Equine disease means horses ruled out of Halifax Show

The show’s 69th instalment in Savile Park will take place without horse classes after an outbreak of equine strangles.

In a statement on Halifax Show’s website, organisers said: “We are sorry to announce the cancellation of the horse sections at the 2015 Show on the 8 August.

“Case of Equine Strangles have been notified in the area. The disease is readily transmitted and in the worst cases can endanger the life of any infected horses.

“The Management Committee has therefore decided, with regret to cancel all light horse, heavy horse and donkey events. None of the other small animal or livestock classes are affected by this decision and the rest of the Show will continue as planned.

“We fully expect the horse and donkey classes will return in 2016.”

It is the first time the show has had to cancel classes because of the disease and it is not the only event that has been affected by the outbreak this summer.

Horse competitions were also cancelled at Honley Show in June, while Woolley Horse Show was cancelled last month after cases of the disease were confirmed.

Equine strangles is known to be one of the most common worldwide equine diseases. It can easily be spread through direct contact between horses, or indirectly through humans and equipment, although it does not affect people.

Clinical signs include depression and dullness, loss of appetite, nasal discharge, development of a cough and fever, while it can cause glands to swell under the jaw or on the neck approximately a week after the onset of clinical signs.