FORT WORTH, Texas – The Appaloosa Horse Club World Championship Show was brought to a halt today after a horse entered in the show presented with symptoms compatible with EHV-1. The horse in question presented with a high fever and neurological symptoms. The sick horse is from the Midwest and was on a trailer with two other horses. The two other horses have not yet shown any sign of illness. All three horses have been moved to isolation in another barn.
Because EHV-1 is so contagious to horses, the Will Rogers center has asked that no horses leave or enter the arena until tests taken from the sick horse are back later tonight. If the test comes back negative, the show will hopefully resume tomorrow.
In the meantime, show and arena officials are cleaning the barn and show implements every two hours to avoid the spread of any disease.
There are approximately 720 Appaloosa horses from around the world showing at the Will Rogers Arena. To avoid a potentially huge outbreak, show officials are taking every precaution available to prevent the spread of disease should the test come back positive.
The last major outbreak of EHV-1 started at a cutting horse event in May 2011. EHV-1 is also known as equine herpes virus. Initial signs of EHV-1 are usually a non-specific fever of 102 or higher followed by a lack of coordination. EHV-1 is spread by both horse to horse contact and contact with infected tack, brushes or stalls.