Don’t Learn the Hard Way With Equine Disease Outbreaks

Don’t learn the hard way or wait for another outbreak to make disease risk reduction a priority on your farm. Do it now. Your horse’s life might depend upon it.
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Our veterinarian vaccinates our horses against the appropriate infectious diseases. Dorado travels to competitions, inherently putting him at a greater risk for infection. | Photo: Erica Larson/The Horse

It started in May 2011 with a single horse. Then a few more. Then multiple horses a day. Before long, horses all over the Western U.S. and Canada were testing positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1)—some suffering from devastating neurologic signs. And I, six months into my time working for The Horse, was wondering what on earth I’d gotten myself into, communicating with veterinarians and animal health officials daily and trying to accurately pin down facts about and report on a constantly evolving situation.

This EHV-1 outbreak, which stemmed from the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championship, in Ogden, Utah, is an example of how quickly, easily, and quietly equine infectious disease can spread. The more than 400 horses in attendance dispersed before vets identified the first cases and anyone realized they might have had a viral tagalong for their return trip. Once those horses got home they mingled with other resident equids, exposing them to the pathogen. Those equids exposed others, and the virus spread.

All told, officials believe more than 2,100 horses were exposed to EHV-1 following that horse show. They confirmed 90 cases of EHV-1 or its neurologic form in 10 states; 13 horses died (TheHorse.com/19924)

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Written by:

Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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