As news spreads of the rapidly evolving EHV-1 situation in California, our thoughts go out to the affected horses and their owners, trainers and caregivers.
While no horses have tested positive for EHV-1 on World Equestrian Center properties, we are reminded to remain vigilant against the transmission of EHV-1 via enhanced health, safety and biosecurity measures. To that end, we have implemented the following biosecurity protocols:
- Any person shipping horses in to a WEC show grounds must sign a document stating that the horses entering the facility are in good health and have not competed in California or been in close proximity to a horse that has been competing in California in the last 14 days.
- All horses entering the property must present to the horse show office a health certificate or statement of health from a licensed veterinarian dated within 14 days of travel.
World Equestrian Center management ask that everyone involved with equine athletes competing at the facility maintain and enforce strict biosecurity measures within their own stable and at the horse show including:
- Make sure your horses are vaccinated against Equine Influenza and EHV.
- Take temperatures of all horses twice daily and maintain a log for each horse. Horses presenting with a temperature of more than 101.5 degrees F or any signs of respiratory or neurological disease should be reported to the show veterinarian and WEC management immediately.
- Do not share equipment between horses including feed and water buckets. Handlers and riders should maintain distances between horses at all times.
- Practice good hygiene always. Handlers should wash hands in between handling horses and maintain proper biosecurity protocols in the barn and at the rings.
- Maintain distancing between horses at the ring and in the barn. No nose-to-nose contact between horses.
- Do not ship horses with elevated temperatures.
- Maintain quarantine protocols including 14-day isolation for new horses entering your facilities.
- Isolate any horse exhibiting symptoms or illness and contact the show veterinarian and horse show management. Horses with symptoms will be moved to an on-site isolation area as per WEC protocols.
We look forward to finishing the 2022 winter show circuits safely and with enhanced biosecurity protocols in place to protect our equine athletes. World Equestrian Center management at both facilities will continue to proactively provide further updates as they are warranted.
If you have questions about our Ohio facility, please contact TJ Campbell at (352) 857-4572 or on site veterinarian, Dr. Holly Helbig DVM at (330) 807-2643.
For questions about our Ocala facility, reach out to Vinnie Card at (352) 208-1388 or on site veterinarian, Dr. Larry Wexler DVM at (352) 812-1411.
Media Contact
Candace FitzGerald
603-738-2788
candace.fitzgerald@wec.net