VS Affected County is a county which has had multiple USDA vesicular stomatitis confirmed or suspect premises within the last 30 days. A county is removed from the VS Affected County list once the county has gone 30 days from the last premises quarantine release without additional cases. See USEF VS Webpage for the most current list of the VS affected counties.

The VS status of the event or the horse will be determined 7 days prior to the start of the competition. This means the VS status of county of the event or the county of horse origin will be reflective of the status of the county on day 7 prior to the event start date.

A horse originating from a VS affected county is defined as a horse which has been in a VS affected county within the previous 14 days.

The state and USDA will only report at the county level to protect confidentiality of premises that could be singled out by more granular reporting. However, exactly where in the county the individual infected premises are located is almost irrelevant with the Vesicular Stomatits Virus (VSV). California is at high risk of VSV, as it is the infected insects that move, which is why the emphasis of control is quarantining and restricting movement of lesioned animals and for all other horse owners to implement fly control and mitigation measures.

1. 1. As this is the first time in over 40 years that California has had a confirmed case of Vesicular Stomatitis, we have no knowledge or data to indicate the vector distribution and spread. Climate and vector distribution in California is unique and the models and experiences of previous outbreaks in the United States can’t be utilized.
   2. We anticipate the virus to continue to spread north in California and continue to be present likely through 2024.

No. Competition management or their designee is required to review the CVI to verify issuance within 14 days of entry to the venue, but no copy is required to be kept.

No. Only an official state certificate of veterinary inspection issued by a licensed veterinarian shall be accepted.

There are two options.

1. The horse or shipment of horses shall be rejected and prohibited entry.
2. The veterinarian performing the onsite inspections may choose to write the official CVI if they are able to attest to all requirements of the CVI.

The CVI must be within 14 days of entry to the competition venue. If the CVI was issued greater than 14 days prior, a new CVI is required for entry to your event.

A timed CVI is only required for horses entering the event grounds. Horses which reside on the event grounds don’t require additional CVIs after entry.

Permanent resident horses are defined as those which have permanently resided on the competition venue grounds for at least the previous 14 days.

Horses meeting the permanent resident horse definition DO NOT require a CVI for entry. However, they WILL REQUIRE an arrival examination for lesions for entry into the competition area.

NO, a CVI issued by a licensed veterinarian within the 14 days prior to entry to the competition grounds is required.

1. 1. Horses leaving and returning from a non-VS affected do not require a CVI.
   2. If a horse has been gone from the venue for less than 14 days and has been in a VS affected county, no CVI will be required.
   3. If a horse has been gone from the venue for more than 14 days and has been in a VS affected county, a new CVI will be required.

All horses entering competition area from a VS affected county are required to be examined including daily haul in horses and on-site permanent resident horses entering the competition grounds.

No, only horses originating from VS affected counties are required to be inspected. 

No horse from a VS affected county shall enter competition grounds without examination. Thus, competition management is encouraged to designate arrival times for when a veterinarian or designated individual will be on site.

Preferably on the trailer before off-loading if it is safe to do so. Otherwise, a designated safe area for offloading and examination before entering any portion of the competition area.

A veterinarian or a designated individual

Designated Individual: An individual designated by the competition veterinarian OR an individual designated by the competition manager who has proof of completion of the USEF online VS Educational module.

1. 1. An examination of the individual horse included handling of the ears, inner mouth, tongue and the feeling around muzzle for evidence of blisters (vesicles) or erosions compatible with Vesicular Stomatitis. 
   2. Observations of the coronary bands, udder/sheath area if possible.

No, a temperature is not required on arrival, but a temperature log is required to be completed twice daily while a horse originating from a VS affected county is on the premises.

A new pair of gloves should be used for each individual horse.

1. 1. The lesioned animal and any other horses on the shipment are rejected entry. Veterinarian must contact state animal health official AND Dr. Katie Flynn ([email protected] or 859-225-6991) with the name, contact information and the destination where the horses are being shipped back to.
   2. Horses with lesions are prohibited from entering the premises. 

It is not required but strongly recommended to stable horses from VS affected counties separately from horses from other states. This separation helps facilitate the required daily temperature log monitoring and observations by competition management. Additionally, the separation reduces the risk of potential exposure and spread of virus which may enter the event grounds from a horse incubating the virus.

A temperature log is required to be completed twice daily for horses from VS affected counties. Additionally, these horses should be observed daily for vesicular (blister-like) lesions. Any temperature over 101.5F or vesicular lesions shall be reported to the competition management/veterinarian.

Suspect cases with vesicular lesions are REQUIRED by law to be reported by any individual with knowledge. Failure to report is a violation of state and federal laws and regulatory action will be taken.

1. 1. State or federal animal health officials are the first point of contact for any suspect cases of vesicular lesions. For contact information for state animal health official visit https://www.usaha.org/saho
   2. If the suspected lesioned animal is on a USEF licensed competition ground, competition management must also report the USEF Equine Health and Biosecurity Veterinarian.

1. 1. The horse will be immediately isolated, and the State or federal animal health officials will be immediately contacted to determine how to proceed.
   2. Based on the incubation time and the lesion eruption, the regulatory officials will investigate the case to determine where the horse was most likely exposed to the virus.

1. 1. State animal health officials will evaluate the situation to determine the most appropriate response.
   2. Important to note, the required USEF biosecurity measures are intended to prevent introduction and spread and thereby reduce the risk of potential event grounds quarantine.
   3. If the horse with lesions is deemed to be exposed at their home or previous premises, it is unlikely for the event grounds to be quarantined.
   4. If there is evidence of virus exposure and spread on the event grounds, there is a possibility for the show grounds to be quarantined and no new horses allowed entry for 14 days or longer. Movement from quarantined show grounds to quarantined home premises will be at the discretion of the state animal health official.

1. 1. USEF continues to monitor the situation with state and federal animal health officials.
   2. Historically, events have continued in states where VS has been confirmed. Additionally, in the last 50 years there have been no documented cases of vesicular stomatitis spread at an equestrian event.
   3. As long as shows continue to implement required biosecurity measures and there is no evidence of virus spread at competitions, USEF will continue to support continuance of equestrian events.
   4. If there is evidence of significant spread of virus spread at equestrian events or failure of implemented biosecurity measures, USEF may consider cancellation of events in VS affected area.