McGee Park closes to horse activities amid EHV 1 concern
McGee Park in Lee Acres was closed to all equine activity on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21, 2025, as county officials moved to limit the spread of a dangerous strain of equine herpesvirus known as EHV 1. The action was a precaution, taken after outbreaks of neurological disease linked to the virus in other states and reports that some affected horses had traveled from New Mexico, and it matters to local owners because it restricts movement and access to the county fairgrounds while authorities monitor the situation.
San Juan County temporarily halted all horse related activity at McGee Park on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21, 2025, closing the fairgrounds in Lee Acres to riding, competition and other equine gatherings while public health and animal health officials evaluate regional risks. County leaders announced the closure on the county Facebook page and characterized the move as a precaution designed to protect local animals and limit further spread of EHV 1.
At the time of the announcement there were no confirmed cases of the virus in San Juan County, but the decision followed reports earlier in November of neurological illness associated with EHV 1 at riding events in Texas and Oklahoma. Investigators noted that horses at those events included animals that had traveled from New Mexico, raising concerns about interstate movement of infected animals and the potential for broader regional spread.
County staff said they were monitoring the situation and coordinating with state and federal animal health authorities as they assessed whether additional restrictions or testing protocols would be necessary. The swift closure reflects wider containment efforts unfolding across several states, where event organizers and veterinary authorities have been tightening biosecurity measures while tracking potential contacts and movements of exposed horses.
For San Juan County residents the closure has immediate practical implications. Regular users of McGee Park, including lesson programs, boarding operations, show organizers and recreational riders, faced canceled activities and new limitations on access at a busy time in the equestrian calendar. Local vendors and service providers who rely on events at the fairgrounds may also see short term income disruptions. County officials advised horse owners to review their own biosecurity practices, limit nonessential travel with animals and notify veterinarians if animals show respiratory symptoms or neurological signs.
The episode underscores how animal health events in one part of the country can affect rural communities elsewhere through established networks of competition, trade and travel. San Juan County sits within a regional agricultural system in which horses routinely cross state lines for shows and breeding, making coordinated responses essential to containment and to protecting livelihoods. Officials did not provide a timeline for reopening and said they would issue updates as they receive guidance from animal health partners and as surveillance results become available.
Residents with concerns or questions were directed to county channels for the latest information and to consult licensed veterinarians for individual animal health issues. The precautionary closure at McGee Park highlights local authorities balancing precaution with vigilance as they respond to an unfolding regional animal health challenge.
