California Releases Santa Barbara EHM Quarantine After 2026 Case

Published: September 13, 2026  ·  Status: Recent animal-health event

California released an Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy quarantine in Santa Barbara County on March 20, 2026 after the monitoring period ended without additional confirmed cases.

What changed

The underlying case involved a neurologic horse that tested positive for EHV-1. Exposed horses were quarantined and enhanced biosecurity was used during the response.

Why equine operations should care

The episode is a reminder that an individual horse can temporarily affect movement and management decisions for an entire premises.

What operators should do now

• Maintain a written isolation area and procedure.
• Keep emergency veterinarian and owner contacts current.
• Record travel and exposure history for horses arriving or returning to the barn.
• Train staff to recognize fever and neurologic warning signs that require veterinary attention.

Keep written barn procedures, horse records, transport documents, and client communications aligned with the rules that actually apply to your operation. For related documentation, review the horse boarding contracts guide, Barn Setup, and the MyStableForms state package library.

This article provides general educational information and is not legal, veterinary, tax, transportation, or regulatory advice. Requirements and bill status can change.