MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fairgrounds has announced a suspension of all private riding and open riding activities until at least Dec. 16, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus-1 that was initially reported in Waco, Texas.  

"We just want to be cautious,” Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan said. “We don't get a lot of out-of-state horses this time of year, but the outbreak originated in Waco, Texas, and there are riders who come to our facility from locations where the outbreak occurred.” 

The decision comes as part of the Fairgrounds’ commitment to ensuring the safety of riders, horses, and the community amid growing concerns over potential spread, according to McKiernan.  

Over the past few years, the Grant County Fairgrounds has become known as a hub for equine activities above and beyond the Moses Lake Roundup. These events bring in economic activity to Moses Lake and the surrounding area and subsequent tax revenues to the city and county.

To prevent any possible introduction of the virus, McKiernan emphasized that the fairgrounds opted to restrict new entrants and private rides temporarily.  

Effective immediately, the fairgrounds will not allow any new open riding participants.  

"We only have four riders right now, which is perfect. We're trying to keep it minimal until we reach the December 16 date," McKiernan said.  

Currently scheduled events, including a session for the state high school equestrian team and a sheriff's department program, have also been postponed. 

The December 16 timeline has been established based on the incubation period of the virus, which McKiernan noted can range from 14 to 21 days.  

"It gives us really three weeks of no new horses on the ground," he said.  

Grant County Fairgrounds management is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to assess the potential need for extending the suspension past that date, McKiernan said.  

The decision to pause riding activities is not primarily financially motivated, as McKiernan explained.  

"The open riding is really more of a convenience for people that don’t have a facility to ride out. This time of year, it's not a huge moneymaker for us,” he said.  

He further elaborated on the importance of maintaining the Fairgrounds' reputation, saying, "We don’t want our name on the list of outbreak facilities because it can be detrimental." 

Assessing the local situation, McKiernan mentioned there are a few positive cases of EHV-1 in Spokane County, but he doesn’t anticipate those affected riders will frequent the fairgrounds in the winter months.  

"The closest horses that have tested positive are from riders we've had here in the past, but they're not expected to come here during the winter for open riding," he said. 

For horse owners with concerns about EHV-1, McKiernan provided guidance on best practices.  

"If they have been out of state, I recommend doing temperature checks on a daily basis, and in fact, some veterinarians have suggested it twice a day. If they see any abnormalities, they should contact their vet,” he said.  

According to Washington State University, common signs of the virus include fever, recent respiratory illness, weakness, and urine dribbling. WSU recommends anyone who has horses, especially ones who have competed recently, to keep a close eye on the behavior and temperature of their animals.  

He cautioned against bringing potentially infected horses to veterinary clinics to avoid spreading the virus to other equines. 

EHV-1 is primarily a respiratory disease and can exhibit symptoms rapidly, with some cases resulting in severe health complications or death.  

"It's important to take it seriously," McKiernan said, acknowledging that there have been critical cases related to the outbreak from the Waco event, where at least one horse has reportedly died. 

As the fairgrounds navigate this public health situation, McKiernan reassured the community of their commitment to biosecurity.  

"We are taking biosecurity really seriously here at the fairgrounds," he said.  

While local activities are limited, he expressed hope that conditions will improve leading into the new year, allowing for a safe return to riding and other equestrian activities. 

Updates will be provided as the situation develops, and McKiernan encourages everyone to stay informed through resources like the Equine Disease Communication Center website at equinediseasecc.org.