The organizers of the Ocala Winter Spectacular Series at the World Equestrian Center (WEC – Ocala) have released two statements the past few days to address the equestrian community and clarify doubts regarding the rumors of the presence and cases of Equine Herpes Virus EHV-1 found in animals that have competed in Ocala.
FIRST STATEMENT – MARCH 07, 2021
World Equestrian Center – Ocala management was made aware in the late evening of Saturday, March 6 that a horse in Barn D was presenting with a high fever. The team proactively had the horse removed from the grounds and sent to the University of Florida for testing, isolation and observation.
The WEC management team, our on site veterinarians and the State of Florida have been communicating together and Barn D has been placed under quarantine pending the results of the horse’s test.
WEC management has installed a perimeter fence around Barn D, and biosecurity measures such as hand and foot sanitation, have been installed and will be enforced by the WEC Security team.
At this time, horse showing will continue as scheduled. We ask that every barn continue to take the situation seriously and enforce biosecurity measures within their own stable.
- Take temperatures of all horses twice daily and maintain a log. Horses should have temperatures taken twice daily. Horses presenting with a temperature of more than 101.5 degrees F or any signs of respiratory or neurological disease should be reported to the show veterinarian and WEC management.
- Isolate any horse exhibiting symptoms or illness and report any cases to the show veterinarian and horse show management. Horses with symptoms will be moved to an on-site isolation area.
- We recommend no sharing of equipment between horses including feed and water buckets.
- Handlers should wash hands in between handling horses and maintain proper biosecurity protocols in the barn and at the rings.
- Maintain distancing between horses at the ring and in the barn and at the rings. No nose-to-nose contact between horses.
If you have questions please contact horse show manager TJ Campbell tj.campbell@wec.net, director of operations Vinnie Card vinnie.card@wec.net or on site veterinarian, Dr. Larry Wexler DVM lwexlerdvm@gmail.com.
SECOND STATEMENT – MARCH 10, 2021
Ocala, Florida – March 9, 2021 – World Equestrian Center – Ocala management this evening received a negative EHV-1 test result from the State of Florida veterinarian on the horse sent to the University of Florida recently from Barn D at the venue. Based on the negative test result, the State of Florida, World Equestrian Center – Ocala veterinarians and management have lifted the quarantine on the 16 horses currently housed in Barn D and horse showing will continue as scheduled.
As of today, no horses have tested positive for EHV-1 on World Equestrian Center – Ocala property. Moving forward, horses that have traveled to another Florida competition venue and horses who have been exposed to horses that have been at other Florida competition venues in the last 10 days will not be allowed on World Equestrian Center – Ocala show grounds.
All equines entering the property must present a health certificate or statement of health from a licensed veterinarian within 7 days to the horse show office.
Until further notice, ship-ins (those working from trailers) will be restricted from the property.
World Equestrian Center – Ocala management ask that every barn continue to take the situation seriously and enforce biosecurity measures within their own stable and at the horse show.
- Take temperatures of all horses twice daily and maintain a log. Horses should have temperatures taken twice daily. Horses presenting with a temperature of more than 101.5 degrees F or any signs of respiratory or neurological disease should be reported to the show veterinarian and WEC management.
- Isolate any horse exhibiting symptoms or illness and report any cases to the show veterinarian and horse show management. Horses with symptoms will be moved to an on-site isolation area.
- We recommend no sharing of equipment between horses including feed and water buckets.
- Handlers should wash hands in between handling horses and maintain proper biosecurity protocols in the barn and at the rings.
- Maintain distancing between horses at the ring and in the barn. No nose-to-nose contact between horses.
We look forward to finishing the 2021 Winter Spectacular with enhanced biosecurity protocols in place to protect our equine athletes. Although there have been no positive EHV-1 cases at the venue, World Equestrian Center – Ocala management will continue to proactively provide further updates as they are warranted.
Source: News releases from Word Equestrian Center
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