I am the ride manager of Gator Run. I will try and answer Teresa's
concerns. The camp is small so space between campsites are tight. There is a lot
of water on the trail, we will have toughs out for all horses to drink from but
any one can take their own out with their own names on their buckets, we
will tell riders not to drink from buckets with names on them. I have
called the farm that is quarantined down in Jupiter Farms and talked to the
owner. He told me the horse that is sick has tested negative for EHV-1 but they
are doing more testing and feel he probably has the virus. The horse has never
been on the trails around their house, the horses he has been exposed to at his
farm has never been on the trails. He doesn't feel any of the exposed horses
have been in contact with any horses around their area other than on their own
farm. I also attended a meeting in Ocala. I have been told by the state vets
that they feel they have the virus contained here in Florida. The Polo and
jumping areas will be open for business in the next week and that is where the
virus has been, if they feel safe to open there, we should feel even safer
here. I have asked people coming for the areas that have had the virus, to take
temps before loading in the trailer and to have current vaccinations and health
papers with-in 3 days of the ride. I have talked with many vets in the infected
areas over the past 3 weeks and they feel very comfortable with the precautions
the state has taken to keep the virus under control. There has been no new cases
since Dec.24.
Otis Schmitt, DVM and Becky have been down here from Tennessee with
their two horses riding all week, they felt comfortable in bringing their
horses.The camp has about 14 trailers in it tonight already, most of them are
from the NE region and had a long drive. All called and checked on the virus
situation before coming and felt safe in their discussion. There are no
guarantees anytime we travel with horses but at least here in Florida the state
will take action in containing a disease as quickly as possibly and put
quarantines in place. Some states can not do this.
You should do what you and you vet feel comfortable with. I hope we
see you at the ride but if not will send you and anyone else who doesn't come a
complete refund. I have canceled rides on more than one occasion when I have
felt there are unsafe conditions and I would not hesitate to do it this time if
I felt it was putting horses lives in jeopardy Connie
