Eastern Creek horse quarantine slammed

The world's leading studs considered horse accommodation at Sydney's Eastern Creek quarantine station sub-standard and funded their own improvements with one also holding preliminary talks to build a new centre.

The inquiry into equine influenza (EI) was told that Darley Australia, a branch of Sheik Mohammed's global operation, and the Australian arm of Irish stud Coolmore, built their own day yards to allow the horses more freedom of movement within the complex.

Darley Australia stud manager John Sunderland said the valuable stallions imported from around the world for the southern hemisphere breeding season were used to better conditions.

"When our horses are stabled, both overseas and in Australia, the level of comfort and safety that they are subjected to is far superior to anything at Eastern Creek, and I guess our concerns are that these horses are worth millions and millions of dollars, and any injury that they may succumb to while in a dangerous environment is a serious loss of income," Sunderland said.

"Obviously the horses are in a box and it's quite nice to get them out for a little while, just to keep them fresh.

"Some of those facilities at Eastern Creek are a safety hazard.

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