By Keith Gushard
ATLANTIC — Kate Gatts isn’t surprised in an almost 33 percent drop in the number of saddle horse entries for the upcoming Crawford County Fair for a simple reason.
“It’s because of the shots,” said Gatts, who has shown between two and five horses a year at the fair for the past 27 years.
For the 2009 fair, the Crawford County Fair Board adopted more stringent regulations for horse exhibitors to guard against another
outbreak of equine influenza. Now all their horses must have had a flu shot. In 2008, more than 70 of the 450 horses at the fair were affected by an outbreak of horse flu virus, though no animals died.
Pennsylvania doesn’t require such a flu vaccination for horses at fair exhibitions, but it’s recommended by the state. Pennsylva-nia does require a rabies shot for horses exhibiting at fairs.
While the flu may not be taking a toll on horses this year, the new shot requirement apparently is when it comes to horse entries for the fair.
After four years of around 450 saddle horse entries for the fair, this year the number has fallen to just over 300.
The total number of horse entries for 2009 is 310, that’s down 147 from the 457 entries in 2008.
Gatts herself doesn’t plan to show any horses at this year’s fair because of the new shot policy.
With now required flu and rabies shots for the fair plus associated veterinarian fees, tests and certificates, Gatts estimates it would cost her $125 to $150 per animal plus a $12.50 entry fee per horse.
“It’s the expense, plus there’s the risk of an adverse reaction to the shots,” said Gatts.
She said she gave the rabies shots to her horses for three years, but “one of my horses had an adverse reaction so I don’t give it the shot anymore.”
After consulting with veterinarians, the fair board voted unanimously in this year Febru-ary to require horse exhibitors at the 2009 Crawford County Fair to have their animals vaccinated against equine influenza.
The most severely affected horses at the 2008 fair weren’t vaccinated against the flu. While there were no horse deaths from the flu at the fair, the suspected flu virus caused temperatures as high as 107 for some of the animals. Normal body temperature for a healthy horse is 101.5, according to veterinarians.
The one horse death at the 2008 fair was not due to the flu. That animal died from colic — an upset intestinal tract that can cause painful gas, impaction and indigestion, according to Dr. Kelly Johnston, a veterinarian with Greener Pastures Veterinary Clinic.
Nonetheless, “what happened last year was pretty devastating,” Johnston said of the flu outbreak.
The practice was consulted by the fair board and recommended the flu vaccination requirement for 2009.
“It’s an unfortunate expense, but so is sickness to the animal,” she said.
Fair Board President Morris Waid said he has some concern about the drop in the number of horse entries due to cost.
“It’s a concern and I feel for the people exhibiting,” Waid said. “It’s a safety thing.”
“It still will be a good show at the fair with 310 entries,” Waid said.
While other horse shows held at the county-owned fairgrounds may not require flu shots, the county requires those show operators to have the county included under the show operators’ insurance liability policy, Waid said.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
All animals except horses entering the Crawford County Fairgrounds must enter through Gate 3. Horses enter through Gate 2.
Check-in includes visual inspection of the animals. Owners must show a certificate of veterinarian inspection; that animals are free of infectious and contagious diseases; an animal owner of caretaker’s verification of veterinarian-client patient relationship form for each animal; and individual animal identification.
