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Like a Lion
March roared in like a lion with the latest snowfall here in Virginia totaling up to 20 inches in some places. Not only were schools closed, but horse shows were also canceled as well due to power outages.
I was fortunate to miss most of the winter weather as I showed in both Wellington and Ocala, Florida, and judged in Gulfport, Mississippi this season.
My last trip to Ocala was scheduled to be the first weekend in March, however, I was caught in the EHV-1 quarantine, which ended on March 13.
When not showing, my horse goes back to a farm off the show grounds and was due to be shipped over to the show when I received a call from my shipper. He said he had a spot on the van the following day for my horse to return to Virginia.
My first reaction was: "I'm showing. He can come home on Monday." He replied, "Not if you show."
Upon further investigation, I found out that once on the HITS Ocala show grounds, Chawton could be held there up to 21 days. Needless to say, I took the spot on the van, and Chawton was home two days later. We were lucky!
Unfortunately, others haven't been so fortunate. This latest outbreak of EHV-1 has caused death and illness in horses around Florida and throughout the country. In this month's newsletter we're addressing the EHV-1 outbreak as well as some tips to help keep your horses healthy during these outbreaks.
On another note, my business partner and friend Mike Moran is recuperating from open heart surgery at his farm in Oklahoma under the watchful eye of his wife Sandra.
He's looking forward to being "back in the saddle" soon. Please feel free to send him a card at his home address : 4585 Carter Road, Mounds, OK 74047
EMO...Ride with the leaders!
E. Sue Bopp
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 The "perfect storm" for EHV-1 outbreaks is when the stress of travel and competition is combined with hundreds or thousands of horses congregating. |
Horse owners from coast to coast have had one thing in common this winter: EHV-1.
An outbreak of the equine herpesvirus-1 has affected horses from the hunter/jumper show circuits in Florida to stables in the Midwest and Utah and even at Santa Anita Racetrack in California.
So, what is EHV-1 and why should horse owners worry about this virus?
EHV-1 is a highly contagious disease that is most known for causing epidemics of abortion in mares, neonatal issues in foals and respiratory issues in young horses. In some cases, however, EHV-1 takes a neurologic path in the horse's system (called equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy) that can result in paralysis and death.
Because EHV-1 is extremely contagious, it's vitally important to quarantine sick horses from the surrounding population as soon as possible. Therefore, you'll routinely see headlines splashed across social media platforms and in equine publications alerting the community when an outbreak occurs.
This winter, EHV-1 was regularly in the news for its appearance in and around the HITS Ocala and FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival circuits in Florida where thousands of hunter, jumper and dressage horses gather to compete. On February 27, the entire HITS show grounds was placed under quarantine and then released on March 13 when no additional positive cases were diagnosed.
To continue reading more about EHV-1 and recent outbreaks, click here.
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 EMO: Meet Victor Rogers-Phillips
Victor has worked at EMO on and off since 2008 and is often that welcoming voice you hear when you call the Warrenton office.
"It's a pleasant family-like environment," he said with a smile. "My main duties are answering the phones, reporting claims, mailing out policies and sending out reminders to our clients. I'm always trying to help with questions on the phone as the agents here are very busy."
Horses have always been a part of Victor's life. He was born on his family's horse farm in Virginia and was put on a horse before he could walk.
"My early days were spent in the stable with my grandparents and in the garden with my mother," he said. "From my picture you might gather I have a propensity for plants. In my youth I learned the names of the plants on our farm. After graduating from high school I apprenticed with a Horticulturalist in Cambridge, England for three months."
After his time in England, Victor started at EMO while working a horticultural job on the side. During his time at EMO he's taken classes at a local community college, and in 2012 he was accepted into a three-month internship at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, England.
"I worked in the Palm House, which is a bit of humid jungle in chilly London," he said. "The photograph [above] was taken in the Water Lily House at Kew. While in London I made many friends and took the opportunities to travel to Italy, Switzerland and Scotland. My latest endeavor has recently been realized with my acceptance into the Ethnobotany program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa beginning this August. I'll be there three years studying how indigenous people use plants for food, shelter and most interestingly, medicine."
Victor has friends "all over the place," so in his spare time he's often in Charlottesville, Virginia or up in Pennsylvania on the weekends. He also enjoys writing, exploring genealogy, art of all sorts and hiking.
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EMO: Tip of the Month
- It's A Virus - EHV-1 is a common virus and most horses are exposed during their lifetimes. The neurologic strain is less common, however.
- General Signs and Symptoms - These include a fever, lethargy, nasal discharge and occasionally a cough.
- Neurologic Symptoms - These include incoordination, difficulty standing, difficulty urinating and defecating, a flaccid tail and extreme lethargy.
- Incubation Period - EHV-1 is highly contagious and has a wide-ranging incubation period from 3 to 14 days with most falling within the 4-8 day range.
- Transmission - Most often spread by horse-to-horse contact but can be transmitted on surfaces, clothing, equipment, tack, trailers and other stable supplies.
- Quarantine - Generally, premises with EHV-1-positive horses are quarantined for a minimum of 21 days and often longer. The quarantine begins after the last fever is detected on the premises.
- Treatment - Horses are often treated with anti-inflammatories, IV fluids and close monitoring.
- Biosecurity - Taking routine biosecurity measures in your barn--cleaning and disinfection--is vital in preventing the spread of EHV-1 and other contagious diseases.
For more information on EHV-1, please click here to read this month's EMO feature article. |
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EMO Congratulates
Stephanie Kofu and Traveling Abroad
EMO/PCQHA High-Point Horse of the Year!
The EMO Agency, Inc., wishes to congratulate Stephanie Kofu, of San Jose, California, second from left, and her Traveling Abroad (shown in photo) for their 2012 EMO/Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association Horse of the Year Award.
Traveling Abroad was shown by Stephanie and trainer Melissa Zanetti, of Zanetti Performance Horses, to top honors. Traveling Abroad and Stephanie also earned the PCQHA All Around Champion-Amateur Award. Congratulations to all!
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EMO March Featured Client
Lynn Ellen Rice and Gramercy Park
Lynn Ellen Rice, center holding trophy, received the Peter Wetherill Cup during the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit for her Gramercy Park, who earned the USHJA's WCHR Hunter of the Year title for 2012.
The EMO Agency, Inc., congratulates client Lynn Ellen Rice and her Gramercy Park for earning the 2012 World Championship Hunter Rider Horse of the Year Honors.
Lynn and Gramercy Park received the Peter Wetherill Cup, presented annually at the WCHR Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular in Wellington, Florida.
In 2012, the 9-year-old Gramercy Park and rider Thomas Brennan, of Charles Town, West Virginia, had a standout record of more than 20 championships and reserves, including: Capital Challenge Stake winner; Pennsylvania National Horse Show winner; Washington International Best Green Working Horse Round, Green Working Stake winner, Green Conformation Stake winner, Leading Hunter Owner Award; Virginia Horse Shows Association Green Working Horse of the Year; Zone 3 Green Working Horse of the Year; and USEF First Year Green Working Hunter Reserve Champion. 
Brennan and trainer Tony Workman first noticed Gramercy Park, nicknamed Charlie, as a Pre-Green hunter. The young warmblood gelding made such an impression they interrupted Lynn's vacation to share their discovery, and she didn't hesitate to add him to her stable.
"Honestly, I have trouble getting across that what makes Charlie a spectacular horse isn't just that he's beautiful and incredibly talented, it's that he believes he's the winner," said Lynn. "He's confident and focused for me as well as for Tom and has been from the beginning. The fact that Charlie is as solid for me, his amateur, as he is for Tom, is truly what sets him apart and makes him not just a horse of the year but a horse of a lifetime."
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EMO's E. Sue Bopp and Chawton at the FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival circuit (Florida).
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President
Vice President EMO WEST: Vice President
OFFICE AGENTS: Mortality/Vet Services
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The EMO Agency, Inc. 400 Rosedale Court Warrenton, VA 20186 (800) 347-3552
(540) 347-3552
FAX: (540) 347-5906
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Hunting For Insurance?
Did you know you can request a quote for up to five horses with one easy step?
Just access The EMO Agency website and fill out our easy-to-use form to obtain a quote on mortality, loss of use, major medical and surgical coverage.
Are you paying more than you should for insurance?
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EMO
Out 'N About 
Sue Bopp and Jonathan Rabon at the 2012 USHJA Annual Meeting.
Join EMO Staff and Agents at these upcoming events:
- FTI Consulting Winter Equestrian Festival Circuit, Wellington, Florida, January 9-March 31 (Martha Hall and Blake Boyd)
- HITS Desert Circuit, January 22-March 17, in Thermal, California (Mike Moran, Bil Hartman & Daran Lockhart)
- Atlanta Spring Classics, March 20-30 in Conyers, Georgia (Jonathan Rabon)
- Swan Lake Winter Finale, March 21-14 in Littlestown, Pennsylvania (Sue Bopp)
- Showplace Spring Festival, March 27-30 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland (Sue Bopp)
- HITS Commonwealth National, March 17-21 in Culpeper, Virginia (Sue Bopp)
- Lexington Spring Premiere, April 24-28 in Lexington, Virginia (Sue Bopp)
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Thinking Green? Don't forget you can pay for your insurance online with echeck!
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 Stop by for a visit if you're in the neighborhood!
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Congratulations!
EMO congratulates all of the winners and participants at the Silver Dollar Circuit!
EMO is a proud sponsor of this great event, held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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 Do you have an EMO- insured horse who's made you proud? Let us know, and you and your horse could be featured on our Facebook page or in our newsletter!
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