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.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 29, 2025
Cecile Hetzel Dunn was an ecumenical horsewoman, whose efforts benefited a variety of breeds, from Arabians to Friesians, Andalusians to saddlebreds.
She spent decades serving the entire horse industry, working as a licensed official and volunteering with a variety of governing bodies. Cecile was a mainstay of the U.S. Equestrian Federation’s board of directors. She served as a founding member of that panel after the organization succeeded the old American Horse Shows Association.
A recipient of the federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, she died Saturday at the age of 89.
Cecile Hetzel Dunn and the USEF’s David O’Connor.
Cecile rode a pony on her family’s Arabian farm before she could walk and became a skilled competitor who went on to devote her life to equestrian sport and education.
After graduating from Stephens College in Missouri, she worked at Northwestern State University to develop its equestrian studies program. She returned to Stephens as a professor and director of their Equestrian Department.
Moving on to Salem International University, she developed its Equine Careers and Industry Management degree program, as well as a horsemanship teaching certification program. As a professor and coach, she inspired young equestrians by helping them set realistic goals and guiding them.
She went to her first AHSA convention in the late 1950s (she wasn’t quite sure of the year) at the posh Breakers hotel in Palm Beach.
“I thought I was in fairyland,” she said, recalling how her eyes lit up when seeing the jewels and sparkling floor-length gowns worn at the social events that once were a key part of the convention in a very different era.
Those were the days when it was “100 percent” about who you knew. For instance, she told me that after a saddlebred trainer for whom she worked wanted her to judge a horse show, he simply called a friend at the AHSA office and asked that Cecile be given a judge’s card–even though she had no training in that area.
The only question asked was whether she was 21. When her age was confirmed, Cecile got her card.
Things are different today, of course, and Cecile served17 years on USEF’s Licensed Officials Committee, among other committees that furthered the mission of the federation. She officiated for 49 years, working as a steward as well as a judge. Among the judges’ cards she held were those for Andalusian/Lusitano, Connemara, Friesian, National Show Horse, Welsh and Western.
Cecile also was a founding member of the Arabian Horse Association and served as the Region 6 Director and on various AHA committees.
She was married to the late Norman Dunn, who also was active with USEF. They are survived by two daughters, Martha Rattner and Merri Murdock-Krehl.
In lieu of flowers, Cecile’s family has requested that donations be made to the Arabian Horsemen’s Distress Fund in her memory. For information, go to: https://www.horsemensdistressfund.com/
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 14, 2025
Town Halls throughout the summer and autumn have been scheduled at a number of shows across the country by the U.S. Equestrian Federation, with the idea of discussing equine well-being among those who compete in a variety of breeds and disciplines.
In July, forums on equine well-being were held at HITS in New York and the Oaks in California. Here are some of the suggestions offered at those sessions:
- Evaluate judging criteria for hunters and encourage judges not to penalize horses for expressiveness that’s appropriate for the level
- Increase the number of shows and horses that are drug tested
- Drug test the top placed horses in all classes
- Require horses on the grounds for 24 hours prior to competing in any class $10,000 or more
- Task USEF with assigning stewards to competitions to reduce concerns about conflicts of interest
- Guidelines for blood (a rule change will be considered by the USEF board Aug. 26)
- Minimum requirements for horses and/or riders to demonstrate aptitude at a level before they can move up to a new level
- Installation of surveillance cameras at stalls, in wash racks, in lunging and schooling areas
- Offer educational programs for grooms on ethical treatment, and also educational programs helping trainers know how to teach new grooms about proper handling.
One town hall has already led to an initiative. After the audience brought up concerns about the treatment of horses in the wash racks at shows, the Oaks show organizer Nilforushan Equisport Events posted signs at the wash racks in both English and Spanish the next day, letting grooms and competitors know that spraying horses in the face is prohibited.
More town halls are scheduled this year. In August, the sessions are set for the USEF Pony Finals Aug. 5 in Lexington, Ky., and on Aug. 22, for the Dressage Festival of Champions in Wayne, Ill.
During September, they will be at the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals Sept. 8-13 in Wilmington, Ohio; the All-American Classic Sept. 10 or 11 in Indianapolis and the Oktoberfest at Stable View, Aiken, S..C. Sept. 27,
Oct. 4-11, the session will be during the Morgan Grand Nationals in Oklahoma City and Oct. 30 at the U.S. Dressage Finals in Wilmington, Ohio. Dates are yet to be decided for December through February.
For those who can’t make one of the sessions at a show, an on-line forum will be held before the end of the year. Send any thoughts about the state of welfare for show horses, or how to improve it, to feedback@usef.org.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 27, 2025
Aaron Vale, who had two major grand prix wins already this year at Devon and Upperville, was in the spotlight across the Atlantic on Sunday in Dinard France, taking the 500,000 Euro Rolex fixture on his stalwart Carissimo 25.
Dinard winner Aaron Vale and Carissimo 25. (Photo by McKenzie Clark for US Equestrian)
Many of the riders from this month’s European Championships tried their luck over the course designed by Jean-François Morand, albeit some with different horses. Top U25 rider Nina Mallevaey of France rode her championships mount Dynastie de Beaufour, but lost her stirrup partway through the tiebreaker and had to settle for third in 40.64. Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands and Mr. Tac made a good effort with 40.51 seconds
Aaron and the horse known as Ducky blew them away in 38.77, and then the rider was ready for his champagne.
“I just had to stay clear and go full throttle,” he said of his round, adding how impressed he was by the atmosphere at the showgrounds.
Click here for results
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 15, 2025
After 14 years of litigation, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has encountered a judicial setback to its plans for eliminating wild horses from more than 2 million acres of public land in Wyoming, home to the Adobe Town, Salt Wells Creek and Great Divide Basin herds.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit found serious legal failings in the BLM’s concept. contending it acted arbitrarily and capriciously in adopting its plan, violating federal law by failing to consider a core requirement of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. That is, managing wild horses and burros as part of a thriving natural ecological balance on public lands.
“This is a significant win for America’s wild horses and a meaningful check on BLM overreach. The court has made clear that the BLM cannot sidestep the law to appease special interests and eliminate wild horses from their rightful habitat,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of American Wild Horse Conservation.
“Wild horses are meant to roam free, not be rounded up and erased from the landscape. We remain committed to fighting for the future of Wyoming’s iconic wild horse herds.”
Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., equine program director for the Animal Welfare Institute stated: “This ruling sends a clear message: the Bureau of Land Management cannot simply erase wild horses from the landscape because they pose an inconvenience to the agency. These animals are federally protected and must be managed humanely, not eliminated. The court’s decision upholds a key tenet of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, setting a strong precedent for the protection of wild herds across the west.”
American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), the Animal Welfare Institute, Western Watersheds Project and their allies have secured a legal victory that delivers a major setback to the largest attempted eradication of wild horses in U.S. history.
“Public lands are suffering not from wild horses, but from the industrial livestock lobby’s corrosive influence. The BLM removes protected mustangs only to make room for cattle and sheep—subsidized at rock bottom fees—while ignoring the real ecological damage wrought by these domestic herds,” said Erik Molvar, executive director of the Western Watersheds Project.
“This ruling demands accountability and exposes who’s truly driving degradation on the range.”
The case challenged a BLM Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment that would have eradicated wild horses from two Herd Management Areas (HMAs) by changing their status to Herd Areas (HAs) with population targets of zero, and slashed the population in a third HMA by over half.
In planning documents, the BLM repeatedly acknowledged that areas under consideration for its management plan contained adequate forage, water, space, and other resources to sustain wild horse herds and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance. The court found the agency acted arbitrarily and capriciously by failing to assess whether its decision was consistent with ecological balance—a central mandate of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
The ruling states that the BLM cannot “use the RMP process to skirt its Wild Horse Act obligations.”
However, it also leaves room for BLM to attempt to revise and potentially reinstate its plan, underscoring the need for continued oversight and advocacy.
The lawsuit was brought by American Wild Horse Conservation, the Animal Welfare Institute, Western Watersheds Project, wildlife photographers Carol Walker and Kimerlee Curyl and sociologist and author Chad Hanson. They are represented by the public interest law firm Eubanks & Associates, PLLC. Two other wild horse protection organizations each filed separate lawsuits in the case.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 21, 2025
At the age of 19, Mai Baum was still showing his class over the weekend at the Event at Rebecca Farm, winning the 4-star Short before taking a bow and retiring from competition in the same place where he won his first 3-star.
Mai Baum and Tamie Smith in the ring for the last time. (Shannon Brinkman photo)
With Tamie Smith aboard, the aptly nicknamed Lexus broke the Montana event’s dressage score record with 22 penalties, did a solo turn on cross-country so everyone could watch and turned in a show jumping double-clear to earn his final trophy.
He was ridden in the victory gallop by his owner, Alex Ahearn, who also did the honors in the retirement ceremony, where he received a wreath of flowers. Mai Baum was the first U.S. horse since 2007 to win the Kentucky 5-star when he triumphed there in 2023, making him an instant hero who will be missed.
