Horse Illustrated Magazine

Stadium Jumping Inc., producer of the Winter Equestrian Festival, the nation’s largest and longest running equestrian series, has announced that a public forum to discuss the ongoing EHV outbreak in the South Florida region will take place at 11 a.m. EST,  Jan. 4, on the show grounds located at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, Fla. This is the same venue where the WEF is scheduled to take place Jan. 24 – April 7. To date, Festival organizers are reporting that the event will proceed as planned despite concerns over the EHV outbreak. This is the second Thursday in a row that area equestrians have assembled at the Jockey Club to discuss the situation in Wellington.

“We feel it’s important to make our facility available for these types of community discussions,” says Eugene R. Mische, president of Stadium Jumping Inc. “We’re happy that Dr. Byars has agreed to lend his expert opinion to this ongoing situation and I look forward to hearing his assessment of where we’ve been and where we stand now.”

Byars is a recognized expert on the EHV virus, and will bring to the meeting his assessment of the EHV outbreak in Wellington following a complete tour of the area “hot spots” yesterday.

“I also think it’s important,” adds Mische, “that our area horsemen have a chance to voice any concerns they may have as we work our way to the start of the 2007 WEF show season.”

The meeting was requested by Dr. John Steele and Dr. Ben Schachter, two respected Wellington area veterinarians with more than 80 years of experience between them. The meeting was called to bring concerned area equestrians up to date on the current EHV situation in Wellington.

Everyone in the Wellington community is welcome to attend this forum.