Todays letter of the day: Dear Miss Anne, I am so devastated about the EHV-1 outbreak here so close to home. This will be my first year showing and I have worked so hard in preparation for this years show season. I even went out and bought a new trailer so my horses and I will be comfortable while we wait for our turns in the arena! I have a sizable investment in time and money and now it appears as if I wont be able to show at all this season! I have read about the EHV-1 disease and how it is contracted. What if I go to the events and keep my horse away from the others? Could I still go show. This is so important to me. I am ready to go win!! Anxious and Angry Dear Anxious and Angry, We here at Pine Ranch really feel your pain. We have been working so hard to prepare for this show season too and like you are really disappointed that we have had our local season delayed due to weather first and now this outbreak. My first and foremost piece of advice is to always ask questions of your veterinarian. He/She will steer you in the right direction along the path of decision making that is right for you and your horse. My second piece of advice is purely my opinion and really nothing more. If every organization would close down their events for a time to allow all of the outbreaks to subside and be dealt with on a local and quarantined basis, perhaps the disease would subside to a point we could all go enjoy the rest of our show season and not have to worry about Nationals, and World for our particular breeds and events. I am impressed with, proud to be part of and fully support the organizations who have gone out of their way to cancel events to help prevent further spread of the disease. I realize this disease has been around for a very long time. I also am aware that among other reasons for continuing the show schedule, the organizations that put on the events rely on the income from the events to continue running. I am aware of both sides of the table on this discussion because I have held positions to be the one showing and the one making the arrangements and putting on the big shows. I just feel like if we would all do our part and stay home for a month or six weeks, the rest of the season might not be in jeopardy. Here at Pine Ranch, the health and well being of our horses and those of our client horses is our priority. We will be staying put until the disease has been put to rest in our area. Our animals are our family members and we feel it more important that our animals remain well and alive rather than take the risk by going to the shows. Perhaps if you want to show, going to another part of the region where there have not been confirmed cases might be an option. Just keep in mind that horses there could have been at the same event(s) that other infected horses have been to. There are tradeoffs for all of our decisions. Weigh the odds, contact your vet and make decisions based on what is right for you. Thank you for writing, good luck in whatever your endeavors are this year and May the Horse Be Ever In Your Favor!
Posted on: Mon, 19 May 2014 14:08:58 +0000
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