NEWS

The National Equestrian Center has issued an important health document update for entries heading to St. Louis National Charity, September 25-28, in St. Louis, Missouri.

The update follows:

In recent months, Vesicular Stomatitis cases have been confirmed in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and most recently, Nebraska and Utah. A moderate health threat to horses, the time from exposure to the onset of clinical VS signs in animals is 2-8 days.

MISSOURI STATE MANDATED RULES IN RESPONSE TO VS:

To protect animals of residents and guests in our State, Missouri Department of Agriculture rules restrict movement from an area within 10 miles of any quarantined facilities. Quarantines last for 14 days after the onset of VS lesions developing in the last affected animal on those premises.

ANY ANIMALS ENTERING MISSOURI MUST NOT HAVE BEEN NEAR ANY QUARANTINED AREAS WITHIN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO ENTRY.

Entering from AFFECTED STATES:
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Horses entering (or re-entering) Missouri from any of the affected states listed above will be REQUIRED to have a permit issued by Missouri Dept. of Agriculture within 15 days of entry along with a required exam for a health certificate written by an accredited veterinarian from that state, as well as a current, negative Coggins.

Entering from UNAFFECTED STATES: 
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Horses entering (or re-entering) Missouri from any unaffected states do not require a permit but do require a health certificate issued by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days of entry along with a current negative Coggins.

BE SURE YOUR HEALTH CERT SAYS THE FOLLOWING: 
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Health certificates for horses entering Missouri must have the following statement:

“The animals are free of visible signs of contagious, infectious, or communicable disease. The animals have not been exposed to VS and within the past 30 days have not been within 10 miles of any site under quarantine for VS.”

To learn more about the affected counties, visit this USDA link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/…/cat…/vesicular-stomatitis-info…

Permit information and any other questions should be directed to the state veterinarian for Missouri, Steve Strubberg, D.V.M., at 573-751-3377.

NEC’S MANDATED RULES IN RESPONSE TO VS:

NEC already requires all horses entering NEC property to have a current Coggins Test reporting NEGATIVE results dated within one year of the date each horse arrives NEC. When shows are hosted directly by NEC, our own staff collects and verifies these health documents. When shows are hosted by LICENSEEs (such as Missouri Rodeo Cowboys Association or Queenie Productions, LLC), the LICENSEE’s show management is responsible for collecting and verifying these documents. NEC has the right to request copies of these reports at any time for any or all horses and, if the show management is unable to produce valid, current reports, the applicable horses will be ejected from the property immediately, and the LICENSEE held financially responsible for bio-security measures required to restore and maintain little or no health risks to other horses at our facility.

In light of Missouri State’s regulations responding to the VS Outbreak across the Southwest and Mid-West, NEC is requiring all those entering NEC to have also these Missouri State required documents. As with Coggins Tests, LICENSEEs will be responsible for collecting and verifying required health documents prior to each horse’s entry into the facility, and NEC reserves the right to obtain copies on request from the LICENSEE’s show management for any and/or all horses on our property. If the LICENSEE’s show management is unable to produce valid, current reports and documents, the applicable horse or horses will be ejected from the property immediately and the LICENSEE held financially responsible for bio-security measures required to restore and maintain little or no health risks to other horses at our facility.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING NEC’S HEALTH DOCUMENTS POLICIES OR PROCEDURES, OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE STATE OF MISSOURI’S REGULATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT OUR SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 636.561.8080 OR AT INFO@NECSTL.COM

-- via American Saddlebred Horse Association