RICHMOND Equestrian Centre has been forced to shut down for at least a month after a case of strangles was identified in a livery horse.

Nick Marlowe, the owner, made the announcement at the North-East Dartmoor and Exmoor Enthusiasts show on Saturday, which had hired the centre for the day.

It had a Ponies UK qualifier and entrants from around the region brought along more than 40 trailers.

Vets had been treating a livery horse on Mr Marlowe's premises at Breconbrough Farm for suspected equine herpes for several days, prior to the illness being confirmed as the highly infectious strangles.

"We are just devastated," he said. "It has probably been the worst weekend of my life."

Local events had been run at the centre during the week prior to Saturday's discovery that the animal had a very mild form of strangles.

The aftermath has had a traumatic effect on Mr Marlowe, who came into the equestrian business as a complete novice two years ago.

"I must have had 150 very abusive telephone calls this week and been called a liar. But if I had had the slightest inkling that this was strangles, do you think I would have held any events?

"We were never advised at any point to stop people coming here before strangles was diagnosed.

"I have spent a fortune over the last two years on the centre and I wouldn't want to do anything to damage the good reputation we had built up. There are livelihoods at stake.

"You would think we had a strangles incubator here and produced the bacteria on purpose when, in fact, someone brought it to us."

The whole programme of events for June has been cancelled until vets give the all clear.

"The incubation period is ten days. I believe once we are free of any new cases for seven days, the vets will re-test all the horses."

Nichola Gregory of the British Horse Society applauded Mr Marlowe for his courage in coming clean about having the infection on his yard.

She said: "Hats off to him. He did exactly the right thing and it gives everyone who has used the centre the opportunity to watch out for the symptoms and to take precautions.

"You wouldn't believe the number of people who try to keep it a secret and that is the reason it spreads."

Sunday's Zetland Pony Club showcross at Manfield was cancelled at the last minute when organisers heard that strangles was in the area.

Mr Marlowe said he had offered to stage the event for free on September 15 if the Zetland want to re-run it. Others may follow this week as a precaution.

Strangles is an infection of the lymph glands producing a raised temperature, nasal discharge and swelling around the jaw. It can cause difficulty in swallowing and breathing.

Yard managers and horse owners are advised to isolate the horse and call the vet at the first sign of symptoms.

All other animals the infected horse has been in contact with must also be isolated and monitored.

The organism is passed from abscesses and nasal discharge and survives in the environment and water troughs.