Giddy up! We're free

Tewantin Noosa Pony Club riders Sophie Bird and Kelsea and Georgia Boor have left their properties on horseback for the first time since August 26.
The Noosa shire, along with Maroochy shire, was declared part of the amber zone on Friday, December 7, where restricted movement is allowed.
The girls were thrilled to be able to move off their properties after three months of being in lockdown.
The local horse community has been vigilant in keeping equine influenza away from the Sunshine Coast, undergoing decontamination procedures every time they leave their properties.
They are still not out of the woods as one outbreak of EI within the amber zone will mean they are locked down again, so it is extremely important to keep up with their bio-security.
Limited events will start from next January and PCAQ competitions will commence in March, 2008, seven months after the outbreak.
Even then riders will be able to compete only within the amber zone until June.
Movement of ridden horses is unrestricted within the zone, however horses transported by float or truck must be accompanied by a Waybill which can be downloaded from the DPI website.
Tewantin Noosa Pony Club will open its grounds on January, 1, 2008 and musters will start again in February.