But the federally reportable disease can be hard to spot, the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian said in a news release.

“Infected animals may show few clinical signs of disease, particularly in the early stages of infection,” the release stated. “However, infected animals remain carriers of the virus for life, putting other animals at risk.”

The case in Strathcona County was confirmed on Feb. 21, the Alberta Equestrian Federation said on its website. The horse, which had shown clinical signs of the disease, was euthanized shortly after a test sample was taken by a veterinarian, the federation said.

Loss of co-ordination may be the only visible sign of the disease, but other potential symptoms are anorexia, depression, general weakness, intermittent fever up to 41 C, jaundice, bleeding under the tongue and eye, swelling of the extremities, and weight loss.

“If you suspect your horse may be infected, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible,” said the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian. “Many other diseases can cause the same signs in horses, which is why it’s so important to call your veterinarian to examine and possibly test your horse for EIA.”

There is no risk to humans, but the disease can be fatal for horses, donkeys, and mules. It can be transmitted by horse and deer flies; needles, syringes or surgical instruments; and semen. Foals can be infected in utero, and they are usually aborted or die within two months of birth. There is no cure or vaccine.

For more information, go to the ‘Reportable Diseases’ page on the CFIA website or call the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian at 780-427-3448.

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“The importance of developing an equine emergency structure for Alberta was demonstrated recently with the wildfires in Fort McMurray,” the Alberta Equestrian Federation said in a release.

A survey of horse owners and custodians from the Fort McMurray area following the fire found less than a quarter of them had an emergency plan. And while a majority said they will be creating a plan as a result of the wildfires, they are looking for assistance in developing one.

“The resilience of the horse industry depends on all of us taking action, working together to prepare and plan for the next emergency or disaster,” said Sonia Dantu, executive director of the equine federation.

To take the survey, go to the Alberta Equestrian Federation website. The survey closes Nov. 23.

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Krista Critch was one of many volunteers who dropped everything to help save horses and pets at the height of the crisis. She had driven up with supplies in her livestock trailer to Boyle in north-central Alberta, where family members were staying in campers after being evacuated.

She had been unsuccessfully trying to hook up with an animal rescue effort. When she got up north, she met others who shared her concern, and they all immediately sprang into action.

“We went up to help and ended up meeting up with a bunch of people there and we all teamed up and kept hauling,” said Critch, a mule breeder from north of Vermilion who is originally from Newfoundland.

Volunteers working under the direction of the Alberta SPCA co-ordinated a drop-off pasture for horses at the juncture of Highway 63 and Highway 881. Critch connected with organizer Holly Plunkett, owner of Plunkett Ranch & Rescue in Alix, who had gone up north to arrange foster homes, feed donations, and horse transportation.

“There are lots of people involved with the rescue effort,” said Critch. “In the beginning, I was just communicating with three or four people, but then there were about 50 people. There were actually too many to help with the animals, so they just asked some people to step back and let a few people organize.”

There weren’t a lot of horses in the area — a survey by Alberta Farm Animal Care put the number of horse owners with acreages at 15 and the city’s one large stable, Clearwater Horse Club, had already been evacuated.

But the volunteers knew horses would be a major challenge for overworked emergency personnel since they don’t often have training in handling large animals.

“That’s part of the reason why so many horse people got involved,” said Critch. “We knew that the horses were going to be moved.”

Critch didn’t get close to the fire zone, but didn’t have to.

“Wherever they would let us go, we went,” she said. “We didn’t have to go into the city. People were loading the horses out and then I would switch the horses into my trailer and get ready to drop them off and change it up to make it go a little quicker.”

Some horses had been set free and were wandering around loose. Critch managed to catch three of them and bring them to the drop-off pasture. One of the owners was waiting there when she arrived.

“We got to witness one reunion,” Critch said. “I think the other two have been accounted for and their owners have been found.”

There were people riding around back roads, catching horses, and pulling them out.

“I had one friend who rode her horse through town (while she was getting out) and she ended up catching five more horses,” said Critch.

She is not sure how many horses have been rescued from the city. She has 11 at her ranch, her friend has seven in Tofield, and there were dozens in the drop-off pasture.

Critch also rescued seven dogs, which she delivered to the Edmonton Humane Society.

“We had a truck full of dogs,” she said. “I was driving and there was one person in the passenger seat and one in the back and we just hoped the dogs got along. They did. They rode pretty good.”

They were also exhausted by their ordeal.

“By the time they got into our car with the AC on, they just slept the whole way,” said Critch. “There was one lab-cross that wanted his head out the window the entire time, so we just let him.”

Critch is keeping the rescued horses on two of her quarter sections, free of charge.

“We’ll keep them as long as need be,” she said.

The Alberta Equestrian Federation has compiled a list of people who are ready and willing to help. The federation is also raising money for feed, transportation, and veterinary care, and has also arranged drop-off spots in Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary for donations of items such as feed tubs, halters, and first-aid supplies. (Items must be new to avoid biosecurity issues.)

For more info, go to albertaequestrian.com.

CORRECTION, May 16, 2016: An earlier version of this article incorrectly placed the village of Boyle in Alberta’s Peace region.

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“We all want to keep our horses healthy,” says Mikki Shatosky, the equestrian federation’s project manager for its equine biosecurity outreach program.

“Disease outbreaks not only risk the health and lives of individual horses, but also cost owners emotional and financial stress. Horse events have high-traffic areas, which mean steps need to be taken to reduce the chances of an infectious disease being carried onto the grounds or spread within the facility and beyond.”

Horse Events: Biosecurity guidelines for organizers and competitors provides practical recommendations for both competitors and event organizers. By following some simple steps, the horse community can reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as strangles, equine herpes virus, and ringworm.

“As veterinarians, we often treat horses that have diseases that are preventable,” said Dr. Krista Howden of the veterinary medical association’s equine committee.

“By following the basic principles of biosecurity that are outlined in the guidelines, we can not only reduce the potential for spread of common equine infectious diseases during our day-to-day activities, but also do our part to prevent an outbreak occurring during an event in our province.”

The free guide, courtesy of the Alberta Equestrian Federation, can be found here.

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