What is a recommended practice to reduce disease transmission between horses during grooming?

• A. Share brushes between horses for efficiency.
• B. Clean and disinfect tools between uses and wash hands.
• C. Leave tools dirty and reuse across horses.
• D. Skip washing hands if gloves are worn.

Answer: (B)

Pathogens can spread from horse to horse via grooming gear and your hands. Cleaning and disinfecting tools between animals removes debris and reduces the chance that bacteria or viruses are carried to the next horse, while washing hands after each grooming session stops any lingering contamination from moving onward. Gloves aren’t a substitute for proper hand hygiene, since they can become contaminated and transfer pathogens if not changed or cleaned properly. Reusing dirty tools or sharing gear without disinfection greatly increases the risk of transmitting disease, so thorough cleaning, disinfection, and handwashing are essential practices.