The Hoofer Equestrian Center (HEC) at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, voluntarily quarantined its lower barn on Feb. 8, after two horses housed at the facility showed neurologic signs of equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1). Both horses were later euthanatized and one tested positive for EHV-1. One other horse housed in the same barn also showed signs of the respiratory form of EHV-1, and several others had high fevers, according to Brea Ann Rogers, HEC barn manager. The center has horses in two barns, which are separated by a detached indoor riding arena.

Rogers said the first horse showed a fever on Thursday, Feb. 2. Other horses began spiking fevers over the weekend. At first, attending veterinarians tested and treated the horses for strangles.

“By Monday Feb. 6, we had seven other horses that had a high temperature,” Rogers explained. “That same day we had one mare, which hadn’t shown any previous signs, come down with the first neurologic signs.”
Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 8, a gelding that belonged to the University, which did have a fever previously, showed neurologic signs as well.

“When the mare went neurologic, the vets thought she had something else, like EPM or rabies,” Rogers said. At the time, they weren’t thinking herpesvirus. “It wasn’t until the gelding came down with it that we realized what we were dealing with.” According to Rogers, the gelding was brought to HEC in December, while the mare had been there for more than a year and a half