Doug Byars, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, a private veterinary consultant in Lexington, Ky., who formerly headed the Hagyard equine veterinary group’s medicine department in that city, was invited to tour the equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) affected areas in Florida and address horse owners and veterinarians. Byars’ extensive experience with contagious/infectious disease outbreaks has included mare reproductive loss syndrome (MRLS), contagious equine metritis (CEM), equine viral arteritis (EVA), strangles, herpesvirus, and other problems.

He addressed horse owners and veterinarians on Jan. 4, and he spoke to The Horse magazine on Jan. 5 and 8 to pass along his reflections on the situation there.

For the most part, he told the non-quarantined areas of the horse industry to, “Get on with life. If you want to have a horse show, have a horse show. If you want to have a polo match, have a polo match.”

He said farms with horses that remained in quarantine have an obligation not to expose others outside their properties