Standing Oak Ranch

Sometimes I even get to ride during lessons! I love it when my riders get to a point that I can ride with them :)

Yesterday’s Rainy Day Lessons

Last Friday, I had the privilege and pleasure of speaking to my daughter’s class for career day. I love opportunities to get out in the community and share my love of what I do each day!

Playing in the snow!

Beautiful sunsets

This is how you travel to the barn on snow days! Feeding time for the horses last night!

Snow Days!!!

𝐄𝐇𝐕-𝟏 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤
There has been an EHV-1 outbreak linked to the World Championship Barrel Racing Finals in Texas on Nov 5-9. While the majority of reported cases are in Texas, there were horses from all over the country that were at the competition.

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙖𝙠 𝙍𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙮
🟥 We will not be taking any Standing Oak Ranch horses off the property until this outbreak has been considered “contained”.

🟥 Outside horses will be allowed on our property on a case by case basis, depending on your circumstances. These must be discussed prior to bringing your horse on property.

🟥 Circumstances in which outside horses will absolutely not be allowed on the property at this time include:
🔺If your horses have traveled off your property within the last 21 days
🔺If you or your horses have been in contact with other horses within the last 21 days
🔺If you have brought home new horses within the last 21 days (even if you have quarantined the new horses)
🔺If you have been to other barns / around other horses within the last 21 days, even if your horse has not been there
🔺If your horse has any clinical signs of EHV-1 (see clinical signs below)

🟥 No outside tack, grooming tools, or equipment will be allowed at this time

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰:
🟥 EHV-1 is not transmissible to humans

🟥 EHV-1 is highly contagious to horses. It primarily causes upper respiratory disease, but can lead to abortion or stillbirth in pregnant mares. It can also progress to a neurological form (EHM), which can be fatal.

🟥 EHV-1 is spread via:
🔺 Horse to horse contact
🔺 Aerosolized particles (sneezing & coughing releases droplets into the air)
🔺 Shared or contaminated equipment (feed tubs, water buckets, grooming tools, thermometers, tack, etc)
🔺 Human transmission via contaminated hands, clothing, jackets, boots, or other equipment

🟥 EHV can remain latent. Horses can carry the virus without showing clinical signs.

🟥 Stress (such as travel, competition, weather changes, or illness) can reactivate shedding, making the horses contagious.

🟥 There is a 14 day incubation period so any horses that could have been exposed should be quarantined for 14 days after the last potential exposure

🟥 Clinical signs of EHV-1 include
🔺 Fever
🔺 Nasal discharge
🔺 Cough
🔺 Depression or lethargy
🔺 Difficulty urinating
🔺 Hind limb weakness or incoordination
🔺 Stumbling or ataxia that may progress to all 4 limbs
🔺 Loss of tail tone
🔺 Head tilt
🔺 Recumbency
🔺 Abortion

🟥Monitoring for EHV-1
🔺 Take temperatures twice a day
🔺 Monitor for any additional signs
🔺 A re**al temp of 101.5 F or higher is cause for concern, especially if your horse has nasal discharge, coughing or neurological signs
🔺 This is especially important for horses that have traveled to infected areas / shows

🟥 EHV-1 Vaccine Information
🔺 There is a vaccine available, however it does not prevent the virus
🔺 The vaccine reduces the severity of the symptoms and viral shedding of the disease
🔺 The vaccine is NOT effective against the neurological form (EHM)

Fall is such a fun time of the year! We took the minis to a local preschool earlier this month and then we set up for Trail or Treat at a local school today!

Today I took my kiddos to the Toyota Grand Parade of Horses with our local 4H club. The girls loved making Marshmallow a unicorn for the day and Holly did well for Sylar during her first parade!

Shenanigans during lessons