Bakersfield Dressage
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home

Not-So-Speedy Dressage

From Endurance to Dressage

EHV-1/EHV-4, EHM, and Your Horse

5/16/2011

 
The social media sites and blogging sites were blazing hot on Sunday with talk about the EHV-1.  The possibility of a fatal disease striking your horse prompts many people to take evasive action.  I don't tend to get too excited about internet rumors and reports of horrible news until I get a first hand account of what is happening.  And even then I don't panic.  I also like to hear it being said from an expert.  I scoured the internet for non-inciting news yesterday and landed on several blogs and sites that gave honest information that didn't seem to exaggerate the seriousness of the "outbreak."  If you're interested in reading some of these posts, scroll down to the bottom of this post.

Many of you may not know the difference between Equine Herpesvirus-1 and Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy. First of all, there are actually nine equine herpesviruses, but only three of them, EHV-1 (the one we're worried about), EHV-3 (which causes a venereal disease), and EHV-4 (which causes a non-fatal upper respiratory tract infection) pose a serious risk to domesticated horses.

The vaccine that we give for EHV-1/EHV-4 (Rhinopneumonitis) does not protect against EHM.  There is no vaccination for EHM.  Once affected with EHM, the standard form of care is simply supportive.  Treatment may include intravenous fluid and anti-inflammatory drugs.

By about age two, many horses become infected with EHV-1 by contact with their dam.  The virus is usually inactive, but may become reactivated by stress or contact with an affected horse.  EHM is caused when the EHV-1 undergoes a mutation of the genome.  [a very, very simplistic explanation!]

So what can we do about EHM?  Interestingly, the literature I read strongly urges horse owners to NOT remove any horses from a site where a suspected case of EHM has been present until cleared by a veterinarian.  Oops.  That's what just happened.  So what do we do now?  Don't share tack, brushes, feed buckets, or any other communal items.  Wash your hands and change clothes if you even suspect a horse might be ill.  The disease is spread by horse to horse contact.  DON'T allow horses to touch noses.

All the websites and blogs are reporting essentially the same thing.  A case or two of the nuerologic version of Equine Herpesvirus-1 have been confirmed with a few other horses being treated as though they are positive.  Most experts are recommending a quarantine period for animals suspected of being infected.  The next few days should reveal a more complete picture.

For More Information:
  • This is a brochure from the US Department of Agriculture that gives a very clear and easy to understand explanation of the Equine Herpesvirus.  It's the most informative piece I've seen.  You can access the file here, scroll down and download the pdf, or view the file in the window down below.
  • This one is from the American Association of Equine Practitioners, click here.
  • This one is from Equus, click here.
  • This one was issued from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, click here.
  • This one is from "Quarter Horse News", click here.
  • This one is the National Cutting Horse Association's Facebook page, click here.
equine_herpesvirus_brochure_2009.pdf
File Size: 3796 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Cheryl Jones
5/18/2011 03:59:54 am

Dear Ms. Sweaney

Just for the sake of discussion, EHM is a manifestation of EHV-1, and it's not quite accurate to say that there is no vaccine for it. The vaccination is to prevent contracting the virus, therefore protecting the horse from all manifestations of the virus. This is generally referenced as "neurological" manifestation of the virus.

Feel free to write back
Sincerely
Cheryl Jones

Karen
5/18/2011 12:28:18 pm

Cheryl,

Thank you for commenting. The blog and website are really intended to be a forum for sharing information. I do not claim to be an expert at anything and hope that people with more knowledge and experience will share what they know. Hope to hear from you again!

KS

Gloria Beduhn
5/22/2011 05:17:46 am

When you talk about a mutated EHV-1 virus (in this case, EHM), you're talking about a new virus. Just like human flu viruses, the old vaccines don't cover the new mutation. So how can the standard rhino viurses protect againt the mutation?
I don't have the link for the following quote anymore, but it was from some California website:
"In a California outbreak of neurologic EHV1 infection, horses vaccinated with either type of vaccine within the previous year were 9–14 times more likely to develop neurologic signs than non-vaccinated horses. Because the vasculitis associated with the neurologic form is immune-mediated, vaccination after exposure raises concerns of producing a more severe disease. Consequently, vaccination in the face of a confirmed outbreak of EHV1 neurologic disease has been controversial."

Karen Sweaney
5/22/2011 06:21:05 am

GB - Thank you for sharing! The purpose of this blog, as I've stated before, is to share information about equine health, dressage, and endurance riding, particularly as it relates to equine health!

There may be some validity to the statement that you posted above. We are currently having a discussion on the Bakersfield Vet Hospital Facebook page with Dr. Blanton. Here is a copy/paste of something she wrote the other day:

"None of the EHV vaccines available are particularly protective against the EHM strain, and there was some talk during the last outbreak that frequent boosters with those vaccines may make horses more susceptible to developing symptomatic EHM if they become infected. That said, the high antigen vaccines (Pneumabort and Rhinimmune) MAY be protective and can be boostered as often as every 90 days. They are also very reactive. In most horses 6 months is a very appropriate interval. I don't think the potential benefit of boostering more frequently would outweigh the risks or cost in most cases."

-Karen

Gwen
5/22/2011 12:12:36 pm

It is incorrect to say this is passed by horse-horse contact, and mention touching noses. While this may be true, the correct thing to say is that this is both droplet- and aerosol- transmitted, so horses need to be a lot farther away than nose-nose. Recommendations I've read mention at least 30 feet distance.

Gwen
5/22/2011 12:18:35 pm

Also, this is not about a "case or two". There are almost 40 confirmed cases reported officially now, and a total of about 1000 horses have been considered "exposed". A total of 174 facilities in the US and Canada are considered exposed and under quarantine, either voluntary or madatory. This is all on USDA's Animal and Plant Health website.

The issue is to stop transmission now, in these next couple weeks, so this does not grow.

Karen
5/22/2011 11:11:47 pm

Gwen - thanks for writing and sharing!

You took me to task for a couple of my statements ("a case or two" and "nose to nose contact"). This particular EVH-1 post was written the morning after the cutting show here in Kern County. At that time, there was only a case or two of EHM that had been confirmed. Now, more than a week later, that number has certainly grown. I am not sure where you are, but here in Bakersfield, all the riders in my area have voluntarily agreed to remain on their barn's property. No one wants this to spread, or last any longer.

I write for a wide audience, some readers are not even horse owners. I often describe things in the simplest of terms so that everyone understands what I am trying to say. Am I always successful in getting my point across? Probably not. Do I bore some people with my simplicity? Definitely. My very first blog post said I would. So, while nose to nose contact might be an over simplified way of describing one way to pass infectious diseases, it is something that non-educated horse owners do all the time.

I hope you'll continue reading and I certainly hope you'll continue commenting.
- Karen


Comments are closed.

    About the Writer and Rider

    ​I am a lifelong rider. 
    I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
    ​Welcome to my dressage journey.
    Picture
    Photo by Lori Ovanessian

    About Speedy G

    ​Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
    Picture
    July 2020 (PC AJSK Photography)

    About Izzy

    Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
    Picture
    March 2021 (PC Tess Michelle Photography)

    Picture
    Bakersfield Dressage approved!
    Picture
    My favorite breeches!
    Picture
    FOR THE SMALLER EQUINE ATHLETE
    Picture
    I love her stuff!
    Picture
    Watercolor Artist and Friend

    National Rider Awards

    Picture
    USDF Bronze Medal - 2020
    Picture
    USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
    Picture
    USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
    Picture
    USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

    State Rider Awards
    Picture
    CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018

    State Horse Awards
    Picture
    Speedy G - 3rd Level Horse Performance Award - 2020
    Picture
    Speedy G - 2nd Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

    Working Towards:

    CDS Sapphire Rider Award
    Third Level: 63.514%
    Third Level: 62.105%
    Fourth Level:
    Fourth Level:

    2023 Show Season

    Show Rating
    (***) CDS/USDF/USEF 
    (*) CDS
    (s) Schooling
    (c) Clinic
    (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic
    2023 Show Schedule
    TBD

    ​2023 Completed …
    Pending

    2023 Qualifying Scores 

    Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC)  
    Qualifying Training Level
    3 Scores/2 Judges/60%:
    Score 1:
    Score 2:
    Score 3:

    Archives
    ​By Topic

    All
    Abscess
    Art
    Arthritis
    Awards
    Books
    Cabin
    California Barn Life
    Captain Awesome
    CDL Class A License
    Centerlinescores
    Championships
    Chiropractor
    Clinics
    Clothing
    Cushing's Disease
    Defeating The Demon
    DIY
    Dogs
    Double Bridle
    Dressage On The Trail
    EHV-1
    Endurance Photos
    Farrier
    Find Your Joy
    First Level
    Fluphenazine
    Flying Changes
    Fourth Level
    Fox Hunting
    Freedom Feeder
    Frustration
    Gizmos
    Grooming
    Half Pass
    Headshaking
    Horse Maintenance
    Horses Are Expensive
    Horses Are Expensive 3.0
    Horses Are Expensive II
    Hunter/jumper Stuff
    Imperioso
    Introductory Level
    Izzys Leg
    Just For Fun
    Lessons With Chemaine
    Lessons With Lois
    Lessons With STC Dressage
    Local Stuff
    M.A.R.E.
    Memberships
    Micklem Bridle
    Mt. Self Doubt
    Musings
    My 5 Things
    My Horses
    Nesting
    On The Levels
    Photos
    Pivo Pod
    Platinum Performance
    Poles
    Polls
    Pulley Rein
    Raac
    Retirement?
    Rider Fitness
    Riding Figures
    Right Lead Canter
    Road ID
    Saddle Fitting
    Schooling
    Score Sheets
    Second Level
    Shopping
    Show Costs
    Showing
    Sitting Trot
    Sliding Side Reins
    Soldier
    Speedy's Leg
    Tack
    The Elephants
    The Jar
    The Warm Up Ring
    Third
    Third Level
    Tips From A Pro
    Toys
    Trailering
    Training
    Travel
    Ulcers
    Vet Care
    Video
    Videos
    Weird But True
    Year In Review


    Archives
    ​By Date

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011


Site Designed and Managed by: Karen Sweaney

Among other things, Karen is a Wife, Friend, Reader, Writer, Rider, Traveler, and Dog Lover
Contact her at bakersfielddressage@gmail.com
  • Home
  • About
  • My Horses
    • Horses
    • Imperioso
    • G Ima Starr FA
    • Sunshine
    • Nakota and Gideon
    • Corky
    • Sassy
    • Montoya DSA
    • Mickey Dee
    • Sydney
  • Show Results
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
  • Dressage Organizations
    • Dressage Organizations
    • Memberships
    • 2019 Dressage Tests
  • Local
    • Shopping List
  • Home