A horse stabled at HITS Hudson Valley in Saugerties, New York, has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1, show officials announced Thursday.
The horse, who was stabled in Permanent Barn 9 at the venue, was first seen by veterinarians on Tuesday, June 4, the evening before the start of the HITS-on-the-Hudson III show, for a suspected pulled muscle in a hind limb.
“Under further review of the horse, the HITS and trainer’s veterinarian proactively had the horse removed from the grounds on the evening of Tuesday, June 4, and referred to Cornell University for testing, isolation, and observation,” according to a statement from HITS. At the same time, the barn the horse had been stabled in was put under an immediate quarantine pending testing results.
The horse, which at no time presented with a temperature or nasal discharge, tested positive for EHV-1, the statement said, adding that as of Thursday morning it was “walking around his stall at Cornell University with no fever or any nasal discharge.”
At the showgrounds, a fence has been installed around Permanent Barn 9 with security staff and biosecurity measures including hand and foot baths. Horses stabled in the barn were allowed to voluntarily return home to begin a state-issued quarantine or remain on grounds in the quarantined barn, under the direction of state animal health officials with enhanced monitoring and other restrictions in place.
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While under quarantine, horses in that barn are prohibited from competing and will be restricted to supervised exercise in a designated area.
“At this time, under the guidance of USEF and the state animal health official, horse showing will continue as scheduled,” the HITS statement said. “The health and wellbeing of all horses on the grounds is the priority and the situation will continue to be monitored.”
HITS-on-the-Hudson III is taking place this week, June 5-9, with the $75,000 SummitMax Grand Prix as its featured class. Before that, the grounds hosted HITS-on-the-Hudson II, May 29-June 2.
For more information, visit the HITS website.
