The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) continues to monitor the outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) in California. Currently, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that there are three counties—San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside—where confirmed or suspected cases of VS have been identified.
A USDA situation report dated June 2, 2023, states that there are 18 premises affected within those counties. To date, all confirmed cases have been vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus serotype (VSNJV).
The 2023 VSV outbreak began on May 17 when the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the first VSV-positive premises in San Diego County, California.
According to the USDA, Vesicular Stomatitis is a viral disease that primarily affects horses, cattle, and swine. The agent that causes vesicular stomatitis, VSV, has a wide host range and can occasionally infect sheep and goats. It is not usually fatal, but there is no specific treatment or cure. Good sanitation and quarantine practices on affected farms can usually contain the infection.
The most common method of transmission is through biting insects such as Black flies, sand flies, and biting midges, but other insects may also be involved. Once the disease is introduced into a herd, it may move from animal to animal by contact or exposure to saliva or fluid from ruptured vesicles.
In horses, vesicular lesions generally occur on the upper surface of the tongue, lips, corners of the mouth, and gums, as well as around the nostrils. The lesions in horses may also appear as crusting scabs on the muzzle, lips, ears, coronary bands, sheath, udder, or underside of the abdomen. The lesions typically resolve within 14 days.
The USEF is monitoring the outbreak and supports continuing competitions in VS-affected states and competitions which include horses from VS-affected states provided biosecurity measures are implemented.
The USEF held a webinar on May 26 that was attended by over 300 participants.
Members can watch the webinar and review the information available here.
For any questions, please reach out to [email protected] or call 859-225-6991.
Thirty-five five-star horses presented today under sunny skies at the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event.
If all goes according to plan in the first part of the extended weekend, we will see 36 horses galloping across Derek di Grazia's CCI5*-L cross-country course at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (DK3DE). We partnered up with the team at CrossCountry App to bring you a preview of both the five-star and CCI4*-s tracks this year.
Lights, cameras, action! The first formal horse inspection (which some might informally refer to as "the jog") at the 2024 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event (K3DE) takes place this afternoon at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. While this part of the event is a fan-favorite historically based on the impeccable turnout of the horses and the stylish and forward fashion choices of the riders (we are looking at you Boyd Martin in hopes that you bring back the American flag suit circa 2022), it serves a very important purpose: ensuring that each horse is fit, sound, and ready to compete at the five-star level.
There are so many things to love about the Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event and the opportunity to peruse the booths of so many amazing vendors is definitely one of them! Don’t forget to stop by the USEA booth, located just behind the Rolex Stadium next to the large Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event booth, to stock up on all of your favorite USEA apparel.