Four different Florida showgrounds have officially released protocol guidelines for entering their showgrounds in light of the EHV-1 outbreak in Florida.
For Stadium Jumping shows for the Winter Equestrian Festival, due to begin on Jan. 24, the following protocol applies…
Anyone entering the site must coordinate their arrival with Tom Blankenship, Stable Manager 561-793-5867. Official Show Vet : Palm Beach Equine Clinic 561-793-1599.
All Horses arriving must have Stadium Jumping, Inc. “Requirements for Right of Entry” filled out completely for acceptance. [This document, available at www.stadiumjumping.com, requires a 72-hour temperature log for each horse, signed veterinary certification that a horse has received a EHV vaccination within a seven-to-60-day window from arrival, and asks owners to clarify the possibility of each horse’s EHV exposure.]
The requirements for Right of Entry may also be found on the Stadium Jumping, Inc. website www.stadiumjumping.com. Please call 24 hours prior to arrival and plan to arrive between 8 and 5 pm.
The Littlewood Farm show series, which runs adjacent to the Winter Equestrian Festival showgrounds in Wellington, Fla., has already canceled their Christmas A (Dec. 22-24), Christmas II (Dec. 29-31), and Littlewood New Year’s (Jan. 3-7) shows. They are scheduled to run shows every weekend in January and into mid-February. There are horses stabled on the show grounds and there have been no EHV-1 outbreaks on Littlewood grounds. Their protocol is as follows…
The following is what will be required in order to enter the Littlewood show grounds until further notice. NO HORSES SHIPPING INTO LITTLEWOOD unless prior arrangements are made with management. HORSES SHIPPING IN MUST ARRIVE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 A.M. AND 5:00 P.M.
We are requiring that all horses bring proof of receiving a EHV-1 vaccine, either modified live or killed vaccine. Preferably this should be administered 14 days prior to arrival. Please consult your local veterinarian for safe guidelines for administering the vaccine prior to shipping. All horses entering the facility must have received the vaccine within a minimum of seven days and a maximum of 60 days.
All horses from out of state must have a current Health Certificate. A signed “Requirements for entry to the show grounds” must be presented in the show office prior to arrival. These must be signed by a licensed veterinarian and the owner or trainer. These can be faxed to the show office at 561-798-3922. All horses stabled in Wellington must present a log of temperatures taken twice daily for a minimum of a 72-hour period prior to arrival on the show grounds. This requirement may be expanded to other areas at any time, therefore it is recommended that all potential participants start keeping a log a week prior to arrival.
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All new arrivals will be placed in a holding stall for a minimum of seven days. After this isolation period, if there are no temperature spikes and after being cleared by the show veterinarian, horses will be allowed go to their permanently assigned stalls for the season.
All horses on the grounds will be required to display a current back number issued from the show office. This will help insure that all horses here are in compliance. No matter where the horses go on the grounds, it is imperative that you keep a safe distance of at least 40 feet from all other horses on the grounds. Isolated horses will have use of Ring E, and the grass ring next to it (weather permitting). The lunging ring may also be used keeping the safe distance. All other work areas are off limits to isolated horses until they are cleared.
Check www.littlewood.com for updates.
For the Jacksonville Winter Series in Green Cove Springs, Fla., which runs from Jan. 12-Feb. 11:
Show manager Bob Bell began by contacting the lead veterinarians involved from the Florida Department of Agriculture, local doctors in the effected areas, as well as Dr. Peggy Fuller, a North Florida Hunter Jumper Association board member who works with Jacksonville, Fla., equine residents. Bell gathered facts about the virus and informative web links that were shared via e-mail newsletters to exhibitors and then used to develop the “safety” restrictions for 2007 show season.
The North Florida region, including the Clay County Showgrounds, home of the Jacksonville Winter Series, is virus free and management staff has taken proactive steps to keep it as such. Every horse entering the Clay County Showgrounds from Ocala or Wellington through at least Jan. 15 must adhere to the following protocol:
1. A veterinarian or vet tech will greet all incoming horses from Ocala or Wellington for inspection. Along with the inspection, each horse must have a current health certificate issued no more than 30 days prior to arrival and at least within 12 days prior to arrival. No horses will be permitted on the showgrounds that have originated from a barn with a confirmed or suspect case of equine herpes, strangles, or have shown signs suggestive of these diseases or that have been febrile within the previous three weeks. No horses will be permitted onto the showgrounds that have originated from or stabled on a premise under quarantine or restriction due to EHV-1 or from a premise that has had herpes virus diagnosed during the previous 30-day period.
2. All horses coming from Ocala or Wellington must coordinate their arrivals with Derek Kelm between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 24 hours ahead to alert him of your arrival (904) 284-9492.
Additionally, Dr. Juan Gamboa, the show veterinarian, urges that all horses be vaccinated for EHV-1 before shipping to Jacksonville. It\’s recommended that horses should be vaccinated not less than 14 days or greater than 90 days prior to arrival. “Contact your vet first regarding the suggested vaccinations if you\’re unsure what the horse is in need of,” Gamboa said. If people have further questions about the vaccinations needed they can reach Gamboa at (803) 502-1049. Co-show manager Allen Rheinheimer said that all horses stabled on the grounds would be monitored throughout the four-week series to further ensure their well being.
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“These control measures are in place for the safety of all horses and to ease the worries of our exhibitors. You have our assurance that management will stay up to date on further developments and that we will enforce the vet check protocol until such time as amending or removing it become necessary,” Bell concluded. Check www.classiccompany.com for updates.
For the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Ocala, Fla., which begins two weeks of unrated show on Jan. 24, and has a five-week circuit from Feb. 14-March 18, the protocol is as follows:
Until at least Jan. 15 anyone entering the site must coordinate their arrival with Nick Ezzo, grounds manager, or Dr. Robert Barber, official show veterinarian, at the following numbers:
Nick Ezzo \’ (914) 466-8084 cell, (352) 620-2275 office. Dr. Barber \’ (352) 895-6961. Please call 24 hours prior to arrival and plan to arrive between 8 a.m. \’ 5 p.m.
2. All incoming horses will be greeted by a veterinarian or vet tech for inspection. No horse will be permitted on the grounds until the inspection has taken place.
3. All arrivals must be through the main gate off Highway 27. The gates off 137th Ave. have been closed.
Additionally, Barber recommends that all horses be vaccinated for EHV-1 before shipping to Ocala. Contact your veterinarian first regarding the suggested vaccinations. Any questions should be directed to Dr. Barber at (352) 895-6961.
Check www.hitsshows.com often for updates. Do not hesitate to call the office at (845) 246-8833 should you have any questions.
