On Feb. 16 a boarded horse at Chagrin Valley Farms in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, tested positive for equine herpes virus while the facility was holding a U.S. Equestrian Federation national-rated horse show that was to run Feb. 15-18. A memo sent out by CVF Operations Director Justin Klein on Feb. 17 said that the horse was been being treated for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis after demonstrating hind-end weakness and stumbling and was on stall rest. The horse was tested for EPM then EHV to be thorough, even though EHV wasn’t suspected.

“While on stall rest, he was unable to directly interact with any other horses or riders during this period and no visiting horses were given access to pastures or turnouts used by this horse or others in the quarantined group. For this reason, I assess that the overall risk of transmission to our horse show guests is LOW, but we will take necessary precautions to minimize further spread until further testing can be completed,” wrote Klein in the memo.

The team at CVF cancelled the show. The Ohio Department of Agriculture visited the farm and assessed which horses were at risk and which were not and could therefore leave the property. Only horses in the CVF west barn aisle were not cleared and will be in quarantine for 21 days until the EVH-positive horse can be re-tested. The facility also implemented other biosecurity measures including requiring that all horses at the facility have their temperatures checked twice daily.

As of Feb. 19 at 12 p.m. the Equine Disease Communication Center has not yet received a report about the case.