An equestrian center in San Juan Capistrano is under a state issued quarantine after horses contract contagious virus.
The Rancho Sierra Vista Equestrian Center is under a state mandated quarantine, after 11 horses have been diagnosed with equine herpes virus-1 (EVH-1).
The flu-like disease is highly contagious and could be deadly. Nine horses had been diagnosed with the virus by Thursday, and two additional cases were reported early Friday.
For Additional Information: Equine Herpes Virus Definition, Signs and Outbreaks
A total 367 horses at the San Juan Capistrano center are affected by the quarantine. Riders can no longer take the competition and show horses off the equestrian center grounds.
Authorities met with nearly 100 horse owners from throughout the city Thursday to calm their fears and teach them how to stop the virus from spreading.
“The sign we most often see is a rise in temperature,” said Dr. Kent Fowler of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “We ask them to take the horses temperature two times a day.”
The San Juan Capistrano equestrian community has a lot at stake. The city hosts Olympic trials and is home to over 1,500 horses.
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“I don’t want my horses or my client’s horses to get sick so we’re not sharing tack so it doesn’t spread,” said trainer Chrissy Rogers.
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