The Arabian Horse Foundation has announced it is presenting 18 scholarships this year totaling $13,500. Since the Foundation’s re-launch at the Arabian Horse Association Convention in 2007, the Foundation board has given over $50,000 to youth scholarships.

“With the costs of education escalating and the economy impacting families even more, the scholarships will provide welcome assistance to these 18 youth furthering their education,” says Jim Cada, Chairman of the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee. “We’re pleased that we could help this many youth.” Cada also serves as treasurer for the Foundation.

The Arabian Horse Foundation is the philanthropic arm of AHA and has three areas where funds are directed: Horse rescue and rehoming, equine research, and youth scholarships. In the past five years, the Foundation has given nearly $100,000 in these three areas.

“The Foundation continues to focus on needs in these funding areas,” said AHF President Larry Kinneer. “It is through the support of our membership that we continue to fund rescue and rehoming needs and equine research, and are still able to provide valued scholarships to the youth of our Arabian horse community.”

Applications for Foundation scholarships are available at www.arabianhorsefoundation.org. The application deadline is April 1. Applications are reviewed and winners announced in May. Visit the Foundation website for more information about the various giving options and areas that have been funded.

The winners of the 2011 Arabian Horse Foundation scholarships are:

Jillian Ann Johnson, Lowell, MI; Alana Hansen, Temecula, CA; Kate Stewart, Union, OR; Spencer Kurtz, Montrose, SD; Sarah Schuessler, Attica, NY; Hayley Simmons, Janesville, WI; Nikki Novak, Unadilla, NE; George Sullivan, Albuquerque, NM; Dani Andrusko, Lakeville, MN; Chelsea Greer, Tacoma, WA; Kelsey Kimbler, Aberdeen, SD; Tanya Meyer, Cedar, MN; Allison Pugh, Bozeman, MT; Amanda Bruner, Hesperia, CA; Elsa Ludwig, Madison, WI; Christina Thompson, Stillwater, MN; Michaela Kotera, Gretna, NE; Megan, Herr, Fullerton, CA.

AHA is a major equine association serving 33,000 members across North America. It registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses and administers approximately $3 million in annual prize money. AHA produces championship events, recognizes close to 600 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit ArabianHorses.org.

American Horse Council and AAEP work with USDA to Facilitate Coordination of EHV-1 and EHM Case Reporting

Horses exposed to the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) based on attending an event held in Utah will now be monitored through a national case reporting system. In addition, a guidance document was sent to State Animal Health Officials and Area Veterinarians in Charge (AVIC) in each state on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Veterinary Service (VS).

In response to confirmed cases of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) and Equine Herpes Virus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses that attended a cutting horse event in Ogden, Utah held from April 29 to May 8, 2011, the American Horse Council (AHC) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) contacted the USDA:APHIS:VS and requested federal coordination for data collection, dissemination, and communication efforts among state and federal veterinarians. The purpose of collecting this data is to protect the health of horses and mitigate the economic implications of further EHV-1 transmission to horses not yet affected.

In response, USDA:APHIS:VS has reached out to State Animal Health Officials, federal Area-Veterinarians-In-Charge (AVICs), and private practitioners to collect current information on the EHV-1 disease incident and develop a coordinated response among state, federal and industry partners. The full scope of the current EHV-1 situation and a complete accounting for the number of horses affected and/or exposed is underway.

“We want to applaud the quick response and efforts of the USDA:APHIS:VS,” said William A. Moyer, DVM, 2011 AAEP president. “Having the support and coordination of this effort by the USDA:APHIS:VS working in collaboration with State Animal Health Officials, will be key in providing accurate and timely information to the equine and veterinary communities during this outbreak.”

“USDA can play a critical and timely role in collecting, verifying, and disseminating accurate information to state animal health officials and industry partners,” said Jay Hickey, President of the American Horse Council. “These efforts are essential to mitigating the health and economic implications of this current EHV-1 situation. Misinformation can often be an epidemic in and of itself. This latest disease incident only underscores the importance of implementing a pro-active national equine health program.”

USDA and State Animal Health Officials have initiated an investigation and incident response effort. The USDA plans to release the initial report through summarization of information provided by the State Animal Health Officials and AVIC’s including the number of horses suspected and confirmed as EHV-1 cases and EHM cases along with fatalities in the coming days. The USDA will update and release future reports on the current EHV-1 outbreak on a weekly basis. If the current incident results in widespread exposure or a large influx of infected horses, the USDA will provide that information as it becomes available.

Practitioners are encouraged to notify their State Animal Health Official of suspect or confirmed cases of EHV-1 and EHM. The State Animal Health Officials can assist with guidelines on diagnostic testing and management to reduce risk of spread of EHV-1.

There have been numerous scientific articles citing a wide variation in the number of suspect and confirmed cases of the EHV-1 and the neurological form of the disease (EHM) in horses. This large disparity in reported information underscores the importance of allowing USDA and State Animal Health Officials to collect data, based on the use of consistent case definitions, to then verify information gathered and disseminate factual summary information.

Until state and federal animal health officials are able to gather, verify and disseminate accurate information on the scope of the current incident, it is critical for individual horse owners and organizations to undertake appropriate and responsible actions to mitigate the welfare and economic implications of potential future transmissions.

At the time this release was issued, only Colorado and Wyoming had implemented enhanced state entry requirements in response to the on-going EHV-1 disease situation.

Additionally, if you anticipate transporting your horse across state lines it is recommended you contact each respective state/provincial veterinarian’s office prior to departure to determine if there are any restrictions or enhanced entry requirements due to the current EHV-1 incident.

To find your state or provincial animal health office, visit www.aaep.org/us_canada_statehealthoffice.htm.

In the interim, the AHC and AAEP stress the importance of responsible ownership practices and informed communication among industry organizations. Please visit the AAEP’s website at www.aaep.org for additional information on these diseases, as well as updated horse owner and veterinary resources including an FAQ feature about the diseases, biosecurity recommendations, updates from various states and more.

To help in the protection of the health of the horses participating in the Pinto World Championship Show, June 7- 18, 2011 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, please have your horses inspected by your veterinarian within 10 days of the show and have a health certificate completed and signed by an USDA accredited DVM.

The following information must be included for each horse:

1. A current Coggins test within 12 months

2. Horse’s temperature

3. The following statement: “This horse (or horses) did not attend the NCHA Western National Championship Show in Ogden, Utah from April 30th to May 8th, 2011, the Kern County Cutting Horse Event in California, May 13th, 2011, nor has it (they) been in contact with any horse which did attend”.

Health certificates and coggins will be required for each horse attending the Pinto World Championship Show, including horses originating from within Oklahoma.

Colorado Requirements on Horses

All equine entering Colorado requires an entry permit and health certificate issued within 30 days.

Wyoming Requirements on Horses

Due to concern over the recent Equine Herpes Virus 1 neurologic situation in several western states, the Wyoming Livestock Board will immediately begin requiring an official certificate of veterinary inspection within 72 hours prior to entry into Wyoming for imported Equine. The certificate must include the temperature recorded for each horse listed. The statements: “No horses listed have been exposed to any horse infected with or exposed to EHV1.” and “No horses listed are showing any clinical signs of EHV1.” must be written on the certificate.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Dr. DeRoy White

DVM

Pinto World Championship Show Vet

Dr. Carey Floyd

DVM

Pinto World Championship Health Check Vet

To help ease AQHA Select exhibitors’ minds and proactively help professionals and exhibitors make educated decisions, the AQHA Executive Committee today opted to lower qualifying points for the Adequan Select World Championship Show. The decision to lower the points was a result of the timing of the May 31 qualifying deadline for the Adequan Select and the recently reported cases of equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy in the western United States. The Adequan Select is August 28 – September 3 in Amarillo.

Since first learning of the recent cases of EHV-1, AQHA has received numerous phone calls from trainers, exhibitors and show managers primarily from states that have confirmed cases of EHV-1 or border states that have confirmed cases. Several show managers have either voluntarily canceled or are considering cancellation of their shows this weekend, and some exhibitors have expressed their reluctance to move their horses out of concern of potentially exposing them to EHV-1.

“We believe it’s reasonable and responsive to our Select exhibitors struggling with the decision to try to gather a final half point or point and qualify for the Adequan Select to do the conscientious thing,” said AQHA President Peter J. Cofrancesco III of Sparta, New Jersey. “Regardless of whether someone is trying to qualify for the Adequan Select, we want to continue to provide them with information regarding EHV-1 so that they can make educated decisions that they feel are right for their horses. If that means skipping a show in these final two weeks and erring on the side of caution, we want to support that decision.”

Here are the qualifying-point reductions for the 2011 Adequan Select World Championship Show:

• 1 to 4.5 points needed to qualify will be reduced by .5 point
• 5 to 9.5 points needed to qualify will be reduced by 1 point
• 10 and greater needed to qualify will be reduced by 2 points

To view the updated qualifying points, click here.

Qualifying points for exhibitors 70 and older are not affected by this reduction.

Also, as a precautionary measure, AQHA and the National Cutting Horse Association have jointly agreed to support show managers’ decisions to voluntarily cancel dual-approved cutting events this weekend (May 20-22). In addition, AQHA will work with its show managers who choose to voluntarily cancel an entire show or cutting classes that are being offered at AQHA-approved shows this weekend. This affects a total of approximately 90 shows. There is no mandatory requirement from AQHA that a show cancel, and the Association is working with state veterinary offices and industry professionals to draft some guidelines that show management can use, given concerns over the EHV-1 virus.

Equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy is another name for the neurologic disease associated with equine herpesvirus infections, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Neurological signs appear as a result of damage to blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord associated with EHV infection. Interference with the blood supply leads to tissue damage and a subsequent loss in normal function of areas in the brain and spinal cord. The disease is not transferable to humans.

AQHA will continue to monitor the EHV-1 situation, which appears to be isolated at this time, and the AQHA World Show qualifying period, which ends July 31, to determine if any course of action for that November show is necessary. For now, given the timing of the end of its qualifying period, the point reduction only applies to the Adequan Select World Show.

Go to AQHA’s website to keep up with the latest news and information regarding the recently reported EHV-1 cases.

Find your next quarter horse on myhorseforsale.com

Currently, there are numerous reports of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) affecting horses and farms across the U.S. and Canada. This outbreak appears related to initial cases at a cutting horse show in Ogden Utah, which was held from April 29 – May 8. Horses at that event may have been exposed to this virus and subsequently spread the infection to other horses. While the true extent of this disease outbreak is uncertain, there is clearly a very significant elevated risk of EHM cases at this time. At this time control of the outbreak is critically dependent on biosecurity.

Laboratory submission of nasal swabs and whole blood samples collected from the exposed horse can be utilized for virus detection and isolation. Please consider testing any suspected cases.

The EHV-1 organism spreads quickly from horse to horse but typically only causes neurological disease sporadically. However, in an outbreak of EHV-1 neurologic such as we are experiencing now, the disease can reach high morbidity and case fatality rates. The incubation period of EHV-1 infection is typically 1-2-days, with clinical signs of fever then occurring, often in a biphasic fever, over the following 10 days. When neurological disease occurs it is typically 8-12 days after the primary infection, starting often after the second fever spike. In horses infected with the neurologic strain of EHV-1, clinical signs may include: nasal discharge, incoordination, hind end weakness, recumbency, lethargy, urine dribbling and diminished tail tone. Prognosis depends on severity of signs and the period of recumbency. There is no specific treatment for EHV-1, although antiviral drugs (i.e. valacyclovire) may have some value before neurological signs occur. Non-specific treatment may include intravenous fluids, and other appropriate supportive therapy; the use of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is strongly recommended. Currently, there is no equine vaccine that has a label claim for protection against the neurological strain of the virus.

Horse-to-horse contact, aerosol transmission, and contaminated hands, equipment, tack, and feed all play a role in disease spread. However, horses with severe clinical signs of neurological EHV-1 infection are thought to have large viral loads in their blood and nasal secretions and therefore, present the greatest danger for spreading the disease. Immediate separation and isolation of identified suspect cases and implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures are key elements for disease control.

For additional questions, please contact Keith Kleine, AAEP director of industry relations, at (800) 443-0177 or kkleine@aaep.org.

Sincerely,

William Moyer, DVM
2011 AAEP President

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food is investigating cases of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1) within the state. There have been several cases of the disease in horses from surrounding states that returned from the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western National Championships (NCHA) that was held at the Golden Spike Event Center in Ogden, Utah from April 29 to May 8th. This highly contagious disease which spreads rapidly can result in the death of the animal. If horses become infected with this disease that where not at the NCHA in Ogden, I will recommend at that time that all events involving horses, mules and burros be cancelled in Utah.  Horses will still be allowed to travel into and out of the state (please call the state of destination before travel). There have been cases of the disease in Colorado and Washington which resulted in the quarantine of the veterinary teaching hospitals in Fort Collins, CO and Pullman, WA. This disease appears to be highly infectious and has resulted in numerous secondary cases. Horses have been euthanized after showing severe neurological signs associated with the disease. EHV-1 is not transmissible to people; it can be a serious disease of horses that can cause respiratory, neurologic disease and death. The most common way for EHV-1 to spread is by direct horse-to-horse contact.  The virus can also spread through the air, contaminated equipment, clothing and hands. Symptoms include fever, decreased coordination, nasal discharge, urine dribbling, loss of tail tone, hind limb weakness, leaning against a wall or fence to maintain balance, lethargy, and the inability to rise. While there is no cure, the symptoms of the disease may be treatable. Horse owners should watch their horses carefully and call their veterinarian if any abnormal signs are observed. Additional Resources: · A Guide To Understanding the Neurologic Form of EHV Infection · USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Resources · American Association of Equine Practitioners Fact Sheet