Two cases of Equine Herpesvirus (Rhinopneumonitis) were confirmed in horses that competed at The Four Sixes/National Cutting Horse Association Western Nationals, a show held in late-April and early-May at Ogden, Utah. One Colorado cutting horse was euthanized because of complications of Equine Herpesvirus and another one remains in quarantine, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Ogden is being investigated as a “point of interest for the infection.’  The disease is highly contagious.

At the Kern County cutting in California on May 13, a horse died of the disease and another was rushed to University of California, Davis, according to one cutting horse person present at the event. The show was immediately cancelled. Also, the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association announced the cancellation of its Tejon Ranch Cutting, which was scheduled for May 19-22 (pre-paid entries will be refunded). On Saturday, May 14, a horse died in Idaho. Also, the Breeders Invitational Derby and Classic/Challenge was postponed, though it was reported that no horses at that event exhibited symptoms related to the disease. The Mercuria/NCHA World Series cutting scheduled to take place this weekend in conjunction with the BI  was cancelled. At this time, there has been no word about the NCHA Weekend cuttings or shows in other disciplines/associations.

Quarter Horse News reporter Mark Thompson was at the Breeders Invitational on Saturday and he talked with show producers and cutters who had horses at the event.

QHN reporting on the postponement/cancellation of the BI and World Series cutting

On Saturday, Quarter Horse News reporter Bridget Kirkwood Cook interviewed Dr. Paul Morley, DVM, PhD, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and director of Hospital Bio-security at Colorado State University, about the equine herpesvirus. He answered a number of questions about the diesase.

QHN interview with Dr. Paul Morley

Here is a statement issued by the NCHA

We have received reports today [May 13] from Colorado State Veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM and Utah State Veterinarian Bruce King, DVM that there have been two confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus in horses that competed at the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah (April 29 - May 8, 2011). A draft of a press release from the Colorado Department of Agriculture can be viewed by clicking here.

While we do not wish to unnecessarily alarm you, we wanted to get this information to you as soon as we received it.

If you had a horse competing at the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, you may wish to consult with your local veterinarian on this issue. Any symptoms reportedly typically show within 4 - 6 days of exposure to the virus, and initially are in the form of a fever in the affected animal. The disease is not transmittable to humans.

For further information, you can contact Dr. Keith Roehr at (303/239-4166- office or 303/886-6995 – cell) or Dr. Bruce King at (801/520-4309).

AAEP information about Equine Herpesvirus

Guide to understanding the neurologic form of EHV Infection