Finally Out

On the 19th of September we spoke to Joan Bell who had just been informed that her imported Riding Pony Stallion, Ainthorpe Graceful Sonnet, would be spending at least another 30 days in quarantine at Eastern Creek. However, all has changed and “Billy” was released today. We contacted Joan to get the full story.

“Last week we were sent the following email, advising us that we could apply for a permit to take our horses from Eastern Creek into the purple zone of NSW.

Broadcast email 10am, Friday, 21 September 2007 This email is for all those with a horse held in the Eastern Creek Quarantine Station In Sydney (ECQS) The swabs collected on Tuesday, 11 September have resulted in 50 negative results with 2 requiring retest. The swab & blood results from samples collected on 14 September should be received shortly. Meantime, negotiations are underway between AQIS & DPI to allow horses/stallions at ECQS to be moved to one of the recently established Purple Zones in NSW (i.e. EI infected zones where movement is allowed). This of course is useful for those who have farms in a Purple Zone & wish to commence breeding their stallions/s.



In addition, for those horses wishing to return to their country of origin discussions are underway with the destination countries over the conditions for return. For those who do not live in a Purple Zone & do not wish their horse to be returned to the country of origin, they can either remain at Eastern Creek or find agistment at a property in a Purple Zone. By moving to standard agistment in a Purple Zone this should at least reduce the cost of holding their horse in NSW while the EI outbreak runs its course & horse movement gets back to normal.

Then on Monday we were sent this email;
Broadcast email 8.30am Monday 23 September 2007 This email is for all those with a horse/stallion currently held in the Eastern Creek Quarantine Station In Sydney (ECQS) NSW DPI confirmed late on Friday that release of the horses/stallions from ECQS into a Special Restricted Areas (SRA orb Purple Zone) will be permitted subject to : 1. Each horse/stallion being given an EI vaccination/booster prior to departure from the station. 2. Issue of a DPI permit showing specific conditions relating to the movement/transport of the horse/stallion to an SRA. AQIS is working closely with NSW DPI to arrange for the vaccination of the horses expected to be released into SRA's. IRT believes the vaccine should be available on Monday afternoon allowing the horses to be moved, subject to permit, soon afterwards. Any application for a movement permit from the DPI should be direct to : Genevieve Leonard

“We spoke with Helen Chugg of Diamond B Stud (she is so lovely, I have been dealing with her all week) about sending Billy there but then Michael Christie recommended we send him to Edwina Cullen who has a small property and would be able to give him lots of hands on attention, so we decided to go there. We were advised that he would be released Wednesday and then that was changed to today. We were organizing to have Billy transported to Edwina’s but then she said that she would pick him up for us.

We were sent the following email about the pick up arrangements;

Dear Elia & Joan,
We would like to confirm the road transport arrangements for the collection of the following horse with release from quarantine scheduled for Thursday 27th September. The horse is to be collected from the EASTERN CREEK AQIS Animal Quarantine Station, 60 Wallgrove Road, Eastern Creek, NSW at 6:30am on Thursday 27th September and delivered as stated below. AQIS have requested that every effort be made to collect the horses at this time. Please note these arrangements have been made under IRT's general conditions of trading, further copies of which will be supplied on request. All horses handled at the Owner's risk.
Horse:
Delivery Address:
Truck/Driver Details:
AINTHORPE GRACEFUL SONNET 1998 BAY RP STALLION
EDWINA CULLEN
DRIVER: EDWINA CULLEN
Please note the following conditions:

• The truck/float must be presented at Eastern Creek Quarantine Station (ECQS) in a clean condition.
• The truck/float must be disinfected under AQIS supervision prior to entering the horse compound at ECQS.
• The driver must wear AQIS issued protective clothing and shower in and out of the horse compound.
• The truck/float must be disinfected under AQIS supervision prior to leaving the compound at ECQS.
• No equipment may leave ECQS until inspected by a quarantine officer and treated as directed.

“Edwina had to have her brand new car sprayed both going into and out of Eastern creek. They said that the spray was very corrosive, so she had to wash the car out inside and out when she got home. Edwinda showered going in, and then had to change into AQIS protective clothing and then she had to shower and change again when leaving.

“The horses left this morning in convoy after all being vaccinated again yesterday. On exiting the quarantine center the vehicles were inspected and sealed and escorted by a DPI officer. Edwina followed a truck heading to the Chuggs, (a Shetland and eventer were going there) along the M7 to Richmond Road where they parted, and Edwina, escorted by a DPI Officer, continued onto here property at Galstone. Edwina is in the purple zone, but so far does not have EI on here property, but is surrounded by it.

“Some of the shuttle stallions started leaving on Monday, to go either to the purple zone or back to Europe. We have been told that the horses in the purple zone may need to remain there for up to six months. As far as I know all the horses from the quarantine station have now left except for an Irish Draught stallion. His owners live in a red zone and are fighting to have him taken home rather than go on agistment in the purple zone. We have been told that the cost of staying at the quarantine centre was a $100 per day but that is still to be sorted out.

I am so glad Billy is finally out. Today I purchased some rugs from Horseland for him and wanted them delivered, but was told they could not do deliveries into the purple zone, so Edwina had to pick them up. We are very grateful to Edwina, as she has been so helpful. I hope to fly up and see him on the 6th of October, Edwina keeps telling me he is beautiful. I will let you know!”