an unsteady gait
💪 Muscle twitching or tremors
🦵 Weakness, particularly in the hind limbs
👁️ Vision changes
🌀 Circling or wandering
🚨 Difficulty standing or paralysis

Some infected horses never develop obvious symptoms. Others develop serious neurologic disease.

There is no specific antiviral cure; treatment involves veterinary supportive care.

Prevention through vaccination and mosquito control is essential.

🧠 2. EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS (EEE)

EEE is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

It can be extremely severe, and horses with clinical disease may deteriorate quickly.

⚠️ Warning signs:

🌡️ Fever
😴 Severe depression
🥕 Loss of appetite
👁️ Impaired vision
🌀 Circling or disorientation
🧠 Head pressing
💧 Difficulty swallowing
💪 Tremors or weakness
⚡ Seizures
🚨 Inability to stand

EEE is a medical emergency. Do not wait for every symptom to appear before contacting your veterinarian.

🧠 3. WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS (WEE)

WEE is another mosquito-borne viral disease affecting the nervous system.

Its signs can overlap with West Nile virus and EEE.

⚠️ Warning signs:

🌡️ Fever
😴 Depression
🐴 Abnormal behavior
🦵 Incoordination
💪 Weakness
👁️ Vision abnormalities
⚡ Severe neurologic signs

You cannot diagnose WEE, EEE or West Nile simply by looking at a horse. Other diseases can cause similar signs, so veterinary examination and diagnostic testing are important.

🚨 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SEE THESE SIGNS?

1️⃣ Call your veterinarian immediately.

Sudden neurologic changes are an emergency.

2️⃣ Protect yourself.

An uncoordinated, confused or frightened horse can fall, panic or injure someone. Keep people and other animals at a safe distance.

3️⃣ Do not force the horse to walk.

If the horse is stumbling, falling or unable to stand, don't make it move unnecessarily. Follow your veterinarian's instructions.

4️⃣ Record what you observe.

Note when signs started, the horse's temperature if you can safely take it, appetite, vaccination history and any recent changes.

5️⃣ Don't assume it's just one of these viruses.

EHV-1, rabies, EPM, botulism and other conditions can cause neurologic signs. Your veterinarian must determine the likely cause.

💉 PREVENTION: WHAT HORSE OWNERS CAN DO

Vaccination is one of the most important tools available.

The AAEP classifies West Nile virus and Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis as core vaccines for horses.

Work with your veterinarian to establish an appropriate vaccination schedule and make sure primary vaccine series and boosters are up to date.

Also:

🦟 Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed.
🪣 Clean water troughs and buckets regularly.
🌿 Maintain the area around barns and turnout spaces.
🛡️ Use horse-safe mosquito repellents according to their labels.
🏠 Consider appropriate screening, fans and other measures to reduce mosquito exposure.
📋 Keep accurate vaccination and health records.

Vaccination greatly reduces risk, but no vaccine should be treated as a guarantee that disease is impossible.

❤️ WHY WE'RE SHARING THIS

We aren't sharing this information to scare horse owners.

We're sharing it because education can help people recognize trouble sooner and take action before a situation becomes even more dangerous.

Know your horse's normal behavior.

Know the warning signs.

Keep vaccinations current.

Control mosquitoes.

And when something doesn't look right, call your veterinarian.

🐴 KNOW THE SIGNS. PREVENT WHAT YOU CAN. PROTECT YOUR HORSES.

Tomorrow: DAY 4 — EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA (EIA): the disease that can go unnoticed and why testing and biosecurity matter.

❤️🐴 Out of the Arena Ranch
Education • Rescue • Rehabilitation • Horsemanship

Educational information only. This post does not replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment or individualized vaccination advice.

10/10/2026

🐴🦟 DAY 3 OF 7: EQUINE DISEASE EDUCATION SERIES

WEST NILE VIRUS • EEE • WEE

🚨 THREE VIRUSES. ONE COMMON ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION. SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

Today we're talking about mosquito-borne diseases that every horse owner should understand.

These viruses can affect the brain and spinal cord, potentially causing severe neurologic problems, permanent disability or death.

And the frightening part? Early signs may be as subtle as a horse being quieter than usual or not finishing its feed.

🦟 1. WEST NILE VIRUS (WNV)

West Nile virus is transmitted primarily by infected mosquitoes that acquire the virus from birds.

Horses and humans can both become infected, but horses do not ordinarily transmit West Nile virus directly to other horses or people. Mosquitoes are the primary route of transmission.

⚠️ Warning signs:

🌡️ Fever
🥕 Decreased appetite
😴 Depression or unusual behavior
🐴 Stumbling or an unsteady gait
💪 Muscle twitching or tremors
🦵 Weakness, particularly in the hind limbs
👁️ Vision changes
🌀 Circling or wandering
🚨 Difficulty standing or paralysis

Some infected horses never develop obvious symptoms. Others develop serious neurologic disease.

There is no specific antiviral cure; treatment involves veterinary supportive care.

Prevention through vaccination and mosquito control is essential.

🧠 2. EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS (EEE)

EEE is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

It can be extremely severe, and horses with clinical disease may deteriorate quickly.

⚠️ Warning signs:

🌡️ Fever
😴 Severe depression
🥕 Loss of appetite
👁️ Impaired vision
🌀 Circling or disorientation
🧠 Head pressing
💧 Difficulty swallowing
💪 Tremors or weakness
⚡ Seizures
🚨 Inability to stand

EEE is a medical emergency. Do not wait for every symptom to appear before contacting your veterinarian.

🧠 3. WESTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS (WEE)

WEE is another mosquito-borne viral disease affecting the nervous system.

Its signs can overlap with West Nile virus and EEE.

⚠️ Warning signs:

🌡️ Fever
😴 Depression
🐴 Abnormal behavior
🦵 Incoordination
💪 Weakness
👁️ Vision abnormalities
⚡ Severe neurologic signs

You cannot diagnose WEE, EEE or West Nile simply by looking at a horse. Other diseases can cause similar signs, so veterinary examination and diagnostic testing are important.

🚨 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SEE THESE SIGNS?

1️⃣ Call your veterinarian immediately.

Sudden neurologic changes are an emergency.

2️⃣ Protect yourself.

An uncoordinated, confused or frightened horse can fall, panic or injure someone. Keep people and other animals at a safe distance.

3️⃣ Do not force the horse to walk.

If the horse is stumbling, falling or unable to stand, don't make it move unnecessarily. Follow your veterinarian's instructions.

4️⃣ Record what you observe.

Note when signs started, the horse's temperature if you can safely take it, appetite, vaccination history and any recent changes.

5️⃣ Don't assume it's just one of these viruses.

EHV-1, rabies, EPM, botulism and other conditions can cause neurologic signs. Your veterinarian must determine the likely cause.

💉 PREVENTION: WHAT HORSE OWNERS CAN DO

Vaccination is one of the most important tools available.

The AAEP classifies West Nile virus and Eastern/Western equine encephalomyelitis as core vaccines for horses.

Work with your veterinarian to establish an appropriate vaccination schedule and make sure primary vaccine series and boosters are up to date.

Also:

🦟 Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed.
🪣 Clean water troughs and buckets regularly.
🌿 Maintain the area around barns and turnout spaces.
🛡️ Use horse-safe mosquito repellents according to their labels.
🏠 Consider appropriate screening, fans and other measures to reduce mosquito exposure.
📋 Keep accurate vaccination and health records.

Vaccination greatly reduces risk, but no vaccine should be treated as a guarantee that disease is impossible.

❤️ WHY WE'RE SHARING THIS

We aren't sharing this information to scare horse owners.

We're sharing it because education can help people recognize trouble sooner and take action before a situation becomes even more dangerous.

Know your horse's normal behavior.

Know the warning signs.

Keep vaccinations current.

Control mosquitoes.

And when something doesn't look right, call your veterinarian.

🐴 KNOW THE SIGNS. PREVENT WHAT YOU CAN. PROTECT YOUR HORSES.

Tomorrow: DAY 4 — EQUINE INFECTIOUS ANEMIA (EIA): the disease that can go unnoticed and why testing and biosecurity matter.

❤️🐴 Out of the Arena Ranch
Education • Rescue • Rehabilitation • Horsemanship

Educational information only. This post does not replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment or individualized vaccination advice.

10/08/2026

🐴🦠 DAY 2 — EHV-1 & EHV-4

THE EQUINE HERPESVIRUSES HORSE OWNERS NEED TO KNOW

🐴🦠 7-DAY EQUINE DISEASE EDUCATION SERIES — DAY 2

EHV-1 & EHV-4

THE EQUINE HERPESVIRUSES HORSE OWNERS NEED TO KNOW

Yesterday we talked about strangles, a highly contagious bacterial disease.

Today we're talking about something completely different:

EQUINE HERPESVIRUS.

And this is important because EHV isn't simply a respiratory illness.

Depending on the virus strain, the horse, and the circumstances, EHV can be associated with:

🫁 Respiratory disease
🤰 Abortion
🐴 Neonatal disease
🧠 Neurologic disease
🚨 Severe weakness and inability to stand

---

🦠 FIRST: WHAT IS EHV?

EHV stands for Equine Herpesvirus.

Two of the most important types are:

EHV-1

and

EHV-4

Both can cause respiratory disease.

But EHV-1 can also cause serious reproductive and neurologic disease.

This is why horse owners need to take EHV seriously.

---

🫁 EHV-4

EHV-4 is primarily associated with respiratory disease, particularly in younger horses.

Signs can include:

🌡️ Fever
👃 Nasal discharge
😴 Depression
🥕 Reduced appetite
🫁 Coughing
💨 Respiratory signs

Many horses recover, but the infection can spread quickly through groups of susceptible horses.

---

🚨 EHV-1 IS MORE COMPLICATED

EHV-1 can cause:

🫁 Respiratory disease
🤰 Abortion
🐎 Disease in newborn foals
🧠 Neurologic disease

And that neurologic form is what many horse owners know as:

EHM — Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy

This is a serious neurologic syndrome associated with EHV-1.

---

🧠 WHAT DOES EHM LOOK LIKE?

This is where horse owners need to pay attention.

Watch for:

⚠️ Weakness
⚠️ Incoordination
⚠️ Hind-end weakness
⚠️ Difficulty walking
⚠️ Difficulty urinating
⚠️ Urine dribbling
⚠️ Tail weakness
⚠️ Recumbency — lying down and being unable to get up
⚠️ Complete inability to stand

A horse may initially appear simply "off."

Then neurologic signs can progress.

🚨 A HORSE THAT SUDDENLY BECOMES WEAK OR UNCOORDINATED IS AN EMERGENCY.

Call your veterinarian immediately.

And protect yourself.

A neurologically compromised horse can be unpredictable and dangerous to handle.

---

🌡️ FEVER CAN BE AN EARLY WARNING

One of the most important things horse owners can do is:

TAKE YOUR HORSE'S TEMPERATURE.

Fever can occur before more obvious clinical signs.

That's why temperature monitoring is especially important when horses have been exposed to EHV or when an outbreak is suspected.

Don't just say:

"He feels warm."

Take the temperature.

Write it down.

Monitor changes.

---

🦠 HOW DOES EHV SPREAD?

EHV can spread through respiratory secretions and contaminated materials.

Potential sources include:

🐴 Horse-to-horse contact
👃 Nasal secretions
🪣 Water buckets
🍽️ Feed equipment
🧽 Grooming equipment
🧤 Hands
👕 Clothing
🩺 Veterinary equipment
🚛 Trailers
🏇 Tack

And just like with strangles:

YOUR BIOSECURITY MATTERS.

A person can unknowingly move contaminated material from one horse to another.

---

🚨 WHY EHV OUTBREAKS ARE SO DIFFICULT

One of the challenges with EHV is that horses may be infected and shedding virus without looking dramatically ill.

That means you can't rely exclusively on:

"That horse looks healthy."

During an outbreak, veterinary-directed quarantine and monitoring become extremely important.

---

🤰 EHV & PREGNANT MARES

EHV-1 is particularly important for breeding operations because it can cause:

🚨 Abortion
🚨 Premature birth
🚨 Weak or ill newborn foals

A mare may not necessarily appear critically ill when reproductive disease occurs.

This is one reason breeding farms take EHV prevention and biosecurity extremely seriously.

---

🐴 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT EHV?

STEP 1 — ISOLATE

Separate the potentially infected horse from healthy horses.

Don't move the horse around the property unnecessarily.

Don't send the horse to a show.

Don't trailer the horse to another facility unless directed by your veterinarian.

---

STEP 2 — CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN

Tell them:

"I am concerned about possible EHV."

Give them:

🌡️ Temperature
🐴 Horse's age
📅 When symptoms started
🫁 Respiratory signs
🧠 Any neurologic signs
🤰 Pregnancy status if applicable
🚛 Recent travel
🐎 Recent horse contact
💉 Vaccination history

---

STEP 3 — STOP SHARING EQUIPMENT

Give the isolated horse dedicated:

🪣 Buckets
🍽️ Feed equipment
🧽 Grooming supplies
🧤 Gloves
🧹 Cleaning equipment

Don't casually move equipment from the isolation area back into the main barn.

---

🧼 BIOSECURITY IS HUGE

During a suspected outbreak:

CLEAN → DISINFECT → DRY

Remove organic material first.

Then use an appropriate disinfectant according to the product label.

Pay attention to:

🪣 Buckets
🚪 Stall surfaces
🧤 Gloves
👕 Clothing
🩺 Equipment
🚛 Trailers
🧽 Grooming equipment
👢 Boots

And remember:

Disinfectant doesn't work properly on a surface covered in dirt, manure, mucus or organic material.

Cleaning comes first.

---

🌡️ MONITOR THE OTHER HORSES

If your veterinarian confirms or strongly suspects EHV, they may recommend monitoring the entire population.

Keep records of:

🐴 Horse
🌡️ Temperature
⏰ Time
🥕 Appetite
👃 Nasal discharge
🫁 Respiratory signs
🧠 Neurologic changes
💩 Manure
💧 Water consumption

WRITE IT DOWN.

A written temperature log can provide your veterinarian with much more useful information than:

"I think he had a fever yesterday."

---

💉 WHAT ABOUT THE EHV VACCINE?

Vaccines are available for certain EHV-associated disease risks, but vaccination does not mean a horse can never become infected or that vaccination eliminates the risk of neurologic EHM.

Vaccination programs should be individualized with your veterinarian based on:

🐴 Age
🏇 Use
🚛 Travel
🐎 Exposure
🤰 Reproductive status
🏠 Herd situation
📍 Geographic risk

And vaccination is only one component of prevention.

VACCINATION + BIOSECURITY + MONITORING = BETTER PROTECTION.

---

🚨 THE NEUROLOGIC RED FLAGS

If you see:

⚠️ Sudden weakness
⚠️ Stumbling
⚠️ Incoordination
⚠️ Hind-end weakness
⚠️ Difficulty urinating
⚠️ Tail weakness
⚠️ Difficulty standing
⚠️ Horse unable to stand

CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY.

Do not attempt to force a neurologically compromised horse to walk around.

Do not put yourself in danger trying to hold or restrain a horse that cannot coordinate its movements.

---

🧠 ONE OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS

EHV is a perfect example of why we keep saying:

KNOW YOUR HORSE'S NORMAL.

You may notice:

"He's walking differently."

"She's quieter than usual."

"He doesn't want to get up."

"Her temperature is higher than normal."

Those observations matter.

---

❤️ PREVENTION STARTS BEFORE THE FIRST SYMPTOM

✔️ Maintain an appropriate vaccination program
✔️ Quarantine new arrivals
✔️ Monitor new horses
✔️ Practice good barn hygiene
✔️ Avoid unnecessary horse-to-horse contact
✔️ Clean and disinfect shared equipment
✔️ Be cautious when returning from shows/events
✔️ Monitor horses after travel
✔️ Keep accurate health records
✔️ Have an emergency veterinarian available

And if something doesn't look right:

ISOLATE. MONITOR. CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN.

Don't wait until the entire barn is sick.

---

🐴 EDUCATION OVER FEAR

EHV is scary.

But fear doesn't help us make good decisions.

Knowledge does.

Knowing what to watch for.

Knowing how disease spreads.

Knowing when to isolate.

Knowing when to call your veterinarian.

Knowing how to protect the rest of the herd.

That's responsible horse ownership.

❤️🐴

TOMORROW: DAY 3

🦟 WEST NILE VIRUS + EEE + WEE

We're going to talk about mosquito-borne neurologic diseases, what neurologic symptoms can look like, how quickly things can change, mosquito control, vaccination and what every horse owner should know.

Save this series. Share it with another horse owner. Education saves horses.

— Out of the Arena Ranch
Education • Rescue • Rehabilitation • Horsemanship

Educational information only. This does not replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment, vaccination recommendations or individualized veterinary care.

10/08/2026

🎉 WE OFFICIALLY HIT ONE MILLION VIEWS! 🎉

ONE MILLION PEOPLE have seen our content! 🥹🐴❤️

I honestly don’t even know how to put into words what this means to me.

From the absolute bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. ❤️

Thank you to every single person who has followed our page, liked a post, left a comment, shared our videos, tagged a friend, or simply stopped for a moment to watch what we were doing.

Every single share has helped us get here. And every person who shares our content helps us reach even further. 🙏

Our goal has never been to simply create another horse page.

We want to build a place where people can come to:

🐴 Learn about horses
📚 Find valuable horse education
❤️ Follow rescue and rehabilitation journeys
🐎 See the reality of horse rescue
🌱 Learn responsible horsemanship
🤝 Connect with and support our local community
🏡 Help us continue providing for the horses who need us

We’re a small operation with a BIG heart, and seeing our content reach ONE MILLION VIEWS reminds us that what we’re doing matters.

Every view represents a person we may have educated.
Every share helps us reach someone new.
Every follower helps our little corner of the horse world continue to grow.

And most importantly, the more people we reach, the more we can do for the horses. ❤️🐴

So from all of us here at Out of the Arena Ranch…

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 🥹❤️

Here’s to the next million — and to continuing to educate, rescue, rehabilitate, and build a stronger horse community together.

We couldn’t do it without you. 🐴❤️

10/07/2026

🐴❤️ HELP A SMALL CREATOR OUT! ❤️🐴

We’re working hard to build a page that becomes more than just another horse page — we want to create a platform for horse education, rehabilitation, rescue, and responsible horsemanship.

If you enjoy our horses, rescue stories, educational posts, training updates, and everything that comes with life at the ranch, we’d love your support! 🥰

👉 Follow our page
❤️ Like our posts
💬 Leave a comment
🔄 Share our posts with your friends
📲 Invite other horse lovers to follow us

It may seem like a small thing, but every follow, like, comment, and share helps us reach more people. And reaching more people means we can educate more horse owners, advocate for horses in need, and continue providing care for rescue horses here in the Central Valley.

We’re a small operation doing big things with a whole lot of heart. ❤️

You don’t have to donate money to make a difference. Sometimes simply sharing our page is enough.

🐎 Help us grow.
📚 Help us educate.
❤️ Help us rescue.
🌱 Help us rehabilitate.

Follow along and be part of what we’re building!

Follow our page

10/07/2026

Look who’s changing color! 😍🐴

August is almost 2 months old, and he’s getting bigger every single day—and somehow even more handsome, if that’s even possible! 🥹❤️

I absolutely love watching him grow and seeing his personality come through. And that beautiful coat is already starting to change! 😍

From a tiny little c**t to this handsome boy… August, you are growing way too fast! 🥰

I can’t wait to see what he looks like as he continues to grow and shed into his adult coat. 🐴✨

**t

10/07/2026

🐴🦠 DAY 1 — STRANGLES

The Equine Disease Every Horse Owner Needs to Understand

🐴🦠 STRANGLES: THE COMPLETE HORSE OWNER'S GUIDE

Day 1 of our 7-Day Equine Disease Education Series

We're putting education at the forefront because knowing what to look for can change what happens next.

Today we're talking about one of the most contagious bacterial diseases affecting horses:

🦠 STRANGLES

And let's clear up something right away:

STRANGLES IS NOT A VIRUS.

It is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies equi, commonly shortened to S. equi.

It primarily affects the upper respiratory tract and the lymph nodes around the throat and head. The bacteria can cause those lymph nodes to become severely inflamed and develop abscesses.

---

🚨 IS STRANGLES CONTAGIOUS?

YES. EXTREMELY.

Strangles is considered highly contagious among horses.

It can spread through:

🐴 Direct horse-to-horse contact
💧 Contaminated water
🪣 Water buckets
🍽️ Feed containers
🧽 Grooming equipment
🪮 Brushes
🧤 Hands
👕 Clothing
🐎 Tack
🚛 Trailers
🩺 Veterinary equipment
💉 Contaminated needles/equipment
🪣 Shared farm equipment
🪰 Flies mechanically carrying infectious material

And here's something extremely important:

A horse doesn't have to look sick to spread it.

Horses can be incubating infection before obvious clinical signs appear, and some recovered horses can become persistent carriers that harbor S. equi in their guttural pouches and intermittently shed bacteria.

That is one reason outbreaks can seem to appear "out of nowhere."

---

🧬 HOW DOES STRANGLES GET INTO A HORSE?

The bacteria enter through the horse's:

👃 Nose
👄 Mouth

The organism then colonizes the upper respiratory tract and moves into regional lymphatic tissue.

The immune system responds intensely.

The lymph nodes become enlarged and can develop abscesses.

Those abscesses are a major characteristic of strangles.

The name "strangles" comes from the potential for enlarged lymph nodes and surrounding inflammation to interfere with the horse's upper airway.

---

⏰ HOW LONG AFTER EXPOSURE DOES IT TAKE?

The incubation period is generally about 3–14 days.

That means a horse can be exposed and appear completely normal for days before becoming sick.

And here's one of the most important pieces of information for horse owners:

FEVER MAY COME FIRST.

A horse can develop fever before the classic nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes appear.

Merck reports temperatures around 103–106°F in typical cases.

This is why temperature monitoring can be such an important tool during an exposure or outbreak.

---

🌡️ EARLY WARNING SIGNS

Watch for:

🌡️ Fever
😴 Depression
🥕 Decreased appetite
💧 Reduced drinking
👃 Nasal discharge
🫧 Swollen lymph nodes under the jaw
😮‍💨 Difficulty swallowing
🗣️ Abnormal/noisy breathing
🐴 Extended head and neck
😷 Coughing in some cases

Within approximately 24–48 hours after the initial fever spike, typical signs may begin developing.

THIS IS WHY KNOWING YOUR HORSE'S NORMAL MATTERS.

If your horse normally:

➡️ runs to the gate
➡️ cleans up their feed
➡️ drinks normally
➡️ has a certain attitude

and suddenly stands quietly in the corner with a fever...

Pay attention.

---

👃 WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LYMPH NODES?

The lymph nodes around the head and throat can become:

🔴 Enlarged
🔴 Painful
🔴 Inflamed
🔴 Abscessed

Some abscesses eventually rupture and drain.

Other infections can involve deeper lymph nodes behind the throat.

When retropharyngeal lymph nodes become severely enlarged, they can interfere with swallowing and breathing.

🚨 DIFFICULTY BREATHING IS AN EMERGENCY.

Don't wait to see whether it improves.

Call your veterinarian.

---

👃 WHY DOES THE HORSE GET NASAL DISCHARGE?

As infected lymph nodes and tissues drain, purulent material can enter the upper airway.

This can result in the characteristic:

THICK, MUCOUS/PUS-LIKE NASAL DISCHARGE.

But don't make the mistake of thinking:

"No nasal discharge = no strangles."

Fever can occur before discharge, and disease presentations can vary.

---

🧠 THE GUTTURAL POUCH PROBLEM

This is a part of strangles that many horse owners don't know about.

Horses have structures called guttural pouches.

In some horses, S. equi can persist in these spaces after the obvious illness appears to be over.

Pus can become trapped and form chondroids, which are hardened accumulations of infected material.

These horses can become carriers and potentially spread the bacteria to other horses.

THIS IS WHY:

"My horse looks better" does NOT necessarily mean "my horse is no longer contagious."

---

🦠 HOW LONG CAN A HORSE SPREAD STRANGLES?

This is one of the reasons quarantine decisions should be made with your veterinarian.

Horses can continue shedding bacteria for weeks after clinical recovery.

Merck notes that recovered horses may shed for approximately 4–6 weeks, while a small number of horses with persistent guttural pouch infection have been documented shedding for much longer.

UC Davis similarly notes that horses may remain infectious for at least six weeks after nasal discharge stops.

SO DON'T RELEASE A RECOVERED HORSE BACK INTO THE HERD JUST BECAUSE:

❌ The fever is gone
❌ The nose is clean
❌ The horse is eating
❌ The horse looks normal

Your veterinarian can recommend appropriate testing before ending isolation.

---

🧪 HOW IS STRANGLES DIAGNOSED?

Your veterinarian may use:

🧪 Culture
🧬 PCR testing
👃 Nasopharyngeal wash
🫧 Guttural pouch wash
🩸 Sampling of abscess material

A guttural pouch wash is particularly useful when looking for carrier horses. PCR is generally more sensitive than culture, although PCR detects bacterial DNA and doesn't necessarily prove that viable bacteria are present.

IMPORTANT:

A single negative test doesn't necessarily mean an exposed horse is safe to return immediately to the herd.

Testing strategy should be determined by your veterinarian based on the stage of infection and the situation.

---

🚧 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT STRANGLES?

STEP 1 — ISOLATE

Separate the horse from other horses immediately.

Do not allow:

❌ Nose-to-nose contact
❌ Shared water
❌ Shared feed containers
❌ Shared grooming equipment
❌ Shared tack
❌ Unnecessary handling by multiple people

Merck specifically recommends isolating a horse as soon as strangles is suspected.

---

🧼 STEP 2 — START BIOSECURITY

Think:

CLEAN → DISINFECT → DRY

Remove organic material first.

Then appropriately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces and equipment.

Pay particular attention to:

🪣 Buckets
🧽 Grooming equipment
🚛 Trailers
🧤 Gloves
👕 Clothing
🩺 Equipment
🚪 Stall surfaces
💧 Water sources

The organism survives better in cool, wet conditions and protected mucus, while drying, heat and sunlight reduce survival.

---

👥 STEP 3 — THINK ABOUT PEOPLE

People can unintentionally carry contaminated material between horses.

During an outbreak:

✔️ Wash hands
✔️ Change gloves
✔️ Change contaminated clothing
✔️ Clean/disinfect equipment
✔️ Don't move directly from sick horses to healthy horses

AAEP guidance recommends separating horses into clean, exposed and sick groups when managing an outbreak, with appropriate protective clothing and biosecurity.

A practical principle:

CARE FOR HEALTHY HORSES FIRST. SICK HORSES LAST.

Then change clothing and clean/disinfect appropriately.

---

🌡️ STEP 4 — MONITOR THE OTHER HORSES

During an outbreak, temperature monitoring can be extremely valuable.

AAEP recommends twice-daily temperature monitoring during an outbreak and immediate isolation of horses that develop fever.

Write the temperatures down.

Don't rely on memory.

Record:

📅 Date
⏰ Time
🐴 Horse
🌡️ Temperature
🥕 Appetite
💩 Manure
👃 Nasal discharge
🐎 Behavior

That information can be extremely useful to your veterinarian.

---

🚫 STEP 5 — LIMIT HORSE MOVEMENT

If strangles is confirmed or strongly suspected on a property, your veterinarian may recommend restricting movement of horses on and off the premises.

Outbreak control protocols commonly continue beyond the point when the last horse "looks better."

The ACVIM consensus guidance recommends quarantine extending at least three weeks beyond resolution of the last clinical case, with testing used to establish that horses are no longer infected.

Your veterinarian and local/state animal-health authorities should guide the exact quarantine and release requirements.

---

🧽 HOW DO YOU CLEAN CONTAMINATED EQUIPMENT?

First:

REMOVE ORGANIC MATERIAL.

You cannot effectively disinfect a dirty bucket covered in mucus, manure or feed residue simply by spraying disinfectant on it.

The general process is:

1️⃣ Remove organic material
2️⃣ Wash with detergent
3️⃣ Rinse as appropriate
4️⃣ Apply an appropriate disinfectant at its labeled concentration/contact time
5️⃣ Allow equipment to dry thoroughly

Merck identifies appropriate cleaning and disinfection of contaminated equipment as a critical part of outbreak control.

---

🌱 WHAT ABOUT PASTURES?

Environmental survival is affected by moisture, temperature and sunlight.

AAEP guidance notes that pasture resting periods can be useful, particularly under cold, wet conditions; approximately two weeks may be sufficient in sunny, dry conditions, while six weeks may be needed in damp, cold conditions.

Follow your veterinarian's recommendations for your particular facility.

---

🐴 WHAT ABOUT NEW HORSES?

NEVER ASSUME A NEW HORSE IS HEALTHY JUST BECAUSE IT LOOKS HEALTHY.

A new horse should ideally have a quarantine period before joining resident horses.

Merck recommends approximately 14–21 days of isolation for new arrivals, with monitoring and consideration of screening for subclinical carriers.

During quarantine:

🌡️ Monitor temperature
👀 Watch for nasal discharge
🥕 Monitor appetite
💩 Monitor manure
🐎 Observe behavior
🩺 Follow your veterinarian's testing recommendations

And don't share equipment between quarantine and resident horses.

---

💉 WHAT ABOUT THE STRANGLES VACCINE?

There are vaccines for strangles.

But this is not a simple:

"Every horse should automatically get it."

AAEP considers strangles vaccination risk-based and recommends considering it for horses at increased risk of exposure or on premises where strangles is persistent/endemic.

Vaccination can reduce the risk and severity of disease, but it doesn't make a horse invincible.

Your veterinarian should help determine:

✔️ Whether your horse should be vaccinated
✔️ Which product is appropriate
✔️ Timing
✔️ Booster schedule
✔️ Whether vaccination is appropriate during an outbreak

Vaccination during an active outbreak is a more complicated decision and should be veterinarian-directed.

---

⚠️ STRANGLES COMPLICATIONS

Most uncomplicated cases recover well.

But complications can be serious.

🦠 METASTATIC STRANGLES

Sometimes called "bastard strangles."

The bacteria can spread beyond the typical lymph nodes and create abscesses elsewhere in the body.

This can involve:

• Abdominal lymph nodes
• Thoracic lymph nodes
• Other tissues
• Rarely, the brain

🩸 PURPURA HEMORRHAGICA

An immune-mediated complication that can cause dramatic swelling and vascular injury.

💪 MYOSITIS

Severe muscle inflammation can occur in rare cases.

🫁 AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION

Severe swelling around the throat can compromise breathing.

🫧 GUTTURAL POUCH EMPYEMA

Pus can accumulate inside the guttural pouch and contribute to chronic infection and carrier status.

---

🚨 WHEN SHOULD YOU CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN?

Call promptly if you see:

🌡️ Fever
👃 New nasal discharge
🫧 Swollen lymph nodes
🥕 Loss of appetite
😴 Significant depression
😮‍💨 Difficulty breathing
😣 Difficulty swallowing
🐴 Extended head/neck posture
🧠 Neurologic abnormalities
🦵 Severe weakness
💧 Dehydration

And if you suspect strangles:

ISOLATE FIRST. CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN.

Don't wait for the entire clinical picture to develop.

---

❤️ THE BIGGEST LESSON

Strangles isn't something to be ashamed of.

It doesn't automatically mean someone is a bad horse owner.

It's an infectious disease.

What matters is what happens after you recognize the possibility.

Do you isolate?

Do you call your veterinarian?

Do you stop sharing equipment?

Do you monitor the rest of the herd?

Do you practice proper biosecurity?

Do you test before returning horses to the group?

THAT is responsible horse ownership.

---

🐴 KNOW YOUR HORSE.

Know your horse's normal:

🌡️ Temperature
❤️ Heart rate
🫁 Respiratory rate
🥕 Appetite
💩 Manure
💧 Water intake
🐎 Behavior
🦵 Movement

Because:

YOU CAN'T RECOGNIZE ABNORMAL UNTIL YOU KNOW NORMAL.

And sometimes the first sign of a serious infectious disease isn't dramatic.

It's simply:

"My horse isn't acting like himself today."

Pay attention.

Education matters.

Preparation matters.

Biosecurity matters.

And when in doubt—

🩺 CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN.

🐴❤️ OUT OF THE ARENA RANCH
Education • Rescue • Rehabilitation • Horsemanship

This information is for education and awareness only and does not replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment, quarantine instructions, or individualized vaccination recommendations.📌 A VERY IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY FOR YOUR RANCH

For your educational series, I would make the big red warning box on the graphic:

> 🚨 FEVER + NASAL DISCHARGE + SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES

ISOLATE THE HORSE.

CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN.

DO NOT SHARE EQUIPMENT.

OUT Of the Arena Ranch livestock Rescue

10/14/2026

10/14/2026

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Listing takedown request

Monday	10am - 12:45pm
	4pm - 8:30pm
Tuesday	10am - 12:45pm
	4pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday	10am - 12:45pm
	4pm - 8:30pm
Friday	10am - 12:45pm
	4pm - 8:30pm
Saturday	10am - 12:45pm
	4pm - 8:30pm
Sunday	10am - 12:45pm
	4pm - 8:30pm