Equine Affection

12/03/2025

𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐇𝐌 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝟏𝟐/𝟎𝟏/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝟏𝟏:𝟒𝟓𝐚𝐦

Wow, how are we in December already?

The current EHV-1 reported case total associated with the Waco, TX outbreak is 46, 33 of which are the EHM/neurologic form. Affected states at this time include Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Washington state. There are not reported numbers of mortalities to present.

There have been additional reports of EHM in MD (11/18) and PA (11/27) that are not associated with the Waco, TX outbreak. This is 𝐧𝐨𝐭 an abnormal pattern for this disease, as spontaneous outbreaks are known to happen, especially if there is a gathering of younger horses for an event, sale, etc.

Though many western performance events have either been cancelled or rescheduled, it continues to be important to practice good biosecurity and monitoring while traveling and at home. Additionally, it is important to remember that any horse can contract and/or spread Equine Herpesvirus 1 - it is not limited to barrel horses. Horses that have been at events or are traveling should have their temperature monitored at least twice daily (morning and evening) and have their own sets of equipment, buckets, etc. - refer back to our recent post on biosecurity for more tips on how to avoid infectious disease spread.

At any rate, as the outbreak situation continues to develop, transport recommendations have been evolving state by state. Not all states with positive cases have travel restrictions. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐕𝐈 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬.

Current travel recommendations and restrictions:

𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟏𝟗 - 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝)
- Entry permits required until January 1, 2026
- 21 day rule applies (has not been at a premise where a confirmed case of EHV-1 has been in the last 21 days)
- Health Certificates/CVI’s are valid for 30 days from date of issuance, though it needs to be sent with supporting documentation to obtain an entry permit
- Supplemental statements required on CVIs

𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟐𝟏 - 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝)
- Health Certificates/CVIs for horses coming from a state with a confirmed case of EHV-1 (TX, OK, LA, SD, CO, NM, AZ, WA) in the last 30 days are only valid for 5 days
- Non-positive origin states: 30 day health certificates accepted
- Supplemental statements required on CVIs
- The department may have/will contact you if you were at an affected event

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟐𝟏 - 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝)
- CVIs/health certificates must be issued no earlier than 72 hours prior to travel in MT
- Horses potentially exposed to EHV-1 within 14 days of inspection are not eligible for import/travel into MT
- Horses displaying clinical signs of EHV-1 or EHM are not eligible for import/travel into MT

𝐎𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐧 (𝟏𝟏/𝟏𝟗 - 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝)
- No current restrictions, but event producers need to register their event with the OR Dept. of Ag. 20 days prior to event, collect records of attendees and horses present and have a designated isolation area available at events. There also needs to be a listed veterinarian of record for events (they don’t need to be present at the event, but available if questions/sick horses arise).

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟐𝟓 - 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝)
- No current restrictions, but horses returning from exposed events/facilities are recommended to be isolated for 21 days with twice daily temperature monitoring and increased biosecurity.
- The department may have/will contact you if you were at an affected event.

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 - 𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝
- Supplemental statements required on CVIs/health certificates
- No current restrictions

𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚/𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐧𝐞𝐰
- The World Equestrian Center cancelled several events
- ALL horses (including those arriving from within the state of FL) arriving at the World Equestrian Center will be required to have a 14 day health certificate/CVI - those without proper paperwork will be denied entry.

𝐎𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐚
- Supplemental statements required on health certificates/CVI (21 day rule)

The majority of states are not accepting 6-month passports (Extended Equine Certificates of Veterinary Inspection/EECVI) at this time. Shorter term health certificates (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection/CVI) are still being accepted and can be issued by your veterinarian for travel. If you are traveling, you and your veterinarian should contact the destination state department of agriculture/state veterinarian for the most current regulations. Additional states may require supplemental statements on CVIs/health certificates - it is recommended to contact the destination state when traveling to find out the most current regulations.

NV recommendations, supplemental statements and updates can be found here: https://agri.nv.gov/Animals/Animal_Disease/Import_Requirements/

AZ recommendations, supplemental statements and updates can be found here:https://agriculture.az.gov/sites/default/files/Letterhead%20Color-NEW%20LOGO-MOVEMENT%20RESTRICTIONS-SIGNED.pdfhttps://agriculture.az.gov/sites/default/files/EHV-EHM-LETTER-TEST%20POSITIVE-NON-CLINICAL-FINAL-SIGNED.pdf

MT recommendations and updates can be found here: https://news.mt.gov/Department-of-Livestock/Equine-Import-Alert

OR recommendations and updates can be found here: https://www.oregonvma.org/news/oda-implements-rules-to-help-prevent-the-spread-of-equine-herpesvirus

CA recommendations and updates can be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html

CO recommendations and supplemental statements can be found here: https://ag.colorado.gov/animal-health/reportable-diseases/equine-neurologic-disease/equine-herpes-virus-outbreak

FL/World Equestrian Center requirements can be found here: https://worldequestriancenter.com/news/wec-ocala-announces-increased-biosecurity-measures-show-cancellations-amid-ehv-1-concerns/

OK supplemental statement: https://ag.ok.gov/disease-alerts/

11/27/2025

For immediate release from the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.

PRCA, WPRA announce new date, location of 2025 National Finals Breakaway
Roping.

For more information visit: https://wpra.com/prca-wpra-announce-new-date-location-of-2025-national-finals-breakaway-roping/

11/26/2025

𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐇𝐌 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝟏𝟏/𝟐𝟓/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝟏𝟎:𝟒𝟎𝐚𝐦

The current EHV-1 case total associated with the Waco, TX outbreak is 32, 26 of which are the EHM/neurologic form. Affected states at this time include Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Washington state. There are not reported numbers of mortalities to present.

What do we predict will happen over the next few weeks? Dr. Buchanan at Brazos Valley Equine has put together a great explanation of what we can expect as far as timeline, waves of the virus and how exposure is defined. This is why we will still expect to see new fevers and new cases, and why continued monitoring and biosecurity practices remain crucial so we can mitigate disease spread. Rather than continue to panic and cause distress, this is an expected flow of EHV and we can continue to all slow spread and identify cases to the best of our ability.

The total cases reported at this time do appear to skew the numbers and make it seem like there is a significant amount of horses with EHM over the respiratory form of EHV-1, however we know that the majority of exposed horses will not develop neurologic disease. Additionally, cases are likely under-reported and all exposed horses may not be getting tested.

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟏𝟗)

- Entry permits required until January 1, 2026
- 21 day rule applies (has not been at a premise where a confirmed case of EHV-1 has been in the last 21 days)
- Health Certificates/CVI’s are valid for 30 days from date of issuance, though it needs to be sent with supporting documentation to obtain an entry permit
- Supplemental statements required on CVIs

𝐀𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟏𝟗)

- Health Certificates/CVIs for horses coming from a state with a confirmed case of EHV-1 (TX, OK, LA, SD, CO, NM, AZ, WA) in the last 30 days are only valid for 5 days
- Non-positive origin states: 30 day health certificates accepted
- Supplemental statements required on CVIs

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟐𝟏)

- CVIs/health certificates must be issued no earlier than 72 hours prior to travel in MT
- Horses potentially exposed to EHV-1 within 14 days of inspection are not eligible for import/travel into MT
- Horses displaying clinical signs of EHV-1 or EHM are not eligible for import/travel into MT

𝐎𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐧 (𝟏𝟏/𝟏𝟗)

- No current restrictions, but event producers need to register their event with the OR Dept. of Ag. 20 days prior to event, collect records of attendees and horses present and have a designated isolation area available at events.

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 (𝟏𝟏/𝟐𝟓)

- No current restrictions, but horses returning from exposed events/facilities are recommended to be isolated for 21 days with twice daily temperature monitoring and increased biosecurity.

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨

- Supplemental statements required on CVIs/health certificates
- No current restrictions

*not all states have posted restrictions, even those with positive cases - these are the only valid restrictions/reccomendations I was able to find*

The majority of states are not accepting 6-month passports (Extended Equine Certificates of Veterinary Inspection/EECVI) at this time. Shorter term health certificates (Certificate of Veterinary Inspection/CVI) are still being accepted and can be issued by your veterinarian for travel. If you are traveling, you and your veterinarian should contact the destination state for the most current regulations.

Additional states may require supplemental statements on CVIs/health certificates - it is recommended to contact the destination state when traveling to find out the most current regulations.

- Dr. Cooper

NV recommendations, supplemental statements and updates can be found here: https://agri.nv.gov/Animals/Animal_Disease/Import_Requirements/

AZ recommendations, supplemental statements and updates can be found here:https://agriculture.az.gov/sites/default/files/Letterhead%20Color-NEW%20LOGO-MOVEMENT%20RESTRICTIONS-SIGNED.pdf

MT recommendations and updates can be found here: https://news.mt.gov/Department-of-Livestock/Equine-Import-Alert

OR recommendations and updates can be found here: https://www.oregonvma.org/news/oda-implements-rules-to-help-prevent-the-spread-of-equine-herpesvirus

CA recommendations and updates can be found here: https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/equine_herpes_virus.html

CO recommendations and supplemental statements can be found here: https://ag.colorado.gov/animal-health/reportable-diseases/equine-neurologic-disease/equine-herpes-virus-outbreakey o

11/22/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1N5hDmody2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/25/2025

I don't often share other peoples writing on this page because I feel it is important for me to learn and share and grow and stand behind what I know and therefore write about but this is so informative and true that I am sharing it in hopes that maybe someone else who is smarter and wiser than I saying what I have been trying to say will actually make it into your thoughts and considerations.

We need to stop using up our horses at alarming rates just because they are seemingly "big enough" and start loving them enough to stay off of them.

**Growth Plates Are Instrumental in a Horse’s Life

Horsemen of old are rare today. Early in my veterinary career, I heard them speak of “soft bones” and the patience needed when starting a young horse. Their wisdom, passed down through generations, came not from textbooks but from a lifetime of working with horses.

It took years of hands-on experience for me to connect that old-world knowledge with modern science. “Soft bones” are what we now call open growth plates—fragile seams of cartilage where bone is still forming and strengthening. Those horsemen understood an essential truth: pushing a young horse before its skeleton is ready can cause harm that lasts a lifetime, and ultimately result in the early breakdown of these colts and fillies.

While all animals have growth plates, horses are unique among domestic species in what we ask of them at a young age. We expect them to carry riders, jump, turn sharply, and perform athletic maneuvers before their skeletons are fully knit together. These demands often come when their bodies are still actively developing, especially in the deepest structural parts of the skeleton.

Understanding growth plates is not an academic exercise—it is the foundation for a horse’s long-term soundness and athletic potential.

Today, many horses are started under saddle at just two years old, some as early as 18 months—long before major growth plates, particularly in the spine and pelvis, have closed. By contrast, traditional horsemen often waited until four years or more before beginning intensive training. They may not have had scientific explanations, but they had seen the damage caused by working a young horse “while the bones were still soft.”
The modern shift toward earlier training has happened without fully considering the horse’s biological readiness, and the consequences are increasingly visible.

Growth plates are regions of cartilage within bones that enable growth, and later ossify into solid bone. This cartilage forms the critical scaffolding for skeletal development but remains soft, pliable, and highly vulnerable to mechanical stress—especially in large, weight-bearing animals like horses. Forces such as weight, torque, shear, or repeated impact placed on immature growth plates can cause permanent change in bone structure.

Once a growth plate is injured, the damage is often irreversible. The bone may fuse unevenly or prematurely, compromising its strength and alignment. This can lead to chronic pain, compensatory movement patterns, neurological issues, and, in severe cases, early retirement, sometimes before the horse reaches full physical maturity.

Most attention in equine development focuses on the more accessible growth plates of the limbs. The racing industry, for instance, commonly uses the closure of the distal radius (the “knees”) around 2 to 2.5 years of age as a benchmark for skeletal maturity. But this standard is misleading.

This reliance on radiographic evidence stems primarily from older studies focused on the distal radius closure as a sign of readiness. However, more recent research reveals that many critical growth plates, especially those deeper within the pelvis, spine, and other core structures remain open well beyond this age, often into the horse’s fifth or sixth year and even longer in some individuals. These findings highlight a significant gap between longstanding industry practices and current scientific understanding.

The deeper, less visible growth plates located in the pelvis, sacrum, lumbar spine, hocks, and cervical vertebrae mature much later. These internal structures provide the horse’s core foundation, strength, balance, and ability to carry weight efficiently. Yet they remain under-studied, rarely imaged, and are largely unaccounted for in training protocols and veterinary assessments.

Externally, a young horse may look mature—tall, muscled, and well-proportioned—but inside, vital load-bearing structures may still be developing. Training that seems “appropriate” based on appearance can, in fact, be overloading tissues that are not yet ready for sustained stress.

The signs of growth plate strain or injury can be subtle, nuanced and easily misinterpreted. A horse may not limp or display obvious pain, but may instead resist certain movements, appear unwilling to go forward, show persistent tension, or develop vague, shifting lameness that evade diagnosis and respond poorly to therapies. Such signs are often misread as behavioral problems or minor physical issues, when they may be early warnings of deeper skeletal compromise.

The cost of early skeletal trauma is high. Beyond the physical toll on the horse, there is the emotional and financial burden for owners managing chronic conditions, paying for repeated diagnostics and treatments, or facing the premature loss of a horse’s athletic career.

By understanding growth plate development in the horse, owners and trainers can make informed choices that respect the horse’s natural developmental timeline. This means matching workloads and training intensity to the horse’s stage of skeletal maturity rather than to its physical appearance or the demands of the industry.

Growth plate education is an essential part of good stewardship, protecting a horse’s opportunity for a sound, productive, and pain-free life, yet true change demands more than awareness. It calls for the courage to challenge outdated practices and place the horse’s biological reality above traditional expectations. Growth plates offer no second chances: once damaged, full skeletal integrity can never be restored. The silver lining is that this outcome is entirely preventable.

Carol Shwetz DVM
August 10, 2025

09/09/2025

I DID NOT KNOW...

I did not know a horse could bring people into your life that end up meaning the most to you.
I did not know a horse could make the hardest days of your life bearable.
I did not know a horse could teach you to put others first.
I did not know a horse could remind you time and time again that your gut is always right.
I did not know a horse could break your heart.
I did not know a horse could pick you up when you have fallen apart.
I did not know a horse could teach you to dream again, after you thought it was not possible.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in yourself.
I did not know a horse could teach responsibility, work ethic, and dedication.
I did not know a horse could make you believe in something when no one else does.
I did not know a horse could make you learn to forgive and forget.
I did not know a horse could humble you faster than you can say humble.
I did not know a horse could make you a winner.
I did not know a horse could also teach you how to lose gracefully.
I did not know a horse could instill patience in you.
I did not know a horse could make you listen better.
I did not know a horse could give you their heart.
I did not know a horse could change your life.
I did not know a horse could do all these things...
but now I know.

by Alissa Kelly

https://www.facebook.com/alissa.burson?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image - Charlie Mackesy

07/31/2025

❤️🐴✨

07/15/2025

Coconut has been one of the favorites at the Ranch. It has so many wonderful uses. If you have any questions about the uses feel free to ask🥥🐴

COCONUT OIL AS A HOOF CONDITIONER
When a long drought left our horses' hooves dry and brittle, store-bought hoof conditioners didn’t help.

After a lot of research we decided to try making homemade hoof conditioner with coconut oil as a base. We used it in two different ways:

- By itself, and
- As part of a mixture of two parts coconut oil, one part glycerin, and one part aloe vera gel.
- As a control, some hooves didn't get anything.

In one week's time, with 5 applications, the coconut oil-only hooves gave us great results. Our farrier commented on the difference, too:
- The treated hooves trimmed easily and in one piece (instead of breaking off)
- Rasped smoothly (instead of splintering)
- The nails drove predictably (instead of "ricocheting around" as he put it).

The hooves that got the coconut oil, glycerin, and aloe vera gel mixture improved also. However, the glycerin and aloe vera gel didn't seem to contribute anything compared to the coconut oil-only hooves.

HOW/WHERE WE APPLIED IT
Using a 1-inch wide paint brush we applied a light coat of the coconut oil to the outside of the hoof and the coronary band, going up approximately 1/2 inch into the hairline. We also applied a light coat to the bulbs of the heel, frog, and sole.

We kept the horses out of the pasture for at least 30 minutes after applying the coconut oil so it wouldn't immediately be rubbed off by the grass.

COCONUT OIL AND TEMPERATURE
- 76 degrees Fahrenheit and above: Coconut oil is a liquid and we use a brush.
- Colder temperatures: Coconut oil is a semi-solid or a solid. We rub it between our fingers to melt and apply.

We don’t use hoof conditioners regularly, but when conditions are extremely dry, coconut oil is now our go-to choice. 🌴💪

06/30/2025

Great information on feeding our horses Herbs

Herbal supplements for horses have gone from novel to mainstream in the last 40 years, just as they have for people.

06/18/2025

A multistate outbreak of equine infectious anemia, likely spread through iatrogenic transmission, has resulted in the deaths of 21 horses in the past year.