A Mercuria/NCHA World Series of Cutting Open first round did take place in Tulsa on Saturday, May 14, but NCHA officials decided not to conduct its finals on Sunday. They also cancelled Sunday’s Non-Pro preliminary and finals events.

The BI’s Board of Directors has not decided whether the show will reschedule as a stand-alone event or possibly consolidate with another show. The NCHA has also not yet decided how to conclude its postponed World Series Open finals or divide prize money.

No horses in Tulsa for the BI or World Series of Cutting events exhibited clinical signs of Equine Herpes Virus, National Cutting Horse Association Executive Director Jeff Hooper said. Hooper described decisions to postpone both events as “precautionary moves to ensure the health and safety of horses.”

Breeder’s Invitational officials agreed.

At least two horses in attendance at the National Cutting Horse Association’s Western Nationals in Ogden, Utah, April 29 – May 8 were subsequently diagnosed with EHV. The concern that horses exposed to the virus in Ogden could potentially transport EHV to the BI event in Tulsa and, in doing so, further expose the horse population was of great concern to BI officials. While no horses who arrived in Tulsa for the BI have exhibited any clinical symptoms of EHV at this time, the decision to cancel the event was considered a precautionary measure.

"We did not feel comfortable with the potential of exposing horses arriving in Tulsa to EHV," said Breeder’s Invitational Board Chairman, Jeffrey Matthews. "An outbreak at an event of this size could be devastating. The Board of Directors decided to take a conservative approach to the situation in the interest of protecting the health of the horses."

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, EHV can be a serious disease of horses that can cause abortion and death. Clinical signs include high fever, neurological symptoms and nasal discharge. The virus can spread through the air, contaminated equipment, clothing and hands.

Colorado State University Veterinarian, Dr. Jerry Black, who consulted with BI officials, said he was confident the organization made a decision that took into consideration the best interest of the horses involved.

"I commend the BI on the decision they have made to make the welfare of the horse the priority. While I expect the risk in Tulsa may have been minimal, I do believe the decision was a prudent one," said Black, who urged horse-owners and trainers to quarantine any horses that may have been exposed to EHV. "To be on the absolute safe side, any horses that have attended events where EHV is suspected to have been present should be quarantined separate and apart from un-exposed horses for a minimum of 10-14 days."

Breeder’s Invitational Executive Director, Bob O’Bannon, stated that attempts will be made to refund entry fees to exhibitors entered in this year’s event. "We will be working the next several days to get this handled," he said. "We are going to do our best to take care of our exhibitors and owners." O’Bannon also said the Board of Directors will make a decision on whether to hold the event at a later date this year. "This is an option that we would like to pursue, though no decision has been made at this time."

Phil Rapp, cutting’s all-time leading money earner when Open and Non-Pro rider earnings are considered, and his wife, Mary Ann Rapp, the NCHA’s top all-time Non-Pro rider, had seven horses on the grounds in Tulsa this weekend – including 6-year-old mare Dont Look Twice (High Brow Cat x Tapt Twice x Dual Pep). “Lipstick,” owned by Waco Bend Ranch, Graham, Texas, finished among the top three in the past two NCHA Open Horse of the Year races. She is also this year’s early Horse of the Year point leader.

The Rapps, who live in Weatherford, Texas, said while they’ve been careful to monitor Dont Look Twice’s health, they were not overly worried about taking her to the show.

“We are keeping a close eye on her. She’s fortunately a very healthy horse,” Mary Ann Rapp said. “She has a strong immune system. She’s been everywhere. I doubt that anything would happen to her. I literally just came from her stall and she’s fine. We’ll just keep a close eye on her.”

While Equine Herpes Virus concerns are certainly a serious matter, Mary Ann Rapp questioned fears that led some people who brought horses to the BI to leave the grounds before the show started. At the same time, she faulted no one for doing whatever they thought was best to protect their horses.

“I think the whole thing has been blown out of proportion, but it’s our job to take care of our horses,” Mary Ann Rapp said. “People did what they thought was right. You can’t ever say anything about people that do what they think is best for their horse.”

Phil Rapp said he thinks the BI’s Board of Directors certainly made the right call in not going on with the event, considering all circumstances.

“I feel like the board of directors and everyone that runs the BI did the right thing. When you run something like this, you’ve got to look at the welfare of the horse first and the people,” Rapp said. “There were so many people that decided to either pull out of the show or leave. When Monday comes around, they need to decide whether they are going to throw in with another show or what they are going to do. I support them whole-heartedly. That was the right thing to do for the horses and for the association. We’ve got to stop an epidemic, if there is something going on.”

The Rapps plan to keep horses they took to Tulsa over the weekend separate from other horses when they return home. “We have a small barn that is separate from the other horses,” Mary Ann Rapp said. “We will keep them there separate from the other horses, just to make sure we don’t carry anything on to the other horses.”