The federal government decided to include funding for equine research in the fiscal year 1999 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that passed recently (see Up Front page 9). Those moneys are earmarked for several areas, including research into contagious equine metritis (CEM) and the CEM-like organism that was discovered in California and Kentucky.

“So what?” you might say, ready to flip to the next page. “CEM is a breeding disease. What does that have to do with me? I don’t breed any horses.”

In some ways, that’s true. It’s more applicable if you are breeding horses, especially if you breed horses using shipped semen, and more critically if you breed horses in or from Europe. But in this age of state, regional, national, and international shipment of horses, having a disease in your area might curtail your activities–whether the problem involves you directly or not.

Want to take your mare to that AQHA Ride ’98 trail ride in a neighboring state? Sorry, since CEM was found in the breeding population upstate of your home, it is possible that no horses from your state will be crossing any borders. Have your regional or national finals in another location? Make sure that you are cleared health-wise to be there. Many states will prohibit you from moving your horses just because of your state of residence and what is going on in a small segment of the horse population there