EHV Closes Connecticut Equine Hospital

Fairfield Equine Associates in Newtown, Connecticut closed this week after a horse stabled there tested positive for Equine Herpes Virus.

Fairfield Equine is a lameness-specialist facility offering high-end diagnostic and surgical services, with a client list of many of the top sport horse farms and trainers in New England and New York. Staff veterinarians from Fairfield also offer satellite practice services in the Palm Beach, Florida area and other major shows during the winter.

While Fairfield is continuing to offer ambulatory services with barn visits by vets, the clinic is under quarantine.

Here is the statement from FEA on the quarantine:
(begin quote)

We recently identified a strain of Herpes virus in a horse hospitalized at our facility. This horse was admitted to our facility from his stable in Vermont on December 13 for a lameness examination. He had arthrosocopic surgery at our facility on December 19 and developed a fever on December 24. No neurologic signs have been exhibited thus far but the virus that was identified from a nasal swab was the neuropathogenic form of Herpes virus. This horse was immediately isolated in a separate building from our main facility when he first exhibited a fever and routine procedures were followed to limit the spread from this horse to other horses on our premises. We are intensively tracing any connection that the affected horse might have had with other horses at our facility. We are reassured that this current infection involves only one horse and his signs are limited to a fever with no neurologic signs.

At the current time, we are not admitting horses to our facility as out-patients or in-patients. We have made alternative arrangements with a local hospital for emergency hospital or surgical care that might become necessary.

We are currently in touch with Federal and State officials as well as experts in the field of equine infectious diseases. We are currently recommending that any horse that has had any possible connection with the affected horse in our hospital, whether by human contact or horse contact, have its temperature taken twice daily for at least 2 weeks. If any unusual rise in temperature is noted, you should contact your veterinarian for further advice.

We will continue to update this information as frequently as possible. You should be assured that our doctors that are seeing horses at surrounding stables have had no exposure to the infected horse in our hospital.

(end quote)

EHV Surfaces in California's Bay Area

The San Franciso Chronicle is reporting today that a horse at Golden Gate Fields, a racetrack near that city, has tested positive for the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus, known as EHV-1.

Three racetracks in California have been quarantined.

The sick horse was transported to the veterinary hospital at the University of California at Davis, where it was diagnosed.

Please follow this link to the complete story from the Chronicle:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/12/30/SPGFRNA8RJ1.DTL

Florida Virus Update: December 27 and 28

Still more bad news drifts northward from Florida, and my heart goes out to all the horsemen, riders, vets, farriers, van drivers, massage therapists--the entire community of horse professionals who are surely doing their best to contain the outbreak, and protect the healthy horses.

The so-called "Victory Lane" horse has been diagnosed as positive for EHV-1; this time at hunter/jumper rider Jackie Leemon's Victory Lane Farm in Wellington, Florida.

This story was born at the same time as this blog, and it has certainly dominated the news. I did not expect to focus so much on one story, but this story has a global impact on the horse show and racing worlds.

It is disturbing to report that this is the "neurological" strain of what we used to call the "rhino" virus. There is currently no vaccine specifically targeting the neurological strain, although the standard EHV vaccine given to our horses can lessen the symptoms, according to the information supplied by the leading authorities in the field.

The incubation period for the virus can be two weeks or up to four weeks, depending on whose advice is heeded. In order for the shows to go on, a period of at least two weeks without any additional cases will be needed. Every time a new case is identified, the counter goes back to Day One.

What's at stake? America's premier East Coast winter series of hunter/jumper/dressage shows, attended by the world's top riders. Horses routinely fly in from the UK, Paris, and beyond. Some have arrived for the season, others are waiting nervously for an "all clear".

In the same area are many of the world's top polo and racehorses, not to mention breeding stock and show horses of virtually all breeds, especially Spanish and Portuguese breeds. But let's not forget that there are many horses kept for recreational riding and companionship throughout South Florida, and that they are just as valuable, and just as much at risk, if they have been out on trails, at arenas, on horse vans, or at vet clinics where infected horse may have shed the virus.

The racing industry has only just recovered from EHV outbreaks that paralyzed racing in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland; an outbreak last year affected Kentucky tracks.

Among today's news stories is the footnote that two of the world's most valuable stakes horses, Breeders Cup champion Invasor and 2005 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil, have been sent back to New York by trainer Kieran McLaughlin, who trains from for Shadwell Stud and Sheikh Hamdan of Dubai. McLaughlin is taking no chances. The pair was stabled at the Palm Meadows training center, which has not been affected by the outbreak. Both horses are expected to ship to Dubai for the World Cup races in March.

Meanwhile, the world's top-rated stakes horse, Discreet Cat, is due to ship home to Dubai this week, but is presumably detained at Payson Park, which is under quarantine following the death of a horse there earlier this week.

On the lighter side, if there is one, the Florida equine virus made the gossip pages of the New York Post this week; the columnist speculated on the inconvenience that heiresses and celebrities have experienced by having to disinfect their shoes before entering barns. My guess is that the heiresses and celebrities are leaving matters to the professionals at a time like this.

The list of articles about the outbreak is growing; a lot of duplication exists on the web so I have provided one link to each major story and tried to identify the source publisher. Sometimes that is not easy.

The following farms, training centers, and equine clinics are currently under quarantine:

* J N Stables – 15680 46th Lane S, Wellington, FL
* S & L Farms - 13155 Southfields Road, Wellington, FL
* Equine Services Ltd. (Isolation Barn only) – 4751 South Road, West Palm Beach, FL
* Palm Beach Equine Sports Complex – 13124 Southfields Road, Wellington, FL
* Palm Beach Equine Clinic (Isolation Barn only) – 13125 Southfields Road, Wellington, FL
* Reid & Associates (Isolation Barn only) – 1630 F Road, Loxahatchee, FL
* Pinehurst Stables – 10095 165th Lane North, Jupiter, FL
* Tuxedo Farms – 7780 NW 137th Avenue, Morriston, FL 32668
* Payson Park – 9700 SW Kanner Highway, Indiantown, FL
* Victory Lane – 14875 Palm Beach Point, Wellington, FL

Articles for December 28:

Sun-Sentinel Report on New Case (12/28 test result) at Victory Lane

Daily Racing Form predicts lift of Payson Park Quarantine, update on Discreet Cat in Quarantine

Palm Beach Post Summary for 28 December

Littlewood Farm Horse Show Cancellation


Nona Garson clinic re-scheduled, notes on health aspects of sport horse auction
http://www.usef.org/content/newsDisplay/viewPR.php?id=1796

University of Florida Menu of Quarantine and Virus Information

Articles for December 27:
State of Florida Virus Update for 27 December

ESPN Report on Invasor and Jazil Evacuation to New York from South Florida

Palm Beach Post Article on Charity 'Equine Triathlon' Cancellation

Articles for December 25:
State of Florida Equine Virus Status Update

December 26 is St. Stephen’s Day: A Special Day for Horses

Today, December 26, is called “Boxing Day” in countries where British customs prevail. But for most of Europe, and formerly in Britain, the day after Christmas is the Feast of Saint Stephen.

As you may recall from the Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas looked down, on the Feast of Stephen…” Wenceslas was the duke of Bohemia in what is now the Czech Republic in the 10th century. Did you ever notice that, of all the Christmas carols, this one does not mention anything to do with Christianity? It was written for St. Stephen’s Day, not Christmas, and the kindly king in the carol exhibits the generosity of the legend of Saint Stephen.

What the carol does not tell you is that King Wenceslas was ultimately stoned to death, as was Saint Stephen.

For others, Saint Stephen comes to mind because of references in Grateful Dead lyrics. You’re on your own to interpret what that means!

On this day, bakers in northern European countries traditionally baked bread in the shape of horseshoes, and the Finns threw coins into their horses’ water troughs, but for the horses themselves, the day might not be so pleasant. In ancient Germany, horses were sacrificed at Christmas, while in other places, oats and hay would be blessed and special sanctified water and salt would be stored away for use later on sick horses. In Poland, parishioners threw oats at their priests on St. Stephens Day.

Horses were decorated, paraded, taken into churches, and even raced around the churchyard on this day. The origin of “hobby horse” is based on the Irish tradition of boys racing through village lanes on stick horses on Saint Stephens Day. The “hobbies” were the ancient horses of celtic Ireland.

Saint Stephen, in legend, always told the tale that his horse was ailing and that Christ cured the horse for him. In some places, tradition called for horses to be galloped relentlessly, until exhausted on this day and then to be delivered to the farrier, who would “bleed” them to insure good health over the winter. “Bleeding a horse” involved just that; opening a vein and allowing a quantity of blood to be drained; this was a common practice of primitive veterinary medicine and, when performed on a healthy horse, was believed to ward off illness.

Today, Saint Stephen’s Day is an important day on the racing calendar in Ireland and Britain; I attended a very festive Boxing Day race meet in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands a few years ago. In England today, Kauto Star came one race closer to a one million pound bonus by winning the prestigious Grade 1 King George VI Chase (a hurdle race at Kempton Park) by eight lengths. The Cheltenham Gold Cup will be next for him. And here in the USA, Santa Anita race track in California began its winter meet with an encouraging crowd of more than 30,000 racing fans.

Wenceslas would have a lot to smile about today.

Back to the news tomorrow!

Florida Virus: 24 December

More bad news from Florida this Christmas Eve: Another Wellington horse has tested positive for the disease, bringing the total to ten.

The Sun-Sentinel has the story.

Florida EHV-1 Update for 23 December: Horse Dies at Payson Park

File this under "not good news": The Daily Racing Form is reporting that a horse has died at Payson Park, a training center near Indiantown, Florida. The horse had been a patient at a clinic where horses suspected of having EHV-1 also were patients. Lab results confirming that death was caused by the virus will not be available until after Christmas.

Payson Park is the winter home of some of the world's leading racehorse trainers, and horses stabled there have been consigned to the Keeneland sales in January. No horses will be going anywhere for a while. Horses in training there who were entered in races at Calder had to be scratched, according to the Racing Form.

The Form also reports that the world's highest-regarded stakes horse, champion Discreet Cat, has been temporarily stabled at Payson awaiting shipment back to Dubai to continue training.

Reference: Daily Racing Form 23 December RSS Feed
(Click on blue link to read the full article.)

Meanwhile, some good news: a negative test result has come back on a sick horse in Jupiter Farms, Florida. To be sure, the test will be repeated.

The state of Florida has not posted an update on the virus outbreak since December 21. According to the Florida Association of Equine Practitioners on Friday, the count was:

4 deaths associated with this outbreak;
9 cases with neurological symptoms;
8 confirmed positive cases;
8 premises currently under quarantine.

On Friday, they optimistically reported, "All the veterinarians were comfortable with the fact that it appears this outbreak is contained to the areas currently under quarantine. They also were in favor of recommending to clients not yet here, that shipments of horses into Wellington should be safe after Christmas. The horse shows should be able to safely begin after the first of the year. These recommendations could change if new cases with a high or dangerous risk are found outside the quarantine areas. There have been NO new confirmed positive cases of EHV-1 in Wellington outside of the current quarantine areas. A Positive test result has come back on one horse in the Palm Beach Equine Clinic quarantine area. This horse has been isolated since 12.14.06."

Obviously, the new case at Payson Park, while not in Wellington, may complicate the picture for the veterinarians, or at least shift emphasis from the Wellington hunter/jumper/dressage scene to the racing world. Racetracks in Florida depend on "shippers", or horses vanned in on race day from training centers like Payson. Both horses stabled at the tracks and at the training center routinely ship in and out of veterinary clinics for treatments, diagnostic imaging like scintigraphy or MRI, and minor surgery. It is not unusual for racehorses and show horses to cross paths in this way.

"The Show Must Go On" in Ocala; HITS Plans to Proceed with January Show

News release received via United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) on 22 December 2006.:

Kristen Vale (tel 845-246-8833), representative of Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) reports that, "We are virus-free at HITS Ocala and the shows are on schedule. We are taking pro-active measures."

Until at least January 15th, the following protocol must be followed for all horses entering the HITS Ocala show grounds:

Vet Check Protocol
1. Anyone entering the site must coordinate their arrival with Nick Ezzo, Grounds Manager, or Dr. Robert Barber, Official Show Veterinarian, at the following numbers:
Nick Ezzo – 914-466-8084 cell, 352-620-2275 office
Dr. Barber – 352-895-6961
Please call 24 hours prior to arrival and plan to arrive between 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.

2. All incoming horses will be greeted by a Vet or Vet Tech for inspection. No Horse will be permitted on the grounds until the inspection has taken place.

3. All arrivals must be through the Main Gate off Highway 27. The gates off 137th Avenue have been closed.

Additionally, Dr. Barber recommends that all horses be vaccinated for EHV-1 before shipping to Ocala. Contact your Vet first regarding the suggested vaccinations. Any questions regarding vaccinations should be directed to Dr. Barber at 352-895-6961.

These control measures are in place for the safety of your horses, and for the peace of mind of all horsemen. You have our assurance that we will stay up to date on further developments, and that we will enforce, amend or remove the Vet Check Protocol as necessary.

Nutrition Update: Recently Published Research Papers

Thanks to David Van Doorn of Cavalor Equine Nutrition Research (http://www.cavalor.com) for providing a list of recently published research papers from around the world on the relationship of nutrition to horse health and science in his company's newsletter.

These papers can be accessed through PubMed or by a search through a university library that has access to the necessary databases and subscriptions, or by contacting the authors. Some papers may be in languages other than English. These papers and authors are not necessarily connected to Cavalor in any way; Cavalor is providing these references as a service.

Papers are listed in alphabetical order by lead author.

* Archer, D.C., Proudman, C.J.2006. Epidemiological clues to preventing colic.Veterinary Journal 172: 29-39.

* Barbosa, J.D., Oliveira, C.M.C. de, Duarte, M.D. Riet-Correa, G., Peixoto, P.V., Tokarnia, C.H. 2006. Poisoning of horses by bamboo, Bambusa vulgaris. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 26: 393-398.

* Bhuvanakumar, C.K. 2006.Oats preparation for thoroughbred feeding. Centaur 23: 37.

* Borer, K.E., Corley, K.T.T. 2006. Electrolyte disorders in horses with colic. Part 1: potassium and magnesium. Equine Veterinary Education 18: 266-271.

* Brashier, M. Polydipsia and polyuria in a weanling colt caused by nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. 2006. Veterinary Clinics of North America, Equine Practice 22: 219-227.

* Brokner, C., Norgaard, P., Soland, T.M. 2006. The effect of grain type and processing on equine chewing time. Pferdeheilkunde 22: 453-460.

* Buff, P.R., Spader, B.R., Morrison, C.D., Keisler, D.H. Endocrine responses in mares undergoing abrupt changes in nutritional management. Journal of Animal Science 84: 2700-2707.

* Cohen, N.D., Stanley, S.D, Arthur, R.M. and Wang, N. 2006.Factors influencing pre-race serum concentration of total carbon dioxide in Thoroughbred horses racing in California. Equine Veterinary Journal 38: 543-548.

* Costa, L.R.R., Johnson, J.R., Baur, M.E. and Beadle, R.E. 2006. Temporal clinical exacerbation of summer pasture-associated recurrent airway obstruction and relationship with climate and aeroallergens in horses. American Journal of Veterinary-Research 67: 1635-1642.

* Cruz, A.M., Cote, N., McDonell, W.N. Geor, R.J., Wilson, B.A., Monteith, G., Li, R. 2006. Postoperative effects of anesthesia and surgery on resting energy expenditure in horses as measured by indirect calorimetry. Canadian Journal of Veterinary-Research 70: 257-262.

* Fradinho, M.J., Ferreira-Dias, G., Mateus, L., Santos-Silva, M.F., Agricola, R, Barbosa, M, Abreu, J.M. 2006. The influence of mineral supplementation on skeleton formation and growth in Lusitano foals. Livestock Science 104: 173-181.

* Gerber, R. Naude, T.W. Kock, S.S. de. 2006. Confirmed Datura poisoning in a horse most probably due to D. ferox in contaminated tef hay. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. 2006; 77(2): 86-89.

* Geyl, C.T. 2006. Weaning: diet and behaviour; a key period for development of the horse (Original title: Le sevrage: alimentation et comportement, une periode cle pour le developpement du cheval.). Equ' Idee 55: 53-55.

* Gordon, M.E., McKeever, K.H. 2006. Oral and intravenous carbohydrate challenges decrease active ghrelin concentrations and alter hormones related to control of energy metabolism in horses. Journal of Animal Science 84: 1682-1690.

* Gordon, M.E., McKeever, K.H., Bokman, S., Betros, C.L. Manso-Filho, H.C., Liburt, N.R., Streltsova, J.M. Training induced energy balance mismatch in Standardbred mares.Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology 3: 73-82.

* Harris, P. 2006. Nutrition studies: food for thought. Veterinary Times 36: 6-8.

* Harris, P.A. 2006. Feeding before exercise and competition in the performance horse. Pferdeheilkunde 225: 542-548.

* Jansson, A., Sandin, A., Lindberg, J.E. 2006. Digestive and metabolic effects of altering feeding frequency in athletic horses. Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology 3: 83-91.

* Jonsson, H., Egenvall, A 2006. Prevalence of gastric ulceration in Swedish Standardbreds in race training. Equine Veterinary Journal 38: 209-213.

* Mattos, F., Araujo, K.V., Leite, G.G., Goulart, H de M. 2006. Use of oil in diet for equines under exercise (original title: Uso de oleo na dieta de equinos submetidos ao exercicio. Revista-Brasileira-de-Zootecnia. 35: 1373-1380.

* McGorum, B.C., Mayhew, I.G., Amory, H., Deprez, P., Gillies, L., Green, K., Mair, T.S. Nollet, H., Wijnberg, I.D. and Hahn, C.N. 2006. Horses on pasture may be affected by equine motor neuron disease. Equine Veterinary Journal; 38: 47-51

* Nadeau, J.A., Frank, N., Valipe, S.R., Elliot, S.B. 2006. Blood lipid, glucose, and insulin concentrations in Morgan horses and Thoroughbreds. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 26: 401-405.

* Perrone, G., Caviglia, J., Perez, A., Janciar, C., Goldar, J., Laino, M., Gonzalez, G. 2006. Oral glucose tolerance test in horses fed pastures and mixed diets. Prueba oral de tolerancia a la glucosa en equinos alimentados con pasturas y con dietas mixtas. Revista de Medicina Veterinaria Buenos Aires 87: 66-71.

* Piccione, G. Costa, A., Fazio, F., Grasso, F. and Caola, G. 2006. Nitrogenous metabolism in Thoroughbred and Arabian foals from birth to five months of age. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia 58: 525-529.

* Smith, A.M. Staniar, W.B. Splan,.R.K. 2006. Associations between yearling body measurements and career racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 26: 212-214.

* Steelman, S.M. Michael-Eller, E.M., Gibbs, P.G., Potter, G.D.2006. Meal size and feeding frequency influence serum leptin concentration in yearling horses. Journal of animal science 84: 2391-2398.

* Stein, R.B. da S., Toledo, L.R.A. de., Almeida, F.Q. de, Rodrigues, P.H.M. Lima, C.G. de, Corassa, A., Santos, T.M. dos. 2006. Estimate of dry matter apparent digestibility with internal markers in horses. (Original title: Estimativa da digestibilidade aparente da materia seca por meio de indicadores internos em equinos. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia 35: 504-511.

* Tomasoni, C., Annicchiarico, P., Borrelli, L., Filippi, L. 2006. Silages from grain legumes and cereals. (Original title: Nei sistemi foraggeri della pianura padana insilati di leguminose da granella consociate a cereali). Informatore Agrario 62: 57-61.

* Trombetta, M.F., Mattii, S., Priori, S., Falaschini, A.2006. Nutrient value and digestibility of diets with different roughages for jumping horses in Italy. Journal of Equine Science 17: 9-15.

* Whitlock, R.H., McAdams, S. 2006. Equine botulism. Clinical Techniques in Equine Practice 5: 37-42.

* Wilsher, S. and Allen, W.R. 2006. Effects of a Streptococcus equi infection-mediated nutritional insult during mid-gestation in primiparous Thoroughbred fillies. Part 1: Placental and fetal development. Equine VeterinaryJournal 38: 549-557.

* Zagrajczuk, A., Okolski, A. 2006. Role of prolactin in horse reproduction.(original title: Rola prolaktyny w rozrodzie koni. Medycyna Weterynaryjna.62: 624-627.

Cavalor is sponsor of the European Equine Nutrition Congress; select papers from the proceedings of the congresses are available in a separate section on the Cavalor site.

Cavalor provides English language translations and access to papers from Europe and other parts of the world that might not otherwise be available to English-speaking students and researchers. They provide a wonderful service and I always look forward to David Van Doorn's research summaries.

Florida EHV-1 Update for 21 December

This news update is provided by the Florida Division of Animal Industry:

Eight cases of Equine Herpes Virus – type 1 (EHV-1) have been confirmed with laboratory testing from horses, seven in the Wellington area and one in Ocala, Florida. The Ocala horse shipped from south Florida and had a direct link to one of the horses shipped in from New York, on November 29th. Four deaths have been attributed to this disease, although only one of those cases could be confirmed by laboratory tests. Nine cases have had neurologic signs. The index or first case reported was a horse imported from Europe though the USDA New York Animal Import Center.

State and federal officials are working closely with veterinarians, owners, managers, and others in the affected equine industry to identify potentially exposed animals and suspect cases and to prevent further spread of the disease.

There are eight quarantined premises, six in the Wellington area, one in Ocala, Florida, and one in Jupiter, Florida. Six premises with confirmed cases are under state quarantine and two premises with suspect neurologic cases are under state quarantine. Currently, there are not state or federal restrictions for horse movements into, within, or out of the state of Florida. Some premises and events have their own entry requirements. Contact your point of destination for specific information concerning any restrictions that premises/events may have imposed.

Industry representatives and state and federal officials have agreed on a number of steps to contain this outbreak. These include the identification of potentially exposed animals with appropriate monitoring and bio-security measures taken, isolation and treatment of suspected cases, and coordination of control efforts by industry and state and federal representatives. The close working relationship between cooperators, stakeholders, and the public is the key to limiting the spread of this disease.

Although EHV-1 can be a serious disease of horses and the virus can spread through the air from respiratory infection, transmission generally requires direct or close contact between horses. Transmission can also occur through contaminated equipment, clothing, and hands. Horses with clinical signs should be isolated and kept 40 feet or more from other horses.

Owners with sick horses should contact their private veterinarian to examine and treat their horses. Veterinarians suspecting EHV-1 with neurologic signs are advised to contact state officials and follow protocols for collecting and submitting appropriate samples for laboratory diagnosis.

While herpes vaccines are available, none are specifically labeled for the neurologic form of EHV-1. Concerned owners should discuss whether vaccination of their animals is recommended, the type of vaccines available, and the frequency of recommended vaccination with their veterinarian. Vaccination in the face of an outbreak will probably not prevent infection but may lessen respiratory signs and reduce viral shedding with future exposure.

Barbaro Struts His Stuff on ABC's Good Morning America; Next Stop Kentucky Horse Park?

Fans of injured racehorse Barbaro had a special treat this morning, when ABC's "Good Morning America" aired almost five minutes dedicated to the horse and his cautiously optimistic recovery from a shattered lower right hind leg and subsequent severe "support-limb" laminitis in the left hind.

Not only did they see the horse, they saw him without wraps on his legs and without any blankets. Yes, you can count his ribs. Yes, his fractured leg is bowed and unnatural looking. But, like the true champion he is, Barbaro walked along beside surgeon Dean Richardson just to show the world that he could.

Like most hind-limb injury cases, Barbaro exhibits what looks like almost a stringhalt gait behind. Commonly, these horses are reticent to break over on the foundered foot and so lift the foot and then flex the lower leg to move forward. But he did move forward, at a good clip.

The public waited exactly three months to see photos of Barbaro; the last images released by the University of Pennsylvania of their vet school's star patient were posted on 19 September.



Barbaro's demonstration of his prowess for the ABC camera crew followed a consultation on Tuesday with Scott Morrison DVM, head of Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital's special podiatry clinic in Lexington, Kentucky.

In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, owner Gretchen Jackson hinted that the horse may be moved to Kentucky in the next ten days, or in January. Obviously buoyed by the horse's chipper attitude and removal of a catheter from his neck, the horse's connections are joking about his possible ability to breed mares in the future.

Meanwhile, Kentucky's Lexington Herald-Leader contained a story today quoting Kentucky Horse Park executive director John Nicholson, who said yesterday,"We would be honored to welcome him into the Horse Park family.

However, Nicholson contends that he has not spoken directly with the Jacksons.

"We don't think it's appropriate for us to aggressively solicit the horse until his owners and his medical team feel that he's comfortable and stable," Nicholson said in the Herald-Leader.

Recurrent laminitis, or an onset of laminitis in other limbs is still a serious risk for Barbaro, and anything can happen to dash hopes.

In the footage, Barbaro appears to be wearing a Sigafoos glue-on cuff with support shoe on his fractured leg; his hoofless foundered foot is wrapped in a bandage inside a padded Soft Ride hoof boot.

The video footage is available on the Good Morning America web site; Adobe Flash 8 viewer is required, but can be downloaded. ABC News now has an entire page of links to its video and text coverage of Barbaro's injury and career.

The video and text files can be found on the ABC News site by typing "Barbaro" in the search box at the top right of any screen. Look for stories and videos dated December 21 to view today's video and story.

If you need to type a direct url, type the following text into your browser address window:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2742921

Photo captions: (top) University of Pennsylvania supplied image by Kathy Freeborn; Rood and Riddle image of veterinarian Scott Morrison taken by Haydn Price, courtesy of www.hoofcare.com.

More Suspected Cases of EHV in Florida Outside Wellington

Two Florida newspapers are reporting that a racehorse in Ocala, Florida has been identified as suffering from EHV-1 virus. The horse had been treated at Palm Beach Equine Clinic and then was shipped to a racetrack near Ocala, according to reports in today's Sun-Sentinel Times and Palm Beach Post.

Ocala is the primary Thoroughbred horse breeding and training center in Florida, but it is also home to an active winter show season, including the popular Horse Shows in the Sun, and many events for western and Spanish breeds.

A second horse, housed in the community of Jupiter Farms, a half-hour north of Wellington, has not been in contact with any horses known to carry the virus but is also showing symptoms of the disease, which can only be confirmed by laboratory tests.

Meanwhile, the web site of the Daily Racing Form is reporting that two barns at Calder Racecourse near Palm Beach have been quarantined after a horse that had previously been stabled there began to show symptoms of what is believed to be EHV-1. To quote from that story: "We are placing two barns under restriction in response to presumed EHV-1 exposure," Calder's track veterinarian, Dr. Mary Scollay said Tuesday. "The filly in question shipped in to Calder on Dec. 6 after being hospitalized in Wellington for an unrelated illness and shipped out on Dec. 11."

Both Calder and Tampa Bay Downs are initiating safety precautions with horses shipping in from other tracks and farms.

The latest official report for today from the State of Florida Division of Animal Industry for 19 December:

(begin quote)
"Five cases of Equine Herpesvirus – type 1 (EHV-1) have been confirmed with laboratory testing from horses on a quarantined premises in the Wellington, Florida area. Four additional premises have movement restrictions in place pending further laboratory testing. Three deaths and 15 clinical cases have been attributed to this disease. Six cases have had neurological signs.

"The index or first case reported was a horse imported from Europe though the USDA New York Animal Import Center. Animals on suspected or affected premises are being monitored for fever and other clinical signs on a daily basis and laboratory work is pending on additional cases."
(end quote)

Wellington Virus Update: Virus Trail Leads to Ocala, Jupiter, Calder Track

Two Florida newspapers are reporting that a racehorse in Ocala, Florida has been identified as suffering from EHV-1 virus. The horse had been treated at Palm Beach Equine Clinic and then was shipped to a racetrack near Ocala, according to reports in today's Sun-Sentinel Times and Palm Beach Post.

Ocala is the primary Thoroughbred horse breeding and training center in Florida, but it is also home to an active winter show season, including the popular Horse Shows in the Sun, and many events for western and Spanish breeds.

A second horse, housed in the community of Jupiter Farms, a half-hour north of Wellington, has not been in contact with any horses known to carry the virus but is also showing symptoms of the disease, which can only be confirmed by laboratory tests.

Meanwhile, the web site of the Daily Racing Form is reporting that two barns at Calder Racecourse near Palm Beach have been quarantined after a horse that had previously been stabled there began to show symptoms of what is believed to be EHV-1. To quote from that story: "We are placing two barns under restriction in response to presumed EHV-1 exposure," Calder's track veterinarian, Dr. Mary Scollay said Tuesday. "The filly in question shipped in to Calder on Dec. 6 after being hospitalized in Wellington for an unrelated illness and shipped out on Dec. 11."

Both Calder and Tampa Bay Downs are initiating safety precautions with horses shipping in from other tracks and farms.

The latest official report for today from the State of Florida Division of Animal Industry for 19 December:

"Five cases of Equine Herpesvirus – type 1 (EHV-1) have been confirmed with laboratory testing from horses on a quarantined premises in the Wellington, Florida area. Four additional premises have movement restrictions in place pending further laboratory testing. Three deaths and 15 clinical cases have been attributed to this disease. Six cases have had neurological signs.

"The index or first case reported was a horse imported from Europe though the USDA New York Animal Import Center. Animals on suspected or affected premises are being monitored for fever and other clinical signs on a daily basis and laboratory work is pending on additional cases."

Barbaro's Foot Doc: Morrison to Examine Colt's Foundered Foot Today

Scott Morrison DVM of in Lexington, Kentucky is headed to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania today; he will be examining Barbaro's left hind foot, which was devastated by an attack of support limb laminitis this summer.

Dr. Morrison is the founder and head of the Podiatry Clinic at Rood and Riddle; his unit is the largest foot-specialty clinic in the world. The clinic currently employs four foot-specialist veterinarians and four lameness-specialist farriers, as well as a staff of technicians and administrative support staff. Morrison is a specialist in laminitis and founder and consults on cases all over the world.

It is not known at this time whether Morrison will be merely evaluating the damage to the colt's foot to provide a prognosis, or if he will actually treat the horse or act as a consultant.

Barbaro is still a patient at New Bolton Center but is expected to be moved to another facility this winter, according to interviews with owner Gretchen Jackson and with his attending veterinarian Kathy Anderson DVM of Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. The horse has been at New Bolton Center since shattering his right hind leg during the running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland in May 2006.

Links to news media stories about Barbaro's meeting with Morrison:

Baltimore Sun article about Morrison's appointment with Barbaro (19 December 2006)

Daily Racing Form article about Morrison and Barbaro (19 December 2006--Free registration may be necessary to view this article)

Thoroughbred Times article about Morrison's plan to see barbaro published 16 december>

Captions: Scott Morrison DVM outside the podiatry clinic at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky (Haydn Price photo/�www.hoofcare.com); Scott Morrison checking feet of a laminitis case at Rood and Riddle (provided by Scott Morrison/courtesy �www.hoofcare.com).

Wellington Virus Update: Tuesday, December 19

The news is still chilling out of Wellington, Florida, where an outbreak of Equine Herpes Virus - Type 1 (EHV-1) has cancelled horse shows this month and some in January. Part of the village is under quarantine, while everyone is advised to practice safe horsecare methods to prevent the spread of the virus.

An information hotline has been set up for owners, trainers and horse professionals to seek the latest information and advice. The number is 561-791-4003.

Once again, here is the most recent summary from state officials at the Division of Animal Industry:

Five cases of Equine Herpesvirus – type 1 (EHV-1) have been confirmed with laboratory testing from horses on a quarantined premises in the Wellington, Fla., area. Four additional premises have movement restrictions in place pending further laboratory testing. Three deaths and 15 clinical cases have been attributed to this disease. Six cases have had neurological signs. The index or first case reported was a horse imported from Europe though the USDA New York Animal Import Center. Animals on suspected or affected premises are being monitored for fever and other clinical signs on a daily basis and laboratory work is pending on additional cases.

State and Federal officials are working closely with veterinarians, owners, managers, and others in the affected equine industry to identify potentially exposed animals and suspect cases and to prevent further spread of the disease.

With the exception of the affected premises, there are no state or federal restrictions for horse movements into, within, or out of state of Florida.

As always, rumors abound. As of this morning, there is no official decision regarding the upcoming Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, which begins in late January and runs for three months.

Here are some of the latest stories for today; links will be added as the stories come in:

Howard Goodman's observations in the Sun-Sentinel

USDA Re-Publishes Proposed Rules for Permanent Private Quarantine Facilities

The following press release was supplied to The Jurga Report by the American Horse Council (AHC) on December 18, 2006.

WASHINGTON, DC - The USDA re-published an updated proposal on December 13, 2006, that would permit the establishment and operation of permanent, privately-owned quarantine facilities under certain conditions.

The horse industry is an international industry and increasingly more foreign horses are being brought into the U.S. for racing, showing, sale and breeding and often there are not enough quarantine spaces to accommodate them all.

"There are presently three facilities through which horses may be brought into the U.S. permanently," notes Kerry Thompson, the American Horse Council's Director of Health and Regulatory Affairs.

"The need for additional quarantine space has increased dramatically and more facilities are needed to handle the additional commerce. Once rules are adopted, private industry can step in under USDA requirements and fill that gap."

The American Horse Council and other equine groups have been calling for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to re-publish the rule proposal that was originally proposed over four years ago to respond to the need for more import facilities through privately-operated stations.

USDA has asked for public comment on the specifics of the proposed rule. To get a copy of the proposed rules, please contact Kerry Thompson at the American Horse Council.

Comments are due on or before February 12, 2007. The AHC will be submitting comments. Anyone may submit comments directly to USDA. There are several avenues you can use, including an online Federal eRulemaking Portal, all of which can be found within the published proposal.

Press release supplied by Sarah Mesa, AHC Director of Communications, smesa@horsecouncil.org.

Wellington Virus Update: Monday, December 18

There has been no official update from Wellington since the briefing for equestrians on Saturday, which was followed by a briefing at Palm Beach Equine Clinic attended by about 60 equine veterinarians. Local veterinarians have been busy updating vaccinations for hundreds of horses in the community.

Currently there are no bans for shipping horses into and out of Florida or Wellington itself. Normally, a 21-day "all clear" period would be required before showing would begin again but each outbreak has its own special parameters.

Key aspects of the biosecurity containment policy issued by local veterinarians include:

1. Monitor every horse's temperature twice daily. Report all fevers with a temperature above 101.0 to your veterinarian immediately.

2. Limit unnecessary horse and people traffic in and out of the barn.

3. Use antiseptic foot baths and hand cleaners every time anyone comes into or leaves the barn.

Horses in the Southfields residential area and the barn where the infections may have originated (south east corner of Palm Beach Point) are under a strict quarantine. No horses are allowed into or off of these locations until further notice. All horse shows are cancelled for the next 7 days (beginning 12/16/2006). Please be mindful of how infectious this virus is and limit any unnecessary movement of horses for these next 7 days also. Keep your horses where they are.

New links to articles and information updated for 18 December:

Palm Beach Post article about trail closures around Wellington

Palm Beach Post article confirming status of EHV-1 virus in Wellington

South Florida Sun-Sentinel article about impact on horse community

Orlando Sentinel article with quotes from equestrians, veterinarians

Updated report from the State of Florida Division of Animal Industry

Wellington Virus Update: Video of Briefing Session Available Online

On Saturday morning, December 16, hundreds of Wellington, Florida equestrians from all disciplines gathered for a press conference at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Center, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival.

Dr. Maureen Long of the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Michael Short from the State of Florida Department of Agriculture, Dr. Scott Swerdlin of Palm Beach Equine Clinic, and Dr. Dix Harrell, the USDA Assistant Area Veterinarian in Charge, spoke and answered questions pertaining to the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV). The USDA District veterinary medical officer, Dr. Julie Gaulthier, was also present.

The entire press conference was videotaped, and as a public service, is available for free viewing at www.phelpssports.com.

There are currently two videos posted for free downloading. Phelps Sports operates a subscription-based web site, so many of the stories about the outbreak are available only to subscribers. The briefing videos are not subject to subscription.

Viewing these videos is recommended as an educational aid to all horse owners, since an outbreak can occur almost anywhere and effect your horses. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them.

More from Wellington: Virus Fear Leads to Spanish Horse Show Cancellation

Wellington, Florida may be home to the largest hunter/jumper and dressage competitions during the winter season, but the fear over this week's virus outbreak and horse fatalities hits home with all horseowners in the area. Wellington is also a large center for polo, racetracks are nearby, and local owners have breeding, competition and pleasure horses whose health is of concern.

Mary Adams of The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse Association has announced that the 2007 Fiesta Florida Horse Show, including the Rafael Soto Dressage Clinic and the Open Breed Dressage Freestyle Competition (unrated) has been cancelled. The events will be rescheduled, and new dates/venues will be announced by the Foundation in January 2007.

"The Fiesta Florida Show Committee reluctantly made the decision to reschedule the show based on information about the EHV-1 virus provided by State and local veterinarians. Though everyone is confident that this disease will be contained and would pose no real threat at Fiesta Florida, it was decided that due to the short time frame between the discovery of the virus, and the show, which was to have taken place January 19th-21st at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, the most responsible action would be to reschedule the events.

"The health and well-being of our horses is the primary concern here," said Fiesta Florida Show Committee President, Kim Boyer.

For more information, call Mary Adams at 352-429-3336 or 352-217-9813 or email her at preshows@earthlink.net.

Virus Strikes Wellington, FL; Horse Shows Cancelled to Protect Horses

A fast-moving flu-like virus has killed an estimated four horses in the Wellington, Florida area since Sunday. The only details currently available are what is published in the local press and information posted on the web by the Florida Division of Animal Industry.

Test results to verify that the outbreak is a form of Equine Herpesvirus-type 1 (EHV-1) are expected to be received soon. To make matters worse, Wellington was soaked in a drenching rainstorm today, with an estimated five inches falling on the horse show grounds, I learned by phone.

According to the state of Florida, two horses have been euthanized and others are showing signs of illness; other reports put the number at four. Quarantines and "lock downs" are in effect around the village; farriers are being asked by owners not to report to do scheduled work.

Stadium Jumping Inc., organizer of the Winter Equestrian Festival, has announced that this weekend's shows will be cancelled. A prepared statement reads:

In light of the apparent outbreak of an infectious equine disease within the equestrian community of Wellington, Stadium Jumping, Inc. announced that this weekend's AGA National Championship and the Christmas Festival Horse Show have been cancelled.

"Until we know more about this situation, and get further advice from the veterinarians and professionals that are on the scene and on top of this emergency, it would be irresponsible for us to move forward with this weekend's competition. Safeguarding the horses in our community and the protection of the equestrian industry in Wellington is our utmost and primary concern," said Stadium Jumping, Inc. President Eugene R. Mische. "We would much prefer to err on the side of caution than to put even a single horse at risk."

Meanwhile, the interstate highways leading into Florida are crowded with horse vans and trailers bringing horses into the state for winter shows, racing, sales, and polo. Currently, the state of Florida is not restricting travel of horses into the state, and no other states have issued sanctions against horses from Florida entering their states. Anyone involved with horses traveling into or out of Florida should monitor the state's animal industry web site for more news.

Wellington's show season is one of the most prestigious in the world. Horses have recently arrived into the village of Wellington from dozens of states and foreign countries; many are still expected to ship in over the holidays. It is not unusual for some horses to show minor flu-like symptoms after flights or shipping by road, and veterinarians are hard at work determining which symptoms are "normal" for shippers and which might be signs of a viral infection.

An article in the Palm Beach Post traces the outbreak to a possibile source in a horse that shipped in from New York and was ill on arrival. Veterinarians became suspicious when another horse in the barn started to show symptoms.

Among the horses euthanized are jumper rider Debbie Stephens' Dutch Warmblood x Thoroughbred Cosequin's CEO, an outstanding home-bred product of her Centennial Farms breeding and showing operation in Florida.

This blog post will be updated as new information arrives. Please check these links as well:

Florida Division of Animal Industry (statewide horse health alerts and updates)

Stadium Jumping (horse show management company in Wellington)

Palm Beach Post daily newspaper (search for "Wellington horse virus" or similar terms)

South Florida Sun-Sentinel daily newspaper (search for "Wellington horse virus" or similar terms)

Palm Beach Equine Clinic (leading veterinary hospital located near showgrounds)

University of Georgia information page on EHV-1

Last update 14 December 8:11 p.m. by Fran Jurga

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Who's Who and "Who's That?" Equine joint supplement researcher earns her place at international research conference in France

The circle of researchers who specialize in horse science is a tight one. Everyone knows everyone else, and an international conference can take on the air of a class reunion when enough graduates from a single university are in attendance.

At the August 2006 International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP) in Fontainebleu, France, one researcher stood out, because no one knew her name...until she presented her research.

ICEEP conducts a unique "starfinder" research competition for students in equine research around the world; the winning project earns the student not only a trip to the conference, but the honor of presenting the research to 26 assembled leaders in the field of equine research, including many potential future employers, and an audience of eager colleagues.

Myerscough College in Lancashire, England claimed the winning student this year. Rebecca Forsyth, a 2005 physiology graduate, presented her research in front of such esteemed researchers as Drs. Hilary Clayton, Rachel Murray, and David Marlin, but her research may gain legs of its own, considering the potential impact on horses worldwide.

Rebecca conducted a detailed, double-blind study of the effects of joint supplements on movement in 20 "senior equines" at Great Britain's Veteran Horse Society. Using the innovative Equinalysis gait evaluation system, Rebecca repeatedly tested both the treated and untreated horses to measure their stride length and joint characteristics.

"Double Blind Investigation of the Effects of Oral Supplementation of Combined Glucosamine Hydrochloride (GHCL) and Chondroitin Sulphate (CS) on the Stride Characteristics of Veteran Horses" is quite a mouthful for a researcher's first presentation. Rebecca's study was also printed in the Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement.

Helpful information from this research: The horses were studied for 12 weeks, during which time they were fed a combination glucosamine/chondroitin sulphate supplement according to the manufacturer's directions. The horses were evaluated every four weeks; improvements were not seen in this group of horses until the eighth week, but improvement was noted in all the treated horses. Of the joints evaluated, the elbow, stifle and hind fetlock improved significantly. Stride length also increased at both the walk and the trot on all treated horses, indicating that supplementation may have welfare benefits for older horses.

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