11/19/2025
Please keep your horses home and safe until this is over!
โผ๏ธ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐จ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐: ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐๐-๐ / ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฑ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ
Over the past few days multiple veterinary clinics and industry outlets have reported cases of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) โ including neurologic cases (Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy, or EHM) โ that have been traced to horses that attended major November events in Central Texas (Waco/Stephenville). If you travel to shows or have horses that attended those events (or were near horses that did), please read this and act now.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐-๐ / ๐๐๐ (๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง)
EHV-1 is a common equine herpesvirus that most often causes respiratory disease and, in pregnant mares, abortion. A small proportion of infections progress to a neurologic form (EHM) when the virus causes damage to blood vessels in the spinal cord/brain and produces neurologic signs.
The virus spreads by respiratory secretions (direct horse-to-horse contact, shared equipment, handlers' clothing/hands) and also via contaminated surfaces and people. Because infected horses may shed virus before they show signs, outbreaks at multi-day events can seed cases across regions.
๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐๐จ๐ซ (๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฏ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ)
Early detection is critical. Watch exposed horses closely for:
- Fever (often the first sign) โ measure temperature twice daily for 14 days.
- Coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, decreased appetite (common with respiratory infection).
- Neurologic signs: incoordination/ataxia, hind-limb weakness, urinary/faecal incontinence, inability to rise, stumbling, progressive paralysis. These are emergency signs โ contact your vet right away.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐-๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐
There is no single โcure.โ Treatment is largely supportive and symptomatic: anti-inflammatories, nursing care, fluid support, and sometimes antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections. For neurologic cases, intensive supportive care and strict confinement are required.
Antiviral therapy may be used in some cases, but evidence of clear benefit is mixed and such treatment must be started early and be veterinarian-directed. Discuss options with your vet if you suspect EHV-1/EHM.
๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ โ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ (๐๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ)
If you were at the affected events or have horses that may have been exposed, implement these immediately:
Isolate any exposed horse from other horses for at least 14 days and monitor temps twice daily. A fever is often the first sign.
Notify your veterinarian and local/state animal health authority if you suspect disease โ EHV-1/EHM is reportable in Texas. Early reporting helps trace and limit spread.
Limit movement. Do not travel horses to other events or farms until cleared by your vet. Restrict people traffic on/off the property.
Strict hygiene: dedicated coveralls/boots for barn staff, disinfect high-touch surfaces (buckets, tack, trailers), wash hands thoroughly between handling horses, and change clothing after visiting other barns or events. Use footbaths and disinfectants known to inactivate enveloped viruses (follow product instructions).
Clean and disinfect trailers and tack; do not share equipment between farms.
Segregate new arrivals and recent travelers for observation before mixing them with resident horses.
๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง โ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ง๐จ๐ฐ
Vaccines do not completely prevent infection, but they reduce respiratory disease and viral shedding and may lower the risk of severe outcomes. For EHV-1, routine vaccination is an important layer of defense, especially for horses that travel.
Boost high-risk horses before travel: if your horse is showing waning immunity or it's been several months since their last EHV vaccine, talk to your vet about a booster โ particularly for horses that will be on the road for the NCHA Futurity, NRHA Futurity, NFR, BFA, and other high-traffic events coming up. These events are the busiest time of year for horse movement and present higher exposure risk.
Work with your veterinarian to time boosters appropriately โ many protocols recommend pre-travel boosters and ensuring maternal vaccination status in broodmares to reduce abortion risk.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฌ โ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Neurologic EHV (EHM) can be severe and sometimes fatal, and affected horses may require prolonged, intensive care. EHM cases also often trigger quarantines and event cancellations, which have major economic and emotional impacts for riders, owners, and event organizers. Rapid reporting and strict biosecurity are the best defenses against larger outbreaks.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐จ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ (๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ)
If you were at suspected events (or exposed to horses that were), assume exposure and act: isolate, monitor temps twice daily for 14 days, and contact your vet immediately if fever or other signs develop.
Postpone non-essential travel for horses from exposed barns until cleared. Donโt move horses between facilities.
Check vaccination status for all horses โ especially those that travel. Call your vet today to discuss boosters if travel is planned for the coming weeks (Futurities, NFR, BFA, etc.).
Implement strict on-farm biosecurity steps (isolation, footbaths, dedicated clothing, disinfect tack & trailers, temperature logs). Keep detailed records of visitors and horse movements.
Sign up for EDCC/TAHC alerts and follow updates from your state vet and trusted veterinary partners. Real-time info will help you make decisions fast.
๐๐ฅ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง
When it comes to EHV-1 and EHM, nothing replaces the guidance of a trusted veterinarian. Every horse, facility, and travel schedule is different, and your vet can help you make the most informed decisions about quarantines, testing, vaccination timing, booster schedules, and when itโs safe to resume hauling. If you have any concern โ even a mild fever, exposure risk, or changes in behavior โ contact your veterinarian immediately. Early communication and proactive care are the strongest tools we have to protect our horses, our barns, and our entire competitive community.
๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ค ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ:
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/alerts
