Strengthening Your Yard’s Defences: Biosecurity specialists

LIVERYLive Partners with Ag Plus Biosecurity Specialists.

Managing a busy yard is a balancing act, but biosecurity is your most vital task. We’ve teamed up with Ag Plus Biosecurity Specialists to bring expert, science-led advice to the LIVERYLive community. Together, we’re helping you turn complex protocols into a seamless, daily yard culture.

On a busy livery yard, where horses, people, and daily routines overlap, disease risk can spread faster than you might think. With multiple horses arriving and leaving, shared equipment in daily use, and teams working across different roles, even small gaps in biosecurity can have real consequences.

For yards already using Livery Live to manage tasks, track care, and keep everyone connected, biosecurity becomes much easier to embed into everyday routines. Clear communication, consistent processes, and accurate record-keeping all play a key role in reducing risk across the yard.

At Ag Plus Biosecurity Specialists, we work alongside yard owners, managers, staff, and horse owners to make biosecurity practical and achievable. Our science-led approach is designed to fit into the way your yard already operates—supporting you to strengthen protocols, improve consistency, and respond confidently when challenges arise.

Why Biosecurity Matters on Every Yard

Biosecurity isn’t just about responding to outbreaks—it’s about preventing them in the first place. On busy yards, where horses, people, and equipment are constantly interacting, consistent day-to-day practices are essential.

By building simple measures into daily routines—and reinforcing them through clear systems and communication—yards of all sizes can significantly reduce the risk of disease spread.

Practical Biosecurity Tips for Every Yard

Maintaining good biosecurity doesn’t have to be complicated. These steps can be easily incorporated into daily yard management:

• Regular cleaning and disinfection
  Routine cleaning helps reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses. Pay particular attention to stables, tack rooms, and feed areas.
• Clean transport thoroughly
  Horseboxes and trailers should be cleaned and disinfected between journeys to prevent cross-contamination.
• Manage shared equipment carefully
  Items such as buckets, girths, brushes, and boots should always be cleaned between use, particularly on busy yards.
• Quarantine new arrivals
  Isolate new horses for at least 21 days to monitor their health—even if they appear well.
• Establish clear yard policies
  Structured procedures for new arrivals, visitors, and horse movement help ensure consistency across staff and clients.
• Be prepared for outbreaks
  Having the right support in place can make all the difference. Ag Plus Biosecurity Specialists are on hand to provide practical guidance and assistance when it’s needed most.

Biosecurity Tips for Visiting Professionals

For those working across multiple yards—coaches, vets, physios, and farriers—your role in preventing disease spread is vital:

• Wash hands between yards
• Disinfect boots before and after each visit
• Use separate outerwear (e.g. coats) for different yards
• Clearly outline biosecurity expectations in your terms and conditions
• Follow all yard-specific protocols and sign-in procedures
• Keep accurate records of visits and horse contact
• Carry a disinfectant travel kit (e.g. EndoSan)

Expert Insights from Ag Plus

Effective biosecurity is built on consistency. Key recommendations include:

• Review your biosecurity plan at least annually
• Monitor transport equipment closely—tyres can also carry pathogens
• Keep vaccinations up to date, including Strangles and EHV
• Take horses’ temperatures daily—remember: “Hot before snot”
• Track horse movements on and off the yard

A Shared Responsibility

Biosecurity works best when it’s part of the yard culture and supported by clear communication—something platforms like Livery Live make easier to manage:

• Communication is key – expectations should be clear and consistently reinforced
• Yard owners and managers set protocols and maintain standards
• Staff and visiting professionals follow procedures and best practice
• Horse owners stay informed and support yard policies

Reducing disease risk is a shared responsibility, and a collaborative approach across the whole yard makes it far more effective.

At Ag Plus we’re looking forward to supporting the Livery Live community with best practice advise and top tips to enable yards to operate more safely and confidently.

For more information about Ag Plus Biosecurity Specialists, visit www.ag-plus.co.uk or contact Gail directly at [email protected].