EHV is a herpesvirus, which means once a horse is infected, the virus can lie dormant for life. Stress, travel, and illness can reactivate it—similar to cold sores in humans.
Some horses experience:
- Persistent weakness or coordination issues after EHM
- Long-term respiratory sensitivity
- Reduced athletic performance
- Higher vulnerability to future infections
While many horses recover well, others never return to their previous form, especially in high-intensity disciplines like barrel racing, eventing, or racing.
Does EHV Affect Other Animals? Here’s the Clarifying Science
EHV is species-specific.
Humans cannot get sick from it. Dogs, cats, cattle, and wildlife are not biologically susceptible.
However—there’s an important catch:
