10 min read Last updated: January 2026 Worried equine piroplasmosis could slip into your yard via healthylooking imports or breeding mares? Learn UKready, vetbacked steps to protect horses and avoid costly disruptionscreen atrisk horses using cELISA + PCR within 15 daysplus clear tactics for ticks, isolation, and safer handling. Quick Summary Short on time? Here are the key takeaways. Area: UK EP Status What To Do: Add EP to your yard risk plan and speak to your vet about local risk. Assume carriers may be present even if horses look healthy. Why It Matters: Silent carriers can seed outbreaks with major welfare and economic impacts. Common Mistake: Assuming theres no risk because EP isnt notifiable or horses appear well. Area: Targeted Testing What To Do: Use cELISA plus PCR within 15 days before travel, sale for export, or breeding, and test horses with credible exposure histories. Keep the horse tickfree after sampling. Why It Matters: Combined testing catches carriers and prevents travel or breeding setbacks. Common Mistake: Relying on serology alone or testing too far in advance of departure. Area: PreTravel Prep What To Do: Book approved lab slots early, complete cELISA/PCR 15 days predeparture, and stable in a tickcontrolled environment until you leave. Document treatments and dates. Why It Matters: Prevents new exposures that could flip results and derail plans. Common Mistake: Leaving testing and tick control to the last minute. Area: Import/Export Rules What To Do: For US export, secure a negative EP cELISA 3090 days preentry and plan for quarantine retesting on arrival. Seek vet certification that horses are ectoparasitefree. Why It Matters: Meeting partnercountry rules avoids refusals, delays and extra costs. Common Mistake: Assuming UK import standards match US or other countries requirements. Area: Breeding Risk Control What To Do: Screen mares and stallions before breeding and do not breed EPpositive horses. Prioritise testing for imports and those with overseas exposure. Why It Matters: Transplacental transmission risk is very high from infected mares. Common Mistake: Breeding unscreened imported or travelled mares. Area: Tick Control What To Do: Perform daily tick checks in spring/autumn (and mild winters), use vetapproved acaricides, and use suitable coverage during turnout. Manage pasture and hedgerows to reduce tick habitat. Why It Matters: UK tick species are established and can transmit EP when active. Common Mistake: Stopping tick control after the first frost or during mild winters. Area: Yard Biosecurity What To Do: Use one needle/one syringe per horse, disinfect bloodcontaminated kit, and isolate all new arrivals pending vetagreed testing. Keep a sharps container and clear protocols accessible. Why It Matters: Simple routines block iatrogenic and contactbased spread. Common Mistake: Reusing needles or sharing clippers without proper disinfection. Area: Isolation & Management What To Do: If EPpositive, isolate immediately with dedicated tools/PPE, enforce strict tick control, and consult your vet on management and treatment options. Do not breed infected mares. Why It Matters: Isolation limits onward transmission while allowing safe daytoday care. Common Mistake: Mixing positive horses back into the herd because they look well. In This Guide What is equine piroplasmosis and is it in the UK? How does EP spread to and within the UK? Should you test your horse for EP and when? Importing or exporting: what UK owners need to know Recognising, isolating and managing EP-positive horses Practical yard-level prevention that works in the UK Policy, industry guidance and what we recommend Equine piroplasmosis (EP) isnt front-page news in the UK, but it should be on your radar if you import, breed, compete internationally, or share a yard with horses that travel. Quiet, subclinical carrier horses are already in Britain and the consequences of establishment would be severe for the UK equine industry.Main takeaway: The chance of EP entering the UK via obvious, sick horses is very low, but its medium via subclinical carriers and transplacental (mare-to-foal) spread is very high. Test risk horses, control ticks, dont share needles, and isolate positives.What is equine piroplasmosis and is it in the UK?EP is a tick-borne blood disease of horses caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, and EP-positive carriers are present in the UK. It is not currently notifiable and imports are not routinely screened, leaving gaps in control.UK status matters because carriers can look healthy yet harbour parasites for years, enabling silent spread. A British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)-published risk assessment in the Equine Veterinary Journal concluded the risk of entry via acutely ill horses is very low, but the risk via subclinical carriers is medium, with potentially high social, economic and welfare impacts if EP establishes in the native herd (EVJ risk assessment; readable summary via Mad Barn).UK surveillance reports have noted the presence of EP-positive equidae in Britain and highlighted conditions that could enable forward transmission (Animal Health Surveillance: EP status in the UK).This risk assessment highlights that EP positive animals are able to enter and are currently present in the UK, and that conditions do exist that could allow forward transmission of the disease. Dr Faith Burden et al., BEVA-published study (summary)How does EP spread to and within the UK?EP spread in the UK is most likely via transplacental (mare-to-foal) transmission, while exposure via ticks, contaminated needles, or blood is low but not zero. Importation of subclinical carriers poses the primary entry risk.An EPIC Scotland qualitative assessment aligned with BEVAs findings: tick bites, needle reuse and blood contact are low-risk pathways at present UK prevalence, but vertical transmission from mare to foal is very high risk when the mare is infected (EPIC Scotland policy brief). That makes breeding decisions critical.UK conditions matter too. Ticks that can transmit EP are established and expanding; while cooler months reduce their activity, mild, wet British autumns and winters can still support ticks in sheltered pasture and hedgerows. This makes robust tick control sensible throughout spring and autumn and, in milder regions, into winter.Other, preventable yard-level routes include re-using needles or sharing blood-contaminated equipment. Good biosecurity sharply reduces those risks.Should you test your horse for EP and when?Yes test with cELISA plus PCR within 15 days before any international travel, sale for export, or breeding, and test any horse with credible EP exposure history. Carriers exist in the UK, so targeted screening is prudent.The recommended testing approach is a combined serology and molecular strategy: cELISA detects antibodies and PCR detects parasite DNA. A recent veterinary review advises testing no longer than 15 days pre-travel and then keeping the horse tick-free until departure to avoid new exposures that could confound results (diagnosis review).Who should test?Imported horses or those returning from endemic regionsMares intended for breeding (especially if imported or exposed overseas)Yard newcomers from high-risk histories (e.g., unscreened imports)Horses headed for US importation (the US requires a negative EP cELISA)Practicalities: Keep horses stabled or in a tick-controlled environment after sampling; apply an acaricide and perform thorough tick checks. A fly sheet or hybrid mesh rug can reduce bites during turnout; see our breathable fly rugs and sheets and tick-aware designs from LeMieux and Shires.Importing or exporting: what UK owners need to knowThe UK does not mandate pre-import EP testing or ectoparasite-free certification, but the USA requires a negative EP cELISA 3090 days before entry plus quarantine testing on arrival. Plan accordingly to avoid costly delays or refusal.BEVAs risk assessment identified a policy gap: the UK falls behind World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) recommendations by lacking compulsory pre-import serology and ectoparasite certification (BEVA summary).For export to the United States, follow USDA APHIS rules:Obtain a negative cELISA for EP 3090 days pre-entry at an approved labExpect a standard 3-day USDA quarantine with retesting for EP, dourine, glanders, and EIAIf any EP test is non-negative, quarantine may be extended up to 28 days for repeat testing at 14-day intervals (up to two cycles) (USDA testing overview)Pre-export best practice from peer-reviewed guidance: if EP status confirmation is needed, test within 15 days of travel using cELISA and PCR and keep the horse in a tick-free environment until departure (diagnosis review). Treat the horse with an acaricide and have your vet certify absence of ectoparasites to meet stricter partner-country expectations and reduce fail risk at the border.Quick tip: For the journey window, stable the horse and use full-neck coverage where turnout is unavoidable. Our weatherproof winter turnout rugs with neck covers from WeatherBeeta help reduce tick attachment in hedged fields during mild UK winters.Recognising, isolating and managing EP-positive horsesIf a horse tests EP-positive, isolate immediately from other equidae, avoid breeding due to very high transplacental risk, and consult your vet on management and treatment. Many positives are subclinical carriers that can be ridden with strict biosecurity.Clinical EP (fever, anaemia, jaundice, lethargy) is uncommon in the UK; subclinical carriage is more likely. However, any positive horse can transmit infection under the right conditions. Yard steps:Immediate isolation in a separate stable and paddock; use dedicated tools and PPENo shared needles, syringes, clippers, or dental equipmentStrict tick control for the positive horse and neighbours; daily tick checksDo not breed infected mares due to the very high risk of transplacental transmission (EPIC Scotland)Practical kit that helps: dedicated stable bandages and boots for the isolation box, a yard grooming kit reserved for the positive horse, and a sharps container as part of a comprehensive first aid setup to prevent any contaminated needle transmission. If isolation extends into colder months, fit an easy-clean stable rug to keep your horse comfortable without sharing gear.Treatment considerations: While drugs such as imidocarb dipropionate are used, courses can be painful and carry risks of colic, toxicity, and even death. For US import, treatment and re-testing can demand 1+ years quarantine and repeated drug protocols, which many owners find impractical (treatment overview). In these cases, rehoming within the UK or sourcing an EP-negative horse for export is often the kinder, safer path.At Just Horse Riders, we recommend building a yard biosecurity plan that includes an EP response protocol, a dedicated isolation area, and labelled equipment to prevent cross-use.Practical yard-level prevention that works in the UKTo keep EP risk low, control ticks, never share needles, and screen high-risk imports before mixing with the herd. These simple measures directly target the known UK transmission routes.Tick control for UK seasons:Daily post-grazing tick checks in spring and autumn; continue during mild, wet wintersUse acaricide sprays or shampoos per veterinary advice and reapply as directedTurn out in lightweight, breathable mesh with belly and neck coverage where appropriate; see our protective fly rugs and sheetsFor wet, chilly days below 810C, swap to a rug that balances warmth and coverage; explore our neck-cover options in turnout rugsBiosecurity on the yard:One needle/one syringe per horse alwaysDisinfect tack and yard tools if blood-contaminated; keep an equine first aid and sharps disposal setup accessibleIsolate all new arrivals for a minimum period agreed with your vet; add EP testing for imports, high-risk histories, and breeding stockQuick tip: Mark and store isolation-area kit separately. Colour-coded bandages and labelled grooming tools make it obvious they belong to a single horse. Shop dedicated grooming essentials and robust bandages and boots for your biosecurity cupboard.Support the basics: Good nutrition and low stress wont prevent EP, but they help horses handle any health challenge better. Consider targeted supplements and horse care if your vet recommends them during isolation or recovery.Policy, industry guidance and what we recommendLeading UK assessments recommend making EP notifiable and mandating pre-import serology plus ectoparasite-free certification to align with OIE guidance and protect the national herd. Yard-level vigilance remains essential meanwhile.The EPIC Scotland team summarised priority actions for the UK:Major recommendations included: Escalation of EP to a notifiable disease status compulsory serology testing of equidae 30 days prior to importation and veterinary certification of equidae as free from ectoparasites. EPIC Scotland policy briefUntil policy catches up, UK owners can protect their horses and yards by adopting those very steps voluntarily: test at-risk horses, insist on tick-free certification for imports, and keep breeding mares screened. As BEVAs authors note, conditions exist in Britain that could allow forward transmission if carriers slip through (EVJ risk assessment).At Just Horse Riders, we recommend a simple three-point plan:Screen: cELISA + PCR within 15 days pre-travel/breeding for at-risk horsesShield: combine acaricides with coverage from well-fitted fly rugs or weather-savvy turnout rugs with necksSeparate: isolate positives and new arrivals with dedicated kit; stock up via our curated Shires and WeatherBeeta yard essentials in the Secret Tack Room clearance when availableFAQsIs EP present in the UK, and should I test my horse?Yes. EP-positive carriers are present in Britain and EP is not notifiable or routinely screened on import, so targeted testing makes sense for imports, breeding mares, and horses with relevant travel histories. See the UK status summary (Animal Health Surveillance).Whats the main EP transmission risk on UK yards?Transplacental transmission from an infected mare to her foal is very high risk. Ticks, contaminated needles, and blood are low-risk pathways at current UK levels, but still warrant control (EPIC Scotland).What EP tests are accepted for travel and how close to departure should I do them?Use cELISA serology with PCR and test within 15 days of travel, then keep the horse in a tick-free environment until departure (diagnosis review). For US entry, a negative EP cELISA 3090 days pre-arrival is required, with retesting in US quarantine (USDA APHIS).What happens if my horse has a non-negative EP test for US import?USDA may extend quarantine up to 28 days, with up to two retests at 14-day intervals. Persistent positives typically cannot enter; treatment and prolonged quarantine can extend beyond a year and carry welfare risks (USDA; treatment overview).Can I ride or train an EP-positive horse in the UK?Often yes if the horse is a subclinical carrier without acute signs, but isolate from nave horses, prevent tick exposure, and never share needles or blood-contaminated equipment (BEVA summary).How can I reduce tick exposure during UK turnout?Use acaricides, daily tick checks, and appropriate coverage such as fly rugs with necks in springautumn, switching to weather-appropriate turnout rugs in cool, wet spells. Keep hedgerows trimmed and avoid long grass where ticks quest.What yard kit helps with EP biosecurity?Maintain a dedicated isolation grooming kit, separate bandages and boots, a sharps container as part of first aid, and washable stable rugs for isolated horses. Check our value picks in the Secret Tack Room clearance when in stock.Pro tip: If youre importing or preparing for high-risk events, build a simple checklist that covers cELISA/PCR testing dates, tick treatment schedules, isolation arrangements, and rug choices for the current UK weather pattern. It keeps everyone and every horse safer. Shop the Essentials Everything mentioned in this guide, ready to browse. Shop Fly RugsShop Turnout RugsShop Grooming KitShop Boots & BandagesShop Stable Rugs