Inequities in vaccination programes

Blind Freddy could have seen that EI was going to infiltrate Toowoomba racehorses before an effective vaccination program could be completed. Why then was valuable and limited resources allowed to be wasted?

The government has an AUSTVETPLAN in place for EI which gives logical and methodical steps to follow for containment and eradication, nowhere did I read that Thoroughbreds be given preferential treatment. So could somebody please explain to me how the Thoroughbred industry is not governed by their relevant state DPI and associated government departments. I haven't heard of the Thoroughbred Industry Party, I thought The Liberal Party was our federal governing power!! Silly me.

When will the thoroughbred industry realise that we are all in this together. United we stand, divided we fall. Preference needs to be given to establishing effective buffer zones. Once established and properly maintained/policed, maybe the rest of the red zone could get back to some sort of normality. Obviously the majority of the red zone is going to get EI. I understand the vaccination of isolated high value and or high risk (including,aged,breeding and very young) horse groups within the red zone has merits but only after the main buffer has been established and this needs to include all horses. To assume that all Thoroughbreds are high value horses and vaccinate on mass is ludicrous. Many Thoroughbred racehorses are only worth a few thousand dollars. An average performance or breeding horse of other breeds is worth at least that and more. How do you put a value on the old pony that has taught the whole family to ride?

We need a united voice and at this stage the only option I see for that is to join either a state Horse Council or the Australian Horse Industry Council.

Cheers
Michelle