Apr 05, 2021 4:25 PM
In light of new information that International Polo Club Palm Beach (IPC) has received regarding a possible positive case of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), management is working closely with the United States Polo Association, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, and the polo community to protect horses at IPC. IPC is confident that its protocols, when followed appropriately, are capable of keep horses safe and ensuring the continuation of the winter polo season at IPC.
EHV-1 is contagious and spread by direct horse-to-horse contact via the respiratory tract through nasal secretions or indirectly through surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus.
Although the positive case at WEF has been isolated and no other horses are considered to be at risk, IPC’s location in the "Winter Equestrian Capital of the World" poses its own risk factors with large numbers of horses in close quarters and under the stresses of competition and travel. This heightens the shared responsibility to take specific measures that will help keep each horse safe from the virus. We can work towards this by implementing two strategies: biosecurity and vaccination protocols.
IPC is working closely with the competing teams and their vets to confirm all vaccinations are up to date, and are strongly encouraged to abide by specific protocols at their barns for the safety of their horses, please click here to read more about these protocols.
Further biosecurity protocols and additional resources can be found here:
United States Department of Agriculture Information on Equine Herpesvirus
American Association of Equine Practitioners FAQ on Equine Herpesvirus
Experience has taught us that early identification is key when dealing with disease outbreaks, and this requires cooperation from everyone within the community.
Effective Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020
The suspension of USPA Tournaments and Events will be lifted for USPA Member Clubs in locales where hosting polo matches and tournaments is permitted under applicable state and local laws, executive orders and similar decrees. The USPA Member Clubs in these locales are encouraged to follow all such requirements of their state and local authorities with respect to polo operations. In addition, we also encourage all USPA Member Clubs to take the precautions recommended by the CDC. We are preparing a detailed list of best practices for USPA Member Clubs as they return to hosting USPA Tournaments and Events and plan to circulate these guidelines within the next week. We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely and will notify you if we determine a different course of action is necessary.
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