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York State
Horse Health Assurance Program |
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(NYSHHAP)
The New York State Horse Health Assurance Program
The NYSHHAP, a voluntary certification program, is designed to promote and to teach a pro-active approach (or “an ounce of prevention” theory) to equine health, care, and welfare through the use of certain “best management practices” or standards.
The New York State Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Industry is pleased to offer this ”wellness” program which addresses both equine health and equine facility management issues. The incorporation of best management practices in a farm’s daily routine, may reveal a minor problem before it becomes a larger, more expensive issue. Preventing problems before they occur makes sense and so does saving money. Wellness is helping your horse maintain a healthy lifestyle and preventing problems before they start.
The equine industry has unique challenges due to the public traffic in facilities, increased travel of animals, increased importation of animals, lack of adequate quarantine areas for newly purchased animals, and limited options for manure disposal.
The program identifies areas of risk common to all equine operations, which include aspects of the farm operation, horse care, and personnel management. The plan focuses on animal health, animal/human traffic patterns, commodities, manure, and pastures.
A resource manual was developed and within this Standards and Certification Manual, each of these areas of risk is addressed in a section with a set of standards. After each standard, an explanation of the potential hazards it attempts to eliminate is provided. Operations are asked to use their veterinarian as a source of information and help in implementing the program.
The farm must be in 100% compliance with these basic equine management standards to be certified and once certified must pass an annual inspection to maintain their enrollment in the program.
The Standards and Certification Manual is provided free to anyone requesting a copy as well as an Addendum of Sample Guidelines which provides written protocols for implementing some of the standards.
Certification Process: The certification process involves the evaluation of each equine operation against the standards outlined in the Standards and Certification Manual. Steps to certification include the following:
- Request the Standards and Certification Manual from the NYSHHAP Coordinator: Contact Dr. Lyda W. Denney at lyda.denney@agmkt.state.ny.us or call 315-430-2529
- Complete the "Certification Self Study" form included in the manual on page 45; submit to NYSHHAP Coordinator: Dr. Lyda W. Denney, PO Box 809, Vernon, NY 13476
- The operation will be contacted by the NYSHHAP Coordinator to schedule a certification visit with the NYSHHAP Coordinator; the same standards are used at this visit that were evaluated in the Certification Self Study step by the operation
- Receive certification acknowledging the achievement at the time of the operation visit
Recognition: The Division of Animal Industry will provide for approved operations a NYSHHAP "Certified Member" recognition sign, a "Biosecurity" sign, a certificate acknowledging exceptional commitment to horse health management, and a notebook containing educational materials. A "Microchip Benefit" is available allowing member operations a supply of microchips. The microchip yields both a unique identification number as well as the animal's temperature when read!
We encourage horse operations, large and small, private and commercial to consider participating in the New York State Horse Health Assurance program. It provides a mechanism to manage a number of health risks associated with equine populations. Your participation and input will also drive the evolution of the program to better respond to future challenges.
You may receive further information by contacting Dr. Lyda Denney: phone #315-430-2529, e-mail lyda.denney@agmkt.state.ny.us
About NYSHHAP
EIA Card | EIA Packet
Questions and Answers
Information
May 2010 Newsletter
NYSHHAP Microchip Benefit Registration Form for a Horse
Certified Members of the NYSHHAP
Read the article about the New
York State Horse Health Assurance Program that appeared
in Equus Magazine.
Read the August 2005 article.
NYSHHAP Press Release
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