I blame Trump
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I have seen some criticism about how the DIHP handled communication in the beginning, such that people on site were not really aware of what was going on, and there may have been some degree of unknown exposure happening. And then followed by mass exit from those who thought they were ok.
What we learned from the big outbreak in Europe last year should have been quick communication and to not let people determine for themselves in a short timeframe that they were fine/not exposed and could leave. Lots of horses spread EHV all around Europe last year in the course of moving on to other shows even before the first positive case was reported, given the incubation time lag. It is really irresponsible to move the horses home where you donāt have a good setup at home to keep the horses safe. But itās just gross to move on to another showgrounds knowing you are coming from a facility with active cases.
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Iāll bet that outbreak in Europe last year may have escaped the notice of a lot of people who show in this country. Or they may have heard something about it, but not paid a lot of attention to the details. It had a huge effect on a lot of Europeans, but maybe not on a huge number of people here.
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USEF certainly put out some information about it, and it was all over every equine news source, especially as there were several cases in the US at various points on the east coast at least around that time as well. It was big enough to cancel several FEI events, and Iām sorry, if you are a horse professional, you should have paid some kind of attention. Choosing to live under a rock when horses are your business is not a very good excuse IMO.
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People in general are not well equipped to evaluate novel or rare or invisible risks like pandemics. Flight is indeed one of our hardwired responses that is paradoxically often a smart choice individually but a bad choice in public health terms. I could totally see someone wanting to get their horses out asap and solely focusing on that. This is why you need strong enforced public health orders and policies right away because people will make decisions that are bad for the group.
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I wasnāt thinking so much of the professionals. More about some of the owners who may have been less aware of it last year, and thus less aware of the risks involved now.
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DIHP wasnāt great at the beginning (end of week four show, when it started), especially WRT pushing info to all exhibitors as opposed to trainers only. They definitely improved after that though.
This particular variant seems to have a longer incubation period than has been observed in the past. So, in addition to people who went to other shows within the seven-day period, horses have been getting sick at more than seven days post exposure. That hasnāt helped.
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This. Exactly. Iām an expert in my chosen career and I trust that my trainer is an expert in hers - and where sheās not she consults experts (e.g. vets). As soon as my trainer shared the biosecurity measures implemented at our barn, you can be sure we all adhered. But I definitely had no idea the extent of biosecurity required to prevent* transmission.
*maybe āslowā would be a better word here. Based on my conversation with a vet at DIHP today it certainly seems like like the standard biosecurity protocols arenāt adequate to stop this specific strain.
***editing because I was trying to respond to one of @Scribbler posts but am bad at forums. Anyway, the point stands that I have zero experience in human medicine, horse medicine, public health, or anything that would have helped the situation absent the guidance of my trainer. Maybe that doesnāt make me a āhorseman/womanā but Iām comfortable with that.
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This email just came out from USEF:
FAQ: USEF Return to Competition Protocols and California Hunter/Jumper Calendar in March
From the US Equestrian Communications Department
-
What is required for my horse to return to USEF competition if it participated at Thermal or Rancho Murieta?
USEF requires either one of the following to clear your horse for eligibility to compete:
ā¢ Two samples taken using nasopharyngeal swabs must be analyzed by PCR testing on day 7 and day 14. Day 0 is considered to be the day your horse left the venue at Thermal or Rancho Murieta, whichever occurred later. Both swabs must result in negative test results to EHV-1.
If either of the tests generate a positive result, the horse must remain in isolation and be re-tested. It is necessary to have two negative test results, taken at least seven days apart to fulfil USEF requirements.
OR
ā¢ The horse must be isolated for 21 days, rectal temperature must be taken and recorded during the isolation period, and samples must be taken after day 21 using a nasopharyngeal swab to test for EHV-1 via PCR analysis. Day 0 is considered to be the day your horse left the venue.
The swab must result in negative PCR test result to EHV-1. If the tests generate a positive result, the horse must remain in isolation for a further seven days and be re-tested.
2. Are these restrictions applicable to horses returning to their home barns?
No, the criterion for testing only applies to those horses entering USEF competitions. However, it is always a good practice to isolate, as much as possible, those horses returning to their resident barn after attending a competition.
3. Do I need to test my horse if I isolate the horse at home for more than 28 days, do I need a test?
No, but you may be required to show a twice daily temperature log for the last 14 days of the isolation period. In light of the fact there are no currently scheduled Hunter/Jumper competitions to be held in the state of California until March 30, the 28-day approach may the best option for many, and would eliminate testing asymptomatic horses.
4. Where do I send evidence of negative test results?
Test results must be submitted via email to EHV@usef.org to obtain clearance to compete.
5. Did USEF cancel all upcoming California competitions?
USEF has not canceled any upcoming CA competitions. Competition Managers voluntarily canceled all CA USEF hunter/jumper competitions that would have occurred before March 30. Currently, hunter/jumper competitions in CA will resume on March 30.
6. Why are only hunter/jumper competitions shut down in California?
At this time, we are not aware of any confirmed positive associated with non-hunter/jumper horses.
7. If the EHV-1 infection rate begins to decrease, will USEF approve new competitions to the CA hunter/jumper calendar for March?
No, USEF will not approve any new competitions to the CA hunter/jumper calendar that would occur before April 1.
8. How will cancellations affect qualifying criteria and selection procedures?
Each Discipline is reviewing the impact on Selection and Qualification and further announcements will follow.
9. Do I have to take my horse to a different location before going to a USEF competition, after isolating at one of the venues that have had confirmed positive(s) for EHV-1; i.e. Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) or Rancho Murieta?
No so long as the horse isolated for 21-days at the venue and obtained a negative PCR test. Day 0 will be the date of the last fever that is associated with a confirmed positive EHV-1case at the venue. New confirmed positive cases will reset Day 0.
10. Why is this affecting vaccinated horses?
Similar to COVID-19 in humans, vaccinations do not provide 100% protection from the virus. EHV-1 vaccines have been shown to decrease nasal shedding of the virus, and, in some cases, to reduce the amount of virus present in the blood. Vaccination for EHV-1 can also lessen the clinical presentation in horses and shorten the duration of disease. The virus is endemic and cannot be eradicated, it can only be controlled. Horses have been exposed to the virus before they are ever vaccinated.
11. Should non-competing horses (training or sale horses) be taken to a horse show?
It is USEFās recommendation that any horse that is not competing should not be on competition grounds at this time. This makes it easier for the tracking of on-site horses, if necessary, and reduces the number of horses that are potentially exposed or might be carrying the active virus.
12. Do I need to show evidence of my horseās vaccination status at USEF competitions?
All competitions are encouraged to check vaccination status of all horses coming onto their competition grounds and to verify they are compliant with GR844. You must have evidence of compliance upon request.
13. What is the difference between the reportable disease classifications of āReportable and Monitoredā and āReportable and Actionableā?
Individual states consider a variety of equine diseases as āreportableā but they do not take action on it. California considers a case of Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) as a āReportable and Actionableā disease in equids. This means that the CDFA will manage a quarantine. They do not manage quarantines for EHV-1 cases unrelated to EHM.
14. How can I isolate horses at home when I donāt have separate facilities?
Talk to your veterinarian and consult the CDFA recommendations and resources available at EDCC.
15. How can I mitigate the risk of my horse contracting EHV-1?
This is a calculated risk any time a horse is traveling to a high-density population; this is a disease of control, it cannot be eradicated. We encourage you to carefully review with you veterinarian healthcare measures to safeguard you horse, as well as biosecurity resources that can found at the CDFA and EDCC websites.
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Iād agree with this but for that their Saturday, February 12th 6:41am press release updating the public on the status of EHV and specifically stated that any horse leaving the property needed to quarantine for 7 days. In retrospect, that was too short of a timeframe but sounds like several people ignored even that guidance.
That being said, after my horse gets through all this Iāll probably stash a whole gallon of bleach in my trunk in case of EHV emergencies.
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Not only that, they should want to know.
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Lulavani is the horse that Sami Milo showed at Thermal and MEC. She showed the horse at Thermal on Feb 12th in the Derby. Then from Horseshowtime.com one can see she showed the horse on Feb 16th in a warm up class at MEC and in multiple classes the rest of the week. She went to Thermal alone and then was with all of her clients at the MEC show. California has now confirmed the positive on their website stating that the horse is now in Placer County where her barn is located. The horse was confirmed positive 14 days after leaving Thermal.
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Owners are very much in a position to question the trainer. The trainer works for them !
It goes the same for veterinarians. The vets work for the owners. When the vet bill comes, the owner can call the vet and ask about dispensed meds, and procedures.
Why owners wouldnāt want to be educated in equine management - especially of their own horse - is inexplicable. .
A friend who competed at Thermal just after the outbreak became public, told me she had never seen such a lack of good horsemanship among grooms, and riders of all ages.
But that seems to be the accepted norm, doesnāt it ?
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Just trying to understand you. No need to be rude.
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Cassie Belmont had a horse/rider who showed at Thermal on Feb 12th and then showed the same horse at MEC on Feb 17th. Unacceptable considering on Feb 12th in the AM everyone was told that horses needed to quarantine for at least 7 days.
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Itās probably the same with any group in any activity.
There will always be some people who do everything right, and there will be other people who do a lot of things wrong, if not everything.
Itās not a new development. You can go to any wash rack at any big horse show in this country and see examples of both extremes in the first two minutes. Thatās been true forever.
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@Midas
Letās be clear here. When the 21 day USEF Isolation standard came out on Friday, show management FINALLY asked for her to remove the horse. She refused. Put up a fuss and asked to have the horse tested-to prove the horse was negative. Test came back positive, as we know. Horse couldāve been positive and shedding virus to others for any number of days prior. She was allegedly asymptomatic and testing was not done due to elevated temp nor symptoms.
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Protocols for Blenheim shows that start March 30 and continue for three weeks of showing.
https://4k9tr.r.a.d.sendibm1.com/mk/mr/STp0BVThTh5UVK_pAgmodSJsnJPrlkZxlBW86xFPVwLC10sitJXIGJaoIE4C_IUjXyUX2-Y6kXu3INTVnMgV5N6J1NHe_nPA9f8ne5l7SzvaJTaPKtrtQcn1RNEXQmuvIdTP0mU4
Hereās some of it:
For any horse that has been at a California competition after January 28th OR has been exposed to any horse that has been at a California competition after January 28th OR has been stabled at a facility that has had a positive EHV-1 case, one of the following criteria must be met and provided to BES Management before entering the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park:
EITHER
- Two samples taken using nasopharyngeal swabs must be analyzed by PCR testing on day 7 and day 14. Day 0 is considered to be the day your horse left the venue at Thermal or Rancho Murieta, whichever occurred later. Both swabs must result in negative test results to EHV-1. If either of the tests generate a positive result, the horse must remain in isolation and be re-tested. It is necessary to have two negative test results, taken at least seven days apart to fulfill USEF requirements.
OR
- The horse must be isolated for 21 days, rectal temperature must be taken and recorded during the isolation period, and samples must be taken after day 21 using a nasopharyngeal swab to test for EHV-1 via PCR analysis. Day 0 is considered to be the day your horse left the venue.
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But she would have made just as much money from her clients if she left that one horse at home.
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Blenheim is serious! So good.
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