ODA Answers Questions on New Equine EHV Rules
Frequently Asked Questions: Oregon Implementation of Temporary Rules to Mitigate Spread of Equine Herpesvirus
Following the November 19 announcement of emergency equine rules aimed at slowing the spread of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV), the Oregon Department of Agriculture has released additional details and addressed common questions. The temporary rules outline specific steps to prevent EHV from entering equine events and to reduce the risk of transmission among horses already on-site.
Q: We heard the ODA is cancelling all equine events until May 2026. Is that true?
A: No. The ODA is not cancelling any equine events. The intent of the emergency rules is to provide our office with a record of the event and ensure exhibitor information is being collected by the event organizers. This is being done so that in the event of an outbreak we can perform necessary tracebacks to help minimize the spread of EHV. Taking these actions early, before an outbreak occurs in Oregon will allow ODA to rapidly trace any exposure that may occur, while minimizing the impact on the equine industry as a whole.
Q: The event is less than 20 days away. Are we exempt from needing to register?
A: No. If your event is less than 20 days, submit your registration right away. As long as you can complete the registration and meet all of the regulations, the event can still be held if you choose.
Q: We host practices at our arena. Do we need to register and if so, do we need to submit a registration for every practice?
A: No. Per the mandate, an exhibition is defined as an event where livestock from two or more persons are brought together for the purpose of judging, competition, performance or display. Practices, trainings, open rides, and trail rides do not meet this definition and therefore do not need to be registered.
Q: What do you mean we need an isolation area? Can the isolation area be a horse trailer?
A: Each exhibition needs to have a designated area, away from the other horses, where a horse suspected of being ill can be moved. If there are no stalls or corals at the event, you can isolate a horse to their own trailer, but they need to be moved away from other horses, and the veterinarian of record needs to be contacted.
Q: Does the veterinarian of record need to be on site?
A: The veterinarian of record does not need to be on site during the event. The emergency rules requires that event organizers consult a veterinarian in the planning of the event, and that veterinarian (or multiple veterinarians) agree to be on call for the duration of the exhibition. In the event multiple veterinarians are used, particularly for extended events, at least one veterinarian must be available each day of the event.
Q: Will the ODA be checking our records? Do we need to follow up with owners after the event
A: No. The exhibition is required to maintain the required documentation for 90 days after the completion of the exhibition, but they are not required to do any follow up with owners or submit those records to ODA. In the event that an animal that participated in the event may later test positive for EHV, ODA would contact the event organizers to obtain the records needed to determine exposures that may have occurred at the event.
Q: Why are the emergency rules put in place for so long? They are longer than other states.
A: In Oregon, emergency orders are filed as emergency temporary rules, which are limited to a maximum of 6 months duration. This does not necessarily mean it will last that long, but 6 months is a predetermined duration of those rules. If the need for the rules ends before the 6 month timeline, they will be repealed at that time.
Q: I have heard that there are positive EHV horses in the state of Oregon. Is that true?
A: While we recognize that information is changing fast and sometimes it can be hard to tell what is a rumor and what is fact, as of 12:00PM on November 24, 2025 there are currently no confirmed cases of EHV in the state of Oregon. If any cases of EHV are confirmed in Oregon they will be promptly announced, posted to the ODA Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) information webpage (see link below), and shared with the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC).
More Information
Information about Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) can be found at the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) webpage HERE.
Information about the 2025 Equine Exhibition Rules to Mitigate EHV Risk can be found at the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) webpage HERE.
Cover image: Stock photo
