Equine Herpes Virus - Outbreak

Do you know what Equine Herpes Virus is? How could it affect your mares? Read on to find out more.

From Dr. Michael Yoder, NCSU Animal Science, REINS Coordinator:

Attached, please find a news release documenting the EHV-1 Wild Type, outbreak in Florida. The Wild Type EHV-1 may cause abortion in mares, but may also result in neurological issues that are very serious. To date, North Carolina has not been exposed to the disease in 2013. If you wish to follow the information coming from the Florida State Veterinarian, you may find that information on the following website.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/

EHV-1 Outbreak and Quarantine Information 

March 3, 2013 

Revised information is italicized 

A horse participating in the Horse Shows in the Sun (HITS) horse show in Ocala was referred to the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine after showing clinical neurological signs on February 20th. The horse subsequently tested positive for the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), wild-type strain. Currently, the horse is in stable condition and continues to be treated at the University of Florida. 

Five additional horses that are linked to the HITS Show in Ocala have tested positive for EHV-1 wild type. One is located at Redfield Farm in Ocala and four are located at Miles Away Farm in Loxahatchee, Florida. One of the positive horses located at Miles Away 

Farm, has developed neurological signs and is being treated at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. While the additional positive horses were detected after leaving the Showgrounds, they resided in Tent 3 and Tent 6 in proximity to Tent 7 which housed the index case. With evidence of more widespread exposure, the HITS Showgrounds have been placed under quarantine. 

An additional horse, with no clinical signs of disease that is linked to the HITS showground’s, has tested positive for EHV-1 and is located at Calder Farms, in Ocala. That horse continues to remain clinically healthy with no signs of EHV-1 infection. 

A horse not believed to be linked with any of the HITS-associated quarantined premises has also been positive for EHV-1. This horse is located at Tequestrian Farm in Wellington, Florida. 

The Division of Animal Industry is continuing their disease investigation and developing protocols for surveillance and quarantine release measures. An Incident Command Team comprised of state and federal personnel has been mobilized to implement appropriate control measures. 

Quarantined Farms/Premises** 

 HITS Showgrounds, Ocala – Entire facility 

 Up Country Farm/Synergy Farm, Ocala 

 Montera Farm, Ocala 

 Flutterby Farm, Ocala 

 Foxwood Farms, Pinellas Park 

 Black Forest Farm, St. Augustine 

 POD-F Farm (Littlewood Farm), Wellington 

 Brookmore Farm, Oviedo 

 Kings Ridge Farm, Reddick 

 Tequestrian Farm, Wellington 

 Redfield Farm, Ocala 

 Miles Away Farm, Loxahatchee 

 Calder Farms 

**The quarantines listed above do not necessarily encompass the entire premises. 

Premises Released from Quarantine 

 FEI tent at Wellington Showground’s – February 28, 2013 

Known State Movement Restriction for Horses 

 California requirements include a negative test for Equine Infectious Anemia, obtained within the six (6) months before date of entry, and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) with a body temperature recorded for each horse in the shipment. Accredited veterinarians preparing CVIs are responsible for fulfillment of the temperature recording requirement. 

We are advising horse owners and trainers to contact the venue of destination for any additional requirements prior to travel. 

Recommendations for horses that have shown at HITS since February 5, 2013 include close monitoring of animals, reporting of fevers greater than 101.5 and strict bio-security measures for at least 21 days after departure from HITS. 

We are asking all those in the equine community to practice prudent bio-security on their farm and to report any suspected cases of EHV-1. For reporting, you may call 850-410-0900 Monday through Friday 8:00am-5:00pm and 1-800-342-5869 after hours and 

weekends. 

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with continue to work with HITS management, trainers, and veterinarians to ensure proper safeguards are taken to prevent further spread of the disease. 

Frequent informational updates will be provided, so please continue to visit this Website regularly at: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/. 

Additional Resources: 

More information on the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) can be found at the following 

Websites: 

 American Association of Equine Practitioners, 

http://www.aaep.org/health_articles.php?category=Equine+Herpesvirus+%28EHV%29 

 Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, 

http://www.ca.uky.edu/gluck/BiblioEHV1.asp 

 University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, 

http://extension.vetmed.ufl.edu/files/2012/02/EHV-June-2011.pdf 

Bio-security information, to help reduce the risk of spread contagious and infectious 

diseases can be found at the following Websites, 

 American Association of Equine Practitioners, 

http://www.aaep.org/pdfs/control_guidelines/Biosecurity_instructions%201.pdf 

 United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (USDA, APHIS), 

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/HorseBioSecurity_final.pdf 

How much feed or hay does your horse really need?

Horses are natural grazers.  Their digestive systems were designed to process a high fiber diet, such as grass and hay.  As humans have turned (some) horses into athletes, the horses' body has demanded more nutrition.  Horses that I usually see are either WAY to fat, or WAY to skinny.  The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension program has an excellent article posted on their website about the basic nutritional needs of horses and how to determine exactly how much to feed your horse.  You can find this article at the link below:
http://www.caes.uga.edu/publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_id=7824#Calculations

Wild Horses Find New Homes

The Wild Horse & Burro Adoption at the Duplin County Events Center will be held this year the weekend of July 12 in Kenansville, NC. This event gives potential horse owners a chance to develop life skills and gives animals an opportunity for a good home and positive human interaction.

            The U.S. Bureau of Land Management initiates the program and collects the horses, and then a veterinarian examines the horses prior to the adoption. These sales usually last three days and consist of either auctions or set adoption fees.

For the past 4 or 5 years, this annual event in Duplin County has offered about 100-150 horses or burros a chance at a new home and offered 200-300 potential horsemen an opportunity to expand their training and caretaking knowledge and experience.

According to Larry Sessoms, Duplin County Events Center Executive Director, the process is simple: come out to the Duplin County Events Center, look around and see if any of the horses are of interest for adoption. If you find a horse you are interested in, you will need to complete paperwork and meet certain requirements for adoption. If you meet those requirements, you pay an adoption fee, and take your horse home. The adoption fee varies but is usually in the ballpark of $50-$100. There is no charge for admission. Larry adds that many times, a horse trainer comes to perform training techniques used for wild horses so that anyone in attendance can benefit. Sale times vary so contact the Events Center at the number below for more information.

The Duplin County Events Center will be hosting other agricultural and horse-related events in 2013, such as the Duplin Agribusiness Fair October 16-19 (http://duplinfair.com/). For more information about the adoption or other events, contact the Duplin County Events Center at 910-275-0009 or check their website at http://www.duplinevent.com/.

  The Duplin County Events Center prepares their

arena for a wild horse & burro adoption.

 

The Duplin County Events Center hosts an adoption

with a variety of horses and burros. This year’s event

will be the weekend of July 12-14 at the events center.

Can your Horse Farm Handle a Winter Storm?

Look just what happened in the Northeast. Just imagine if any part of that winter storm was about 300 - 400 miles south! Are you ready? Is your horse ready? Is your farm ready? Although we live in an area with mostly sunny days, there are times when we have temperatures below freezing as well as an occasional snow storm.

About the worst thing for a horse during the winter months is ice; most importantly, the ice that covers the watering trough or water bucket. Water for the horse during cold weather is too often overlooked. The water may freeze, making it inaccessible to the horse. Mature horses need about 10 gallons of water a day. To keep the horse healthy during freezing weather owners should make sure an ample supply of fresh water is always available. Excessively cold water will decrease the horses' consumption of water.

The horse has two natural defenses against cold, a long hair coat and a layer of fat beneath the skin. Both provide an excellent means of insulation against the cold.

Most nutritional needs of the horse do not change during the winter season. Vitamin, mineral and protein requirements will still depend upon the horse's age and physiological status and not on the time of year. The horse should be fed according to body condition.

Thin horses should be fed some supplemental grain in addition to good quality hay to assure enough energy to produce warmth, while a fat horse will require little or no increase from their fall diet. Most mature horses that are idle and in good flesh can survive the winter quite well on good quality hay and ample clean water.

Overfeeding can cause too much weight gain during the winter, and lead to laminitis and other health problems in the spring.

While horses need shelter from cold winds, rain and snow; it is not necessary to keep them in a closed barn throughout the winter. Horses kept outdoors in the winter with access to a run-in shed, which opens away from the normal wind patterns, will generally have fewer respiratory disease problems than horses kept in poorly ventilated, heated barns.

One important aspect of care that often is neglected is hoof care. Even though you are not regularly riding the horse, the hooves still grow during the winter months. In addition, the horse is traveling on uneven, frozen ground that can crack and break feet. Have the shoes removed and the hooves trimmed before turning the horse out for winter, and have the feet trimmed on a regular basis. This insures that when spring arrives, the horse will have sound hooves that will be capable of holding a shoe.

The important thing is, do not just turn horses out and forget about them. Every day at every feeding, your horse should receive at least a visual examination.

Reference: Ann Swinker, Penn State Extension Equine Specialist, and Tyrone Fisher, North Carolina Cooperative Extension

The Relationship Between Tapeworms and Colic

The word colic strikes fear into the hearts of almost all horse owners and the threat of anything that could be related to colic is something horse owners dread--and with good reason. Colic has been identified as one of the leading causes of death in horses. In one study, 80% of impaction colic cases examined were associated with tapeworms. Other findings from that study showed 22% of spasmodic colic cases had concurrent tapeworm infections.

With the link between tapeworms and colic, it can be critical for horse owners to use products in their deworming programs that control tapeworms. Horse owners need to consider incorporating a product such as one with praziquantel, which specifically controls that particular parasite. Caution should be used when using generic dewormers as there are no generics that contain praziquantel to control tapeworms.

Besides their association with colic, tapeworms can also lead to other health concerns including but not limited to recurring diarrhea, progressive weight loss, and anemia. Understanding the tapeworm lifecycle, illustrated in the picture below, can help horse owners determine the best time to treat. In general, veterinary recommendations are to treat for tapeworms in the spring and the fall, but horse owners should consult their veterinarians for more specific parasite treatment protocols and a deworming program that best fits their farm health plan.

Because tapeworms pose a threat to horses' overall health and there is no reliable fecal diagnostic test for tapeworm infections like there are for other parasites, horse owners need to be vigilant about treating for them. And they should be sure to treat with a product that has been proven to be effective against tapeworms. So ask your veterinarian about the potential for these parasites and develop a sound deworming program that will work best for your equine operation.

Managing Your Horses During the Winter Months

The winter months can be a harsh environment for your horses and your wallet. With the depletion of forages on your pastures by now most people have had to increase feed and hay consumption for their horses. As prices continue to increase on feed more horse owners are relying on hay to get them through the winter. To learn how to stretch your horses hay consumption through the winter months and continue to have a good body condition score on your horse take a look at this link: http://animalscience.ag.utk.edu/horse/pdf/StretchingYourHorseHaySupply_1-30-03.pdf

Written by Jared Harrell

New Year, New Horse - Why not Adopt?

Thinking about getting a new horse?  You may want to consider adopting one.  Just like the millions of dogs and cats in need of homes, there are horses that for one reason or another have ended up homeless.  Here are a few things to consider when trying to decide whether to add to your herd or not:

• Are you ready to make a life-long commitment to the animal?
• Can you afford it?
• Do you have time for it?

If you answered YES to all of the above questions, then ask yourself:

How do I intend to use the horse? Showing, pleasure riding, hunting, etc. Is the horse that you are considering able to perform in this capacity?  

 

Is the horse a good match for my skill level? If possible, can you find out the history of the horse? It may have been hurt or upset at some point and unwilling to perform certain tasks.

Adopting an animal of any species is not a decision to be entered into lightly. Some of these horses are owner surrenders that could no longer be cared for due to health or monetary issues with the owner themselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with these animals. Some horses were confiscated by law enforcement because they were not taken care of. There are some places where you can even adopt a wild horse that was rounded up to control the wild population; however, unless you are a VERY seasoned horse owner, this should not be your first choice.
When you make the decision to adopt, there are several places that you can start to look for adoptable horses. To begin your search for the perfect addition, you can simply search Google for “horse sanctuary in NC” or “adoptable horses in North Carolina”. There are so many to choose from, all over the state. Most of these sanctuaries have pictures and details about each horse and have contact information so that you can set up an appointment to visit and check the horses out in person. If you think a horse could be a fit for you, don’t be afraid to ask them about a “foster program” where you can take the horse home for a trial basis to see if it’s going to work on a permanent basis.
If you need more assistance, contact your local Livestock Agent. They may be able to put you in touch with some of these rescue organizations or answer any other questions that you have about horses and adopting.