In the wake of a Warren County horse testing positive for equine herpes myeloencephalopathy caused by equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1), Hidden River Farm in Neshanic Station has cancelled its Nov. 17-19 show.
The 25-year-old quarter horse mare who contracted the disease was euthanized, but since other horses at the home farm were exposed to the positive horse, the facility has been quarantined for at least 21 days. A history of recent contact with other horses is being performed to check for any other potentially exposed horses, since EHV-1 spreads quickly from horse to horse and has a high morbidity rate.
The decision was made to cancel this weekend’s Tewksbury Farms Stable show at Hidden River because a neighboring competition that ran last week just announced that they were advised that the EHV horse attended their show.
Robert Cole of Hidden River pointed out that “the incubation on this infectious disease is 28 days on the outside, so current health papers will be of no real value until there has been a suitable waiting period.
“Our hearts go out to the people and animals affected by this. Please stay home, keep your animals safe, and have a safe, healthy, happy Thanksgiving. Hopefully we will be able to run the December A show.”