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SAUGERTIES, NY (August 22, 2007)–HITS is proud to announce that Geoff Allison of 5/A Baker Products, Inc., the DuPont™ approved distributor for the equine market for DuPont™ Virkon® S Disinfectant and Virucide, will be a sponsor of the HITS Desert Circuit in Thermal, California and the HITS Ocala Winter Circuit in Florida.
Beginning in 2008, stalls at HITS Thermal and HITS Ocala will be treated with DuPont's disinfectant product, Virkon® S, which is registered with the U.S. EPA to kill the EHV-1 and -3 viruses. In addition to protecting against equine herpes, Virkon® S is also effective in protecting against a wide range of equine pathogens including viral diseases like equine influenza and pink eye, as well as numerous bacterial and fungal diseases.
"In 2007, HITS was well prepared to protect against the EHV-1 outbreak with a very proactive and aggressive Vet Protocol," said Tom Struzzieri, President and CEO of HITS, Inc. "Fortunately, none of our facilities experienced any cases of the virus. For 2008, we are going a step further thanks to this partnership. We are confident that in addition to our past efforts, these measures will help to ensure an even safer competition environment for our customers' horses."
Allison has over 28 years in the equine industry and strong relationships with retailers throughout the country. 5/A Baker Products, Inc. carries a wide variety of equine gear including everything from horse clothing and tack, to closed-circuit Safeview Camera Systems for use in vans and trailers while transporting horses.
"We are proud to be DuPont's approved U.S. distributor for Virkon® S," said Allison. "With the sponsorship, HITS is taking a great step to implement a proven preventative measure. It's a testament to HITS' professionalism in the sport and their dedication to horse safety. They should be commended for this kind of forward thinking."
Allison has had great acceptance of the Virkon® S products by leading retailers and catalog companies like Dover and SmartPak which will be carrying the product.
Virkon® S is a product that's friendly to man, animals and the environment and offers complete disease control for hard surfaces and aerial disinfecting, making it an ideal product for stable blocks, horseboxes, tack and equipment cleaning and disinfecting.
The property management teams in Ocala and Thermal will be trained in disinfection using Virkon® S and all stalls in Ocala and Thermal will be treated prior to the arrival of horses for the winter circuits.
Allison continued that given the proven efficacy of Virkon® S, exhibitors should feel confident when they decide to show at HITS Thermal and HITS Ocala that they made the right choice for the safety of their horses. "After all, it is all about equine safety and comfort. This product offers exhibitors that peace of mind."
"This new program, combined with similar efforts from the winter circuits in 2007, should provide an effective strategy to help minimize the risk of an outbreak at HITS horse shows," added Struzzieri.
For more information on Virkon® S visit: www.virkonstablets.com or DuPont™ Animal Health Solutions at: www.ahs.dupont.com.
HITS, Inc. is a special events management company primarily focused on producing hunter/jumper horse shows. Based in upstate New York in the village of Saugerties, HITS produced its first horse show circuit in Gainesville, Florida in 1982. Since that time, HITS has grown into a nationwide company with world-class hunter-jumper circuits in California, Florida, Arizona, New York and Virginia.
For more information on the HITS horse shows and a complete schedule of classes and events, visit www.HitsShows.com
Media should contact Chris Mayone at 845.246.8833 or e-mail Media_Info@HitsShows.com
DuPont™ Virkon® S disinfectant has been proven effective against a wide range of organisms, including:
Viruses |
• Equine Herpes Virus (Type 1 & 3)
• Equine Influenza Virus (Type A)
• African Horse Sickness Virus*
• Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (Swamp Fever)*
• Equine Arteritis Virus (no hard water)*
• Equine Contagious Abortion Virus*
• Equine Papillomatosis Virus*
• Equine Influenza Virus (The Cough)*
• Adenovirus Pneumonia* |
Bacteria |
• Escherichia coli
• Klesbsiella pneumoniae
• Dermathophilus congolensis
• Psuedomonas aeruginosa
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Taylorella equigenitalis*
• Streptocuccus equi (Strangles)* |
Fungi |
• Trichophyton spp. (Mud Fever)*
• Trichophyton spp. (Ringworm)* |
*Not approved in California for use against these organisms.
DuPont™ Virkon® S will be used to sanitize all stalls at HITS Ocala and HITS Thermal in 2008 to help protect against EHV-1 & -3 and other harmful diseases.
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