The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association have published amendments to the 2026 NFSA Breeding Regulations and EVA health testing, stating the following:
The TBA welcomed the resumption in supply of the Equip Artervac vaccine in Britain in June this year, which allowed lapsed vaccinated stallions to recommence courses, and stallions never previously vaccinated to initiate a new course, to provide increased protection from Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), a notifiable disease.
As a consequence of this increased level of protection to the British thoroughbred population, the TBA and NSFA liaised with veterinary surgeons and representatives from some of the major stallion studs, to review breeding protocols for the 2026 Northern Hemisphere covering season. It was agreed that low risk (British domiciled) mares would require one blood test for EVA, taken after 1st January 2026 and before service (unless the test result is seropositive, which would necessitate a second sample to demonstrate a stable or declining titre). Full details can be found here.
Breeders are reminded, that in in the event of an inconclusive ELISA test result, the mare will not be accepted for covering until negative or stable/declining paired positive Virus Neutralisation Test results are obtained.
The TBA and NSFA are extremely grateful to breeders for the additional health testing measures required during the 2024 and 2025 breeding seasons, but are now pleased to relieve the increased costs and labour of the second blood test.