EI

Hello to all fellow “NON RACING” horse owners.

I have two daughters, both eager young riders (9 & 12). They have two ponies in two agistments separated by a driveway and fence no more than 30 metres between them. Until EI they were almost daily, brought together in the lower paddock to be fed, groomed and ridden in our “Arena” and since the outbreak occurred, we are unable to move our pony from the top paddock. I have contacted Rural Lands Authority to be told point blank no movement in the red zone (Penrith area) and there was no way a permit would be granted as it is only a pleasure horse. I contacted Local Control Disease Centre to be told the same, but as both admitted, if one of your horses has the flu, so will the other one guaranteed! We are taking measures to prevent EI including washing before and after visiting, preventing visitors from coming to our paddocks, disinfecting our “paddock boots” and where possible keeping dust to a minimum.

This is extremely frustrating for my youngest daughter who can not ride her pony and is not able to ride the other more advanced horse. She says just send the sick horses to the Vet. To her this pony is worth more than any thoroughbred and it wasn’t as a result of pleasure horses that EI exists in NSW. Everone is complaining that they can’t race but what about the pleasure rider that can’t ride, especially as there is a rule “NO MOVEMENT” yet Race horses can move 500 metres with a permit. Lets’ get realistic and apply common sense, we are wanting to move a pleasure horse less than 30 metres within a rural block. This movement will not impact in eradicating EI than complying to the stand still as we are doing.a

Thanks
Mark Greeentree