Northwest Horses Face Travel Restrictions Amid National Equine Herpesvirus Outbreak
By Anna King
Northwest Public Broadcasting
November 28, 2025
Horses across the nation are under lockdown due to a recent outbreak of equine herpesvirus, which has sparked concern among horse owners and organizers. The outbreak originated from a major event in Texas, the WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race, attended by over a thousand horses from various states. This event, held earlier this month in Waco, Texas, is now linked to the spread of the virus.
As of now, Washington has reported two cases, while Oregon and Idaho remain unaffected. However, the virus's incubation period poses a significant challenge. During this period, infected horses may not exhibit clinical symptoms but can still travel and potentially expose other horses to the disease.
Dr. Amber Itle, the top veterinarian for the Washington State Department of Agriculture, highlights the issue: "The challenge is that during the incubation period, these horses continue to move across states, attending events and potentially spreading the virus along the way."
So far, approximately 30 horses nationwide have been diagnosed with equine herpesvirus. Some horses exhibit neurological symptoms or even die, while others suffer from high fever and respiratory issues. Diane Thomas, a horse riding drill team coach near Yelm, describes the impact on riding centers. She mentions the additional costs of sanitizing barns with bleach to ensure no traces of previous horses remain.
Thomas also expresses the difficulty of canceling shows, which provide income for her riding center, and the disruption of drill practice. To combat the outbreak, organizations and veterinarians are educating horse owners about preventive measures. These include quarantining horses for several weeks to prevent further transmission.
This story is brought to you by the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington, and is part of OPB's commitment to delivering quality journalism to the region. For more information, visit our journalism partnerships page.
