Vigilance at the Desert Holiday Series Amidst Equine herpesvirus Outbreak
THERMAL,Calif. – The Desert International horse Park is hosting its prestigious Desert Holiday Series show-jumping competition, drawing riders adn horses from across the globe. Though, the event is proceeding wiht increased biosecurity measures following a recent outbreak of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) linked to a competition in Waco, Texas.
The Desert Holiday Series features a wide range of competition levels,from youth riders to internationally ranked professionals,and attracts meaningful crowds,particularly during weekend evening events in the main arena.Organizers and competitors alike are prioritizing preventative measures to protect the health of the horses.
“It’s very important that we… make sure that the regulations are keeping it all enclosed, and everyone does their part to make sure that it doesn’t spread,” stated Irish rider Conor swail, a frequent competitor at the park. The interconnected nature of the winter show circuit means the virus has the potential to spread rapidly between events.
the horse park is actively monitoring horses arriving from states with confirmed cases,housing them in designated,isolated stabling areas. As of now, no horses exhibiting symptoms have been identified on site. Veterinarians are closely observing animals for both respiratory and neurological signs of the virus.
Dr. David Runk, the horse park’s biosecurity officer and attending veterinarian, emphasized the severity of the neurological strain of EHV-1. “In most cases the horses will go down and not be able to move… a lot of times they’re euthanized,” he explained, noting the high mortality rate associated with this strain. He stressed the importance of horse owners working closely with their regular veterinarians before, during, and after travel to shows.
California state officials have confirmed that no cases of EHV-1 or the neurologic form, Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), have been linked to the current outbreak within the state.They reccommend a 21-day isolation period, twice-daily temperature checks, and the avoidance of shared equipment for horses that have recently traveled to affected states.
The Desert holiday Series will continue throughout the month, with heightened precautions remaining in place until the national outbreak stabilizes. the event remains open to the public. Local veterinarians report no suspected cases of the virus have been identified in the Coachella Valley.
