11/19/2025
Horse owners…
‼️𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 / 𝐄𝐇𝐌 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
Over the past few days multiple veterinary clinics and industry outlets have reported cases of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) — including neurologic cases (Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy, or EHM) — that have been traced to horses that attended major November events in Central Texas (Waco/Stephenville). If you travel to shows or have horses that attended those events (or were near horses that did), please read this and act now.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 / 𝐄𝐇𝐌 (𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)
EHV-1 is a common equine herpesvirus that most often causes respiratory disease and, in pregnant mares, abortion. A small proportion of infections progress to a neurologic form (EHM) when the virus causes damage to blood vessels in the spinal cord/brain and produces neurologic signs.
The virus spreads by respiratory secretions (direct horse-to-horse contact, shared equipment, handlers' clothing/hands) and also via contaminated surfaces and people. Because infected horses may shed virus before they show signs, outbreaks at multi-day events can seed cases across regions.
𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 (𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲)
Early detection is critical. Watch exposed horses closely for:
- Fever (often the first sign) — measure temperature twice daily for 14 days.
- Coughing, nasal discharge, lethargy, decreased appetite (common with respiratory infection).
- Neurologic signs: incoordination/ataxia, hind-limb weakness, urinary/faecal incontinence, inability to rise, stumbling, progressive paralysis. These are emergency signs — contact your vet right away.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝
There is no single “cure.” Treatment is largely supportive and symptomatic: anti-inflammatories, nursing care, fluid support, and sometimes antibiotics to prevent secondary bacterial infections. For neurologic cases, intensive supportive care and strict confinement are required.
Antiviral therapy may be used in some cases, but evidence of clear benefit is mixed and such treatment must be started early and be veterinarian-directed. Discuss options with your vet if you suspect EHV-1/EHM.
𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 — 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 (𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰)
If you were at the affected events or have horses that may have been exposed, implement these immediately:
Isolate any exposed horse from other horses for at least 14 days and monitor temps twice daily. A fever is often the first sign.
Notify your veterinarian and local/state animal health authority if you suspect disease — EHV-1/EHM is reportable in Texas. Early reporting helps trace and limit spread.
Limit movement. Do not travel horses to other events or farms until cleared by your vet. Restrict people traffic on/off the property.
Strict hygiene: dedicated coveralls/boots for barn staff, disinfect high-touch surfaces (buckets, tack, trailers), wash hands thoroughly between handling horses, and change clothing after visiting other barns or events. Use footbaths and disinfectants known to inactivate enveloped viruses (follow product instructions).
Clean and disinfect trailers and tack; do not share equipment between farms.
Segregate new arrivals and recent travelers for observation before mixing them with resident horses.
𝐕𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰
Vaccines do not completely prevent infection, but they reduce respiratory disease and viral shedding and may lower the risk of severe outcomes. For EHV-1, routine vaccination is an important layer of defense, especially for horses that travel.
Boost high-risk horses before travel: if your horse is showing waning immunity or it's been several months since their last EHV vaccine, talk to your vet about a booster — particularly for horses that will be on the road for the NCHA Futurity, NRHA Futurity, NFR, BFA, and other high-traffic events coming up. These events are the busiest time of year for horse movement and present higher exposure risk.
Work with your veterinarian to time boosters appropriately — many protocols recommend pre-travel boosters and ensuring maternal vaccination status in broodmares to reduce abortion risk.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 — 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Neurologic EHV (EHM) can be severe and sometimes fatal, and affected horses may require prolonged, intensive care. EHM cases also often trigger quarantines and event cancellations, which have major economic and emotional impacts for riders, owners, and event organizers. Rapid reporting and strict biosecurity are the best defenses against larger outbreaks.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐚𝐙𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭)
If you were at suspected events (or exposed to horses that were), assume exposure and act: isolate, monitor temps twice daily for 14 days, and contact your vet immediately if fever or other signs develop.
Postpone non-essential travel for horses from exposed barns until cleared. Don’t move horses between facilities.
Check vaccination status for all horses — especially those that travel. Call your vet today to discuss boosters if travel is planned for the coming weeks (Futurities, NFR, BFA, etc.).
Implement strict on-farm biosecurity steps (isolation, footbaths, dedicated clothing, disinfect tack & trailers, temperature logs). Keep detailed records of visitors and horse movements.
Sign up for EDCC/TAHC alerts and follow updates from your state vet and trusted veterinary partners. Real-time info will help you make decisions fast.
𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧
When it comes to EHV-1 and EHM, nothing replaces the guidance of a trusted veterinarian. Every horse, facility, and travel schedule is different, and your vet can help you make the most informed decisions about quarantines, testing, vaccination timing, booster schedules, and when it’s safe to resume hauling. If you have any concern — even a mild fever, exposure risk, or changes in behavior — contact your veterinarian immediately. Early communication and proactive care are the strongest tools we have to protect our horses, our barns, and our entire competitive community.
𝐓𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬:
https://www.equinediseasecc.org/alerts
