HORSE owners in Worcestershire and Herefordshire are being warned to watch out for signs of a potentially serious disease in their animals following an outbreak of equine herpes (EHV 1) in Gloucestershire.

The British Horse Society (BHS) says that two horses have the neurological form of the disease and one has the respiratory form.

Others are also showing signs but have yet to be definitively diagnosed.

Although not a legally notifiable condition, EHV 1 is contagious and has the potential to be quite serious – the neurological form can lead to paralysis.

In most cases, EHV 1 is spread through respiratory transmission so whenever horses are brought together from different yards, there is the possibility for it to spread if a horse is affected.

For this reason, the Heythrop Hunt, based in the Cotswolds, suspended hunting for a week.

A BHS spokesman said: “It is important to be aware that the risk of your horse contracting EHV 1 is very small and there is certainly no need to panic.

“However, as with any disease, spotting it early is the best thing for your horse so we felt it would be useful to provide a short refresher on EHV 1 and its signs.

“The recommendation is that anyone who has hunted with the Heythrop since the end of January should put their horse into quarantine for at least 10 days.

“The same should apply for all horses on the same yard, even if they have not been hunting. If you have any concerns, call your vet.”

Many of the clinical signs of EHV 1 can be confused with other diseases. A high temperature is a key indicator and it is essential to monitor the temperature of ‘at risk’ horses.

Affected horses will tend to be disinterested and off their food, as well as showing typical respiratory disease signs such as coughing and a nasal discharge.

If a horse is affected by the neurological form of the disease, there may be a lack of coordination or general ‘wobbliness’.

Anyone with further concerns about EHV or would like more information, they can call the BHS welfare team on 02476 8405