Two saddlebred at the Virginia Horse Center for the Shenandoah Classic competition tested positive for Equine Herpesivrus-1(EHV-1). Both were taken to a veterinary clinic where one was euthanized and the other is stable after receiving medical care.
Approximately 80 horses are under quarantine after being stabled in the same barn as the two positive horses at the Lexington, Va., facility. They are prohibited from competition and were placed in isolation by the State Veterinarian’s Office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Each is being monitored twice daily for fever (temperature over 101.50° F) and other clinical signs.
No other horses at the show are considered exposed and the competition will continue. However, the unexposed horses also are having temperatures and clinical signs monitored.
The U.S. Equestrian Federation’s Equine Health and Biosecurity Veterinarian, Dr. Katie Flynn, has been in direct communication with all parties regarding the response to the confirmation of EHV-1.
“I applaud the VHC staff, the show veterinarians, competition management, and show participants for their prompt response and collaborative efforts to immediately implement biosecurity measures to protect the health of all equines on the premises,” she said.
Based on the assessment of the premises by the Virginia State Veterinarian’s office, and the immediate activation of the VHC biosecurity and disease response plan upon confirmation of EHV-1, USEF supports continuation of competition with the enhanced biosecurity measures and monitoring of horse health through the twice-daily temperature recording and observation for signs of illness.
For more information on EHV-1 or the latest on disease outbreaks visit https://equinediseasecc.org/.