A rhinopneumonia epidemic has hit the equestrian world hard since a competition in Valencia last month, which brought together hundreds of horses from across Europe.
150 equines are blocked there for health reasons.
Several outbreaks have already been declared in France.
The equestrian world is hit by a worrying epidemic.
The disease has nothing to do with Covid-19 and does not affect humans.
But all over Europe, hundreds of horses are affected by rhinopneumonia and five have already died.
The outbreak started with a competition in Valencia, Spain, which brought together hundreds of horses last month.
To slow the progression of the virus, the French Equestrian Federation has decided to suspend all national and international competitions until March 28.
"The vets didn't stop from morning till night"
Affected animals first suffer from fever, then from breathing difficulties and finally from neurological problems.
Equines, for example, have trouble controlling their movements.
Some, who can no longer even stand, must be euthanized.
During the competition in Valence, the trainer Bastien Houel witnessed scenes of chaos.
"The vets kept going from morning till night. They were treating one horse and you could hear another horse 10 meters away struggling. The horse was lying on the ground with its limbs raised. the air is pedaling in all directions ", he tells the microphone of Europe 1.
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For health reasons, 150 horses are still stranded in Valence.
About twenty of them come from France.
The French Equestrian Federation is requesting their repatriation to provide them with the best possible care.
It also calls for the greatest caution in the face of this very contagious virus.
Several outbreaks have already occurred in France, particularly in Calvados, Haute-Savoie or even in Hérault, all within stables housing horses returning from Valence.