This spring marks the beginning of the summer horse show season.   In Virginia horses are required to have a Coggins test for equine anemia, but many Virginians will be traveling to shows in other states to attend equestrian events or trail rides.  Those events where horses are in contact in close spaces are likely places for horses to spread any diseases that may be present.  Of particular concern is the neurological form of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) resulting in Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM).

Symptoms of EHM include:  wobbly gait, fever, weakness in the hind end, and dribbling of urine.  Sometimes the disease is fatal, so it’s quite important that owners take precautions to prevent the spread of infection.

 If your horses have a chance of being in close contact with other horses,  Here is a link for tips on how to minimize the spread of infection.  Tips include isolating your horses for a couple of weeks after events, thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting equipment and hands, and trying to minimize any direct contact between your horse and other horses.

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