No guarantees on Cup holiday

Victorian Premier John Brumby has refused to guarantee Melbourne Cup Day would remain a public holiday if the race is cancelled due to horse flu.

Read more.

Horse Sale Going Ahead in QLD

HEY JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A HORSE SALE DUE TO HAPPEN ON THE 9TH AND 10TH NOVEMBER IN ROCKHAMPTON Q.L.D

I AM SUPPOSED TO BE A VENDOR AND HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS WITH THE AGENT REGARDING HIM CONTINUING BUT HE SAYS HE IS STILL GOING ON WITH IT

Well Said and a Big Thanks

FIRSTLY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO HORSE DEALS, THE ONLY SITE WHERE I CAN FIND RESULTS AND PHOTOS OF NOT ONLY BIG EVENTS BUT ALSO THE PONY CLUB STUFF. NOT TO MENTION THE ONLY WAY WE CAN FIND INFOMATION REGARDING EI. ALSO HORSEDEALS WAS HOW I FOUND MY PERFECT MOUNT AND BEST FRIEND, SO THANKYOU!

SECONDLY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY "AMEN" TO SUE HEATON WHO POSTED A BLOG ON SUNDAY 23RD SEP. VERY WELL SAID! US NON RACE HORSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING FORGOTTEN AND AFTER ALL WE ARE THE ONES THAT SAVE THE UNWANTED EX-RACEHORSES FROM BECOMING NEGLECTED OR WORSE STILL, DOG FOOD. I HOPE YOUR SITUATION CAN BE REVEIWED AND YOU ARE ABLE TO GO THE 200M DOWN THE ROAD TO EXERCISE YOUR FRIENDS.
MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL THOSE DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE EI SITUATION. I PRAY THAT THIS AWFUL SITUATION QUICKLY RUNS ITS COURSE AND EVERYTHING RETURNS TO NORMAL EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BUY A HORSEDEALS MAG EVERY MONTH UNTIL THIS SITUATION IS RESOLVED AS THEY ARE HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BEING KEPT UP TO DATE AND ARE JUST AS AFFECTED FINANCIALLY AS THE HORSE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY OR EQUINE DENTISTS, ETC OR DARE I SAY THE POOR RACING INDUSTRY. LETS LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER!

LINDA, I HAVE 3 HORSES.

Absolute Shock

Dear Horse Deals,

I admit to absolute shock at the two Victorian horse sales with second hand horse gear, coming up within the next couple of weeks.

I would like to think that Victorian horse owners and lovers would be smart enough to simply be disgusted at the risks involved with visiting these sales, and show their commitment to helping stop the spread of EI by NOT going to either of these horse sales.

Let us hope intelligence shines through, and that both sales are a complete flop. Why have these sales not been stopped ? Because there is no law to stop them ???? So until laws can be put in place to cover these new situations, why cant the appropriate departments step in and force them to wait.

No, there is no law against stupidity, nor greed, but there should be laws to protect the rest of us horse owners from the greedy and the ignorant. How amazing in a most stupid way. I personally find it hard to comprehend that anyone would want to risk their horses by attending these sales. The racing industry would not hold a sale of horses and gear.....simply because they would not be allowed to nor would they want to.

The Royal Melbourne show has shown its commitment by canceling all horse sections . So why are the "average horse owners" risking these kind of sales, and why are they allowed to ?

Are we, the "casual riding horse owners" of so little consequence to the big picture that the "big wigs" ignore the risks we take with our ponies and horses and in the long run, everyone else's ?

No matter where you look, farrier's, dentist's, vet's, teacher's, students, club’s, trail ride business', breeders, etc, are taking precautions in all states including Victoria - and doing their best to help control the spread of EI, which is not in Victoria at this stage, because of people showing intelligence and diligence.

I for one cannot afford the vet costs involved with EI, after 12 months of drought, rising feed costs, and now looking in the face of another 12 months of drought, with a lack of farmers selling "last season's hay" to tide me through. I may not be a well-known stud or flashy racehorse owner, but half of my 15 horses are rescue or adopted, who have as much right to a healthy happy life as every other horse.

Disgusted owner of riding and rescue horses in Victoria.

Kindest Regards
Linda

Not Another Sick Horse

Even with all the Biosecurity measures in place the disease continues to spread
Getting the horses tested was like pulling teeth
Do hobby horse owners count?

Mistysrun (muswellbrook)

If you can't beat it........

We seem to fighting a losing battle. This virus is just too contagious. As containment and quarantine procedures continue to fail it seems we are moving painfully slowly towards the inevitable - all non-vaccinated horses in Australia will get this virus. So is this such a big problem?

No horse has died, or even had serious complications from this virus. The most serious problems is lack of activity and change of feed causing the life-threatening colic. If we treat horses for secondary infections, and are careful to return them to work very slowly, there will be no long term damage.

Why don't all horses just return home if they are stranded. Let infected horses and people contact others and spread this flu as quickly as possible. Cancel all horse events for the next 6 months. Don't even try to hang on to the Melbourne Cup - there is no way it will go ahead at this rate.

In a months we can start slowly riding our horses. In 2-3 months we can bring them back into work. In 6 months the whole of Australia can be back riding, racing, training, and the industry thriving again.

This slow process is torturing us all. Let's just get over it and back to normal as quickly as we can!

URGENT!!! CHANGE OF DATE. SHOULD READ TOMORROW, 27TH SEPTEMBER!!

RALLY, NOT OCTOBER, SEPTEMBER 27TH!!

Letters to Pollies

Well I've emailed Mr Howard, Mr Rudd, my local federal MP and written an open letter to all pollies. Have any of them replied? Not one. I think they all are running scared. The cost of compensation to all buisiness affected by EI will run into the muli millions. Come on Mr Costello, you have been bragging about your govt. brilliant handling of the ecomomy and you are now swimming in cash. Well hand some out to the people who gave it to you in the first place. You are so quick to send money overseas to help and I'm not knocking that, but we in your own country are hurting badly. Fair go, Pollies! Penny.

Equine Influenza Eradication Strategy

Dear Sir/Madam

I am both a veterinarian and a horse owner in Queensland. I have one horse recovering from equine Influenza (EI) in Morgan Park, Warwick, and another in Rochedale, Queensland, currently without EI.

I am extremely disappointed that there does not appear to be a coherent effective and scientifically based plan for EI vaccination, as a means to eradicate the disease from Australia. The current DPI plan appears to be to vaccinate racehorses and high value horses as a priority, at the expense of vaccination of the ring/buffer containment zone.

This decision certainly seems to be politically and economically based, rather than in the best interests of eradicating the disease from Australia.

I am indeed extremely disappointed with the entire manner that this outbreak has been handled. There have been many instances of biosecurity measures being put in place far too late to be effective, which has resulted in the spread of EI not only up into Queensland (Morgan Park 24th August), but throughout Queensland (Minden/Rosewood, Laidley, Brookfield)

In addition, it appears that the current biosecurity measures that have been implemented are only slowing the spread of the disease - the constantly increasing number of infected properties is hard evidence. In addition, recent decisions to permit Thoroughbreds to race were poor ideas based on a politics and economics, rather than on science. This has resulted in accelerated spread of the disease and will have far greater economic impact on the racing industry than if proper biosecurity had been maintained for a little longer, while an appropriate vaccination eradication plan, such as the paper outlined below, had been implemented.

It appears that Australia is now at a crucial time of decision. A scientifically based plan of action is needed to eradicate this disease, and the implementation needs to be clear and concise and immediate. I draw your attention to the paper by Peatfield, Crowley, Kannigieter, and Roberts (24th September 2007) published at www.horsedeals.com.au under the heading Economic Vs. Scientific.

This paper outlines what appears to be a sound eradication strategy, with the most effective use of vaccine. This strategy, according to the paper, will allow areas outside the containment area to return to normal activity within one month. This would allow racing to resume in many areas - something that should at least sway the decision of the Department of Primary Industries and Politicians.

I sincerely hope that the decision makers involved in the EI outbreak read this paper thoroughly as an immediate priority, before large numbers of vaccines are distributed. This paper is based on very sound scientific principles, and gives us an excellent chance of still eradicating EI at this late stage.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Kylie Schischka BVSc

(Letter sent to Department of Primary Industries 26th September 2007)

Call Centre

When I first heard of the EI outbreak a month ago, I knew it was going to really affect us for months” declared Karen Tinney, wife of Sydney Eventing Team Gold Medalist, Stuart. “Not long after the outbreak I was speaking to Judy Fasher, who told me of the NSW ‘call centre’ initiative’ to help all that derive an income from horses to apply for funding from The Commercial Horse Assistance Payment (CHAP) scheme . Our business had stopped in its tracks. Do you need people, I asked, well I’m applying. So now, and for the next three months I am working nine to five to answer EI related questions and help people organise their claims for assistance from the 45 million dollar government grant. EI has just been devastating for so many people.

“The claim forms have only just become available and until next week, when a 1800 number will be established, we can be contacted at the NSW EFA on 02 9 6202 600, or the forms and information can be downloaded from the NSW EFA website, http://www.efansw.com.au/ CHAP is different from the Business Assistance Grant and the Hardship Grant, in that it relates directly to the number of horses involved in the business. We are there to try and help people get thought this.

“Even thought we were strict with out bio-security, EI arrived at home last Friday (21st). We have 22 horses and all bar two, that were vaccinated last October, have the flu. While I am at the call centre, Stuart is at home looking after the horses, our two daughters and doing all the housework. Our long time groom, Amy is on leave and we have a student to help, but it is full on for him.

“EI has certainly delayed everyone’s Olympic preparation, as even if you do not get the flu, Sydney and Adelaide are cancelled. Vettori (that has flu) has already qualified for the Games, but we have three other horses we are hoping to qualify, and I know other people have less experienced horses that were looking to get qualified at Adelaide. So now we will look forward to the Sydney 3DE, rescheduled for next April and Melbourne in June.

“The horses will all be turned out for a month to get over the flu and then we will start working them again. I think the only way to stop this happening again is mandatory vaccination, as from an Olympic viewpoint, we would not want another outbreak next April”.

Victorian Horse Sales

Today Horse Deals received a call from a concerned horse owner in Victoria expressing her anger at 2 horse sales scheduled to occur in the next few weeks. On investigation it was confirmed that the sales will have more than 10 horses entered and second hand horse gear and saddlery will be on sale. From enquiries with the sales organiser it was confirmed that a permit ‘wasn't necessary to run either sale in Victoria however they have permission from the DPI to do so’. A quick phone call by Horse Deals to the DPI in Victoria confirmed that any horse sale in Victoria can go ahead as there is ‘No Law’ to stop this practice from continuing. So whilst most of the horse industry is working together to stop the spread of EI, others think they are above the industry to do whatever they want.

RALLY WITH CHANNEL 7 AND 4BC RADIO, BRISBANE - THURSDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER

I have copied this from an email doing the rounds to get us to make it known
how hard we are ALL doing it.!!!
To All Horse People,

Are you experiencing hardship due to Equine Influenza?

4BC Radio along with the Channel 7 News crew are conducting an outside
Morning Breakfast Show on Thursday 27th of SEPTEMBER.

We need your attendance to put your plight forward.

The Breakfast Show is from 6 - 9 am.

Meet in the car park. Please be there at 7 am. Look for sign Mr Ed!

The address is Karri Ave, Logan Central at Logan Gardens. From Wembley Rd
pass KMart shopping centre on L/H side, go under railway bridge and turn
left at first street, Jacaranda Ave, and then first right into Civic Pde
into car-park.

You can find this address on the site www.whereis.com

Signs will direct from car-park to broadcast. Free Breakfast supplied.

We all need to band together and act in a cordial manner. Remember the
hosts are not horsey people and probably are unaware of any other types of
horses other than thoroughbred race horses as per all media reports. We
need to get the message across that the results of EI have been devastating
to the pleasure horse people and we exist in thousands.
We need action now! Rudy Moeller is our spokesperson.

This is a great opportunity to air your plight - please don't miss it!

The Australian Performance Horse Magazine has been instrumental in
contacting 'Today Tonight' Channel 7, who in turn has contacted Rudy
Moeller, the spokesperson for this group.

A class action has been suggested and if you wish to go on a register please
email me on janine@prespub.com

Legal advice re class action is that it can't be commenced until details of
the 'official investigation' have been published.

Please forward this to as many people as you can so we can rally together.

Please contact Rudy on 07 55470 400 or rtpest@bigpond.net.au

Robyn McCosker another person to contact for more information is on 0431 740
687

Janine Leichsenring
EDITOR

Australian Performance Horse Magazine

EQUINE INFLUENZA

I WAS QUESTIONED TODAY AS TO WHETHER PEOPLE CAN RIDE AROUND WILLY NILLY WITH A TRAVELLING HORSE PERMIT? I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION A TRAVELLING HORSE PERMIT WAS TO MOVE A HORSE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON. I CONTACTED OUR LOCAL RURAL LANDS PROTECTION BOARD AFTER READING THE NSW DPI SITE AS INSTRUCTED. THEY BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN RIDE AROUND IN THE GREEN ZONE WITH A TRAVELLING HORSE PERMIT. NOT THINKING THIS COULD BE RIGHT I RANG THE NSW DPI TO CLARIFY. THE LADY EXPLAINED TO ME A TRAVELLING HORSE PERMIT IS TO MOVE A HORSE FOR A SPECIFIC REASON AND YOU CAN RIDE YOUR HORSE BETWEEN TO PARCELS OF LAND IF THEY ARE SEPERATED BY ROAD, RIVER, CREEK OR WATERWAY BEING THIS IS WHERE THE HORSE IS CURRENTLY AT. THIS IS HOW I READ THE DPI SITE AND MOST SENSIBLE RECREATIONAL HORSE PEOPLE DO. STILL PEOPLE IN OUR AREA ARE RIDING AROUND. THIS NEEDS TO ADDRESSED QUICKLY.

DID THE NSW DPI THINK ABOUT SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AND TRAVELLERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE VISITING FROM INFECTED AREAS INTO NON INFECTED AREAS????? WE HAVE SEEN HOW EASILY THIS CAN SPREAD!!!!!

THANX ANGE

COBARGO

So what can each of us do to help?

I think most of us are unanimous in our opinion that EI should not have got into Australia and that the non-racing equestrian community is being neglected by the government particularly in the way of financial compensation. If the horse industry is losing so much money someone must be saving it elsewhere? If you derive your income from a non-horse business and your horses haven’t got EI then chances are that you are saving money – competition entry fees, lessons, saddlery etc. It has been a month and EI has already had a major financial impact on studs, saddleries, instructors, farriers, transport companies etc and as a horse owner I don’t want my local saddlery, instructor or farrier to go out of business. So what can each of us do to help?

Saddlery

There isn’t many of us that can walk into a saddlery and say we don’t need anything – there is always something that we have been hanging out to buy or perhaps you can do your Christmas shopping early. How about get a group of your horsey friends together, go to your local saddlery on the weekend buy a few things, then go have a coffee (choose an outside table) and then you can decontaminate in the sun, go home have a shower and change before you visit your horses. Lets be smart and avoid transimitting the disease but lets not get so scared that at the end of this we don't have the services of business and people that we have relied on to date. If we all got together and helped out our local saddlery it will make a difference – you might save someones job or you might save their business.

Studs

So were you in the market to purchase a horse? Now that most of us have our houses looking very clean maybe it’s a good idea to start looking through websites etc. The last thing studs need are tyre kickers but if you are genuinely in the market then it means that when the ban is lifted you have done your research and know which horses you want to look at so that it isn’t months after the ban is lifted that studs start getting back on their feet (if they can). For those of us that are patient buying a foal now is a real option – with or without the movement ban it is going to be at stud for a few more months – this means you have secured your next riding horse (much cheaper then buying it as a broken 3yo) and will help the stud through this tough time. So maybe you are searching for a particular bloodline contact the relevant studs and find out what mares are foaling this year to what stallion. Some studs have locked down completely and others may allow buyers on their premises after following strict decontamination procedures.

Instructors

If your instructor is not giving lessons due to EI have you thought about having a video lesson? For those with the technology duplicate the tape/cd/dvd and have a phone lesson. It gives you a completely different perspective and will give you a chance to see what your instructors sees (sounds scary doesn’t it??)

Obviously there are other horse businesses that you may support (eg transport companies) that you may not be able to provide immediate assistance to. But if anyone else has ideas about helping their local horsey business then please put them on this blog.

At times like these it is easy to get angry and frustrated..... we can't go back and change anything so lets try and move forward and help each other out. I

Catherine

Logan Village, Queensland

Rally in Logan

Could you please let people know about the rally for horse people at Logan
Central shopping centre. Channel 7 Sunrise will be there and so will 4BC
radio doing a live broadcast. We need everyone's support especially those
from the NON racing horse fraternity.
If you are affected by EI with no income or just want to show your support
please come. You may email myself sharadam@bigond.com and I will forward the
details to you.
cheers

Sharon

ps. Thank you again Horse Deals for your support.

Vaccinations and a National Database

I returned from France in January after living there for seven years, during which time my daughter and I rode, and we owned three horses. The last was a gorgeous 2yo Welsh/Anglo-Arab filly – I was able to buy her with total confidence because I could research her origins online, as well as have her vet checked, of course. I could know for certain that she was exactly what the breeders said, and that she was not stolen, etc. Needless to say, she was completely perfect.

This latest fiasco with equine flu horrifies me, but I am also amazed at people here who do not want their horses to be microchipped or put on a national database. The entire French system is superb. They have a really well run horse breeding industry and various websites. If you want to see an example, have a look at this website www.haras-nationaux.fr/portail/particuliers/interroger-le-sire/informations-sur-un-cheval/. Then put in the name of a French stallion – for example Ever Des Chouans, then click on valider. Then carry on to click on the underlined name for more information. This is just a small part of the entire website. It’s in French but you’ll get the idea. To get more access to information you have to register.

I know that the French have fantastic resources but we have to start somewhere and it would lead to a better regulated industry with better bred horses in the long run. We love our horses in Australia as much as the French do, we should make it happen here. A microchip is just a small start.

In addition, the entire French horse industry does not grind to a halt because of equine flu because they do annual vaccinations.

We can’t go anywhere near a horse at the moment. Our riding school is in quarantine (we have made a donation, of course) and are planning to buy a horse but not just yet.

I can’t believe how much talk there is of the racing industry when so many other people are affected. As they say in France – “Bon courage” - to all who are struggling to keep going.

Claire Linsdell

Artarmon NSW

Horses At Hobart Royal Postponed.

Hobart Royal Show Secretary, Marion Woodward informed Horse Deals today that all horse events at the forthcoming Royal Hobart Show, 24th to the 27th October would be postponed until February 7th to the 10th 2008.

The Hobart Cup/Regatta long weekend has for the past several years been the date for the Hobart (Summer) Royal Breed Show. Due to the EI outbreak on the mainland, led and ridden horses will once again join forces in February.

Any further information concerning Hobart Royal, pleas email Marion Woodward at
marion@hobartshowground.com.au

We've Got It.

Over the last three weeks Horse Deals has been talking to Heath Ryan regarding the situation at Lochinvar. When we rang this morning for an update, we were greeted with, “well we’ve got it. We just watched EI come down the road, despite all the bio-security measures we put in place. It just came from paddock to paddock. At this stage though it does not look as if it is going to develop into a serious situation”.

We rang to find out about the vaccination programme regarding the elite horses. “The imported horses do not have it and I can’t be sure, but I think Jive Magic and Regardez Moi had EI as two-year-olds in England, which should give them some immunity. Anyway they do not have it, neither do Greenoaks Dundee or Donna Carrera. Both would have been vaccinated in the past, Dundee 12 months ago when he went to Europe. We were certainly part of the Olympic horse and valuable stud stock vaccination programme, but I’m not sure what will happen now that we have EI here and there is the argument that these horses might be incubating. It is yet another case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.

“So much is being reported about how many millions this or that racing personality is loosing, but very little about anyone else. If you are loosing millions, then you are making millions and the glass is half full. There are as many people involved in the equine industry outside of racing and the Thoroughbred industry, but not the amount of money involved. We can either sit back, cop it on the chin and go out of business, or (regrettably) take legal action. I’m not sure joining in a class action with the racing industry is the way to go, as we would always be secondary to them. I think we must seek just compensation on our own behalf. There are so many people out there seriously hurting”.

When Heath answered the telephone we asked, are you busy, can we talk? “Certainly” he said, “I am just doing a piaffe to walk transition with Dundee”! A period of long rein walk followed as we talked. (Heath’s horses will soon recognise our ring and immediately walk. There will be no mobile phones allowed at SIEC from now on.) “I’m trying to make this period as productive as possible and am exploring territory I would not usually be experiencing. In competition you get no prizes for getting into deep water and it not working. In my mind’s eye, I’m up there with Anky”.

We thought we had better leave Heath to his training and catch up with him next week for another EI situation report.

Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong

Check out the site for the CSIRO lab where all the testings are happening, it is pretty interesting. It cost $150 mill to build & in some cases workers are not allowed to be in contact with livestock for 7 days after they finish working with an animal related disease. I also watched an interesting video clip which shows how they do things & explains the history of the Lab.
Australian Animal Health Laboratory website

Qld DPI Report

Breaking news: 5:30pm Tuesday 25 September 2007: Results from the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong have confirmed Equine Influenza at Hendra. DPI&F has also confirmed that a property in Brisbane's Eastern suburbs is infected.

Renewed threat to spring carnival

VICTORIAN racing authorities have issued an urgent request for 12,000 doses of equine influenza vaccine, as the crisis cripples Queensland's racing industry and threatens Victoria's $500 million spring carnival.

As an outbreak of horse flu in Brisbane forced cancellation of racing there until February next year, two of Victoria's leading horse trainers yesterday also demanded that the Victorian and federal governments commence widespread vaccinations across the state.

Read the full story.

ROAR DON'T WHISPER

Attention all Queenslanders if the media won't come to us , we the people will come to them!!!!
One word Demonstration
We WILL HAVE A VOICE!!
email me with your interest and any ideas that you have. Remember everybody ROAR DON'T WHISPER

angela@stockhorse.com.au
ANG