Del Mar Horsepark-no in/out and Thermal Meeting
Thermal Meeting:
JANUARY 25, 2012
Thermal HITS - Good Horsemanship Precautions, EHV-I
A noon informational meeting today at HITS Thermal laid out precautionary information relating to the recent west coast EHV-I outbreak. In the spirit of horse safety and care, Tom Struzzieri and his staff called a noon get together for trainers and California State Vets to exchange information.
Four California State Vets are in town to investigate a positive horse at Empire Polo Club (17 miles from the HITS grounds) that was euthanized on Monday. They emphasized that the exposure potential for horses on the HITS Show grounds was extremely „low risk‰. The polo club has been quarantined and locked down for 21days of monitoring and cautionary actions.
HITS staff has instituted precautionary actions.
*No daily ship-ins allowed effective immediately.
*Upon arrival of horses to the show grounds, full disclosure for each horse as to where it comes from, where it has been and what contact with other horses it has had.
*Keep control of contact among horses.
*Procedures laid out for horse owners to take the temperature of each horse twice a day. An unexplained fever of 102 or higher should be reported to Dr. Peters, Hagyard Vet Clinic on grounds, for evaluation.
*In a precautionary measure, horses in question will be relocated to one of several isolation stalls currently being erected on the grounds for further evaluation.
The California State Vets emphasis that the risk of exposure is extremely low for HITS competitors and stated that normal precautionary measure should be continued. They reiterated there is no reason to panic and over react.
When directly asked, „Is the HITS show a safe place to bring horses to compete for the Circuit?‰ ALL four of the vets quickly and emphatically answered, „YES, the risk is low and being monitored by all of us and the State. Information will be quickly relayed to horseman. Keep checking the California Department of Food and Agriculture web site for updates.‰
For more information go to www.cdfa.ca.gov , click on the EHV-I on the top right. The state vets will keep the updates current.
HITS will keep you informed of any new information.
Del Mar Horsepark (via the SD CDS chapter):
Due to the EHV-1 outbreak, Del Mar Horsepark is abiding by the recommended 21-day shutdown, which means horses will not be allowed to enter the facility for 21 days, and horses that leave the facility will not be allowed to return. As a result, our February show must be cancelled. At this point, we expect to hold our June show. We have several viable options that we are exploring and will make a formal announcement once we have something finalized. Those who have already paid for the February Show will receive refunds. Questions? Contact Show Manager Lisa Blaufuss.
