NSW Situation 09-09-07

Daily audio news grab recorded on the latest equine influenza (EI) situation are available from the NSW Department of Primary Industries website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza.

NSW DPI deputy chief veterinary officer, Steve Dunn, provides an update on the EI situation in NSW.
• Topics discussed today include:
• Equine influenza can kill
• Update on Tamworth and surrounds
• Horse standstill continues
• Figures across the State
• Local RLPBs on the frontline
• No permits for stock work

Just follow this link!

Some Good News for Breeders

All breeders are rightly concerned about the affect of Equine Influenza on new born foals. Horse Deals was pleased to read that Anne and Jen Andersen’s foal by the colourful and charismatic jumping sire, Copabella Visage, is doing well despite having contracted the flu. In conversation with veterinarian, Derek Major recently we heard with relief that this strain of the EI virus was not as severe as anticipated. The young filly foal, Vixen (pictured) out of an Australian Stock Horse mare is just two weeks old and eases breeders worries to some extent. However, vigilance is necessary. Lesley Hargreaves tells us that temperatures are taken three times a day at both the Arcadia and Wilberforce Copabella properties.

The experience with Vixen has eased the worry at Copabella Sporthorses a little, as they await the arrival of an embryo transfer foal by Copabella Visage out of the imported and successful jumping mare, Copabella Courcheval by Cascavel, due on the 21st September. It is expected that mares which have had the virus and recovered, will pass on an immunity to the foal.

For the latest on news regarding the new arrivals and up to date information concerning the outbreak of EI and its affect on a breeding and training farm follow the link below.


Click here to vistit the Copabella website and read further updates.

The Kindness of Strangers - Moonbi

“We are up to day 14 of quarantine and counting”, declared Tamworth Dressage Club President, Meg Drury. “It’s getting pretty hard and is beginning to take its toll a little bit. The roster system is working well and sorting itself out. For instance some have to leave due to unavoidable commitments and we have one lady, a schoolteacher, who works during the week and is here at the weekends.

“The horses are still showing signs of being ill, but all seem to be coping well.

“The locals have been good and we are looking forward to the “pampering day” orgainsed by the DPI for next Friday. The Sydney Symphony are in Tamworth tonight for Drought Relief and a couple of the ladies in the lockdown were given tickets, so they will enjoy that.

“Really we are being looked after pretty well”.
It’s to be hoped that we can organise someone with a camera to get some pictures of the pampering next week. Meg is on the job.

News from Shane and Nikki

This morning we spoke to Shane Rose and Nikki Chapman, both of whom have represented Australia at Eventing, and have both been caught in the Warwick lockdown. Shane has returned home to their Thoroughbred Training Centre, Bimbadeen Park at Werombi, 15 minutes from Camden, whilst Nikki stays to look after the horses at Warwick.

Shane, how are all your horses at Warwick?

“They are all getting better except a brood mare of Nikki’s that has pneumonia.”

How is All Luck? (Picture; Australian Individuals, Shane Rose and 'All Luck' at the WEG 2006. Photo by Julie Wilson)

“He is fine now but I think he will have the next two months off, as there will be no events for a while. Next week the EFA is meeting to set dates and decide if there will be a rescheduled Sydney and Adelaide 3DE, or just one or the other.”

Do you have EI at your training property?

“At the moment it is all clear but not far away, so hopefully it can remain that way.”

Nikki (pictured), is it still raining at Warwick?

“No, the sun is now out and it has all started to dry up. People kindly organised clothes dryers a few days ago, which have been great during the wet weather. We are all getting into a routine. People have built lots of day yards, so all of the horses go out for a few hours each day. However, the horses are all getting better and going wild when they are let out, so I hope we are not treating cuts and kicks next.”

Nikki explained that her 18 year old mare was brought to Warwick by a friend, so that they could take it home and sent it to stud at Flowervale in Victoria. “I wish I had not done it now. She is on antibiotics and bute to keep the temperature down and seems to be improving. I think her age has a lot to do with her being sicker than some of the others”.

How long are you going to stay at Warwick?

“I want to stay here until all the horses have recovered and then I might swap places with one of the girls from home. We have been told that the horses can leave 30 days after the last horse has recovered and a date that is floating around is the 31st of October”.

What is happening with Statford Novalis?

“He is still in quarantine in Hong Kong after the Olympic test event in August. We have been told he will be flying into Melbourne maybe as early as next week. He will quarantine there and then we will organise agistment as he cannot return through NSW. Hopefully be will go to Georgia Clifford.

Nikki went an bought a lap top yesterday as “I hated not being able to get online and keep up with what is going on, so I will send you some photos!”

To read more about Nikki and Shane follow this link!

Chris Craig's comments

Thankyou for the comments regarding the photos taken at Warwick but I just thought I would make the mention after comments made to the AEIO blog by Chris Craig of Bolton UK, that it was in fact myself who attended the WARWICK EVENT and reported and photographed the events of the lockdown. Lots more photos on my website to tell the story www.nwpstudio.com.au
Kind Regards,
Narelle Wockner

Thank You for the Info

I would really like to thank Horse Deals pages for the best info on keeping the 'world' updated on the EI crisis in Australia.

Although I live 10,000 miles away in the UK, your pages, and especially Julie's photos, have kept me updated on what is happening at Morgan Park, Warwick. Why should I be interested? My daughter Vanessa is 'in it for the long haul' over at Morgan Park, her horse Rookie is there and, of course, has contracted the EI. She cannot go home because her business involves being an Instructor and also running an Agistment Breaking and Training Complex in Aratula with her partner.

She is showing typical 'get on with it' characteristics' and will be determined to see it through no matter what, as are all those affected at Morgan Park.

You will all get through this and good luck to you all. We are flying out to Brisbane in November to see our daughter (hope she will be out by then!).

All the very best to all at Morgan Park - Chris Craig, Bolton UK

Horse Flu

I can't understand the small minds of some of the people that I have talked to in my local area. They are complaining that their races will be postponed, pony club events put on hold all over a silly runny nose!!!. Even had someone wanting to borrow my float - didn't he get angry when I said no way. all I can say to them is - Hay guys WAKE UP and look at the bigger picture. There are people with really sick horses and if we don't do the right thing now we will be looking at bigger issues later on. Putting things on standstill now to try and solve this is way better than having the whole country at a standstill for a longer period of time. Yes I'm disappointed that I haven't been able to go to any of my planned horse events, but I would rather miss 6 months of competitions then be to scared to travel and compete on the off chance one of my horses would get sick.

My heart goes out to everyone that had or has a sick horse, I hope they all recover soon and return to their normal selves.
SS Central QLD.