On Saturday, Feb. 18, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) began receiving accounts of horses being exposed to equine herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4) and Streptococcus equi bacterial infection (also known as strangles).

Both diseases are highly contagious among horses, and strangles is listed on the National List of Reportable Animal Diseases.

As such, the NDA’s state veterinarian, JJ Goicoechea, DVM, has recommended postponing this weekend’s high school rodeo in Moapa Valley because some horses present at last weekend’s rodeo in Boulder City are now showing signs of disease.

“Horses that were exposed last weekend may not exhibit clinical signs for several weeks, and we run the risk of exposing additional horses at the rodeo this weekend,” Goicoechea said. “We may be issuing quarantine orders once confirmed. Our primary focus is stopping the spread and protecting our equine population