HORSES cannot get the disease, and they are not "carriers" of the disease in the medical sense, the British Horse Society has emphasised.

Horses would not have to be slaughtered on an infected farm, a society spokeswoman said this week. This has been confirmed to the BHS by MAFF animal health advisers.

But they would probably have to be confined for several months, because horses can transmit the infection via their hooves, just as humans can on their boots or cars on their tyres.

The BHS is advising horse owners not to hack out on bridleways, common land, or moorland, and to stay away from roads in rural areas.

Although the movement order does not apply to horses, the BHS advise that horse owners should not transport their horses anywhere at present.

The BHS is also asking those holding events to postpone them until the situation is more stable.

There is no reason why farriers and feed merchants cannot visit yards that only have horses on site.

The spokeswoman added: "The situation concerning foot and mouth is very fluid at the moment, and we should all be taking every precaution to prevent the spread of the disease.

"Once the outbreak is contained, and we can be certain which areas are free of it, then we may reconsider this advice."