Case of equine herpes confirmed in Badminton’s stables
Organisers of Badminton Horse Trials are consulting vets and biosecurity experts, after the neurological form of equine herpes was confirmed in a hunt horse in the Duke of Beaufort’s stables.
Equine herpes, or EHV-1 can cause paralysis and, in pregnant mares, trigger abortion.
The isolation period for the infection is around four weeks — and Badminton starts on Thursday, 2 May.
“We are consulting biosecurity advisors from the Animal Health Trust,” said Badminton’s Hugh Thomas.
“This is so we can ensure a secure environment for the international event horses, which are not due to come here for another six weeks.”
Badminton final scores
The EHV-1 outbreak started in Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, in early February and spread to Evenlode earlier this month.
For more on this story, don’t miss the new issue of H&H, out on Thursday 21 March
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Flora Watkins spent several years working for BBC News before moving into print, first as a staffer at Horse & Hound, before going freelance.