When a horse contracts a disease, the owner or caretaker usually focuses solely on getting the horse healthy again and protecting others on the farm from illness. But in reality, certain ailments could have community-, region-, and even industry-wide effects. For instance, an equine viral arteritis or contagious equine metritis outbreak could shutter the breeding industry, or a major equine influenza or equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) outbreak could spell disaster for the competition world. Two industry organizations are seeking to abate these risks, leading the charge to comprehensively track and provide information on equine disease threats.

On March 28 the American Horse Council (AHC) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) issued a letter to the horse industry regarding equine disease outbreaks in the United States. In this communication, the organizations outlined current horse health issues facing the industry and sought equine community participation in developing a National Equine Health Plan (NEHP), which includes an Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC).

According to AAEP representative Nathaniel A. White II, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, professor of surgery at Virginia Tech’s Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, in Leesburg, when it comes to communication plans for disease outbreaks, the horse industry is fragmented: "Other livestock groups already have health and communication plans for disease outbreaks. The United States Animal Health Association and Veterinary Services, which is part of the (USDA) American and Plant Health Inspection Service, agree that a communication plan for horses is needed to help protect horse health and the industry. Working together with state animal health officials and USDA, the horse industry will be able to better monitor and prevent the spread of diseases which threaten horse health and the economic health of the industry."

To overcome communication roadblocks and create an equine disease tracking system, White said that AHC, AAEP, and USDA officials first explored the idea for the NEHP during the 2010 AHC meeting in a workshop focused on emerging equine diseases