Dear NHSRA Directors, Secretaries and Contestants:

We are currently preparing for the arrival of the 2009 NHSFR – and the community cannot wait to greet you and your contestants.  We realize there are some concerns at the moment and wanted to address them now – in hopes to avoid a contestant arriving without the proper documentation.

We were informed today by the Veterinarian for the State of New Mexico that ANY horse that is from the states of Texas and New Mexico must have their valid Veterinarian Health Inspection completed within 7 days of the NHSFR.  The requirement used to be 30 days. 

We have called all the contestants that we have stall reservation forms for – however, please pass this information on to your contestants in case there is someone that was missed or is borrowing a horse from these two states.

All other teams are fine with the inspection being done 30 days prior to the rodeo.

ALL CONTESTANTS MUST PRESENT THE VALID COGGINS TEST (within 12 months) AND THE CURRENT HEALTH INSPECTION PAPERWORK DURING CHECK-IN (30 days for most states/7 days for Texas and New Mexico). 

The New Mexico State Veterinarian will be on grounds to assist with the check-in process, and most likely the New Mexico Brand Inspectors as well.  Any horse without their paperwork will be quarantined immediately.  The NM Veterinarian has also informed us that EVERY horse trailer that arrives on grounds for the NHSFR will be sprayed with a disinfectant (as a proactive precaution).  Upon completing Horse Check-In all trailers will need to proceed to the Horse Trailer Cleanout Location where there trailer will be cleaned out and then sprayed.

As for the vesicular stomatitis virus – each state has its own requirements as to what a contestant needs if they are traveling with a horse and want to take that horse back into their home state.  Please have them check with their own states as to the requirements before attending the NHSFR.  If health certificates need to be issued from New Mexico in order for them to return home they can then request that and the NM State Veterinarian on grounds will provide them with one.

We want to stress to all contestants that New Mexico is NOT under a quarantine.  This is an individual state ruling.  There are currently two cases of the virus in the state of New Mexico and they are more than 400 miles from our rodeo grounds.  It is most unfortunate that the Canadian horses are restricted upon return to Canada.

Any contestant from Canada or elsewhere that wishes to compete on a lease horse may call 505-334-4590 or view the lease horse catalog at:    http://www.sjcounty.net/TR2009/horse%20lease.htm.

Again,  we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks!

 

Beth