Bay County Sheriff’s Office Postpones Rodeo Until 2026 Due To EHV-1 Virus

BAY COUNTY, FL – The Bay County Sheriff’s Office decided, after much deliberation and in an abundance of caution, to postpone the 19th Annual BCSO Rodeo previously scheduled for Nov. 21 and 22, 2025. We apologize to all contestants and spectators for this short notice.

The recent spread of an aggressive strain of EHV-1, Equis Herpesvirus type 1, has prompted this decision. The outbreak between horses in other states has been fast and resulted in the deaths of numerous horses. The symptoms of EHV-1 are primarily respiratory and thought to be spreading at “high-stress” events like rodeos.

It is believed the outbreak originated in Texas at a barrel-racing event and spread to Oklahoma. Florida has not yet been affected by this rapidly spreading outbreak event. EHV-1 can be spread in a variety of ways, including through the air. It is primarily spread through direct horse-to-horse contact or contaminated objects like tack, feed buckets, human hands, and stalls.

The safety of equine athletes and their overall health and well-being is a number one priority. Since the BCSO Rodeo is a Professional Cowboy Association (PCA) sanctioned event it is attended by participants from many states, making it a potential spreader of this aggressive virus. We hope everyone involved understands this was a tough decision, but it is the best for everyone.

The new tentative date for the 19th Annual BCSO Rodeo is January 16 and 17, 2026. This is subject to change. Please follow us on social media for the latest information on the rodeo.