USEF: Important Updates to Vesicular Stomatitis Rules
From the US Equestrian Communications Department, Lexington, Kentucky - August 28, 2023
As the summer progresses, we have kept a watchful eye on the outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis in California. As we have watched the vector patterns and the outbreak progress this summer, we are modifying our USEF Vesicular Stomatitis Requirements for licensed competitions. The list below highlights some of those changes. To see all changes, please visit the VS webpage on our website.
1. VS Affected Counties - Changing from VS affected state to VS affected county Requirements (See website below for VS Affected Counties)
- Requirements for horses from VS Affected Counties- Timed Official CVI, Onsite Examination at Arrival, and temperature monitoring twice daily while at the event.
2. Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection Update – CVI Requirement only for horses originating in VS affected counties.
- There are no USEF CVI requirement for horses originating from a non-affected county (see competition rules for their specific health entry requirements)
- CHANGE Timing for Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) requirement from 5 days to 14 days. Official CVI must be issued within 14 days of entry to the competition venue.
- If a resident horse(s) on show grounds has been on the premises in a VS affected county for the previous 14 days without lesions, then no CVI is required but inspection will be required.
3. Determining the VS Status
- VS Status for Event – Based on the VS status of the event county 7 days prior to the start of the event. If classified as non-affected county, then there will be no requirements, even if it subsequently becomes classified as a VS affected county.
- VS Status for Horse - Based on the VS status of the county where the horse is located 7 days prior to the event.
4. Restriction of Entries – A restriction of entries still only applies to events in non-affected states
To read more about Vesicular Stomatitis, as well as to download some helpful information guides developed earlier this summer, please click the link below.