11/20/2025
Hey Folks after speaking with our Veterinarian out of abundance of caution we Will be stopping haul in horses until this is cleared
Horses First
Thank you
Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) outbreak that originated in Waco, Texas.
This is a quickly evolving situation so please be aware that things will change as we get deeper into this outbreak and more information becomes available.
In the meantime, here is some basic information on EHV.
What is EHV-1 and why is it a concern?
EHV-1 is a highly contagious virus that can cause:
• Respiratory illness
• Abortion in pregnant mares
• Neurologic disease (Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy, EHM)
Neurologic cases may show hind-end weakness, incoordination, urine dribbling, and in severe cases, the inability to stand.
What you can do as a horse owner during this time is:
1. Monitor your horses for any signs of illness such as:
• Fever
• Nasal discharge
• Cough
• Depression
• Loss of appetite
• Hind-end weakness or incoordination
• Drooping tail
• Urine dribbling
• Pregnant mares aborting
• Stumbling
• Or any other neurological signs
2. If your horse was at Waco or Gutherie, has been at any show or large event in the past 14 days, or has been exposed to a horse that was at Waco or Gutherie:
• Monitor your horse's temperature twice daily (morning and evening).
• A re**al temperature ≥101.5°F is a concern as well as any of the above-mentioned signs of illness.
3. Practice good biosecurity & quarantine.
Horses pick up EHV-1 when they’re exposed to the virus from another infected horse or from a contaminated environment.
The virus spreads in a few main ways:
• Nose-to-nose contact
This is the most common route as an infected horse sheds the virus in nasal secretions, and another horse can inhale or come into contact with those droplets.
• Aerosolized particles
When an infected horse coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets carrying the virus can travel through the air and be inhaled by nearby horses.
• Shared equipment
Anything that touches an infected horse’s nose or mouth can carry the virus including but not limited to water buckets, feed tubs, halters/lead ropes, grooming tools, and tack, especially bits and bridles.
• People spreading it
Humans can carry the virus on their hands, clothing, boots, and equipment and transfer it to another horse without realizing it.
• From infected mares to foals
Pregnant mares infected with certain forms of EHV-1 can pass the virus to their unborn foal, leading to abortion or weak newborns.
Therefore, horse owners can help prevent the spread of EHV by:
• Limiting unnecessary movement and co-mingling of horses during this outbreak. Missing a barrel race, roping, or other event right now is minor compared to the cost of losing your horse.
• Quarantining and monitoring for signs of illness any horses for a minimum of 14 days if they have recently traveled and 21-28 days if they have been exposed to a sick horse. This is especially important as horses go and come from Vegas in the next few weeks.
• Isolating any sick horses and handling those horses last to avoid accidental contamination of healthy horses. Also, you don’t want sick horses to be upwind of healthy horses.
• Practicing good hygiene by disinfecting equipment and washing hands between horses and using dedicated clothing/boots around newly arrived or sick.
• Vaccinating as recommended by your veterinarian.
*** NO vaccine is labeled to prevent the neurologic form; however, vaccination does help reduce viral shedding and respiratory disease. ***
As always, these are general guidelines so please consult with your veterinarian for guidance on your situation especially if you have horses showing signs of illness.
