Texas Equine Veterinary Association

huge support network around the outbreak. Let's applaud the horse show for releasing a public statement and being forthcoming. Let's applaud the staff who rallied together to create a safe and healthy quarantine. Let's create a mindset that applauds individuals openly communicating and proactively working to contain outbreaks! Let's also give a huge shout-out to the EDCC, whose sole purpose is to help track equine outbreaks and improve the welfare of horses by communicating real-time alerts across the country. Horses that travel: spread the word, not the disease Most horse owners travel with their horses at some point during the year. After all, most horses are part of the family, and for equestrian enthusiasts, some of the best vacations are spent at events accompanied by their horse. The following are simple guidelines you can share with your clients when traveling: • Be up to date on all core and risk-based vaccinations • Provide proof of a negative Coggins test within the last year (6 months for some states/events) • Have a current certificate of veterinary inspection, required for interstate travel • Run a SAA stall-side test to assess whether there are no early indicators of infection (before and after the show) • Ensure manure is removed and the stall is cleaned and disinfected prior to unloading a horse from his trailer to enter the show barns • Take your horse's temperature upon arrival at an event, twice daily during an event and at departure • Do not share tack, cleaning or grooming equipment • Minimize nose-to-nose contact, including avoiding sharing rags to wipe horses' faces • Isolate your horse for 2 to 3 weeks when returning from an event and monitor for any signs of disease • If a horse is coming from a previously infected farm or event, a nasopharyngeal swab and culture may be warranted • Communicate with your veterinarian if your horse(s) show any signs of infectious disease or if other horses at the event are reported febrile In the face of an outbreak Shut down a horse show or training barn for a week? Wait, what?! In the event you're faced with a potential outbreak, setting up proper isolation depends on the capabilities of the property. Most farms and events have the ability to isolate horses. For those that can't, implementing things such foot baths, personnel protocols, proper ventilation, and human hygiene when working with horses is imperative. Some events have a biosecurity and outbreak plan in place that can be found by contacting show management. Open communication with event staff, show officials and other veterinarians from the beginning of a potential outbreak helps reduce the number of horses exposed and disease transmission. The AAEP has an extensive and resourceful link on its recommended biosecurity guidelines. Many governing bodies of horse shows also offer informative guidelines on biosecurity. The need to rethink potential impact No one around the world grasped just how large the impact of Covid-19 would be. Beyond the enormous human and economic impact, the pandemic exposed the weaknesses of organizations, lack of preparedness, and poor response of health care systems. The virus inflicted carnage across the world, as did EIV at the large horse show I was officiating at, with dozens of horses, trainers, owners and businesses affected. Currently, outbreaks of more devastating diseases such as equine herpesvirus, equine herpes myeloencephalitis and strangles continue to populate our newsfeeds and social media. In the future, the equine community may be confronted with other viruses whose combination of virulence, transmissibility and other characteristics pose even greater danger. Sometimes biosecurity measures get neglected. We underestimate the potential impact to our horses' health, along with the economic impacts to owners and the industry. The necessary measures continue to require leadership, time, education, routine preventive care, and public awareness. References 1. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Equine influenza guidelines. DiseaseFactsheet_EquineInfluenza_ FINAL-Cobranded.pdf (aaep.org). Accessed September 15, 2023. 2. Zoetis Inc. Data on file. Study report no. 23EQRGBIO-01-01. 3. Zoetis Inc. Data on file. Study report no. 671-08-004.R 4. Zoetis Inc. Data on file. Study report no. 21EQRGBIO-01-02. 5. Dilai, M, et al., Vet Microbiol, 2018 (v1.0). Serological investigation of racehorse vaccination against equine influenza in Morocco. Veterinary Microbiology. 223. 2018. 153-159. 6. Zoetis Inc. Data on file. Study report no. 22EQRGBIO-01-01. 7. Zoetis Inc. Data on file. Study report no. 18EQRGBIO-01-02. All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted. Stablelab is a registered trademark of Epona Biotech Limited, used under license. © 2024 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. COR-00242 53

• Cover