08/30/2026
π’ MRHA Update
The MRHA Board of Directors met this past week to discuss the equine illness situation in full. We consulted with fairgrounds management, our on-site veterinarian Saginaw Valley Equine Clinic, and MDARD officials, as the safety and welfare of our horses remains our top priority.
Testing on the horses showing symptoms was conducted by the state veterinarian and came back negative for Equine Rhinopneumonitis. It is believed this illness is likely some strain of mild equine flu. Exhibitors were encouraged, though not required, to quarantine affected horses for 10 days.
The Midland County Fair, MI responded swiftly, implementing not only their normal sanitation procedures but also the use of Synbiont, an EPA/FDA-approved product for food contact surfaces that continues to work 7β21 days after application and is used by many major equine facilities across the US.
Based on the information at hand, MRHA has made the decision to move forward with our Memorial Futurity.
Our on-site veterinarian encourages all exhibitors to continue practicing good biosecurity and suggests checking when your horseβs last Flu/Rhino vaccine was administered; if it has not been within the last 6 months, a booster is recommended.
An update from the fairgrounds can be found here:https://irp.cdn-website.com/f553d488/files/uploaded/Equine+Health+8.27.26.pdf
We encourage our membership to make the decision that is best for their horses, and we will continue to monitor the situation.
Questions? Reach out here or email [email protected].
