NEWS&VIEWS You Can Use


EHV-1 Confi rmed in Maryland On November 22, the Maryland Depart-


ment of Agriculture issued a press release


about a confi rmed case of EHV-1 in Balti- more County. MDA’s Animal Health Program confi rmed that one horse tested positive for Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) on November 21. Samples from the symptomatic horse were sent to the Frederick Animal Health Laborato- ry, where the non-neurotropic strain of EHV-1 was confi rmed. T e horse was euthanized on November 21 due to complications. T e farm was placed on a hold order by MDA,


prohibiting movement on or off the farm until any exposed horses have been cleared for release. MDA reported that the infected horse was pre- viously housed in an isolated barn with three other horses. T ere is a total of 25 horses on the property, none of which were showing clini- cal signs of EHV-1 or fever at press time. T e veterinary practitioner and stable are providing follow-up care to the asymptomatic horses on the farm. MDA is investigating possible links to the positive EHV-1 equine. MDA cautioned equine owners to monitor


horses on their properties carefully, and to con- tact their private veterinarians to arrange for Equine Herpesvirus testing if a horse exhibits signifi cant temperature elevations or neurologic signs. Veterinarians are required to report equine


AS SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA


T e Equiery’s social media platforms have been busy this year and you, our readers and followers, have been clicking away! Below are the top 10 Facebook posts of the year and the top Instagram photo and videos. T ank you for following T e Equiery on social media and Happy Holidays!


FACEBOOK FAVORITES #1 – Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue’s Garrocha demonstra- tion at the Montgomery County Fair, posted as our banner photo of the week on August 19 - 25,650 likes


#2 – A shared post on January 18 from Assateague Island National Seashore announcing the birth of the fi rst foal of 2019 - 16,422 likes


#3 – Offi cers Barney and Pete’s reunion on June 14 - 10,378 likes


#4 – Links to various articles about Kaymarie Kreidel’s Preakness catch on May 19 - 7,981 likes


#5 – T e 2018 Yearbook of Champions photo of BCHSA Small Pony Hunter Reserve Champion Ava Berman and Let’s Be Friends posted on February 12 - 7,356 likes


#6 – Our August 2019 cover post revealing our summer Pho- to Contest winning photo, posted on August 1 - 7,326 likes


#7 – A shared post on June 26 of a barn fi re at Chincote- ague Island - 7,182 interactions


#8 – T e Equiery News Blog post on April 5 of the Pil- chard cruelty case verdict - 7,113 interactions


#9 – T e Miller & Associates ad for a property in PA listed in T e Equiery and posted on September 25 - 6,935 likes


#10 – A February 25 post about PL Mercury being named Arabian Horse Association’s 2018 Distance Horse of the Year - 6,608 likes


IF YOU HAVE NEWS, VIEWS OR UPDATES TO CONTRIBUTE, PLEASE SEND THEM TO THE EDITOR at


The Equiery, P.O. Box 610, Lisbon, MD 21765 • FAX: 410-489-7828 • email editor@equiery.com. Be sure to include your full name, phone number and address. All submissions become the property of The Equiery.


www.equiery.com | 800-244-9580 DECEMBER 2019 | THE EQUIERY | 9


neurologic syndrome to the Department by call- ing the MDA Animal Health offi ce.


Union Bridge Woman Takes Plea Deal in Cruelty Case


On May 23, Carroll County animal con-


trol found seven horses in stalls at Deborah C. Osborn’s Union Bridge dairy farm. Two of the horses were euthanized due to injuries be- yond treatment. T e remaining fi ve horses were transferred to Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Lisbon. Osborn, 53, was indicted on July 27. On October 30, the Carroll County Times


reported that she pleaded not guilty on seven counts and agreed not to dispute the prosecu- tor’s statement of facts regarding the case. T is sort of plea is functionally a guilty plea accord- ing to case law. T e Honorable T omas F. Stansfi eld sentenced Osborn to two years with all suspended for ag- gravated animal cruelty and 90 days each, with all suspended, for six counts of animal cruelty. T e counts involve infl icting unnecessary pain and suff ering, failing to provide veterinary care, suffi cient food and proper space. As part of the plea deal, the state did not seek to prosecute the remaining 32 counts of animal cruelty. Osborn will be on probation for fi ve years with the fi rst three years being supervised. Carroll County animal control will be allowed to in-


NRHA & FEI Reach New Agreement At the FEI General Assembly held in Mos-


cow, Russia, on November 19, the FEI and National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) reached a new agreement to work together once again. On November 19, 2018, the FEI noti- fi ed NRHA that it was offi cially terminating its 2014 Cooperation Agreement. T e letter of termination came after several months of dis- cussions over specifi c age classes, FEI steward- ing requirements and medication regulations. Over the course of the 2019 season, repre-


sentatives from NRHA and FEI continued to work on a new agreement, which was unani- mously approved one full year later. “I am so proud of our NRHA Task Force that worked diligently with the offi cials at FEI to come to a workable Memorandum of Understanding. All of these individuals have focused on our mis- sion to promote the reining horse. Although each organization has diff erent needs, we were able to meet those needs and agree on a path forward,” said NRHA president Mike Han-


continued...


spect her property and any of the animals on the property for the fi rst three years of the proba- tion. In addition, Osborn was sentenced to pay around $14,200 to Days End for the care of the fi ve horses that were transferred to their facility.


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