On the afternoon of Wednesday, May 18, there was reportedly one horse in the Weatherford, Texas area that had tested positive for the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1). The horse had been at the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah. The horse reportedly has been quarantined since its arrival in Weatherford, and was thought to be at a very low risk of shedding the virus prior to the horse’s isolation from all other horses. The NCHA is not aware of any additional horses in Texas that have been reported with cases of the virus as of the afternoon of May 18. The Texas Animal Health Commission has been contacted, and the facility where the horse that had tested positive for the EHV-1 virus is located has reportedly been quarantined.

The NCHA will continue to provide updates through our www.nchacutting.com and Facebook page as more factual information becomes available. Updates on matters relating to Texas can also be found at the Texas Animal Health Commission.

Additionally, on May 17th, all NCHA-approved shows for the weekend of May 20-22 have been cancelled by the respective affiliates or show producers putting on those events. The NCHA appreciates this proactive move by show producers in a nationwide show of precaution and solidarity to help stop the spread of the contagious and potentially deadly EHV-1 virus among horses. The Texas Quarter Horse Association has also cancelled the cutting classes that had been scheduled within the Texas Classic Horse Show scheduled for May 24 – 25, 2011. Reports from the TQHA are that the other (non-cutting) disciplines of the Texas Classic will still be conducted.

The NCHA continues to closely monitor the situation of reported cases of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) that were reportedly first clinically diagnosed in horses that attended the NCHA Western National Championships in Ogden, Utah conducted April 29 – May 8, 2011. The virus can be contagious among horses, but is NOT transmittable to humans. While the NCHA does not want to unnecessarily alarm horse owners, we do want to stress the severity of this virus, and be a clearinghouse of factual information so you can make informed decisions on this matter regarding your personal horses and production of NCHA-approved events.

Credible (but not official) reports indicate cases of EHV-1 in several Western states (Colorado, Utah, California, Washington, Idaho, Arizona and Western Canada). While reported cases of the virus are currently in Western states, the interstate transport of infected horses could cause a much wider spread of the virus if we are not all very cautious at this time.

The NCHA supports the decisions (by affiliates and show producers across the country) to cancel shows that were made in the best interest of horse health. While the NCHA is at present not mandating cancellation of all shows nationwide, we do strongly urge all show producers to consider the possible horse health risks of conducting an event until the extent of the virus can be determined and contained. The NCHA knows that many qualified veterinarians are working on this EHV-1 issue, and we trust that during the week of May 23rd we have additional factual information and clinical diagnosis on the geographic extent (and any possible new case reports) of the virus that will allow us to make the best informed decisions for shows scheduled during the weekend of May 27 – 29, and AQHA/NCHA Weekend shows scheduled for the weekend of June 3 – 5, 2011.

If you are the owner or trainer of a horse that has exhibited neurological symptoms of EHV-1, had a fever without neurological signs of the virus, or that has died from what you believe to be EHV-1, please contact the NCHA office by calling Pam Robison at 817/244-6188, ext. #111, or by e-mail at [email protected] .