Legacy Events Center responds to equine virus

Walking into the Legacy Events Center, here, these days, might evoke more of a hospital smell than that of a horse arena.

That’s because crews have been busy disinfecting 175 horse stalls and the warmup arena, all in response to reports of the Equine Herpa Virus, or EHV-1, at Weber County’s Golden Spike Arena, earlier this month.

“It’s like a cold sore,” Legacy Center Director Dave Hansen said. “A person who has cold sores might have the virus inside his or her body their whole lives, but don’t show it unless stressed out. The Herpa Virus is a strain of that. A horse who gets stressed around other horses – that’s when it becomes contagious. Other horses might not react as well, so may have signs that could lead to their death.”

Although Hansen said that as of Friday afternoon no cases had been reported in Davis County and only one other in the state, it has prompted cancellation of several horse shows at the Legacy Events Center arena, here.

Events at the county-owned facility had been cancelled last Monday, another show, Twin Stars, was rained out on Wednesday, and a couple of Friday and Saturday shows, as well, including the Utah Teen Penning Association and a 4-H show.

As a precaution, the Legacy Center is not accepting any “new” horses, which typically would come from out-of-town riders/show people. That won’t affect those already there, because they haven’t been in contact with diseased horses, Hansen said.

At a meeting which drew fair and arena managers from across the state, Thursday, in Richfield, State Veterinarian Dr. Bruce King said the incubation period is 21 days.

“The show in Ogden ended May 8, that means they (horses infected there) can carry this through May 29,” Hansen said the group was told, adding that the state vet said “they’re not quarantined, but people might want to self-quarantine.

“It’s (virus) having a very common affect across the state,” he said. “It’s kind’ve like when swine flew was going around in schools. Now people are worried about this.”

Many times it’s the horse groups themselves that are cancelling shows, rather than the exhibition areas.

“We haven’t had anyone say they couldn’t hold” on those shows, saying that waiting a few weeks is worth it, Hansen said.

“It definitely affects us,” he said of the Legacy Center. “We won’t make revenue from the shows, stalls, concessions, etc. It definitely hurts our bottom line. It really trickles down quite a bit. Hotels and restaurants won’t get some of the business they would have from people coming from out-of-town.”

But the facility is lucky in that most of its customers hold repeat events over a typical year, and will be back. In addition, a lot of work has gone into broadening the appeal and use of the facility.

Hansen noted that although this weekend would see no horse shows or BMX event (it was to have premiered Friday night), other diversified activities will continue.

“BMX will be all summer, dog shows, dance lessons. We still have a wedding, karate,” Hansen said. “Having these exhibition buildings certainly helps.”

And it even provides a spot startup businesses can afford, such as a ballroom dance instructor, karate instructor or dog obedience trainer.

“The buildings are not really fancy. Probably the dance studio would like mirrors on all of the walls,” Hansen said. “But they can afford this building. It’s really basic. But they can afford to start a business” by holding classes there.

Read more: Davis County Clipper - Legacy Events Center responds to equine virus