Strangles is one of the most common diseases diagnosed in horses worldwide, with over 600 outbreaks estimated to occur throughout the UK each year. Strangles can affect any age, sex or breed of horse and remains a widely feared disease because of its debilitating effects and its potential economic impact on equestrian businesses.
Strangles is a disease caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi that can be easily spread directly through horse to horse contact and indirectly through contaminated equipment, handler clothing and boots etc.
Whilst strangles is not spread through the air (airborne), the bacteria can spread when a horse with strangles coughs or snorts.