19/11/2025
🛑 Important Health Alert for All Creaking Willows Members 🛑
Dear Creaking Willows family,
Due to our cross state, state line travel, & being In and out of show barns, were making some changes to operations to help stop the transmission of EVH-1!
🔍 What is EHV-1 and why is it so serious?
• EHV-1 is a highly contagious viral disease in horses that can cause respiratory illness, abortions in pregnant mares, and in its more severe form a neurological disease called Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). 
• In the neurological form, horses may stumble, become uncoordinated, have difficulty urinating, lose tail tone, or even become unable to stand. 
• Because of its potential to spread rapidly at barns and events where many horses gather, this outbreak merits our full attention. 
🐴 How is it spread?
• Direct horse-to-horse contact (nose to nose) is a primary route. 
• Respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing) and shared airspace can spread the virus. 
• Indirect transmission via contaminated equipment/fomites: tack, buckets, grooming tools, stalls, trailers, hands, clothing, shoes. 
• People can inadvertently carry the virus on boots, clothing, hands and move it between barns. 
• Latent carriers: many horses carry EHV-1 without symptoms and can shed virus during stress. 
⚠️ Recognize the symptoms
Please monitor all horses closely, especially if they have travelled, been at a show, or commingled with others.
Signs include:
• Fever (often >101.5 °F) 
• Nasal discharge, cough or other respiratory signs 
• Lethargy, decreased appetite or depression 
• Hind-end weakness, incoordination, stumbling, loss of tail tone, difficulty rising (neurologic signs) 
• In pregnant mares: sudden abortion or weak foal at birth. 
If you spot any of these, call your veterinarian immediately — early detection and quarantine are critical.
✅ What we’re doing at Creaking Willows to minimise risk
To do our part in preventing spread and keeping your horses safe, we are implementing the following protocols:
• We will limit barn access to one barn per day (i.e., we’ll operate and sanitize only one barn each day, rotating through) so we can thoroughly clean and disinfect equipment, tack, tools and high-traffic surfaces.
• We will increase the frequency and thoroughness of cleaning of grooming tools, tack, buckets, cross-ties, wash racks, door handles and any shared equipment.
• We ask all everyone to wipe boots, gloves, tack, and hands before moving between barns or horses, and to avoid sharing tack/grooming tools unless they have been properly sanitized.
• Anyone who has had recent travel with their horse to shows or events, or has horses that were exposed to other barns/horses, please alert us and plan on additional monitoring or isolation as needed.
• We will also restrict unnecessary movement of horses on- and off-site, and limit group gatherings/commingling until the outbreak is under control.
📣 What we ask of YOU
• Please avoid visiting other barns/mixes of horses unless absolutely necessary, especially if your horse or you visited any shows, events, or other stables in the last 2-3 weeks.
• Do not share equipment, tack, buckets, grooming tools or feed tubs with other horses without disinfecting first.
• If you notice any odd signs—fever, nasal discharge, stumbling, weakness, tail tone loss—call your vet immediately AND isolate the horse from the rest of the herd.
• Keep detailed records of any movements/travel, and let us know if your horse has recently been to a show, clinic or other barn (this Also goes for riders, If equipment was used on another horse).
• Encourage everyone to practice good hygiene: wash hands, disinfect boots/clothing, sanitize gear before moving between areas.
⸻
We understand that these measures may feel inconvenient — but our goal is the same as yours: keeping all our horses safe and preventing this virus from spreading into our barns. By working together as a community and being vigilant now, we can protect our herd, reduce stress and cost, and avoid a serious outbreak.
Thank you for your cooperation and attention to this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Stay safe, stay alert, and let’s protect our equine partners.
As always, happy riding, & enjoy those babies!
