The Barrel Futurities of America World Championships, originally scheduled to run November 15–22 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie has cancelled the event due to positive EHV Outbreak.

GUTHRIE, OK– NOVEMBER 19, 2025–The Barrel Futurities of America World Championships, originally scheduled to run November 15–22 at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, was halted on November 18 after a positive case of EHV was confirmed. The remainder of the event was cancelled immediately.

The BFA’s announcement, shared across its social media platforms, followed notification from the Oklahoma State Veterinarian confirming the EHV case.

“We just received an update from the Oklahoma State Vet. There has been a confirmed positive EVH [sic]. BFA feels that it is in the best interest of all the contestants to cancel the remainder of the show. The state has not quarantined the Lazy E, so it isn’t urgent to leave now, but it is suggested to go within the next 24 hours,” the statement read.

The decision came as veterinarians in Texas reported multiple confirmed cases of Equine Herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), including neurological cases diagnosed as equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM), on November 18. Several of those cases were linked to horses that attended major early November events, such as the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association World Finals and the Elite Barrel Race held November 5–9, 2025, in Waco.

The WPRA announced on November 18 that the Texas Animal Health Commission had notified them of equine attendees from the WPRA World Finals and Elite Barrel Race showing neurological symptoms of EHV-1 after returning home. The WPRA also clarified that no livestock had been on the event grounds between October 12 and the start of their event on November 5.

At around 7 p.m. on November 18, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry released a social media announcement confirming that the Oklahoma State Veterinarian was monitoring potential EHM exposure at the BFA World Championships

“The Oklahoma State Veterinarian has been made aware of a possible Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy exposure at the WPRA event in Waco, Texas Nov. 5 through Nov. 9. We are working closely with Lazy E Arena, as some of the horses from the WPRA event could be in Guthrie this week for the Barrel Futurities of America World Championship.

“If you are from Oklahoma and were at the WPRA event – it is recommended you go home and quarantine your horse. If EHM is confirmed, horses who were in the Waco event will be required to quarantine at home. Owners should monitor the temperature of their horse for spikes of 101.5 or above and increase biosecurity measures.

“For questions about quarantine or EHM exposure, call the Oklahoma State Veterinarian’s office at 405.522.6141.

Shortly after the completion of the BFA Super Stakes, officials announced the full cancellation of the remaining schedule upon receiving confirmation of a positive EHV case linked to the event.

For updated information on equine disease activity or available resources, visit:

talc.texas.gov/animal_health/equine, www.equinediseasecc.org/alerts, or contact the Oklahoma State Veterinarian’s office at 405-522-6141.