by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 22, 2025
Ron Turcotte, who in 1972 rode Secretariat to racing’s first Triple Crown in a quarter-century, died Friday. He was 84.
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame stated: “Ron was a legendary rider and also an inspiration for all he achieved and overcame during his incredible life. Although best known for sweeping the Triple Crown with Secretariat–culminating with a 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes – Turcotte’s Hall of Fame career spanned 18 years and more than 3,000 wins.
“As an ambassador for both the sport and the legacy of the great Secretariat, Ron made countless people into fans of racing through his kindness and the time he gave to all, whether telling stories about Big Red, signing autographs, or posing for pictures. He was a fierce competitor on the track and a gentleman off of it. He will forever be remembered as one of the game’s greats.”
The Belmont victory was historic, and I am still grateful I was present to witness it and write about the moment of a lifetime. Secretariat’s solo run to the finish line (he left the rest of the field behind in another dimension) was something I will never forget, a moment out of time.
That famous run.
“With 70 yards to go, I chirped to him to make sure he did not lose focus,” Turcotte told Tom Pedulla when remembering that magnificent airborne gallop.
“He responded by finding still another gear. Sure that the race was won, that Secretariat would be the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, I was able to soak in everything. The crowd that was going wild. The teletimer. track announcer Chic Anderson’s memorable race call. ‘Secretariat is widening now. He is moving like a tremendous machine!” Turcotte wanted to make sure the big red horse to set a record, and he did.
The jockey’s career was cut short in 1978 when a fall at Belmont Park left him a paraplegic. He made appearances at racetracks to celebrate his career and raise awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. He moved back to his home town of Grand Falls in New Brunswick, Canada, where he was honored with a life-sized statue of himself riding Secretariat.
Turcotte was the last survivor of the triumvirate who oversaw Secretariat’s history-making career. Trainer Lucien Laurin died in 2000 and the horse’s owner, Penny Tweedy, passed away in 2017.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 20, 2025
It’s four months and a bit until Florida’s Winter Equestrian Festival gets under way again, but the improvements at Wellington International have been in the process since last year. The break from showing in July and the first half of August enabled more work to be completed at the showgrounds.
Prize money for the WEF finale, the the Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix, is being increased to $1 million from $750,000 in 2025, while all 4* WEF Grand Prix qualifier prize money has been boosted from $62,500 to $116,100. There will be 68 FEI jumping world ranking classes, while prize money has increased in all 1.25m and higher Junior and Amateur Jumper Classics from $10,000 to $15,000.
When the showgrounds were bought back by the former owners in 2024, that marked a new beginning. Very little had been done to improve the facility during the two-year tenure of the former owners, Global Equestrian Group. The new ownership began work immediately under the supervision of former U.S. Equestrian Federation President Murray Kessler, now CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions.
The efforts under the auspices of Equestrian Lifestyle Partners has included installing state-of-the-art lighting for the main arena, four additional rings — including a grass field that will be ready for showing in 2027 — and adding acreage from adjoining “Pod F” to transition the old venue from cramped to spacious.
By 2027, dressage will move over from the Equestrian Village down the street. Plans also call for a construction of a stadium, new FEI stabling for the jumpers, an indoor arena and refurbished FEI stabling for dressage, among many other improvements that include a more elegant VIP area and an indoor arena.
For 2026, three dressage FEI World Cup qualifiers will be offered.The stands for dressage will be covered for the first time.
New footing is set for the International Arena and its schooling area, while renovations have been completed in the Grand Hunter Ring, which will be used for dressage when that discipline arrives at the main showgrounds.
Wi-Fi around the showgrounds is being improved and roads between the barns are being resurfaced to reduce dust and improve drainage,
Food and beverage enhancements will include food service to the box seats, new Tiki Hut furniture, new self-contained buffet bars and additional action stations for more variety.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 18, 2025
After a long battle with cancer, respected horsewoman Linda Andrisani passed away in her sleep Sunday night.
She set a high bar, both as a trainer and a widely admired judge, whose contributions to the horse industry were always appreciated by her peers and exhibitors alike.
Linda Andrisani
“She set the standard for all of us to emulate, said National Show Hunter Hall of Fame President Jimmy Lee.
“Linda was one of a kind…and of course, the right kind. On a personal note, she was a great friend for over 40 years. I am deeply saddened, but blessed to have had her friendship.”
Linda and her partner, the late Jack Stedding, produced wonderful horses and riders. She also was nearlyas well-known for her fashion sense as she was for her horse sense and freely offered advice.
The winner of the U.S.Hunter Jumper Association’s lifetime achievement award in 2023, Linda “epitomized the definition of achievement; doing a thing successfully, typically with skill, effort and most importantly, with courage, and that’s 100 percent Linda,” as Jimmy put it.
Streett Moore, who rode with her for 50 years and became an admired trainer himself, said she was like a second mother to him.
“If I didn’t have a great day, she would reach out to me and make sure I was okay and say, `Son, don’t worry about it. It will be okay, there’s always tomorrow.’
“She taught me about things that went beyond just learning how to ride.”
Charlie Dennehy recalled that he “always enjoyed showing in front of Linda, because I knew I would get a fair and honest opinion of how well my horse and I executed the `plan.’
“Dad’s last words when I walked in the ring in front of Linda were always along the lines of `Don’t give her any reasons; because she WILL catch them’.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 17, 2025
Victoria Colvin became the only rider ever to win the Platinum Performance/USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship four times on four different horses, as she rode through pain to take the title Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Tori and the Ingram family’s Dicoblue PS, winner of the Classic round the previous day, were able to top the event’s finale, the Handy round to earn the tri-color. Jennifer Hannan and Cellestino finished second, ahead of John French and Milagro.
Tori Colvin and Dicoblue PS (USHJA photo)
Tori had a fall in the warm-up early in the class on another horse. She scratched that mount, but although her ribs were hurting as a result, she persevered to define what makes a champion.
“It was a bit of a fluke accident,” she observed after the class.
“Everything is all right – it was a little painful at first, but it’s okay now. Dicoblue PS took me around beautifully and he’s an incredible horse, so I give it all to him.”
She called the horse, “super-special. I’ve been riding him for a couple of years, and I’ve done mainly derbies with him, but he’s still a little green,” said Colvin, though you couldn’t tell it from watching his style of floating over the fences.
“He has shown once under lights, but he’s not quite used to this atmosphere. I wasn’t completely sure what to expect, but he went out there and was amazing. He didn’t even bat an eye.”
On the challenging 14-obstacle course set by Ken Krome and Meghan Rawlins, there were four high options, with the tallest fence set at 4 feet, 6 inches, while other highlights included a bounce double and a multi-faceted horseshoe, where riders could jump the three sections in any order and any direction.
“It was a difficult course – I felt like I was back to my equitation days,” Tori said.
“There were a lot of unique options, which was super fun and everybody could take their own route.”
Dicoblue earned scores of 92, 95 and 96. Adding in all four high options as well as their leading score from the Classic round, he and Tori had a two-round total of 608. Jennifer’s total was 597, while John finished on 583.5.
Two favorites ran into trouble along the route. Amanda Steege, who was on track to win last year until applause startled Lafitte de Muze at the end of his round, this time lost out when he ticked one of the tiny pieces of wood perched on top of the straw bale jump.
Hunt Tosh, another four-time winner of the class (but not on four different horses!) had a block at the stone wall and chipped in at the out of the in-and-out with Cannon Creek.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 16, 2025
During his long-running career, show jumper Eddie Blue probably is best known for a surprise second-place finish in the 2018 FEI World Cup finals, before going on to be part of the U.S. gold medal team at the FEI World Equestrian Games later that year.
He was a presence at the top of the sport for years, until his final FEI competition last September at HITS in Saugerties, N.Y., with his regular rider, Devin Ryan.
The 16-year-old Dutch-bred son of Zirocco Blue is still winning this year, but now he’s at the national level with a new rider.
“He doesn’t need to jump at the 5-star level anymore, but he’s really enjoying having a job and still having a purpose,” said his new rider, 27-year-old Lizzy Traband.
This month, Eddie took the $25,000 VFC Grand Prix at the Virginia Horse Center under Lizzy’s guidance, while achieving the only clear round in the jump-off.
Lizzy started working with Lori Larrabee’s horse after the Florida circuit, getting pointers from Devin.To keep Eddie tuned up, it’s poles, flat work and cavaletti, all helping the horse mesh with his new rider. Eddie obviously knows how to jump when the time comes.
“He doesn’t need to jump any extra jumps,” Lizzy observed.
“Eddie is an incredibly smart horse. He kind of takes care of me and teaches me quite a lot. He taught me trust,” she said.
“He has all the scope and power in the world. It’s so easy for him, you certainly don’t get that feeling on every horse,” she said.
Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue on the gold medal team at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games. (Photo © 2018 by Nancy Jaffer)
Lizzy faces an unusual challenge, because she doesn’t have a left hand, a situation that could be daunting — but not for this rider.
“In a weird way, I think being born without a left hand has helped me, because my horses have to ride out of a really impeccable balance. They have to have the basics down pat.
“They have to go straight, they have to be equal on both sides, they have to be well-broke on flat, adjustable and ridable.”
While those qualities are important for every rider, “because I’m missing a hand, there’s emphasis put on it,” she pointed out.
Her horses “have to maintain a good quality balance, because I can’t manufacture it without a left hand,” Lizzy explained.
She uses a manual prosthetic that has a strap around her right shoulder.
Lizzy wears a prosthetic when she rides.
“I am able to hold both reins equally and can adjust the reins, but not while I’m on course,” she said, because to do that “I have to stop to adjust the rein.”
That’s obviously not practical during a competition.
“I train in all situations, having reins too long or too short,” Lizzy noted, saying she has “the reins pretty well marked-up on each horse, so I know on each horse what number I need to be in.”
It’s not easy, but Lizzy is good-natured about the effort it takes.
“It definitely adds some complexity to it,” she said, in a masterpiece of understatement.
Her victory in Virginia marked the second year in a row that she won the class. In 2024, she did it on a horse she produced from the ground up.
“I generally don’t win things,” she confessed, saying she often tends to finish third or fourth in a competition.
“I don’t always like to go fast enough,” she confessed.
Lizzy Traband and Eddie Blue at the Virginia Horse Center. (MK Photos)
Last year’s win was on Ocho Cinco BC, owned and bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, which is Tom Grossman’s business.
If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the owner of McLain Ward’s sensational ride, Sapphire. The great mare died 11 years ago, but Ocho carries on her legacy, since he is out of one of Sapphire’s clones, as is another of Lizzy’s mounts, Pura Vida.
Lizzy is based for six months of the year at Newstead Farm in Virginia, formerly owned by the Firestone family. The rest of the team she’s at her family’s Carousel Farm in Ocala, Fla.
She is stepping up to FEI level for the first time at the Hampton Classic, which begins next weekend on Long Island. Riding Regina Liu’s Rublin VD Berghoeve, Lizzy will be competing in the 2-star classes.
Lizzy rode early in her career with the late Elizabeth Solter, and has worked with a variety of trainers. They range from Olympic double gold medalist Joe Fargis, to Will Simpson (an Olympic team gold medalist), german trainer Karl Beyer and Australia’s Thaisa Irwin.
As far as Eddie goes, she said, “We just want him to be happy and enjoying his job. He’s really doing that right now.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 16, 2025
The 2026 U.S. Equestrian Federation Grand Prix Dressage National Championship is moving to the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Fla., from May 13-17, where the atmosphere will offer a special opportunity in the run-up to the FEI World Championships at Aachen, Germany, later that year.
The Grand Arena, set against the impressive pillared backdrop of a 5-star hotel, is a special setting to test American riders at the top of their discipline. Although the Grand Prix competition is usually held among a variety of classes for national titles — from ponies on up — at the Dressage Festival of Champions in Illinois, that will not be the case next year.
“It was important for us to make our Grand Prix National Championship a stand-alone event, as it should be one of the most highlighted events for the qualified combinations. It’s also our intention to make it part of our selection process for the World Championships,” said Chef d’Equipe Christine Traurig.
The atmosphere is stunning, with spectators all around the arena and seated at ringside tables so close to the action that spectators may feel they can practically reach out to touch the horses.
“It is essential we see the top combinations on the same field of play with the same panel of judges in a comparable setting to what our experience will feel like in Aachen, Germany, at the Championships. WEC provides us with everything we need to best prepare our combinations for just that, while also attracting spectators and ensuring a memorable championship,” Christine explained.
The facility hosts the only U.S. competition in the Longines League of Nations for show jumping. It has attracted top riders from Europe and the Americas.
A view of spectators with a ringside seat at the hotel during the Longines League of Nations. (Photo © 2024 by Nancy Jaffer)
On behalf of the Robert family, which owns WEC, Roby Roberts said, “We are honored to host the USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship at World Equestrian Center Ocala. This prestigious event represents the pinnacle of American dressage, and we are excited to provide a stage that reflects the caliber of the athletes competing. With our world-class facilities and commitment to quality, class and distinction, WEC is uniquely positioned to deliver an unforgettable championship experience for competitors, horses, and fans alike. We look forward to welcoming the equestrian community to Ocala and celebrating the best in U.S. dressage.”
The qualification period for the championship begins Sept. 1 and combinations seeking qualification for the championship must earn required scores at FEI events.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 10, 2025
Laura Kraut’s victory on Bisquetta with the only clear round in the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland Sunday was more than just a fantastic American triumph.
The fact that a 59-year-old grandmother captured the feature on the last day of the illustrious Dublin Horse Show was an accomplishment not only for a woman (just 19 females now have won the class since 1934) but more importantly, for someone who redefines statistically what it means to be a competitor in her prime.
She gives new meaning to that famous catchline from a 1971 hair color commercial, “You’re not getting older, you’re getting better!”
“I just can’t put into words how thrilling this is. This is one of the best shows in the world and to win it at my age, I’m pretty excited,” Laura enthused, as the crowd roared its approval of that thought.
The course designed by the masterful Alan Wade for the $582,000 class on the grass field at the Royal Dublin Society Showgrounds heightened the suspense minute by minute, as the best riders in the world toppled fences all around the 14-obstacle route.
A delighted Laura Kraut and Bisquetta finish their winning round. (US Equestrian photo)
The last line of a 1.55 high, 2-meter-wide triple bar five strides (or in one case, six strides) from an oxer-vertical double combination, with a big swing toward the final oxer caught 15 riders. It was a heartbreak for Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez, fault free on Contago until the last, only to topple a rail at the 1.53 meter high and 1.70 wide jump.
But faults were well distributed around the route, which meant no one could take any portion of it for granted.
As the first round neared its conclusion with no clears, it appeared there might be a jump-off of 11 4-faulters. Then came Laura, next-to-last in the order, on the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare by Bisquet Balou that she had been saving for this class.
Her perfectly judged and beautifully ridden effort drew a heartfelt reaction from the fans. All that was left to end the suspense was the appearance of Ireland’s Trevor Breen, whose brother, Shane, had won the trophy in 2019. Trevor’s attempt to make a tiebreaker was over early at the first fence of the 4ABC triple combination, guaranteeing Laura the highest spot on the podium.
“I have an unbelievable horse in Bisquetta. She was just spot-on and I didn’t mess it up for her, so here we are. This definitely goes in the record books for me. To come back this year and have this happen is just thrilling,” said Laura, who was overjoyed to claim her first Rolex watch as a prize, after finishing second last month in the Rolex grand prix at Aachen, Germany.
“I’ve been waiting to win one of these for a long, long time,” said Laura, the highest-ranked woman on the Longines FEI standings at number 18..
On a more serious note, she commented, “To win anything on an international stage like this when you’re representing your country, it just gets you. It’s what we live for, it’s what we work for. It’s just like a dream come true.”
Laura and Bisquetta at the Rolex wall.
Laura was coached by her partner, Nick Skelton, a five-time winner of the Dublin class before he retired.
“I had a good feeling this morning,” said Nick
“That mare’s been knocking on the door she’s a great mare. She’s really careful and she’s a real trier.”
That applies to Laura as well.
“She is 24/7,” Nick reported.
“If there’s a show tomorrow morning, she’ll be at it. She’s a workaholic and she deserved it.”
Asked for his opinion of the route, Nick said, “This is one of the great grands prix in the world. Alan Wade built a brilliant course; you needed scope, carefulness, rideability and he put it all in that one round and got a great result.”
As he reflected on the course he built, Alan said, ““I don’t think I’d have done anything different. The time was comfortable and you couldn’t say we were forcing them into mistakes. Maybe some will think we should have had 10 in the jump-off, but with lighter material you can get softer faults. Sometimes you get one or two go clear, or I’ve had it go all the way up to 17. It’s not an exact science and you have to be fair to the horses and the occasion.”
Nick Skelton, in the dark grey vest, and Robert Ridland, second from right, watch tensely as Laura jumps the course.
Second place went to the fastest 4-faulter, Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa with the Irish-bred Major Tom, who had a rail at B of the triple. Third was Ireland’s own Shane Sweetnam on James Kann Cruz, with a knockdown at the third fence, a 1.60-meter-wide oxer over a liverpool. There was speculation that if Shane had gone later in the start list, instead of second, he might have profited more from watching others ride.
But it’s interesting to note that in addition to the American victory, all three of the top finishers are based in the U.S.
“Winning the grand prix at Dublin is on a par with winning the Aga Khan. We missed the Aga Khan,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland, referring to his team’s fourth-place finish Friday in the Nations Cup.
“This is one of the great trophies in sport and for Laura to do it on a day when there was only one clean was pretty amazing.”
Someone had texted Robert near the end of the class, expressing concern about the fact that no one had gone clean and noting, “the course is winning.”
Winner Laura Kraut with runner-up Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, left, and Shane Sweetnam of Ireland, who was third.
But Ridland replied to the texter, “This is great, because it’s fewer horses for Laura to jump off against and zero horses to jump off against is as few as you can get.”
Commenting on Alan’s course, he said, “It was a rider’s course and had to be ridden correctly all the way around. No one problem was overly difficult or unfair, but there were a lot of places where you could have a rail.”
When he walked the course, he said, “I thought it was one of the best courses of the year. Alan is a master of using all the technical tests combined with his familiarity of the characteristics and slope gradients of the arena.
“Not all horses and/or riders are always on their game…Laura was. Not only did Bisquetta jump great, but Laura mastered the track to perfection. It indeed was a flawless ride.”
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2025
Matt Morrissey, who has worked in show management with his father, Michael Morrissey and late uncle, Gene Mische, has been named general manager of the Desert International Horse Park. He is also a founder of the Major League Show Jumping series.
The facility previously was led by CEO Steve Hankin, who was bought out by the venue’ s three other partners last month. (to read that story click here)
In announcing Morrissey’s appointment, the Horse Park statement said he “will provide strategic leadership and will reinforce DIHP’s commitment to providing world-class competition as the premier equestrian destination on the West Coast.”
The facility hosts 19 weeks of competition from October through April. The show management team of Pat Boyle, Phil Devita, Ashley Keeler, Skyler Brittner, Lori Hill, David Runk, Duncan Peters and Joe Wilson will stay in place.
“This team’s extensive experience in producing world-class equestrian events and their deep understanding of what makes venues successful will be invaluable as we continue to build the equestrian sport on the West Coast and provide opportunities for our athletes to compete at the highest levels,” said DIHP partner Jeremy Smith..
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 8, 2025
Despite a bravura performance from McLain Ward and Callas, the U.S. just missed the podium in the Dublin Horse Show’s Nations Cup, where a victory would have meant its second year in a row taking the coveted Aga Khan trophy.
McLain was one of only seven riders to go double clear Friday over the course designed by Alan Wade for the eight-country lineup at the jam-packed Royal Dublin Society showgrounds. But the victorious Dutch had three riders achieve that double-clear mark of success. Their fourth rider on an inexperienced horse was the drop score in both rounds, so they were able to finish with zero penalties.
Harrie Smolders leads the way in the Dutch victory gallop.
Even with a marvelous final clear trip from new European Champion Richie Vogel on Cloudio, the Germans settled for second on 4 penalties, with former world champion event Sandra Auffarth leaving all the rails in place on Quirichi H during both her outings, following a fall in the warm-up area before her first round.
The Irish had a 4-fault total in a slower time than the Germans to take the remaining spot on the podium. But what was exciting for that team was double-clears from their young riders, Tom Wachman (Tabasco de Toxandria Z) and Seamus Hughes Kennedy (ESI Rocky). There’s the show jumping future for that nation right there.
The Netherlands’ Wout Jan van der Schans, in his first season as chef d’equipe, appropriately wore both a traditional Dutch orange tie and a broad smile as he celebrated his team’s second major triumph of the summer.
The stands in Dublin are always packed for the Nations Cup.
“We were the whole week planning to win the Aga Khan this year,” said Wout Jan, who also helmed a Longines League of Nations victory in Rotterdam during June.
“We did it with three double-clear rounds. What can you have better?”
He saluted the perfect performances of Kevin Jochems (Camilla van de Helle) and William Greve with the magnficent Grandorado TN N NOP) but the chef had special words for his anchor man, Harrie Smolders (Mr. Tac). If Harrie had toppled a rail, there would have been a three-way jump-off among those who eventually wound up on the podium. But the Dutch claimed the gold trophy free and clear.
“With Harrie, he’s such a cool head, you can build on him,” Wout Jan said. It was the third time his nation had taken the title; the other wins were 1999 and 2010.
“It was way too long ago that we won here, so we had to change that,” said Harrie.
“We had some horses that were jumping incredible, so it came all to us today.”
Harrie Smolders, the man of the hour for the Dutch.
For the U.S., which finished on 8 penalties, Aaron Vale — winner of two major grands prix since May with Carissimo 25 — was on Styles for a clear in the first round, but 8 penalties in the second as rails fell at the two final fences.
Alex Matz, son of Olympic veteran Michael Matz, had a rail on his initial trip and a foot on the tape at the water in the second round with Ikigai. Laura Kraut, the highest-ranked woman on the Longines standings at number 18, was clear in the first round with Tres Bien Z but dropped the back rail on the triple bar three fences from the end of the course.
U.S. Coach Robert Ridland looked at the big picture and called it “a good day, just not a great day, just missing the podium.
“I was okay to be right behind the Irish in Dublin, but only if they won! So it’s their fault, that they were third.”
McLain Ward and Callas. (US Equestrian photo)
Putting the class in perspective, he noted, “We had two young horses in their first Nations Cup (Styles and Tres Bien) and they proved to be more than up to the task…two promising horses for the future. Alex Matz in his first major Nations Cup was solid, and of course, McLain does what McLain does.”
Click here for team results and here for individual results
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 7, 2025
A property in Sussex County, N.J. has been quarantined after one horse developed highly infectious equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM).
The horse, a 20-year-old mare, developed acute clinical signs Aug. 3, and was euthanized. A week earlier, another horse on the property had similar neurological signs and was euthanized without diagnostic testing. EHM, often deadly, is the neurologic form of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) infection.
The remaining horse on the premises are under quarantine and being monitored. No horses from the property, which is in an undisclosed location, have been moved, making the risk of disease spread very low.
“The department took swift action to prevent the disease from spreading to other horses by enacting a quarantine, which stops movement of horses in and out of the properties and puts in place preventive measures to contain the virus,” said state Secretary of Agriculture Edward Wengryn.
The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse and can cause respiratory problems, especially in young horses and spontaneous abortions in pregnant mares. The neurologic form of the virus can result in death. The incubation period of EHV-1 is typically two to 10 days.
Clinical signs include respiratory disease, fever, nasal discharge, depression, cough, lack of appetite, and/or enlarged lymph nodes. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs typically include mild incoordination, hind-end weakness/paralysis, loss of bladder and tail function, and loss of sensation to the skin in the hind end.
The virus spreads readily through direct contact with infected materials. The virus is endemic in the country and although highly infectious, it does not persist in the environment for an extended period and is neutralized by hand soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and sunlight. The virus does not affect humans and other domestic animals, except for other Equidae and Camelids (llamas and alpacas).
The NJDA Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory is available to assist veterinarians with the EHV-1 testing. For contact information, go to the lab website: www.jerseyvetlab.nj.gov. Owners should consult with their veterinarian prior to taking any action, as the clinical signs of infection with the neurological form of EHV-1 (EHM) are common to many other diseases. EHM is a reportable disease in New Jersey. If an owner has a horse exhibiting neurologic signs or suspects Equine Herpes, they are directed to call their veterinarian immediately.
