A six week old foal had to be put down the other day because it tested positive for "Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy". Don't ask us to tell you how to sound it out...we have no idea. Let's just call it EHM. 

The foal was put down because it's neurological symptoms kept getting worse. EHM is very contagious, but not to humans. 

Horses can catch it through just about anything; touching noses with another horse, contaminated tack, feed or water buckets, brushes, even people's hands and clothes.

Any case of EHM has to be reported to a local or state health board ASAP.