Corrales Christmas parade canceled due to equine virus outbreak

Three cases of equine herpes (EHV-1) have surfaced in New Mexico, putting metro area horse and stable owners on guard and prompting the village of Corrales to cancel its annual Christmas de los Caballos Parade.

“This is for the best interest of all of our animals, even if they have not traveled out of state or been in contact with an animal, or human, that has traveled to infected premises,” the village announced in a Facebook post last week.

EHV-1 is a common, highly contagious virus that affects horses, donkeys and mules. Humans cannot get infected, New Mexico Department of Agriculture spokesperson Jenny Green said.

Equine herpes spreads through respiratory secretions, shared equipment, trailers and contaminated areas. Symptoms could include: fever, nasal discharge, cough, lethargy, hindlimb weakness, difficulty rising, urinary retention and, in severe cases, an inability to stand, she said.

Dr. Mark Meddleton, with Meddleton Equine Clinic in Corrales, said he recommended the parade’s cancellation because of the severity of equine herpes and “the fact there are horses that come from various places” that may spread the virus.

“We felt out of an abundance of caution that we should cancel our event,” said Janet Blair, Corrales Equestrian Advisory Commission member.

The village’s decision came on the heels of horses testing positive for equine herpes in several states, including Oklahoma and Texas, where two horses died, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

In New Mexico, three horses — two in Eddy County and one in Doña Ana County — tested positive for the virus. Two of the horses were affected after attending the 2025 Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and Elite Barrel Race in Waco, Texas, that took place Nov. 5-9. The third horse was exposed to the virus at a property in Carlsbad, according to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

The horses are “improving with supportive care,” Green said.

The Department of Agriculture and New Mexico Livestock Board are urging horse owners to “take immediate preventative measures,” she said.

Aside from the cancellation of Corrales’ holiday parade, metro area residents have been taking steps to ensure their horses do not catch the virus. Silverberry Farm owner Connie Grindatto, for example, said she turned down out-of-state horses from boarding at her establishment.

“In the next couple of weeks, we will have a good idea of how fast it’s going to spread,” Grindatto said. “People need to be careful, use good biosecurity measures and keep their horses on the properties. It is containable.”