Betsy Carter's Horse Scene

Date published: 6/30/2006

TWO HORSES in Pulaski County have tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia. EIA is the disease for which we have our horses tested each year through the Coggins test. EIA is an acute or chronic viral disease that affects horses and other equines, and there is no known cure or vaccine.

The two horses were diagnosed after blood was submitted to the Wytheville Regional Animal Health Laboratory by the owner's veterinarian to try to identify the cause of unexplained weight loss. In 1994 and 1998 both horses' Coggins tests were negative, but since then they had not been tested. One horse was 25 years old and the other one was 31 and they had been pastured together. The owners euthanized the horses to eliminate them as sources of infection.

Veterinarians with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services immediately began taking blood samples from horses within a one-mile radius of the infected horses. Seven horses have been tested and results are pending.

VDACA urges horse owners in all parts of the state to test their horses routinely for the presence of EIA. The virus is spread from infected to healthy horses by flies or contaminated instruments such as hypodermic needles. It is not spread by direct horse-to-horse contact. Symptoms include intermittent fever, depression, progressive weakness, weight loss, edema and anemia. Owners can keep their stock from becoming infected by buying animals only after they have been tested and found to be free of any evidence of the disease. Owners should not take their horses to any event such as shows, sales, race track, or trail rides, unless prior testing is required for all horses.

"These horses prove that this disease is still present in the state even though the number of new cases annually is small," said Dr. Richard L. Wilkes, state veterinarian and director of VDACS Division of Animal and Food Industry Services. "Horse owners can help control the spread of the disease by getting a Coggins test annually even if they are not traveling with their animals."

The first Woodpecker Farm Tuesday Evening Hunter show was canceled because of rain. The next show is July 11.

SHOW RESULTSAmber Hill Farm, June 18

Leadline champion: Aynsley Lohr; reserve: Vance Kocsis.

Pre short stirrup champion: Katherine Rosenberg; reserve: Bryan Ramey.

Walk/trot champion: LM Flashy Star, r/Rachel Gravitt, o/Nadine Blackford; reserve: The Diva, r/Shauna Prasse, o/Paradocs Farm.

Short stirrup equitation champion: Charlotte Hoberg; reserve: Janie Cardwell.

Short stirrup hunter champion: All Wrapped Up in Ivy, r/Jenna Blackford, o/N. Blackford; reserve-Sugar Crispie, r/Dalton Cooke, o/AHF.

Pony pleasure champion: Go Figure, r/Jillian Myer, o/AHF; reserve: Free Falling, r/Sarah Doble, o/AHF.

Junior pleasure champion: John W. Docy, r/Robin Garner, o/Kim Mayo; reserve-Painted With Magic, r/ Shannon Everett, o/Patti Carter.

Date published: 6/30/2006