Equine herpesvirus is impacting more than just rodeo events in the Lone Star State, with cases also confirmed in other states.
SAN ANTONIO — The outbreak of equine herpesvirus – or EHV – in Texas continues to impact rodeo events and facilities across the state as the number of confirmed cases rises.
The concerns stem from an outbreak that the Texas Department of Agriculture linked to a Waco event earlier this month—specifically, state officials warned about EHV-1, one of the deadliest forms of the virus that can cause respiratory illness, neurological symptoms or even death for horses.
The state responded by urging horse owners to take precautions, especially if their animals attended or were transported from the World Championship Barrel Racing Finals in Waco, which ran from Nov. 5-9. Last week, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo officials took the step of canceling a Uvalde qualifier event before horse events were set to get underway, though the Southwest Texas Veterinary Medical Center said there had been no suspected cases in Uvalde County at the time.
“None of the animals at the Uvalde qualifier were infected,” San Antonio Rodeo officials said. “Right now we will continue to monitor everything, but we do not have any animals or any of the animals involved with the San Antonio Stock show & Rodeo that caught the disease.”
A week later, officials, veterinarians and horse owners are still working to curb the spread of EHV in Texas; the number of cases has jumped from four to 15 over the last week, according to the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC), a North American organization tracking the outbreak. Eighteen cases in other states, including Oklahoma, Louisiana and Washington, have been linked to the Waco outbreak.
And the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) said that horse owners temporarily aren’t able to take their animals across state lines for an extended period of time for now, nor are equine market permits being distributed.
“While the extent of this EHV-1 outbreak is not yet fully known, TAHC is taking this situation seriously,” the agency said in an email to KENS 5. “Presentation of EHV-1 in horses has been acute with rapid progression and high clinical severity. TAHC encourages equine owners to work with a veterinary practitioner to assess risks and discuss health preventative health plans, take this virus seriously, and weigh potential risks when commingling equine.”
Who else in Texas has been impacted?
Various other rodeo events across the Lone Star State have been canceled or postponed as officials and horse owners continue monitoring the EHV spread.
In Fort Worth, officials with the Stockyards Championship Rodeo said its 2026 event, which began on Nov. 21, would not include horses and switch to a bull-riding-only format.
“First and foremost (is) our equine athletes’ safety and health,” venue officials said in a statement. “As Texas experiences confirmed cases of EHV-1, we are taking proactive steps to protect our equine partners while still delivering exciting, action-packed rodeo events.”
In Harris County, the Finish Line Horse Show was put on hold due to the outbreak, while Montgomery County’s Magnolia Horse Arena was also closed “out of an abundance of caution.” Chambers County, Sam Houston State University, an the City of La Porte have also announced venue closures.
“It’s evidently incredibly contagious, and that’s the scary part,” said Darolyn Butler, owner of Cypress Trails Ranch LLC in the Humble area. “We feel relatively safe, and I’ve secured that safety by not allowing any other horses to come on the ranch right now. So we feel pretty good.”
It’s not yet clear how the virus outbreak could impact the National Finals Rodeo, which begins Dec. 4 in Las Vegas.
What about the San Antonio Rodeo?
Of course, one of the city’s biggest annual events – the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – is fast-approaching. The event is set to begin in a little less than three months.
Rodeo officials have told KENS 5 they hope that’s enough time for things to come under control.
“We will monitor it,” Chief Marketing Officer Chris Derby told KENS 5 last week, after the Uvalde event’s cancellation. “But we are all praying that it is contained and in the next 14 to 21 days all will be fine.”
The TAHC, meanwhile, said curbing the outbreak depends exposure rates going down as well as potential exposure at events still going on as scheduled.
What should horse owners watch out for?
EHV typically causes respiratory issues, according to the EDCC, though neurological issues like blood vessel inflammation can happen, potential damaging a horse’s brain or spinal cord. While humans can’t be impacted by the virus, they can carry EHV through their clothes or equipment to other horses.
Experts say 60% to 70% of horses who contract the virus during an outbreak are able to recover, but “veterinary evaluation and isolation of exposed or affected horses is crucial.”
These are the symptoms owners should watch out for:
- Fever
- Swelling of the horse’s limbs
- Hind limb weakness
- Urine dribbling
- Late-term abortion
- In more severe cases, seizures and inability to stand
Experts say vaccines can help prevent EHV-1 and EHV-4 effects, including respiratory issues and abortion. The best thing owners can do, aside from vaccination, is to “follow correct biosecurity protocol” when bringing new horses into contact with them or traveling with your horses.
Steps that owners can take to mitigate the risk of their horses contracting EHV, according to the TAHC, include:
- Cleaning and disinfecting equipment, tack, boots and grooming supplies
- Isolating horses upon return from an event for at least two weeks
- Monitoring the horse’s temperature at least twice daily for 14 days after last known exposure
- Washing your hands after handling horses
In addition to rodeo events, the outbreak has affected small businesses in Texas.
Jessica Hungerford, owner of Blueberry Creek Stables in Converse, said that while they haven’t faced the reality of symptomatic horses, staff there are doing their part to curb the spread.
“We have imposed a voluntary quarantine, not allowing horses on or off our property. This means we canceled a show our team has been working hard to prepare for,” Hungerford said. “This is a big loss of income for us but the saying in this industry is ‘the horses care comes before the sport.'”
The business’s in-house veterinarian also educated staff members about the best ways to protect their animals. Hungerford said the team happened to cancel a show at the Waco venue days before the outbreak began and encouraged the public not to touch a horse they’re not familiar with.
“We are praying for our friends whom have lost and/or have horses fighting for their lives,” she said. “We have been fortunate thus far, to only be at a monetary loss.”