Because of concerns about a highly contagious and dangerous horse disease, the Montezuma County Fairgrounds remains closed to open riding and equine activities.
County Commissioner Gerald Koppenhafer, who is a veterinarian specializing in large animals, discussed the disease during the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday.
He said the illness, equine herpes virus or EHV-1, is somewhat similar to shingles in people. It can lie dormant for a long time inside a horse until it is activated by stress.
Koppenhafer said in most horses it then shows up as a respiratory infection, which is highly transmissible. It can migrate into the animal’s spinal tissue and then is likely fatal. It can also cause late-term abortions in pregnant mares.
It does not affect humans.
The outbreak reportedly started at a rodeo event in Texas in early November and has spread to another seven states. It has led to some horses being euthanized and many being quarantined.
La Plata County and San Juan County, New Mexico, have also temporarily closed their fairgrounds to equine events.
Koppenhafer said on Tuesday that until the outbreak settles down, it will be best not to hold major equine events here.
He said horse owners should not be overly worried.
He said, “As long as people are not traveling and taking their horses to some of these events you really don’t have much worry about picking it up.”
Gail Binkly is a career journalist who has worked for the Colorado Springs Gazette and Cortez Journal, and was the editor of the Four Corners Free Press, based in Cortez.