Updates On sick horses
The RVHR Facility is CLOSED for all visits. Management has placed the facility under Quarantine as of July 5th. 5 horses on site have broken out with Equine Strangles. Horses effective – Lamont, Grady, Chantilly, Sheldon and one of our assistant care horses. These 5 have been removed from general population. Click updates for new information. For the safety of horses in our community no one will be permitted on the property other than our normal volunteers. All 33 horses onsite are having temperatures taken 2 times a day and are being monitored closely. (We are in need of Digital Thermometers 4 have broken so far they seem not to be made to take 66 temps a day) Horses will be tested and vaccinated once signs of this are no longer present. We will Re-Open once we have an all clear by Management. (Possibley Mid August) If you like to help we are in great need of the following items. If you would like to donate these items feel free to drop them off at our gate at the facility or call 540-721-1910 to make arrangement to have them picked up.
Bleach, Lysol Cleaner, Lysol Spray, Pine Sol, Germ-X Hand Sanitizer, Scrubbing brushes, scrubbing sponges, paper towels, large heavy trash bags, large soaking trays for human feet bleach soaks.
July 19th – new items needed – Vaseline, betadine surgical scrub, betadine solution and swat
As of July 18th – The horses which are getting sick are having a difficult time swallowing which is keeping them from eating and they are dropping weight. We are finding that soaking of their feed (Sentinel LS) and alfalfa cubes is helping to keep them eating. If you like to donate these need two items you can contact Holdren’s Country Store in Vinton. 540-344-6053 you can ask for Keller he will be happy to help you.
We really need everyone’s help with the funds to have horses tested and vaccinated. The cost of one test is $60.00+. Horses will need at least 3 test then their vaccine at $15.00-$19.00. A Price of $197.00 to $217.00 per horse.
Please help if you can!
Each day I will do my best to let our supporters, volunteers and donors know how the horses here are doing during this outbreak. It is important to me keep the truth out there and keep the horse community informed of our situation. So if you have any questions please feel free to post them here.
Quick Background – After returning from horse classes in Montana on July 3rd to get my EPA certification and checking out each horse during my normal feeding routine. The first 5 were found to be sick.
For the last 8 years we have been taking in sick and abused horses without a case of strangles. I believe it is because of our new intake quarantine practices. Every horse is kept away from the herd for up to 30 days. The only thing we can think of is the week prior to leaving for Montana we had 4 visitors who came out to see the horses for possible adoption who could have been exposed prior to coming out here. This is so easy to spread we may never know. One of our rescued horses could be a carrier who has never shown any signs.
July 9th – Since July 5th only the first 5 horse are showing signs of strangles. All of the five have been placed in our main barn which is where any of the horses that begin to run a fever will be placed. Each horse has it temperature done 2 times a day.
3 areas have been set up
1) Infected horses – In the Main Barn
2) Horses that have been exposed to or contacted infected horses – In the Hill Barn
3) Clean horses with no exposure – Pals Barn to the Donkey Pen
No horse will be kept in the front field which connects to the front gate to keep anyone from coming into contact with any horse here on the property.
Myself (Pat Muncy) and with the help of the following people (Thank you guys) Jason, Raymond, Susan, Cindy, Greg and Vickie we are working to get each and every barn, water trough and horse item used at the facility cleaned and sanitized. This is turning out to be a time consuming and back breaking project. Each barn is being pulled apart and cleaned along with the normal day to day tasks which still need to done. We can’t do it alone if you would like to help here at the facility let me know. The only thing that i ask is that you have no contact with any other horses. It is very important to me that this outbreak not leave this facility.
Please read updates below.
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