Equine influenza outbreaks have been making headlines lately on both sides of the Atlantic, prompting As in human flu cases, vaccinated horses can still come down with equine flu, but the vaccine can lessen the disease’s severity. Photo: AdobeStock/vchalup horse owners and managers to review their biosecurity and vaccine protocols. Equine flu isn’t usually fatal, but it is highly contagious and can cost a horse weeks of training and competition time. Dr. Nimet Browne of Hagyard...

Good biosecurity practices are key to disease prevention when horses are grouped together at competitions. (Randi Muster/Mustphoto, Inc.) Ask horse owners to name their most-feared horse diseases, and chances are equine herpesvirus, or EHV, will be on the list. Recent reports of EHV in Texas, Louisiana, California, and Kentucky serve as a reminder that, with the spring competition season getting underway, it’s important for equestrians to be vigilant and take preventive measures, from...

In recent years, the months of the show season have included news of disease outbreaks that can pose a threat to the health of performance horses. More and more, horse owners are searching for simple and effective techniques to help protect their horses from these threats year round. Knowledge and practice of basic biosecurity has become critical for horse health. Whether traveling, accepting new horses into a facility or performing day-to-day tasks around the farm, an eye to sanitation and...

I would describe today as a Between Day; somewhere between good and bad, and for my persona, somewhere varying between “sociably acceptable and bear with sore head and irritated butt”. There is a standing guideline within the British Military called the 1/3rd - 2/3rd Rule – of the time available, use 1/3rd for your own planning leaving 2/3rds for your subordinates. I think it works in reverse when preparing for the first arrival of horses, grooms, staff and OMG..they are...

Upper Marlboro, MD – The 2013 Capital Challenge Horse Show (CCHS), presented by The Gochman Family, is pleased to announce that the 2013 prize list has been mailed out and the PDF is available for download on the official horse show website www.capitalchallenge.org. Entries should be submitted as soon as possible as space is limited, and they are taken on a first come, first served basis. For those receiving a printed prize list in the mail, please be aware of a correction to the...

Show Jumping and Driving Coverage on USEF Network 2004 Olympic Champion Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil competed in the inaugural CSI2* Live Oak International, recognized as a top three ‘Specialty Event’ by the North American Riders Group (www.PicsOfYou.com) Ocala, FL – Live Oak International, the only equestrian event in North America to feature both world-class driving and show jumping, takes place from March 20 to 24 at Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, FL. For the first time, live coverage of...

Kentucky's Perspective and Position Updated: March 7, 2013 Equine Herpes Virus Type 1 (EHV-1) is described to be a highly contagious pathogen that is ubiquitous in horse populations throughout the world. Infections in horses can result in a variety of ailments that include respiratory disease, abortions, neonatal deaths and the neurologic disease termed Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Recently, alerts of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy being diagnosed in multiple states have been...

Lexington, KY - The Florida Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a second horse associated with the Ocala Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) has presented with neurological signs. To date, there have been a total of 7 horses linked to the Ocala outbreak (two neurological cases, and five having tested positive with no evidence of neurologic disease being seen). All positive tests have been reported as Equine Herpes Virus Type 1, the wild strain. An additional horse (Wellington area and no...

Caroline V. Roffman and Her Highness O Wellington, FL - The 30th Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI-W kicked off with all the horses passing the FEI jog on the beautiful International Horse Sport Showgrounds in Loxahatchee, FL. There was a friendly camaraderie in the air as well as a bit of welcome relief from the heat on a sunny South Florida day as the competitors settled into their routines and vendors arranged their wares for a busy shopping weekend. There was concern about the recent positive...

Lexington, KY - The Florida Department of Agriculture has confirmed the positive diagnosis of Equine Herpes Virus 1 (EHV-1) in horses in Florida. Six of the confirmed cases are linked to the HITS competition in Ocala. An additional horse in the Wellington area (with no identified direct or indirect connection to the Ocala show grounds) has been tested and found to be EHV-1 positive. The Florida Department of Agriculture has posted a detailed report regarding this situation and is updating the...