World Horse Day has been celebrated on March 1 every year since it was created in 2005 to raise awareness of equine welfare and protection. For the 20th anniversary of World Horse Day, Equine Guelph would like to celebrate by offering horse owners the opportunity to reduce the occurrence of ill horses.

On March 1, horse owners and caretakers around the globe will be able to sign up for the online course, Sickness Prevention in Horses, for free ($85 value) for one day only on The Horse Portal at thehorseportal.com.

The course begins 30 days later, running from March 31 to April 7. Participants will spend five to 10 hours with Equine Guelph expert instructor, Dr. Susan Raymond, and guest expert, Dr. Alison Moore, from the Animal Health and Welfare Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture.  

"On March 1, in celebration of World Horse Day, we aim to ensure everyone has the chance to engage with our welcoming learning community and the evidence-based content that attracts our students," said Dr. Raymond. “Everyone has a role to play in disease prevention and this course covers easy to implement practices for both preventing and controlling disease spread.”

Sickness Prevention in Horses is based on Canada's Equine Biosecurity Standard, which is considered to be one of the most comprehensive and practical guidelines globally. Developed in collaboration with Equestrian Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), it provides detailed and cost-effective measures for preventing the spread of infectious diseases among horses.

Globally, biosecurity standards vary, but Canada's approach is often praised for its thoroughness and its specific focus on practical implementation at the farm and facility level. Every horse owner and caregiver will come away from the course armed with simple ways to control the spread of disease on the farm and at events.

Participants will also access Equine Guelph’s newly upgraded Biosecurity Risk Calculator, sponsored by new education partner, the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC). Get started by checking out this free tool today, which is available by clicking here.

With no specified times to be logged on, The Horse Portal brings together a community of horse caregivers from around the world seeking the perfect combination of lively discussions, easy to understand evidence-based content and flexible learning.  The practical, common-sense training through its short-course format fits into the busy lives of equine enthusiasts.

Equine Guelph promotes the welfare of horses every day with award-winning programs and internationally renowned instructors and guest speakers.  

Take advantage of the free registration only on World Horse Day, March 1 and sign up for Sickness Prevention in Horses, on thehorseportal.com.

(Equine Guelph)