HORSE owners have been urged to remain vigilant after a second horse contracted the contagious anti-respiratory disease strangles in Sherston.

The owners of Manor Farm “locked down” their land and surrounding footpaths when their 28-year-old gelding Josh was struck down with the disease.

Vets have now confirmed that while Josh is recovering, his fieldmate Douglas, who is also in his 20s, had caught the disease.

Owner Lottie Bostock said: “Other horse owners need to be very, very wary and watch out for the symptoms. The earlier you catch it, the better.”

Typical signs of strangles include coughing, nasal discharge, swollen glands, abscesses, raised temperature and loss of appetite.

Josh, who hit the headlines when he went missing for 10 days last summer, and was found have entrangled himself deep in a bramble thicket, is recovering after being isolated and treated with penicillin.

Mrs Bostock said: “Josh is fine, he has finished his medication and we are hoping we caught it in time.

“I don’t think we will ever know where Josh got it from. It will always be a mystery and it is really rotten luck.”

The Bostocks have carried out extensive decontamination to contain the disease and Wiltshire Council were informed of the situation last week so they could allow public access to the farm to be closed.

Mrs Bostock said: "The council have been extraordinarily supportive in helping us close the footpaths. I can’t thank them enough.”

The public footpaths will remain closed for the foreseeable future.