Have a Tacky Christmas

Horse lovers are urged to 'get tacky' this year and do their Christmas shopping at saddleries, produce and tack stores as the industry buckles under the strain of Equine Influenza.
Retail sales were down 65-90% in Queensland and New South Wales saddleries; with Victoria also experiencing a 50% downturn in sales as horse shows, rallies, competitions, trail rides, riding lessons and pony club musters were cancelled indefinitely.
Queensland Performance & Pleasure Horse Industry group spokesman Graeme Aitken said the August 25 lock down of the State's horses had a direct flow on affect on the amount of disposable income horse owners had to spend in both red and green zones.
"Breeding programs, horse sales, competitions and riding lessons have all been cancelled reducing the income of horse owners and their need to visit saddleries," Mr Aitken said.
"But it is these saddleries and feed merchants that are the ones who sponsor and reward competitors at local, state and national levels. Now it's our time to support them."
Mr Aitken said while some horses were lucky enough to be vaccinated against the onslaught of EI, there was no magic vaccine to insulate equine retailers.
"These sorts of losses are unsustainable and these guys are in trouble,"he said.
"Some of them might not come out the other side, and potentially, that means less competition in the market and therefore higher costs.
"So instead of rushing into the multi-national super shopping centres, visit your local saddlery and select from a range of gifts and labels - including RM Williams, Driza-bone and Akubra - and no matter how little you spend, all purchases will help until EI is over."
He said non-horse owners were also urged to help save the industry.
"Saddleries have long kept the silence on quality Australian gift and clothing," Mr Aitken said. "Specialising for country people, urban farmers, horse owners and horse lovers, saddleries offer a range of gift
> options including clothing, figurines and statues, beer coolers, caps, hats, shoes and the like. Meanwhile, produce stores stock not only horse and cattle feed but food for cats, dogs, birds and fish and a whole range
of other interesting pets.
"The dreaded equine flu has put saddleries under financial stress and they really need your support."

Interview by Tanya Targett 15/11/07.