Fonter Park | Fonter Park Photos
The National HBPA Foundation, the world’s largest thoroughbred horse breeder’s organization, will support Nebraska riders whose horses have been quarantined since March 10 following the Equine herpesvirus-1 outbreak. (EHV-1) by donating money per horse to every owner and trainer affected by the two barns at Fonner Park. The Nebraska HBPA also provides affected owners and trainers with an amount per horse to use for expenses that continue to accrue while their horses are prevented from racing. About 110 horses, including a handful of stable ponies, have been affected. Nebraska HBPA President Garald “Wally” Wollesen said about 90 horses that were potentially exposed to the virus but tested negative were kept in a large barn, while another 20 tested positive. was moved to an arena set up with makeshift stables. Wollesen said he has been told that, if all goes well, the horses in the large stable could be released from the quarantine by the end of this week. All horses were initially confined to their stalls. Over the past week, however, horses in large stables have been allowed to the training track, which is restricted to those horses and hot walking horses, Wollesen said. Strict fumigation procedures overseen by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture are followed when those horses are removed from their stables, he said. “Everyone is so appreciative of the help we and the National HBPA Foundation have given them. These horsemen didn’t make a dime, but at least we helped them out a bit. Nebraska has quite a few horse racing fans. They started contacting me at the races and constantly, wanted to help. A man bought 11 bales of round hay and delivered them to the quarantine warehouse. People donated $15 to cover one horse for a day. Sadly – and we had to license two horses – the Nebraskans really went out of their way to help. “
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged EHV-1, Fonter Park, hpba, Nebraska HBPA.
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