We all cough into our elbow to try to keep our germs to ourselves and we stay at home when unwell, but what if you are a horse? Equine Guelph's TheHorsePortal.ca course, Sickness Prevention in Horses, is coming up faster than event season (and fly season)!

For this March 20-31 offering, the course will be open to the grassroots of the equine industry for free -- Equine Guelph is helping teenagers (ages 14-17) to learn good habits to keep horses from getting sick.

Spring is prime time for everyone to clean the barn, schedule vaccinations and plan upcoming outings with their horses. Don’t let disease thwart those careful preparations. Protecting the health of your horse is easy with Equine Guelph’s Sickness Prevention in Horses online short course offered on TheHorsePortal.ca

Just in time for spring cleaning, students will learn the difference between cleaning and disinfecting and what should be done before a new horse occupies a stall. Students will learn best practices for cleaning the wash stall that everyone uses and how to disinfect those items just purchased at a tack swap. Biosecurity tips for trailering horses will be covered as well as vaccinations, reducing fly breeding grounds and other practical tips to defend herd health.

Students will learn about disease prevention and procedures vets and horse owners follow when faced with a diagnosis of disease such as Herpes virus. Based on the Canadian standard for equine biosecurity, and kindly sponsored by Zoetis, the Sickness Prevention in Horses short online course breaks down important information into easy, practical tips that can be used right away.

Registration is available for adults for $95 at TheHorsePortal.ca and, for a limited time, teens (ages 14-17) register free.

(With files from Equine Guelph)