Cases of a highly contagious disease affecting horses have been found in the island.

The government and horse owners are urging people to spread the word about the disease ’strangles’, which is contagious among horses, ponies and donkeys.

The disease, which can be fatal, is easily spread by direct contact between horses or indirectly by handlers, contamination of the environment or equipment shared with infected horses.

One Glen Maye owner wrote in Facebook group Manx Equine Services that two cases were confirmed on their farm. They’re now following bio-security procedures and keeping their horses isolated.

’I would just like to say that this has been a really horrible few weeks for me and my family, and especially my horses, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone! So please can everyone with horses familiarise yourselves with the symptoms of strangles, as it seems to have been overshadowed by the recent equine flu epidemic, and act quickly should you suspect anything,’ they wrote.

Symptoms may include: nasal discharge, fever, loss of appetite, depression, lymph node swelling and abscesses mainly of the head and neck.

The government is aware of cases and referred concerned owners to this website: www.gov.im/categories/business-and-industries/agriculture/horses/strangles/

An Isle of Man Transport spokesman confirmed that no cases of strangles had been reported among the Douglas tram horses.

As a precaution, they have asked members of the public not to feed the tram horses or walk through their fields in Blackberry Lane, Onchan.

They added that they’re ’not concerned’ about members of the public patting the horses.