Conference noted::equitation

    Karen,
    
    The virus you're talking about is a form of Equine Herpies (sp ?).
    It was confirmed in four horses who came from a Windsor yard.
    To my knowledge there are only a handful of confirmed cases in this
    country.  The problems seem to be, that it's difficult to diagnose
    in it's early stages, and in it's fatal form will cause paralysis.
    It also causes brood mares to abort.
    
    Events are being cancelled, but this is a precautionary move.
    
    The general message from the vets is don't panic.  Cases are few
    and there are no indications that it will ever reach epidemic
    proportions.  Their recommendations are to stay put, don't travel 
    and avoid contact with other horses.
   
    If you must travel, or have horses in your yard that have/ or will
    have to travel in and out of the yard, then vaccinate and/or segregate
    are the order of the day.

    Vet differ as to how effective the vaccine is.      
    Vaccine is in short supply, but more is expected to arrive very
    shortly.
    
    The message that going around our yards, is don't panic and avoid
    unnessary contact with other horse.  
    If you're at all worried then 'phone your vet.  He'll advise you
    what is best for your situation.
    
    I'm give to understand that there will be an article written by
    Scott Dunn, about this virus, in this weeks 'Horse and Hound'.
    
    Hope this information helps.
    
    Judy    

    Yes, it is Equine Herpes.  There is a long article about it in this
    week's Horse & Hound.
    
    Two horses have died at Winkfield Row, and I have just been told
    that the virus has appeared in a yard at Mortimer (don't know how
    true this is, my source is not the most reliable!).
    
    I believe the virus has also appeared in Cambridgeshire, and in
    the North somewhere.
    
    Incidentally, I'm fence judging at Goring Heath Horse Trials this
    weekend; does anyone know whether this event is still on?
                        
    
    Helen.

    
    The Dressage Event at Tadley this weekend has been cancelled,
    on the advice of the British Horse Society.
    
    Two horses died whilst taking part in trials at Tweseldown near
    Aldershot.
                     
    More details in todays Basingstoke Gazette
    

    Just for people's imformation; the herpes virus has possibly been
    here in the States too and is indeed a not so nice virus. I know
    of 2 horses who had it, one was put down and the other is mobile
    but barely (and it has been questionable about whether this one
    should have been put down...)
    
    It came on very quickly and started with definite neurological signs
    like tilted head, staggering, high temperature, and paralysis that
    moved rapidly through the hindquarters. If the horse can stay up,
    the chances are better...
    
    The treatment that was used was intravenous DMSO (something like
    500 ml per hour push, massive antiobiotics, and intravenous fluids.
    
    It was never "officially" diagnosed, however because the herpes
    titars (the spelling is wrong, but you get the idea) were taken
    at the wrong time (basically a spinal tap is done and herpes can
    only be diagnosed when the tap is done at a certain timefram after
    the initial symptoms...
    
    Please keep us posted on the cases in the UK....
    
    Regards,
    
    Linda
    

    Goring Heath Horse Trials was held at the weekend, on BHS advice.
    Apparently some of the vets were saying cancel, some were saying
    go ahead.  The entry over the two days was more than halved, down
    from well over 400 to somewhere around 200 total.  However, riders
    who did compete included Robert Lemieux, Angela Tucker, and Rachel
    Hunt.
    
    I believe another case was diagnosed on Friday, but I don't know
    where, and I don't have any details; does anyone else?
    
    Helen.

    There is a suspected (single) case in a racing stable at Lambourn.
    Apparently it was reported on Friday (21 April) but has yet to be
    confirmed by blood test.  Does anybody know of any more recent cases?
    
    Julian                                                                

    I am shocked ... I just read this file, and I really think that
    one of my horses died from this disease last August.  She was
    a 12 year old brood mare, and we had sent her off to be bred. 
    While she was at the farm being bred, she very suddenly 
    became paralyzed.  The paralysis worked its way from her hind
    quarters up to her front legs ... she was completely immobile, and
    we had to have her put down.  We did an autopsy on her, and came
    up with nothing.  Our vet said that the best he could tell us is
    that it was some sort of rhino.  If any of you have that article,
    could you maybe send it to me?  I would really like to know what
    she died from.
    
    I wrote a note about her and another horse that I had that died
    earlier in 1988.  His symptoms were similar, but not identical
    to hers.  That note is in this file (#746).  But as far as I know,
    no other horses have died of anything similar.  By the way, these
    two horses were in Albuquerque, NM when they died.
    
    If anyone has anymore information on this, I would like to hear
    about it ...
    
    Thanks,
    
    Lori
    

    This disease came over, from Spain on Polo ponies last year.
    It is transfered from horse to horse, by breath or from smelling
    dung.  So the panic is not that serious, as long as you can ensure
    that your horse does not swap breath with another horse, and avoid
    horse dung on the road.
    
    My Friend phoned Scott Dunn, and this was there instructions.  And
    if it is possible, then avoid going out of your yard.  As trastic
    as this may seem, but it is for the safty of the Horse.
    
    

    My friend was in a total panic about this as her horses are stabled
    very near these beasts at Winkfield and was at a loss whether to
    go to the shows.  I just hope she stops flapping.  Is this related
    to the equine metritis which closed the National Stud about 10 years
    ago?  I wanted to bring my mare over here to Canada but I could
    because of a North American ban on mares/stallions over the age
    of 18 months.  Scott Dunn was my vet, I surprised he's still around
    I thought he was going to expire when vetted my horses, speaking
    of unsound in wind!