Wellington Equestrian Partners and Tequestrian Farms have announced a joint partnership to donate $100,000 for a research grant to the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky. The money will be earmarked toward research of the Equine Herpes Virus-1 neurologic disease.

Research goal: Prevent and neutralize EHV-1

Wellington Equestrian Partners and Tequestrian Farms have announced a partnership to donate $100,000 for a research grant to the Gluck Equine Research Center for research of Equine Herpes Virus-1 neurologic disease.

A special veterinary committee is planned, and WEP and Tequestrian will also lead in gathering information for established protocols for owners, treating veterinarians, and horse show managers to prevent and neutralize EHV-1 at equestrian events.

Tom Tisbo, owner of Tequestrian Farms, stated, "We are interested in helping to fund new EHV-1 research after our experience with a false-positive case. The ongoing problems the equine community in the United States has faced with EHV-1 and its impact on the horse are a sign that more work needs to be done to understand this devastating disease."

With the news of more cases of EHV-1 in the United States and the potential impact on horse welfare, WEP and their operating entity, Equestrian Sport Productions, believe that research to understand the "wild strain" of the disease, whether the "wild strain" is mutating, established protocols on veterinary care, and uniform biosecurity measures at horse shows are of paramount importance.

To that end, WEP and Tequestrian will be donating $100,000 to research that hopes to address the following points:

• Determine the virulence of the virus during an outbreak
• Give an understanding of the molecular basis of the neurologic disease
• Improve the techniques for diagnosis of EHV-
• Provide a basis for the development of more effective vaccines

With the instance of a false-positive test at Tequestrian Farms, the situation of dealing with incorrect information is one that the Tisbo family want to help others avoid. Tequestrian Farms was released from quarantine on March 4 by the State of Florida veterinarians when it was determined the horse in question had never tested positive for the strain of the EHV-1 virus that has created such concern in Ocala.

The original positive blood test was found to be a false positive as supported by several subsequent negative nasal and blood tests. Additionally, all Tequestrian horses at their Wellington facility, including the horse in question, have been retested with negative results. None of the horses at this facility had ever shown any neurological signs and are completely healthy.

An independent veterinarian with a PhD in virology and a specialist in infectious disease has confirmed these findings and supported the State Veterinarian's decision to lift the quarantine.

With this instance, it became clear that proper veterinary protocols need to be established for treating veterinarians at all horse shows to follow.

According to ESP CEO and WEP Managing Partner Mark Bellissimo, "Our goal is to help elevate the standard of the industry, protect horse welfare, protect the sport, and protect communities where shows operate. With the capability and possible consequences of this disease, it's in everyone's best interests to learn more and be on the same page,".