Equestrian sports display how well horses connect with their riders. Not just the rider-horse bond, but it also brings out the competitive nature of the sport, in events like dressage, show jumping, ranching, and many others. However, behind, the fascinating aspects of the racecourse, there lies a sad reality surrounding its athletes. Euthanization of horses is the most nerve-wracking phenomenon of the sport.

Recently, an innocent 8-year-old had to experience this unfortunate fate. On May 22, the news of the euthanization of an 8-year-old horse in New Jersey on May 12 broke several hearts on the internet.

An 8-year-old gelding suffered a saddening fate

As per a report by, New Jersey 101.5, an 8-year-old gelding was euthanized on May 12 for contracting equine herpes myeloencephalopathy, a neurological disease. It is caused due to abnormalities in the brainstem and spinal cord. Usually, the uncomplicated cases of the disease are curable.

However, as the gelding suffered acute complications in his case on May 12, he had to be euthanized. In its aftermath, the responsible horse-riding authority abided by more safety measures to prevent the disease from spreading. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture made it mandatory for other horses, living in the same stable as the euthanized gelding in Hunterdon County, to quarantine for two weeks.

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Moreover, according to NJDA, EHV-1 organisms are likely to spread among horses resulting in respiratory, neurological, and reproduction issues. Hence, to prevent the viral disease from affecting other horses in the area, the department is trying to trace the places the euthanized horse visited in the past few weeks. This will help them to alert owners of other stables.

Read More: French Equestrian Forced to Withdraw Hours Ahead of Tokyo Olympics 2020 Event to ‘Preserve the Health and Integrity’ of the Horse

Coming across the unfortunate news deeply saddened online horse lovers. Many expressed their disappointment with the news on Facebook.

Netizens express multiple reactions to the unfortunate news

As herpes is likely to spread in horses, a netizen recalled, “My grandpa had a horse farm in Watchung he would never allow any other horses to be around his now I see why. Hopefully, all the horses on the farm didn’t get it too.”

Herpes is a curable disease. Hence, a fan questioned, “Can’t they treat the horse with antibiotics”. With safety precautions and quarantine, the horse can get over the disease. However, as the euthanized horse had a complicated case, his owner decided to put him out of his misery. Some expressed their disappointment, “Very sad” and “I grew up on a horse farm i definitely need to Google this”. Moreover, someone criticized the practice of euthanization, “Gee it’s curable in humans…why not put them down too”

Horse health in equestrian sports is quite a sensitive issue. It has made it unpredictable to understand how long would a horse get to live.

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