GREAT FALLS — Horse owners are being urged to take precautions after a nationwide outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus -1, or EHV-1, was traced to major barrel racing events in Texas. The virus has now been confirmed in at least eight states, including South Dakota, Colorado, and even across the border in Alberta, Canada. While no cases have been reported in Montana, veterinarians say it’s important to stay alert.

Dr. Kelli Kolar, a mobile large-animal veterinarian serving central Montana, has been closely monitoring the outbreak because several of her clients had horses competing at the affected event. She says, “We did have some clients down there whose horses were competing, who started calling us with questions about it, and we just wanted to get information out to people quickly.”

Dr. K

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