11/20/2025
Yes - the show is still on!
You may have noticed that your social media feed is currently inundated with posts about neurologic herpesvirus. Here’s some information specifically for our area!
WHAT’S GOING ON?
There is currently an outbreak of neurologic herpesvirus in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. The origin of the outbreak appears to have been a barrel race event in Texas Nov 5-9. There have been 7 cases reported so far, and a handful of tests are pending for affected horses.
WHAT IS NEUROLOGIC EHV-1?
Equine herpesvirus 1 is a common, highly infectious virus of horses. Also known as “rhino,” this virus typically causes respiratory symptoms and pregnancy losses. A less-common strain of the virus causes neurologic symptoms. Neurologically affected horses usually have hind end weakness and paralysis which may progress to recumbency (“going down”). Horses can survive with supportive care and hospitalization (survival percentage varies by outbreak).
WHAT ABOUT VACCINES?
If your horse has had a “flu/rhino” vaccine in the last 6 months, he or she is considered up to date on vaccination. It’s important to note that flu/rhino vaccines don’t prevent the development of neurologic herpesvirus, but they do reduce viral shedding and lessen the effects of the outbreak.
If it has been >6 months since your horse’s last flu/rhino vaccine, please contact your vet for an appointment to get up-to-date. If you’d like to take extra precautions, you can schedule a booster vaccine if it was >3 months since your horse was last vaccinated.
SHOULD I SCRATCH FROM MY UPCOMING SHOW?
Only you can decide your level of risk tolerance, but the risk to our population of horses here in Southern Pines and surrounding areas (mostly eventers, dressage horses, and hunter jumpers) is likely no greater than the risk of EHV-1 on any given day.
If your upcoming show or event draws competitors who typically show at the national level in barrels or rodeo events (and may be headed home from the Barrel Futurities of America event in Oklahoma), this would likely warrant a scratch. If you’re planning to attend the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas in two weeks, pay close attention to the situation before making your decision.
If you’re headed to CHP, a local clinic/show, or the Moss, it’s doubtful you’ll encounter a nationally-competitive barrel racer there, so you’re probably fine!
HOW DO I MINIMIZE MY HORSE’S RISK?
As with all communicable diseases, common-sense biosecurity measures are your best bet to reduce the possibility that your horse becomes infected with a virus like EHV-1. Keep vaccines up-to-date, avoid excessive inter-mingling at competitions (don’t walk through other barns, don’t graze your horse next to the warm-up), avoid communal wash-pits and bring your own buckets! Don’t let your horse drink from communal water troughs, and if there is a water hose that everyone drags through the barn to refill buckets, fill yours from the tap and skip the hose.
Monitor your horse’s temperature before, during, and after competition. Alert your veterinarian and show secretary of any fevers and move your horse off of show grounds if a fever develops.
