The Pasadena Tournament of Roses has cancelled its annual horse show, EquestFest, due to an outbreak of Equine Herpes virus in Los Angeles County.
Horses and riders add color and excitement to Rose Parade
Because of an outbreak of equine herpes, the state is preventing horses from coming or going to the Los Angeles Equestrian center forcing the Pasadena Tournament of Roses to cancel its EquestFest.
© 2016 by Rose Parade
The event will remain canceled even if the quarantine is lifted on the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank before the originally scheduled date of December 30, reports the Pasadena Star-News. In total, 13 cases of equine herpes virus have been identified since the quarantine was imposed by the county on November 3, 2016
Last month, the California Department of Food and Agriculture quarantined the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, the venue for EquestFest every year on Dec. 30. Veterinarians identified 13 cases of Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), an infection that causes respiratory disease, neonatal foal death and neurological disease.
None were found to be a more serious strain that affects the nervous tissue, but one horse remains under quarantine, keeping any other horses from entering or leaving the facility, according to the state.
âWe are working as an agency, with our veterinarians, to lift the quarantine as quickly as possible,â said Steve Lyle, a spokesman for the agency. If the final horse comes back with negative test results, the agency will lift the quarantine.
Equestfest is a showcase for the equestrian units participating in the Rose Parade, where they "perform trick riding, drills, dancing and roping skills," according to the Tournament of Roses. Despite its cancellation, the 20 units will still participate in the parade, including the Budweiser Clydesdales and the United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard..
âWe are committed to ensuring the safety of all of our participants, including our equestrians participants and their animals,â said Craig Washington, the chair of Tournament of Roses' Equestrian Committee. âNot only are we cancelling our EquestFest, we will, in our staging area, be very mindful of measures to secure the safety of any participants coming in.â
Itâs the first time the showcase of the Rose Paradeâs equestrian participants has been cancelled in the last 17 years, according to Washington. The cancellation of EquestFest is not expected to stop any equestrians unit from participating in the Rose Parade. The Tournament is currently identifying alternative boarding venues in light of the quarantine.
After learning about the quarantine, the Tournament was unable to find a venue that would âaccommodate the type of event we would like to put on,â Washington said. âWe plan our events literally annually, all year resources and commitments have been in place.â
Tournament of Roses plans to follow state protocols for preventing infections during the Rose Parade by limiting contact between horses and ensuring equipment and water are not shared at the staging grounds.
All participants will be asked to ensure their horses are properly vaccinated and healthy before coming to Pasadena, Washington added.
According to Parade officials, "We are committed to ensuring the safety of all Rose Parade participants, including all Equestfest equestrian unit participants and their animals. We are working with appropriate governmental officials and the Associations veterinary consultant to insure the well-being of the animals participating in the 2017 Rose Parade. Additional safeguards and protocols will be adopted to ensure a safe environment. "
"It is anticipated that all equestrian entries scheduled to participate in the 2017 Rose Parade will do so."
2016 Equestfest tickets purchased through Sharp Seating will be fully refunded to the purchaser with no action needed by ticket holders. There is no need to return tickets to the point of sale.