A recent outbreak of a horse virus in New Mexico has caused some contestants of a Farmington rodeo to pull out, with others seriously considering doing the same.

Because of the virus, the Breeds and Industry Division of Equine Canada are restricting horses from returning to the country after being in New Mexico, unless they are quarantined in another state for three weeks.

Canadian equine officials strongly recommend that horse owners refrain from traveling to or going through New Mexico with their horses.

As a result, many of the Canadian contestants in the National High School Finals Rodeo are not willing to bring down their horses and are debating whether they can come to the rodeo.

The virus is vesicular stomatitis, a viral disease that causes cyclic outbreaks in cattle, horses, donkeys, mules and pigs.