{"id":398766,"date":"2025-11-23T08:48:57","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T08:48:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/398766\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T08:48:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T08:48:57","slug":"deadly-horse-virus-shuts-down-texas-rodeos-and-stockyards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/398766\/","title":{"rendered":"Deadly Horse Virus Shuts Down Texas Rodeos and Stockyards"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Waco last week, something invisible slipped out of the barns and into the trailers \u2014 a hitchhiking virus with a long history, a short fuse, and the power to upend the equine world\u00a0almost overnight. According to veterinarians and alerts from the\u00a0Texas Department of Agriculture<\/a>\u00a0(TDA), confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 began appearing shortly after a major barrel racing event in the region.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The threat stems from the World Championship Barrel Racing Finals, held Nov. 5 through 9 in Waco. After the first cluster of cases surfaced, Commissioner Sid Miller issued a statewide advisory urging horse owners, trainers, and venue operators to isolate exposed animals\u00a0immediately\u00a0and begin heightened monitoring.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As word spread, at least 18 equestrian events across North Texas and beyond shut down or were postponed. In the Fort Worth Stockyards, the twice-daily cattle\u00a0drive\u00a0along East Exchange Avenue \u2014 the signature tourist procession \u2014 went quiet. Visit Fort Worth told\u00a0the\u00a0Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/a>\u00a0that the\u00a0drives\u00a0would pause from Nov. 20 through Nov. 28 as a precaution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Veterinary clinics in Central Texas\u00a0identified\u00a0the strain involved as an unusually aggressive variant capable of progressing from fever and nasal discharge to neurological symptoms with startling speed. Pregnant mares faced the\u00a0additional\u00a0threat of sudden abortion. Because the virus spreads easily \u2014 through contact, shared equipment, or even aerosolized droplets \u2014 the\u00a0TDA\u00a0urged owners to quarantine any horse that attended the Waco event for\u00a014 days\u00a0and to disinfect every piece of tack, trailer space, and gear that might carry the virus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cancellations soon extended far outside the state. Rodeos in Uvalde and Fort Worth\u2019s Cowtown Rodeo shut down. The Prairie Circuit Finals went dark. Jackpot\u00a0roping\u00a0and breakaway events were postponed from Mississippi to Kentucky, Illinois to South Dakota, with some pushed as far out as 2026. The\u00a0Women\u2019s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA)<\/a>\u00a0announced that updates for NFR Open qualifiers would follow once the full impact of the outbreak is clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In Fort Worth,\u00a0Cowtown\u00a0Coliseum faced a\u00a0delicate balancing act. Ten shows were scheduled over the next two weeks, staff relied on them for paychecks, and\u00a0fans\u00a0expected action. With horses barred from the grounds, the arena quickly reworked its lineup. In a\u00a0Facebook post by Cowtown Coliseum, the team wrote:\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to give everyone an update on our intentions at Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards in relation to the EHV-1 outbreak. When we met as a team today, we worked on the most important things we\u00a0needto address.\u00a0First and foremost, our equine athlete\u2019s safety and health. Second, our fans and our commitment to deliver the ten shows we have scheduled over the next two weeks. Third, our commitment to our employees and contract folks that count on us for a\u00a0paycheck. \u2026\u00a0As Texas experiences confirmed cases of EHV-1, we are taking proactive steps to protect our equine partners\u00a0\u2014\u00a0while still delivering exciting, action-packed rodeo events. Most\u00a0importantly\u00a0the PRCA\u00a0(Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association)\u00a0Stockyards Championship Rodeo is NOT canceled for 11\/21\/25,\u00a0we are simply pivoting to an ALL\u2013BULL-RIDING lineup. Thanks to the support of PRCA, fans can look forward to world-class bull riding, top PRCA Bull Riders and an unforgettable performance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The post went on to detail a full two-week schedule of\u00a0Pro Bull Riders\u00a0(PBR)\u00a0and\u00a0PRCA\u00a0bull-riding events, temporary horse restrictions, and enhanced sanitation protocols:\u00a0<\/p>\n