Warm weather = fly season.
Rainbow is your headquarters for the War On Flies this year! Don’t wait until your barn is buzzing. Save on Farnam Fly Sprays with this month’s Subscriber Coupon, or protect your horses with a new fly mask! From feed-throughs to premise sprays, Rainbow has your back in the war on flies!
If you are planning to travel with your horse to competitions, group rides or other gatherings, you should be aware of the recent EHV/EHM and EIA outbreaks in California.
Equine Herpesvirus and its variation Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM, the neuropathogenic strain of EHV-1) are highly contagious and cause a variety of ailments including rhinopneumonitis, abortion in broodmares and EHM. In many horses, the first and only symptom is a fever, which can go undetected. Young horses might have a cough, decreased appetite and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares may show no signs of disease but abort late in the gestation period. Horses with the neurologic form of the disease often start with a fever, but then develop symptoms such as incoordination, weakness or paralysis. EHV/EHM is spread through nose-to-nose contact, and by sharing contaminated equipment such as bits, water buckets or the clothing and hands of the people who care for them. While there is a vaccine that helps reduce the viral shedding, it is not protective against the neurologic form of the disease. Learn more about EHV and how to prevent it in this report courtesy of The Horse – California EHV Outbreak Update.
In a separate outbreak, California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) officials confirmed cases of Equine Infectious Anemia in Southern California. EIA is also known as “swamp fever.” The first case was a Quarter Horse race horse who tested positive in January. EIA is a viral disease that attacks a horses’ immune system. It is transmitted through body fluids – usually from blood-feeding insects – and there is no cure or vaccine. Once infected the horse carries the disease for life and can be a reservoir for the spread of the disease. Not all horses show symptoms, but can still spread the disease. EIA virus can be screened by a Coggins test and most states require a clean Coggins certificate in order to cross state lines.
Due to these outbreaks, many events have been canceled or postponed, including the March Trail Obstacle Clinics at Flying T Equine in Redwood Valley. Clinician John Tilley is hoping to start the monthly clinics again in April. Follow his Facebook page for more information and updates on these fun and popular clinics!
Other events have been rescheduled so it is a good idea to check with the event coordinator before loading up your horses. Be careful out there!
The Spring clothing is arriving daily at Rainbow stores, just in time for the warm weather. Whether you are heading to the rodeo, or just hanging out in the backyard, there are new fun styles for everyone in your family! Check it out! Don’t forget to stay hydrated with one of the colorful, quality HydroFlasks, and keep all your snacks and beverages cool with a new Pelican cooler! Perfect for the trail ride or horse show.
Trivia:
Win a $15.00 Rainbow coupon, good on any purchase at any Rainbow store. All correct answers are entered in a random drawing. Last month’s winner is Andre Hilkey with the correct answer that a Club Cadet Battery Mower can cut up to 2 acres on a single charge!
This month’s question is, why are horse events in California being postponed or canceled?