The Rundown: News Roundup
The NRHA Derby Is Still On!
After evaluating all current information on the equine herpesvirus-1 myeloencephalopathy and under advice of Acting Oklahoma State Veterinarian Dr. Mike Herrin, the National Reining Horse Association has decided that all of its Oklahoma shows should proceed as scheduled.
The Oklahoma State Veterinary Office and Oklahoma State Fair Park management are working to ensure that every possible measure is taken to prevent an EHV-1 outbreak from occurring in Oklahoma City. State Fair Park is disinfecting each stall after every show prior to the introduction of new animals. They are also providing an isolation area, in the event a fever or neurologic symptoms develop, in order to separate any horse while at the facility. The Oklahoma State Veterinary Office, in conjunction with the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL), is gearing up to provide rapid test results of samples submitted for EHV-1 testing.
“In addition to our normal thorough cleaning procedures, we have been in close contact with and are following all recommendations from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture (Commissioner Jim Reece) and the Acting State Veterinarian Dr. Michael Herrin,” said Oklahoma State Fair Inc. president and CEO Tim O’Toole. “We are also working closely with all of our equine show promoters to make sure that they are aware of what precautions we are taking to prevent the potential spread of EHV-1 at State Fair Park. We anticipate that the horse shows scheduled for the rest of the summer will go on as planned.”
Condolences
Im Shy But Deluxe passed away May 9 after complications from blister beetle-induced laminitis. “Travis” was owned by Gale Oldford of Croswell, Michigan. The 1996 brown gelding by Dynamic Deluxe and out of Shy Doll Baby was bred by Charley and Cathy Murphey of Bellevue, Washington.
As an all-around extraordinaire, Travis earned more than 2,500 points in youth and amateur showmanship, horsemanship, hunt seat equitation and western riding. He won the AQHA high-point all-round youth back-to-back in 2008 and 2009, in addition to four individual high-point titles. He was the 2010 amateur showmanship world champion and the 2007 youth horsemanship world champion.
As the American Quarter Horse show industry mourns the loss of this phenomenal equine athlete, our thoughts and prayers are with the Oldforth family and everyone else who was impacted by Travis’ decorated life.
The Most Important Things In Life
“The most important things in life aren’t things,” read the sign that Daymon and Angie Winborn held in front of the wreckage of what had been their home in El Reno, Oklahoma.
The Winborns’ home was destroyed by a tornado on Tuesday, May 24.
“They’re nice to everyone – whether you’ve been in the industry 20 years or if you’re just brand new and getting started. They’re just really good people,” says Summer Terry, one of six people who are organizing the Winborn Family Benefit Barrel Race June 19 at the Caddo County Fairgrounds in Anadarko, Oklahoma.
“They had a tornado that went through and took their house and all their belongings. It took four of their horses and a pony,” Summer says. “They do have some horses that survived, and they’re injured, and they’re going to have vet bills from that. It took their truck and trailer – they only found a piece of the trailer.”
Both Daymon and Angie barrel race, and Daymon is the official announcer for the Heart of Oklahoma Youth Rodeo Association. He has also helped announce for the Better Barrel Races finals.
“There were a bunch of barrel racers who took off work and took their time to go up there and help them clean up,” Summer says. “There were some of us who couldn’t get off work, and we thought, ‘Well, what can we do?’ We decided, ‘Let’s have a benefit for them.’ ”
Summer is in charge of the silent auction and is organizing sponsorships for this impromptu event.
“Right now we’re up to $1,500 added,” she says. “All of it has been strictly earned from donations or has been donated items. I would like that if we could get enough donated money, we could donate to other people in need.
“We want to get a good turnout, but we also want to give back.”
