Olympic Equine Biosecurity
Equine Biosecurity at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games
The Olympic games have wrapped up for another four years, and the Paralympic games are due to kick off.
How is our equine athlete’s biosecurity managed during the games?
Horses from around the world gathered for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Versailles, including our own Eventing team (Hirado (Jonelle Price), Falco (Tim Price) and Menlo Park (Clark Johnston) and dressage horses Windermere J'Obie W (Melissa Galloway) and Showcase (Louise Duncan).
Here is a summary of the biosecurity journey of our equine athletes to the Olympics and back
1. In Preparation
Horses cannot compete at the Olympics without first having a vaccination for Equine Influenza (EI-horse flu). Horses leaving from NZ would have had to complete the EI vaccination schedule before travel. Because NZ is free from EI, the vaccine is not available for general use on New Zealand resident horses. Luckily, NZEHA has established and runs a small vaccine bank of EI vaccine, which is available for use on horses departing for countries that are not free of EI and may also be used strategically in the face of an outbreak. All NZ horses competing at FEI level internationally would also be up to date on their horse flu vaccine. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) has an app (FEI horse app) where horse health information like vaccinations and temperature checks are stored to allow for the real-time tracking of horses.
2. Pre-Arrival Checks
Before entering the stables, each horse underwent an immediate veterinary inspection, including an official temperature check by FEI veterinarians. Additionally, horses must have had rectal temperature checks twice daily for three days before arrival. All six readings are logged into the FEI Horse App.
2. Grouping by Discipline
Unlike previous events, where horses were grouped by national federation, the 2024 games organized stables by discipline. Eventing horses arrived first, followed by dressage and show jumping horses. This approach minimized the cross-discipline contact and ensured efficient management. Between the Olympics and the Paralympics, all horses left the stable complex, and the area was thoroughly cleaned to stop cross-contamination.
3. Throughout their stay
The FEI implemented rigorous biosecurity measures to safeguard equine health. Information from the twice daily temperature checks was reviewed. If a horse’s temperature exceeded 38.3°C or if the horse showed signs of neurologic disease, it would be isolated and tested for equine influenza and equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).
In addition, the FEI veterinary officials conduct spot checks of horse temperatures on 5% of the horses daily throughout the competition. This proactive approach helped to identify any potential health issues promptly. Horses with fevers were isolated quickly, as this can help prevent disease spread.
As well as the efforts by the FEI veterinarians, other rules were also enforced to reduce the potential for disease spread:
Horses kept at the Olympic stables cannot share water, feed buckets or any gear. They cannot be tied in the shared spaces within the stable complex and horses are not allowed to touch noses with other horses. The games boast dedicated on-site farriers and veterinarians, with many teams also bringing their own farriers, veterinarians, grooms and coaches. Any people in the stables area must wash their hands with disinfectant or change gloves before handling different horses - especially on-site vets and farriers.
5. Returning home
Most of New Zealand’s equestrian athletes are based overseas, and will be able to travel freely to return to their home stables. However, some horses will return to NZ following the games or at the end of the European competition season.
As NZ is free from the main infectious diseases affecting horses in the rest of the world, like horse flu, horses returning to NZ get an extended stay in quarantine in Europe and a further 14 days of quarantine when they arrive back in NZ. This is to protect our NZ horses from Equine Influenza, piroplasmosis and many other diseases we do not have. In quarantine horses have their temperatures checked twice daily and are checked for any signs of being unwell.
Once our equine Olympic and Paralympic athletes return to their home stables in NZ, their riders and grooms will continue monitoring them for a fever, runny nose, or a cough for at least two weeks.
When so many horses come together from all across the world, it is important to remember that prevention is key, and by following these biosecurity measures our Olympians and Paralympians demonstrate their dedication to equine health and welfare before, during and after this prestigious event.
