In light of the Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) outbreaks in Europe and the United States, where outbreaks have already affected equestrian competitions, and subsequent EHV outbreaks in Ontario and Quebec, the OCTRA Vet Committee reviewed bio-security protocols and health and welfare recommendations from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), the Canada Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), and the University of Guelph regarding this highly contagious and potentially fatal equine disease.
In the Vet Committee’s view, given the nature and ease of transmission of EHV between horses as a result of touching each other, sharing buckets, sharing water troughs or even being handled by multiple people, there is a need for enhanced bio-security procedures to reduce risk to horse health and welfare at OCTRA events. These include preventative vaccination and modified event protocols.
The OCTRA Board of Directors has reviewed these suggested changes and is in agreement with implementing them as extraordinary rules for the 2021 competition season.
Please download, read, and understand the OCTRA Extraordinary Rules and Procedures Related to Equine Herpes Virus for the 2021 Competition Season (PDF 115 KB).
UPDATE May 20:
Canadian Equine Vaccines Containing EHV 4/1 (PDF 41 KB)
Equine Health Self-certification Form (PDF 223 KB)