wow, big yikes.
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Arenāt you the same person who claimed that an eventer had a vet falsify documents in moving her horses?
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Just relaying information like everyone else
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Can anyone speculate on the costs related with keeping a horse at DIHP until quarantine is lifted? Iām thinking the financial pressure of paying board at home, training bills, board and care at Thermal, etc. might be driving people to sneak home.
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Yep, sheās the one. She also named the eventer she was spreading rumors about.
I canāt, but Iām sure itās cheaper than getting sued because you killed someone elseās horse š¤·
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Todayās email from USEF.
Return to Competition Declaration Forms and EHV-1 FAQ
From the US Equestrian Communications Department
Lexington, Ky . - USEF continues to work closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), competition organizers, and participants to manage the EHV-1 situation in CA and provide updates to our membership. The information provided below is based on information available to USEF at the time of distribution.
In an effort to mitigate the risk of further spread of EHV-1, all USEF Licensed competitions in CA were suspended through March 17. In line with the CDFA release issued March 3, USEF does not have any hunter/jumper competitions taking place until after March 31.
USEF has implemented a return-to-competition protocol that applies to any horse that has been on the Desert International Horse Park (DIHP) or Rancho Mureta showgrounds, or any horse that has been exposed to a horse confirmed positive for EHV-1 off competition grounds in the past 14 days. This will allow the horse to be released from the EHV-1 Ineligibility List.
The Return to Competition Declaration Forms are now available, as affected competitors begin preparing to compete again. Please complete both forms and follow the return to competition protocols:
USEF EHV-1 Return to Competition Declaration and Testing Result Form is to be submitted online along with evidence of negative test results to remove horses from the ineligibility list.
USEF Competition EHV-1 Declaration Form is available at competition grounds for all competitors to complete when they arrive at a show. This form can also be filled out in advance of arriving at the competition and submitted upon arrival.
These documents will be required under the return to competition protocol in order to get a horseās ineligibility status lifted.
FEI Return to Competition Protocols
In order for an affected horse to return to FEI competition, the following requirements must be met:
ā¢ FEI horses MUST have a negative EHV-1 PCR test to return to competition
ā¢ Two negative PCR tests within 14 days, one at Day 7 and one at Day 14
OR
ā¢ One negative PCR test within 21 days, at Day 21
USEF Return to (National) Competition Protocols
In order for an affected horse to return to USEF (National) competition, the following requirements must be met:
ā¢ Two negative PCR tests within 14 days, one at Day 7 and one at Day 14
**OR**
ā¢ One negative PCR test within 21 days, at Day 21
**OR**
ā¢ 28 days without a test, if the horse has been isolated for a minimum of 28 days
It is critical that everyone follow biosecurity protocols in order for this situation to improve. Please note that the USEF protocols for testing to return to competition may be more extensive than those of the CDFA.
If you have questions on the USEF protocols, please email USEF at EHVhelp@usef.org. For additional information, please refer to theCalifornia Department of Food and Agriculture and Equine Disease Communication Center websites.
Udpated March 11, 2022
FAQ: USEF Return to Competition Protocols and California Hunter/Jumper Calendar in March
-
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¢ 28 days without a test, if the horse has been isolated for a minimum of 28 days
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 after March 31, the 28-day approach may the best option for many, and would eliminate testing asymptomatic horses. Note that horse show organizers can put in place more restricitive requirements.
4. 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 31. Currently, hunter/jumper competitions in CA will resume on April 1.
5. Why are only hunter/jumper competitions shut down in California?
At this time, we are not aware of any confirmed positive cases associated with non-hunter/jumper horses.
6. 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.
7. How will cancellations affect qualifying criteria and selection procedures?
Each Discipline is reviewing the impact on Selection and Qualification and further announcements will follow.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
The horses that are actually quarantined by CDFA canāt really sneak home since thatās against state law. Recall the person who tried to sneak their horse out of LAEC when the whole facility was under quarantine. So they could, but there would be penalties.
Horses whose owners have voluntarily kept them at Thermal even though theyāre not in the quarantined portion (again, the entire facility is not under quarantine) can leave. No state penalty. No sneaking required. Just load up and go.
Is it smart to bring horses home within the 14 (?) days if there isnāt a suitable place to keep them at home? No.
Could you get sued if you brought your horse home and another horse at the facility got sick? Maybe. But one would have to establish an epidemiological link bw the horsesānot just proximity.
The main danger was probably from horses that left during or at at the end of week IV and could have been carrying the disease asymptomatically (or symptomatically if someone was being nasty). In theory, any horse that remained after the show, and especially after the break/dressage week, likely was monitored enough (and moved into isolation if there was a fever) that they shouldnāt be contagious if they left.
Based on listening to some of the meetings, reasons for staying with asymptomatic horses included no suitable place to quarantine at home, health papers for horses going to Canada, and winter weather concerns.
Cost? Stalls are free I think, but youād have to buy feed and shavings, hopefully not at show prices. Plus pay staff salary and expenses to care for and maybe ride horses, or for a place to stay if you do it yourself. Plus possibly splitting staff between show and home. Plus hassle.
Editing to add that this is apparently post 666. 
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I was not the first to name her. Just talking about what I have heard from reliable sources like everyone else on here. What you choose to believe is your choice. Just bc someone or an association/organization put out an official statement or press release does not mean it speaks the truth or has all the facts. Donāt get bent out of shape horseless wonder. It has become grossly apparent with this recent outbreak that officials and vets alike have let things slide and have not done their due diligence. Just look at what has happened at Thermal and everything that has occurred as a result.
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Other than passing on rumors youāve heard from someone else, what verifiable information do you have that a specific trainer āhad a vet falsify a reportā?
Not everyone on here passes along damaging rumors about named professionals. Just you.
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Itās an XP Ride, which is surprising considering these folks were Covid cautious throughout the pandemic (more than many). The statement is below:
[https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10160751382181800&id=205291171799](http://Facebook post)
Wowā¦apparently deliberately spreading misinformation (Iāve seen no evidence of social media sharing things that āsimply arenāt trueā) and potentially jeopardizing every horseās health that attends these events (along with all the horses at their home barns)ā¦ They appear to not even suggest vaccinationā¦just a thermometerā¦ 
Itās this dismissive, āno big dealā attitude that got us into this mess in the first place. 
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Yes. Also mice and rats and other rodents (and dogs) could potentially be passive carriers, and possibly flies?
Iām in Southern California and wasnāt going to post again (I posted above early on in this thread) because frankly the finger pointing on here and social media is completely exhausting to read for any professional or horseman who cares about their horses and has been around long enough to know EHV and state mandated quarantines and horses having to be euthanized is nothing new. We are all scared and having a bit of āsurvivor shockā at this point (those of us lucky enough not to have any deaths in our personal or business or client horses).
Itās not just about horses moving. Again, this is an endemic disease of equines - all horses are infected, but understanding why some individuals shed virus and others donāt is an area of ongoing veterinary research. Potentially anything, living or not, could be a passive carriers if there is a horse shedding virus in its bodily fluids. Good luck telling pigeons & insects not to fly.
Again, this is not excusing anybody who knowingly competed a horse with a fever.
Edited: for clarity
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As if taking the temperature tells you anything other than āyour horse is already infected and might get extremely sick and die, and any horse it has been around might too.ā Not to mention that quite a few have developed neurological impairments without ever having a significant fever in this outbreak.
They sound just like the Facebook covid deniers ā¦ āItās just like the flu! Anyone that tells you otherwise is unnecessarily āliving in fearā!ā
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Someone on FB just posted itās in Connecticut.
Thereās also EHV at Parx racing in PA too:
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Itās not uncommon for there to be multiple unrelated cases/outbreaks in different parts of the country. It just comes down to how they are handled.
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There are measures you can do to discourage pigeon nesting and rat infestation. You have to be diligent though.
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