PIROPLASMOSIS UPDATED SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS

November 6, 2009 - Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, currently running their Fall Meeting of Champions, has issued the following updated shipping requirements for horses shipping into the premises:

"Horses originating from any premise under quarantine for Equine Piroplasmosis shall not enter Lone Star Park.

Horses entering from any part of Kleburg County or adjacent counties (Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks or Kenedy) not under quarantine may enter Lone Star Park so long as accompanied by a certificate of Veterinary Inspection prepared and signed by an accredited veterinarian within fourteen (14) days, and these horses will be required to stable in Barn E-7 only while at Lone Star Park.

Though not required at this time, Lone Star Park recommends that all horses shipping in, regardless of origin, be inspected by a veterinarian for ticks upon arrival.

Lone Star Park expects that these policies could change in the near future, so please check the overnights and horsemen's information section of the track's website, www.lonestarpark.com, for updates."

Additionally, Hialeah Park, which will open the track for the upcoming Quarter Horse meet on November 14, issued this release regarding the disease:

"As many of you know Piroplasmosis has been identified in horses in South Texas. Florida currently has no additional requirements of Texas horses above the normal health certificate to enter the state. However the state veterinarian, Dr. Mike Short, said today that there will probably be a negative test required of horses from Texas that come into Florida after November 15. They may also have to have a parasiticide applied before entry into Florida. It is undecided at this time, but the test will have to be pulled not longer than 30 days pre entry and the requirement may be as short as 14 days pre-entry.

For any health certificate questions regarding entry into Florida, please call the state veterinarian’s office at (850) 410-0901."

For more information, read America's Horse Daily's article on equine piroplasmosis.