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Heathcote enrages Kiwis

A QUEENSLAND trainer who deliberately infected horses at his stables with equine flu has flown into a storm of controversy in New Zealand.

New Zealand's Biosecurity department put out an alert for Brisbane's Robert Heathcote on Friday, after learning he had flown into the country, which does not have equine influenza.

Read more.

Melbourne show losses

Meanwhile the banning of horses from this year's Royal Melbourne Show has cost in excess of $200,000.

The Royal Agricultural Society had to exclude horses this year because of the equine influenza outbreak in NSW and Queensland.

Spokesman Mark O'Sullivan says crowds were down about 10 per cent.

Read more.

Video Link; http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200709/r187810_701636.asx

Definition of an Optimist

We are in Brookfield QLD- less than 500 metres from where the virus started
its merry run in our suburb courtesy of the wonderfully considerate people
who bolted from Morgan Park because they knew what was coming - and the
decisive chief DPI vet who didn't think it was serious enough to close the
Morgan Park gates. Anyway that's all water under the bridge and somehow we
have remained EI free. I have been championing the cause for vaccination
from day one - and where are we now - day 30 something and Tweedledee and
Tweedledum at the DPI continue to scratch their heads .

Once the first order of vaccinations was allocated, here in QLD, it was to
be 1. racehorses in the EI free areas - Gold Coast, Toowoomba and Sunshine
Coast, 2. Horses in the ever moving buffer zone (maybe it would help if all
DPI staff were to complete a basic 'Introduction to QLD Geographical areas'
course)- (That way their staff members wouldn't be issuing permits for
horse movements because they can't differentiate between the red and green
zones ) ........- anyway -3. The other horses to receive the first round of
vaccines were those horses on the various EFA squads.

As far as I know, the squad coordinators received the go ahead to contact
the various members sometime around lunchtime on Friday. Here it is now
Sunday night and the officiating vet has yet to be contacted by ANYONE in
the DPI hierarchy regarding this vaccine allocation. This is despite the
fact that ALL horses on NSW EFA Squads have now been issued with their
first jab. There is very strong evidence to suggest that in fact there will
not be enough vaccine to give these performance horses their first dose.
So they will have to wait until consignment 2 arrives at the end of the
week.

This is only a horse owner's observations of events of the last couple of
days. It just so happens that I have four horses at home - two of which are
on squads. Lucky them .....maybe. I have vigilantly maintained total
lockdown and every other quarantine measure I could impose - buying feed
elsewhere (sorry) - not visiting any horses or their owners etc etc -
watched the wind blow, took temperatures until the horses ran away when they
saw the thermometer etc etc. For whatever reason , the virus moved past and
is steadfastly moving on.

So where are we now? Waiting first of all for the DPI to come up with the
vaccine .....but even if they do where does this leave my other two and
quite a few others around me who have been vigilant in imposing lockdown
and are still EI free after 5 weeks? Why shouldn't these horses also be
offered the vaccination?

It would seem that there is a culture within the DPI which are pushing the
'catch it sooner rather than later ' mantra. I don't know this for sure.
But realistically how else is this so called buffer zone idea going to
work? As mentioned earlier - my street was infected 5 weeks ago. My horses
are clear. So down the track when for whatever reason, they contract EI
because they have not been previously vaccinated, OR infected and the
standstill is lifted - and I inadvertently take the virus to Maryborough or
Glen Innes or Richmond - where are we then????

I am aware that many leading vets believe that we have to work towards
eradication at all costs. On the other hand there is a Federal Election
around the corner. AQIS is a federal body. The Government is responsible ,
and is therefore obliged to act in some way so that they can be seen to be
doing something. What's the bet that in the not too far distant future, the
white flag goes up and hello - compulsory vaccination.

Queenslanders - we have seen nothing but bumbling and buffoonery from the
so called Department of Primary Industries - we know that they are totally
understaffed - both in terms of numbers and knowledge. The State Government
couldn't give a rats - or didn't until someone gave Anna a dig and
suggested that there might be a few votes involved.

This tsunami like disaster requires a central highly organised body out in
front to avoid the horrendous ineptitudes the last few weeks have churned
out .

My heart goes out to everyone who is really doing it tough as a result of
this mess. I can only hope you apply for and get every cent from every govt
handout that you can. I honestly cannot see any realistic change to the
current lockdown (I was even pulled up by the cops with a load of feed on
board - they thought I had a horse behind the hay)while there are still
pockets of uninfected horses who at this stage will not be offered the
vaccine. Those of you filling out entries for Canberra and Sydney Royal
..............are we the definition of optimism???

I would welcome any feedback and thanks to HD for the opportunity to let it
rip!
ACP

Wake Up Australia Its Over...

I have been watching this thread and seen comments from other DPI staff. I have horses and am suffering like the rest of us. I was hired this week by DPI and have had the opportunity to work at a command centre, a great bunch of people with no direction.

Before this I had little hope that DPI was handling the outbreak well, understaffed, under resourced and the inability to make any form of decision. DPI NSW and Qld knew about EI on the Wednesday before the lock down - 4 days! Inside those four days were the beginnings of the end. Now having been "at the coal face" my concerns are well justified. Experiencing the chaos and poor co-ordination going on there is no hope. DPI can’t respond efficiently, can’t track outbreaks efficiently, can’t plan buffers or mobile teams. All they are doing is creating a paper trail as they "document" the outbreak.

Lots of duplication, outdated systems and lack of know how. Ask anyone who has been contacted by DPI - 3, 4 or 5 times from different people asking the same questions.

They have control centres in many locations that are all working independently and more scarily - independently of what other states are doing. Just look at Queenslands buffer zone and how astray from NSW it is. ( and how it follows the border and has no correlation to what a buffer in that area should actually look like.) Just chaos. So many people who have so few understanding of horses, horse people and our way of life.

There is no way to stop this - lets let it go and move on. The way things are going this will be extended out for the next 6 to 10 mths. Don’t expect life to return to normal before March /April - that’s if it doesn’t jump to new uninfected areas in the months ahead.

DPI will shuffle along simply extending the inevitable. It is now to big to be controlled, our infected areas cover some 3000 properties the size of western Europe. Lets just let it go no , let those who want to vaccinate vaccinate, - let the others let the horses get it and move on as a country that has to vaccinate - like the rest of the world. Taking this path this will all be over in 2 to 3 mths, with a long, long road to recovery.

If not we will be will be under tighter restrictions for a long, long time, While the industry dies a fast death, there will be one lock down after another as spot fires break out left right and centre. We will waste months and months trying to control. South Africa took 10 months to control - how many times does South Africa fit into infected NSW and Qld - do you get the picture yet? (SA now vaccinates anyway!!)

While it moves quickly from horse to horse, the real danger is that people spread this even further, followed by vehicles - forget all the other possibilities, which are minor in comparison. Infected properties spread down along the roads - carried by passing traffic. Simply look at infection maps (those that have access) DPI now acknowledges this. A buffer works if all activity stops and people follow bio security procedures. That will never happen in a real world - think about it - buffers 1000's of KM long........ Get the picture Yet??

Look where the Qld buffers run - thru state forests that have huge horse populations (lets gloss over that hole in their strategy - obviously those crazy brumbies don't get the flu, and they don’t move around, preferring to stand still and let the grass grow around them.)

Keep this in mind as we go into week 6 - look how big the spread is in NSW, growing rapidly in QLD. Say it suddenly shows up in Vic the day after Melbourne Cup (no, gosh really???). That means they then begin the lockdown process. Effectively that means quarantine counters will all be reset to zero in other states, and off we go again extending the restrictions. Get the picture yet?

This will be an endless circle.

We have reached a point where the cost to fight this exceeds the cost to the industry and any benefit of winning!

Wake up Australia - we are all being had for suckers.

Tricia

WHAT IS GOING ON ???? PLEASE EXPLAIN

A friend of ours just had her horse vaccinated for FREE at Government expense because her horse was in an agistment paddock at Somersby on the Central Coast.

They were vaccinating these agisted TB horses and because it is a LIVE vaccine her horse would get infected.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING my horse is a couple of Kilometres away and CAN NOT GET immunised ?

Now it really is a RED ZONE

Horse Deals Reader

Blog unites us all

EI has been disastrous to all of us with a definite lack of communication from Local/State and Federal Governments. Favouritism towards the race horses and the PAIN the gamblers must be feeling is a hard pill to swallow.

But through this disaster, it is nice to see the horse community come together and Horse Deals have done a wonderful job providing us with quick up to date information and the ability to discuss the issues and learn firsthand of everyone's experiences.

The school holidays makes me nervous as although I am in the green zone now... I have to wonder how long before it makes its way through the green zone, vaccinations or not.

My thoughts are with those coping with EI now and those in the firing line - I must admit, I've actually now had time for other things.

Well done Horse Deals for providing us with this blog - lets hope we can all get back to normal before the end of the year.

Gayle

Equine Influenza arrived at the Toft Stables

On day 13 since Equine Influenza arrived at the Toft Stables, whilst hundreds of their Horses now have the virus, new cases are adding to that total daily.

Since EI arrived at Toft Endurance on the 18^th September, 4 other properties operated by the Toft’s have EI despite exhaustive precautions being implemented. IT IS SO CONTAIGOUS.

One Farm still is free but for how long is the question. It will be a few more weeks before all of our Horses have the virus.

Thermometers and needles are now tools of the trade replacing saddles and bridles. With 70% of our Horses infected, clinically most are responding well with minimal treatment, though it still means treating approximately 40 Horses each day.

From our experience those most affected are imminent Broodmares, the Show Horses and the tough little Ponies. One broodmare has continued to have elevated temperatures for ten consecutive days despite treatment. She is due to foal now.

Points of interest:

· Clear patterns are emerging, including higher temperatures as the days are getting warmer.

· Our Elite International Endurance Horses including Justice, Murdoch and Friends that were vaccinated will Kill vaccine (Fort Dodge Duvaxin) demonstrated moist nostrils for one morning and all have been very well, high lighting that for us the vaccine does in fact work.

· Thirty Horses due for export had also been vaccinated recently and they also escaped lightly.

· The Queensland DPI has not been interested in this.

· The DPI has not been to see us (as of day 13).

· We do not accept waiting 10-12 months for this crisis to resolve itself.

The Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh called Peter on Friday morning to discuss the Equine Influenza crisis and its impact on the Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry. Peter now has meetings early this week with the Premier and the Minister of Primary Industries.

(Peter and Penny had called a Community meeting on Thursday night and representatives from both State and Federal Governments attended plus, three TV stations, radio and local newspapers).

Peter and Penny Toft.

Equine Influenza Meeting of Horse Owners

Equine Influenza Meeting of Horse Owners

Minutes of Meeting 27/9/07 Marburg

Meeting was opened at 7.20pm by Dr Vivian Edwards. Dr Edwards paid tribute to Peter Toft for initiating the meeting and advised tonight’s topics would be; - prevention, how EI affects a horse, and where to go from here.

He thanked Cameron Thompson and State Member Wayne Wendt for being present. Gave apologies for Paul Pissale. Announced that two Veterinarians Julian Willmore and Richard Toft would give discussions as well as Paul Wright from the DPI. Acknowledged Anna Bligh announcing today the EI as a Natural Disaster .

Peter thanked Dr Edwards, Horse Community for coming, Media & DPI for assisting with the Bio Security measures. Peter expressed dissatisfaction at the help and response given to some – and not others, expressing everyone had the same right. He was frustrated at the lack of information available on infected areas. Acknowledged vaccinations and funding should not solely be directed to the Racing and Harness industry but should flow to the pleasure industry as well. Peter received applause when he announced the multibillion dollar Pleasure Horse Industry had NO VOICE .

Commented the Govt has no records to work with. There are 250,000 horses in SEQ with 9,000 vaccinations. Peter said we need to come up with solutions, we need Govt’s full support and assistance, we need to give the Govt our full support. The Privacy policy has not helped the cause. Peter commented people like Farriers etc would have move on to find work and would not be around when the problem is over.

Peter introduced the Vets – Richard Toft and Julian Willmore.

Julian said he’d had 30 years experience with Racing and Performance horses. He spoke about how the influenza spread and the Infected Area being a wide spread area, and that the vaccination program has been bought forward with ‘live’ vaccinations arriving today, and that there would not be enough to vaccinate all. Spoke about containing the disease in the SEQ by setting up a buffer zone from maybe Gympie going West and down to Gundiwindi so when the disease hits this vaccinated area it will not spread further; while possibly vaccinating some race horses at the Gold Coast, Ipswich and Sunshine Coast. Horses need a primary dose and a 4 wk booster, with the horse being immune 6 weeks after the initial dose. Julian said it was difficult to come to agreement how long this will take.

Richard spoke on the Clinical Disease. Look after the aged and the very young. Said he has been involved with 1000 sick horses and not lost one. He said horses getting the flu now were not coping as well as the horses a few weeks ago. Commented this may be due to the warmer weather. Richard brought to attention the secondary problems of the disease, being impaction colic and stressed importance of fibre and bran in diet. He said to check foals 3 times a day. Antibiotics are only needed for a heavy nasal discharge or persistent fever. Stressed not to exercise horses, and do not underestimate the time needed for recovery (3 months), and indications are that it is a 7,8,9, or 10 month disease.

Dr Edwards asked for Questions.

*Someone questioned the Buffer Zone. *Would a foal be immune if the mare had the disease. *Infertility in Stallions. *Someone asked about compensation:- Dr Edwards said this would be discussed later. *Is there anything you can put in diet.

Dr Edwards thanked the media for promoting the best interests of the horse industry.

And introduced Paul Wright from the DPI

Paul Wright introduced himself as a humble cattleman from Tarome. He said it was difficult to work out where and how quickly the disease was spreading, and they were working on vaccinating low density areas of horses to make a buffer zone. They wanted to hold the disease away from the buffer zone for 6 weeks, so movement restrictions would stay in place. Relaxing the movement restrictions would undermine the efforts. Paul said he has recently been involved in the financial assessment of some businesses for hardship compensation.

Questions:- * brumbies. * Problems selling properties with horses on them. *Things the Govt will have to address in terms of losses.

*Bob expressed disappointment at Govt’s response and attendance of decision makers at this meeting, which was met with favourable response and applause from the community.

Steve Gray from the DPI spoke of the misinformation mailed out and now the buffer zone was extended. Spoke of Centrelink set up at Rosewood between 10-1pm for assistance, also at Gundiwindi, Warwick, Hendra

Steve Jones, the Mayor of Gatton (23 years experience as stock inspector with DPI) said people can lobby and do what the racehorse people are doing. He encouraged Peter to organise a group to get a voice to move ahead. Steve suggested Cameron Thompson take to John Howard a proposal to create a Bio Security Australia ( a stand alone department) and Wayne Wendt go to Anna Bligh.

He said there was a communication problem, and received applause when he said the people making the decisions didn’t have a clue what was going on.

He thank Paul for being there and acknowledged he was in a difficult position.

Peter said he would follow up with Cameron Thompson and Wayne Wendt and said he had received 100’s of impact statements from horse owners. Andrew Stevens spoke about being the 1^st property out of Warwick with the virus and wanted to set the record straight that the virus was on his place 5 days before the Warwick event which he contracted from Maitland. He spoke of the economic impact and the social impact it has had on his family, and said they have had 0 income since the onset.

The President of the Qld Endurance Riders Assoc spoke how the sport stoped overnight and the next year’s calendar was in jeopardy. He spoke of the financial impact with no memberships to pay for insurance etc.

Wayne Wendt (State Member) said he understands the pain people are going through, and that he was disappointed in the lack of senior Officials from the DPI attending. He acknowledged this section of the industry being overlooked, and said that needs to be addressed starting tomorrow. Give details to Peter or register. He said he will pass on impact statements and maintained this industry will not be forgotten. He said he would talk to the minister as soon as possible. He said he would have liked some more DPI experts at the meeting.

Peter said Australia and New Zealand were the only 2 countries without the Equine Influenza and that the Govt should be calling in experts from overseas for advice. He encouraged another meeting and acknowledged the difficulty in getting the pleasure industry people together.

Questions:

*Warwick Toft asked what was the value of the pleasure industry and how to find this out.

*What the Federal Govt is offering in assistance is embarrassing.

Vic Gough commented on all publicity being for the race industry, and that the race industry gets their money from the public.

Cameron Thompson (Federal Member) said the situation was unfolding very rapidly. It was very fast moving and the departments were struggling to keep up.

He stressed the need to organise very quickly a group from this room to act, and that he would like to be part of that group. He said there were many issues he had not heard of before tonight, like the 10 month period, the buffer etc. He said there were 150,000 doses on order. He acknowledged the group being part of a vibrant industry which is very diverse, and how difficult it is to understand such a diverse industry. He acknowledged the situation being a serious crisis and he suggested trying to put data together. He spoke of the Centrelink Support and Newstart Allowance. Cameron questioned the true depth of the impact and how we support this. He said the Govt have made some tentative steps but that they need to be informed further. He admitted he had not trigged to the impact of this disease until tonight.

Someone asked why it took Peter Toft to put on this meeting and not the DPI.

Cameron acknowledged that the AID is not sufficient.

Steve (Gatton Mayor) asked Wayne to organise a delegation with premier, and Cameron to organise delegation with Federal Minister or Deputy Prime Minister. Wayne committed to do that.

Dr Edwards thanked Cameron Thompson and Wayne Wendt.

Steve Gray from DPI reinforced the importance of registering of horses, and reassured that the top DPI technical people are working their butts off for solutions.

Richard Toft said this is an economic disease and needs an economist on decision making.

Dr Edwards thanked everyone at 9.45pm

Peter Toft said he would get together with a few selected people to find a workable way forward, and that we may need to have another meeting.

Qld asked to release Morgan Park moves

The state government must release its strategy for ending quarantine at a south-east Queensland equestrian park where 250 horses have been quarantined for more than a month, the state opposition says.

Read more.

Vaccination policy makes us a laughing stock: Vet

"We are the laughing stock of the world over this," Roberts said. "Why do we have to use the genetically modified vaccine?"

Roberts claims Australia has been far too slow in responding with any effective measures and maintained the use of "killed" vaccine would have been a much better option.

"There's no shortage of killed vaccine which is very effective in reducing the clinical effect of the virus to a very mild and transient disease which is overcome in a couple of days in most instances," Roberts said.

"And, importantly, the paperwork is fast tracked."

On Friday night at Rosehill, five vets - including Roberts - went through the laborious vaccination procedure that demands documentation with stewards present. He treated 56 to 58 horses.

"I did 1200 on my own in South Africa," he said.

Read More.

EI

The other day at the produce. One of the senior employees there told me a DPI woman was just in the other day. When the employee asked about the latest in EI the lady just told her it was a big farse. The government now have a way of keeping records of every horse and there where abouts another revenue making scheme. Horse owners will have to register their horses and that will eventually cost money more revenue for the government. Another way to stop the buying and selling of horses without declaring their tax and so on and so on.

Until every person related or working in the horse industry are accounted for. At the end of the day she said "no one can stop this thing spreading we are making these poor horse owners suffer for nothing.

As the employee of the produce says the EI hit her farm and a 36 year old horse and a 27 year old were infected but she declares it was three days and it was gone her horses were perfectly fine.

So I have to wonder just how much recreational horses are worth to the Government's revenue list.

Food for thought eh?

horseyjill

ei ei oh!!!!

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BUFFER ZONE AND THE RACE HORSES WILL HAVE THE
VACATIONS AND THE REST OF THE HORSES WILL JUST GET THE FLU. I THINK THE DPI
HAVE LOST THE RACE TO CONTAIN THIS OUT BREAK. I AM NOW AT THE STAGE I JUST
WANT MY HORSES TO GET IT AND HAVE IT OVER AND DONE WITH.
cara

Is the EI situation being run by bevis and butthead??

There are 16 and 17yr old pony clubbers out there who could of handled this massive disaster better, we probably would have shows to go to and the Melbourne Cup would be safe.

I would like to know just exactly who is the single handed person making the choices as to which horse gets vaccinated and which horses don't because obviously it's a thourghbred, horse racing industry loving, money hungry, heartless idiot.

When it comes to the vaccine why not start with the healthy horses first? and stop it from spreading why start in the middle of the diaster? and why oh why are they only vaccinating to save the Melbourne cup, HORSE SHOWS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ONE BLOODY RACE. There are people out there who make their living by showing their beloved horses and What?... we just sit and wait until they take care of the racing industry first because SOMEWHERE along the line SOMEONE said the Melbourne cup is more important then the likes of Melbourne or Adelaide show. NO NO NO.... There are pony clubs and show societies going to go under because of this, which means next year once this is all ridiculously dealt with the racing industry will be able to come back and have their races and the oh so important Melbourne Cup BUT... we, us SHOW and RECREATIONAL HORSE OWNERS will still have nothing as we will have lost shows because they went broke, not due to EI itself but due to the way it was handled and dealt with.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT A $1 SHOW RIBBON THIS IS ABOUT OUR LIVES AND HORSES IS WHAT WE DO!

I myself have 3 horses registered to me in my name and yet it seems the DPI has control and is telling me what I can and can't do with my horses, so lets say the DPI think they have the right to control people and what they do with their horse by rights they should pay all bills, like agistment, vet bills, feed bills and ect.

So if they would like to drop their cheque in, as their account is well over due!

To all government officials handling the EI situation from myself and on behalf of (from today and counting) the thousands of people I know and will meet

'GROW SOME BALLS AND GIVE US OUR VACCINES... YOU ARE NOT GOD!

Thanx Kacey

EFA Letter

Dear Horse Deals,

Many thanks for your very informative blog and also your well-researched updates and interviews - it is an excellent public service.

The Battle Continues

The Equine Influenza Battle Continues

"Eradicate! Eradicate!" is still the battle cry. The best solution for the sport and the industry is to contain the virus and let it burn itself out. Let's make sure the victory is going to be as crushing as Geelong's football victory today.

Message from the President

EFA President and National Board Chairman Geoff Sinclair has written a message to all members. Please read it. You can download as a PDF file.

Event Calendar

We hope to be able to get back to some level of "normality" with our events in most areas of Australia in the New Year. It is very disappointing for organising committees to have to to cancel their events. In many cases, a lot of work has already gone into the planning and often, substantial costs have been incurred. Then there is the issue of whether sponsors and other supporters are prepared (or able) to carry their contributions over to a postponed date, which in many cases falls into the next financial year. Thousands of dollars are being lost.

In the meantime, State Departments of Primary Industry (or equivalents) are allowing events including coaching clinics to be held in disease-free States and within "green zones" in the affected States, either under a permit system or with registration and other restrictions. As one has come to expect, forms, processes and guidelines vary from State to State (and Territory).

Our first priority must, of course, always be to contain the spread of the virus. We expect our members and the members of affiliated clubs and associations to strictly adhere to the respective biosecurity guidelines.

On the other hand, a risk analysis for holding localised events hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away from the infected areas will have different results to one carried out for an event planned near a buffer zone in NSW or Queensland. In all cases, strict adherence with "biosecurity" guidelines issued by the respective authorities and compliance with any other permit requirements and movement restrictions is an absolute must. To get some level of consistency, however, we have developed draft special regulations for members and affiliated bodies to ensure we meet our own obligations in respect of insurance and risk management.

The EFA has its own responsibilities as the National Sporting Organisation for Equestrian sports. We need to achieve some level of consistency, something that appears rather difficult to achieve across the various Federal and State Government departments that issue directives and guidelines.

"Australian International 3-Day Event" in Adelaide

As most of you will know this event will not take place in 2007. Next year's dates are 14 - 16 November 2008. Organisers are, however, finalising plans for a "Black Tie and Gumboots Ball" in the Adelaide parklands for Saturday, 17 November 2007. This will be the launch of the 2008 event, which promises to be bigger and better, and will be a fun- and fundraiser with top entertainment. Please watch out for other notices. Seats will be limited. Mark your diary now, go to Adelaide, "have a ball" and visit the SA wine regions while there.

Morgan Park / "Morgantown" (Warwick, Qld.)

Riders, owners and grooms are anxiously waiting for the "clear" signal for the 250 horses still on site to go home. The horses have all gone though their infectious stage and have now recovered and are apparently becoming quite boisterous. They pose no infection threat to other horses and have developed their own natural immunity to the virus. As this e-mail goes out, the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD) is considering the release protocol that has been agreed by the working party set up to develop it.

Let's hope these horses and their carers can go home next week.

EFA National Awards

The EFA National Board has decided to postpone the EFA Annual Forum until February 2008. As a consequence, the submission deadline for Annual Award nominations has been extended to 15 December 2007, so you still have a chance to nominate a worthy member, horse, club or event.

Club & Coach Insurance Renewals

We appreciate that many clubs and coaches are experiencing cash flow problems as a result of reduced income in the current circumstances. A number of coaches have written, some as early as in the second week of the crisis, suggesting that the EFA not charge registration and insurance fees to those that are finding it hard to make the required payments in the present circumstances.

Let me make a couple of points:

We renewed our insurance policy, the best and cheapest that clubs and coaches can get. We based the negotiations on certain assumption and committed to the contract well before the current crisis started. We need to pay the premium by the due date and are negotiating with the brokers for an extension of time. The premium is a considerable sum.

I doubt that the majority of members would support a knee-jerk decision to waive all or part of what we charge clubs and coaches. Is it not better to carry out a more thorough assessment of the situation and then make a considered decision on how to proceed? Renewals are not due until 30 October 2007.

And one more point on the subject of cost, in this case the cost of containing and eradicating the virus: A large portion of this already huge amount is likely to be charged back to the horse industry. Even if it is not, someone will have to pay.

What the EFA has done

Some of our efforts are described in Geoff Sinclair's message, so please refer to the PDF file.

The EFA was probably the first horse organisation outside the Racing industry to notify its members of the outbreak and to request a cancellation or termination of events through web notices, mass e-mails (to 16,500 adresses) and other communication on the morning of Saturday, 25 August 2007.

During the week after the first "horse standstill" orders in late August, the National Office asked those who were affected by the crisis to complete and send us a survey indicating the impact the crisis is having on them. We have received over 500 responses but had expected more. These and other figures have been useful in meetings with Federal and State Ministers in order to convince them that more help is needed. We have had some success but more needs to be done, particularly if the crisis continues much longer. Right now, we are waiting for a "date" with the Federal Minister to press for addtional measures.

Our industry is represented on the National bodies through the Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC). The EFA has "observer" status on the National Management Group and can exert some indirect pressure. This is some recognition of the importance of the EFA as a sport-regulatory body, the rules of which are used by affiliated and non-affiliated horse organisations across the country.

We have been in contact with the FEI about assistance in various areas. FEI President H.R.H. Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein has called personally to discuss the situation. We hope more will develop from this.

EFA Branches and in particular NSW and Queensland have been working with authorities to assist in the processing of the assistance schemes and put the case for the EFA and the horse industry in other ways. In NSW, Branch Chair David Lawrence is the representative of the Sport and Leisure Horse Industry and joins meeting of NSW Agriculture Minister Ian Macdonald together with Thoroughbred Racing and Harness Racing representatives.

The EFA's principal partner, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), is being kept up-to-date and has been very supportive.

At the National Office, we hope to be able to appoint a part-time person soon to help with promotion of, and publicity for, the sport, particularly in the current cricumstances. This position was advertised some time ago but the selection process experienced delays for some reason .....

Vaccination

We realise that some industry groups have called on the Government to accept the fact that Equine Influenza is here to stay and that all horses ought to be vaccinated. We on the other hand believe that current efforts to contain and eradicate the virus must be given our full support. While the current crisis is creating financial difficulties for many individuals and businesses, accepting vaccination as fait accompli brings with it many other long term costs, not just the cost of inoculation. The way our sport is run would change dramatically and impose ongoing burdens on organisers, administrators and participants. A return to an EI-free Australia is a much better option. So let's not throw in the towel as yet.

Vaccination is not a total solution in any case. The stallion that brought the virus to our country was, I am sure, vaccinated. Vaccination can mask the presence of the disease and can lead to the unsuspected spread of the virus. Outbreaks will occur even when large parts of the horse population have been vaccinated. The virus mutates and can render vaccination ineffective.

To repeat our point, the eradication of the virus is the much-preferred option, particularly in the longer term.

That said, our "Olympic Shadow Team" horses (basically the various National Squads) are being vaccinated, as are valuable breeding stock in our industry.

The Callinan Inquiry

Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran MP has appointed the Honourable Ian Callinan AC to conduct a Commission of Inquiry and report before 25 April 2008 with respect to:

(a) the circumstances that have contributed to the outbreak of equine influenza in Australia and

(b) the need for any strengthened biosecurity procedures for quarantine management of imported horses.

All persons who can assist in this inquiry are asked to come forward. These would particularly be people who have in the last couple of years been involved with the import of horses through the Eastern Creek Quarantine Station and have had first-hand experience with procedures followed there. If you wish to seek leave to appear before the Commission on 03 October 2007, you need to provide written notice of that intention to be received by the Inquiry by Tuesday, 02 October 2007 (not much notice). For details on how to submit information or how to seek leave to appear, please download a PDF file.

Supporters and Sponsors

I cannot close without thanking our funding agencies, sponsors and supporters.

In particular, we would like to mention

• the Australian Sports Commission, our Principal Sponsor,
• the Australian Olympic Committee,
• Horseland
• Kentucky Equine Research and Ridley Agriproducts,
• Horse Deals magazine, and
• Aon Risk Management Services.

For more news and other information, please visit www.equestrian.org.au or your State Branch web (www.[state].equestrian.org.au).

EI Meeting this Monday 1st October at Carina

Hi All

Can you please forward this email to as many people as you possible can?

We are holding an information evening on Equine Influenza on Mon 1^st Oct at Carina Leagues Club 6.30pm.
Pauline Gaven (Veterinary Surgeon and Practice Principal) along with representatives from the DPI will be presenting information on EI.
Please make sure that you adhere to all bio-security on arrival and the DPI will provide decontamination kits for departure.
If you have any queries please call me on (07) 3396 9733

Regards

Natalie Murphy
Equine Manager
Manly Road Veterinary Hospital

219 Manly Road, Manly West Qld 4179
Phone: 07 3396 0121
Fax: 07 3396 1035
Email: nataliem@manlyroadvet.com.au
Web : www.manlyroadvet.com.au

Are you part of the racing industry ?

I like a lot of others usually have a bet or two on the Melbourne Cup and attend a few race meetings each year where I spend my hard earned dollars. I guess that means I play a part

in the racing industry.

We also have horses (not race horses) and am not too impressed with

how the racing industry appears to be getting special treatment at the expense of all other horse disciplines. As of today I won't be having another bet on the horses or attending any race meetings. I want to make sure I'm not contributing to an industry that seems to have no thought for anyone but itself and obviously has the lobby power to get favorable treatment from all levels of government and the press.

I'd rather donate that money to a good cause, perhaps we could start up a fund for those

not in the racing industry who are affected by this outbreak.

Max

Qld DPI Report 30th September

Sunday 30 September: There are currently 432 infected properties in Queensland. Equine Influenza is still contained to the Red Zone in the State's South East. Vaccination, as part of DPI&F program of containment is underway.

Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Friday, September 28, 2007

BLIGH ANNOUNCES $20 MILLION PACKAGE FOR HORSE INDUSTRY

An immediate $20 million State Government assistance package is operational for all Queenslanders whose livelihoods are affected by the equine influenza outbreak, Premier Anna Bligh said today.

Ms Bligh urged anyone suffering hardship to immediately contact the Equine Influenza helpline (13 25 23) or to visit the Government’s assistance centres across the affected “Red Zone”. A mobile one-stop shop also would be dispatched to areas in need.

She said a one-stop shop opened this morning in Hamilton, in Brisbane’s racing precinct, to offer a wide range of help to people affected by the outbreak.

It will complement the services available at Warwick, Goondiwindi, Mt Tamborine, Rosewood and Brookfield that provide advice on containment. The Government is set to expand the network of one-stop shops to other hot-spots.

The immediate $20 million State Government assistance package includes:

• An initial $5million to provide one-off payments for individuals and families of up to $155 for individuals and $750 for families.
• $10 million to help struggling businesses meet interest payments on new or existing loans. Up to $5000 is available in dollar-for-dollar subsidies.
• A $5 million recovery package to help the horse industry retain skilled employees and get back on their feet after the influenza outbreak.

“The people doing it tough are not confined to the racing industry. The horse industry is much broader than most people think and we want to help anyone who has been affected,” Ms Bligh said.

“Our assistance package is in addition to the national assistance scheme recently announced by the Commonwealth, which includes a range of welfare payments and business assistance grants.

“We anticipate that our rescue package could run to $20 million in the short term and are working with the industry to keep on top of the situation as it evolves.

“A top-level Equine Influenza Taskforce comprising the directors-general of relevant state departments is constantly monitoring the outbreak and reporting directly to me on the Government’s response. It will ensure we will take swift action wherever necessary to get people through this crisis.

Details of all assistance is available by calling the helpline or visiting the one-stop shops. The Government is working with Red Cross, Lifeline and St Vincent de Paul and the Federal Government to provide assistance.

Ms Bligh said the initial $20 million package was on top of the $1.5 million the State Government had spent to date on containing the outbreak and buying vaccine.

Vaccination of horses on the Gold Coast will start tomorrow and the Government will receive a further 100,000 doses over the next four weeks.


Further information: Premier’s Office 3224 4500

Getting Answers

Suzanne the DPI&F has a "compliments, complaints & suggestions" link on their site in relation

to EI and their handling of it. They state that they will answer your enquiry within 3 working

days. A friend rang the 1300 number recently and got no satisfaction at all , then e-mailed and

was contacted by the department and able to get the info requested in relation to the same

issue you have. Below is the link to the site.

Good Luck !

QLD DPI Complaints

Strange Bio-Security

Despite all horses being vetted into the Perth Showgrounds, one was found to show flu-like symptoms on the 29th September. Tests were taken and rushed for analysis, but despite the Royal Show Society suggesting the horses should be locked down until the results returned, the WA DPI removed the affected horse along with the horse stabled either side of it! Fortunately the horse did not have EI, but if it had, would not its removal have caused further spread of the disease, and does this action not go contrary to everything we have heard should and will happen?

Not A Good Year

The death of Matthew Dowsley’s WEG Dressage team horse, Cinderella, earlier this year, was a cruel blow. Whilst the years spent training Claudia and Francis Harper’s charismatic mare were certainly not wasted, it is for Matthew, a case of starting at the beginning again. And now the equine influenza outbreak has struck another cruel blow to the rider and trainer who so inspired the nation at the Aachen WEG last year.

“It’s hideous really, we were just starting to get things back together and everything has come to a halt. We are in the Purple Zone and up to this point since the outbreak, people have not been able to come and train with their horses. We have six horses here, but we usually have from ten to 15. At least the horses here are benefiting from the extra attention, and the garden and paddocks are looking wonderful, but the situation is grim. I am looking at doing interstate clinics and am very available at the moment”.

Matthew went on to tell us of a promising four-year-old he has by Sandro Hit out of a Rubenstein/Weltmeyer mare. “He is really promising, but at this stage you never really know whether they will make the grade do you? We have just got Rodney’s (Martin) horse out of quarantine last Thursday and what a drama that was. He is a four-year-old by Falsterbo out of a Weltmeyer mare that Rodney imported, and then took overseas to train and he arrived at Eastern Creek on the 2nd August. He has been in there almost two months, all at our expense, including tests and you are being charged like you are staying at the Ritz! He was vaccinated before he went overseas and again before he returned and again the other day before he came out. We don’t have flu here and it would be good if it stayed that way”.

Have we left our run too late?

THE horse influenza vaccine has arrived in Victoria at last — bolstering hopes that Melbourne's spring carnival can be saved from the disease that has wrecked racing in two states and could still cripple the industry from coast to coast.

Read more.

Action, at last, but can it save racing from a silent Spring?

AUSTRALIAN racing is a huge industry but it's run a little like the amateur sport it once was — a bunch of sports, in fact. This might be a charming anachronism but it's a hell of a way to fight a war. The war is, of course, being fought against the spread of equine influenza that escaped from Sydney's Eastern Creek quarantine station last month.

Read More.

Why aren't we giving the Call Center jobs to E.I. effected horse people

Why aren't they giving these jobs to E.I. effected people. Rang Qld DPI today and got a lovely Chinese lady. Pity I couldn't understand her english and she had trouble understanding mine..!

It should be relatively easy to offer the jobs created by E.I. to those who are out of work because of E.I.

At least then we'd have people doing the job with some idea of the drama and emotional turmoil this thing is creating.

Lisa

Equine Flu (an apology)

Dear Mr Fraser (& Ms Bligh , Mr Horan)

My apologies to Mr Horan, who is the SHADOW Minister for DPI and Racing, my mistake. However my mistake revealed an even bigger concern , Mr Fraser is Minister of Finance AND Minister for Racing, an even bigger conflict of interest !!!

Yours

Stuart Myers

VACCINATIONS

Hi All

I am with you Christine, this is the biggest joke, why the hell are horses being jabbed in Hendra when the virus is alive and spreading!!!

Bearing in mind that it takes a couple of weeks for the vacinine to work. Maybe we should tell the DPI to turn the map around they are reading it upside down. This is beyond funny now. Had a thought, once all the precious racing industry have been vaccinated and had their booster they will announce that we can move in the red zone. I am in Woodford QLD EI free just waiting like a sitting duck, like most of you out there with no light at the end of the tunnel and a bunch of tosses running the show. ARE WE ANGRY YET?????

ROAR DON'T WHISPER
Angela

EI

Why is this country only concerned with compensation for the racing industry?

America has vaccinations for EI ready for us but the federal government has not done anything about obtaining them. Instead of compensationing the racing industry for loss of earnings maybe they should apply for unemployment benefits like everybody else. The government should be paying for veterinary bills and vaccinations for all horses. Recreational horses in this country are also representing our country in the Olympic games etc. Thanks to the racing industry and the governments quarintine, pleasure horses and hardworking horse people are suffering.

Michelle

I've had enough too.

I have been following horse deals lately (as you can get more news from this blog than the dpi) and like everyone else I have had enough. My competition horses are no where near any other infected properties but we are just outside of the buffer zone so us poor fools and our horses have to sit back and wait for this thing to finally catch up to us. My question is this: Who is going to reimburse me for my horses still being in recovery when the rest of the country is opened up and competitions start again but because we caught EI later we still have weeks before we can get our horses back in competition condition. I would be willing to pay for the vaccine for my 5 horses but have been told I cant even do that. The racing stables getting vaccines in Ipswich, Brisbane areas are a joke. Half of them probably have EI by now so how that helps the buffer zone is unknown to me. My competition horses are worth as much as half of them but because my sport isn’t raking in gambling money we don’t count.

Joanne.

YOU WONT READ ANYTHING BETTER THAN THIS (A DAY AT THE SUNSHINE COAST RACE COURSE)

AT 6AM TODAY THE 29^TH SEPTEMBER 2007

THE DPI...QUEENSLAND RACING ALONG WITH OUR VERY LOVELY VETS (AND I WILL SAY THEY ARE GREAT VETS AND ARE ONLY DOING WHAT THEY CAN) COMMENCED VACCINATING ALL RACE HORSES IN THE SUNSHINE COAST PRESINCT.

AFTER COMPLETION OF ALL HORSES STABLED AT THE SUNSHINE COAST TRACK THEY THEN MADE THEIR WAY TO ADJOINING PROPERTIES.

1^ST ADJOINING PROPERTY 2 PONY CLUB HORSES AT CALOUNDRA PONY CLUB. NO VACINATION

2ND ADJOING PROPERTY RACE HORSES EX LEAD PONIES ALL VACCINATED.

3^RD ADJOING PROPERTY 4 SHOW HORSES NO VACCINATION................................ ME

4^TH PROPERTY 10 RACE HORSES AND ONE CHILDS PONY ALL VACCINATED.

FROM THEN ON I COULD NOT SEE OR DETERMIN WHERE THE CREW WENT.

I SEE A HUGE FLAW IN THIS TYPE OF VACCINATION. I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOU A PICTURE BUT AM NOT AN ARTIST NOR AM I A “”””BS “””””ARTIST UNLIKE THE DPI........THESE ARE ONE AND 2 ACRE PARCELS OF LAND??????????? DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND DPI YOU HAVE LEFT OUT 1 ACRE IN THE MIDDLE ....................ONLY 100MTRS AS THE CROW FLIES TO THE RACE COURSE.????????

THE ADJOINING PROPERTIES I AM TALKING ABOUT HAVE BOUNDARY FENCES ...........................YES MY 4 SHOW HORSES ARE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF VACCINATED RACE HORSES. THEY ARE BREATHING OVER THE FENCES AT EACH OTHER................SO QLD RACING CAN YOU TELL ME IF YOU ARE PREDICTING IN 6 WEEKS TIME TO RUN SATURDAY RACES ON THE SUNSHINE COAST.......AND THAT THE SUNSHINE COAST IS GOING TO BECOME THE ONLY RACING TRACKT IN SE QLD BECAUSE YOU HAVE VACCINATED THE NECESSARY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MINE GET EI. YES YOU ARE ALL VACCINATED AROUND ME BUT IF I GET THE FULL STRAIN YOU WILL KNOW DOUBT GET A MILD STRAIN AS YOU HAVE YOUR VACCINATION..........BUT WHEN YOU GET THAT MILD STRAIN YOU WILL................WILL GO BACK INTO SHUT DOWN............ I EXPECT TO GET EI. AS I AM THE WEEK LINK IN THE CHAIN NOW............... SO PLEASE EXPLAIN

(YOU AND YOUR CREW DROVE RIGHT PAST MY FRONT GATE AND YOU DID THE HORSES IN THE PADDOCK NEXT TO ME) SO YOU ARE TO BLAME NOT ME..............................................GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR RACES IN 6 WEEKS...............

I PHONED MY VET HE HAD TRIED HIS HARDEST NOT TO LEAVE ME OUT BUT THE DPI WAS RUNNING THE SHOW AND THEIR WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.

WE PHONED THE DPI ONLY TO BE READ A BLAAAAAAAA OF A TYPED SENERIO...............

AM I UPSET NO NOT ME.................................AM I CONFUSED ..........................NO NOT ME................. I AM JUST A RECREATIONAL HORSE OWNER LIKE THE REST OF YOU BUT UNFORTANTLEY I BROUGHT A PROPERTY THAT SORROUNDS ME IN RACE HORSES...............................THE LACK OF ANY SUPPORT OR EVEN A CLEAR REASONS AS TO WHY I WAS LEFT IN THE MIDDLE .......................YES TO GET EI COMPLETLY LEAVES ME IN SHOCK...........................

Suzanne

DAMMED IF WE DO, DAMMED IF WE DON'

Has anyone else in the states outside the RED/BLOOD border realized in the past 48 hrs, the infiltration of the words on the Horse Council site, the DPI site, and Centerlink site RE.....Government assistance, ONLY applying to NSW and QLD?????

I am not wanting to take anything away from you guys up North in the path of this disgusting nightmare, and I think I would be near suicidal if I had to witness my horses going through what you are seeing, but here in Victoria we may as well have it. We have had nearly every show society pull the pin for 2007, the others will probably be a matter of time, and who can blame them with the threat of the DPI hanging over them? We are living as if we HAVE IT, and I am not saying whether that is the right way or the wrong way to PROTECT our state, but the Government is now not acknowledging our SACRIFICE. Some of you might scoff, and say, "poor lady, she can't go out and get a ribbon", but my horses do earn an income (MOST OF THE TIME!!!) and we are being deprived of that chance, and are not being compensated by the government with the HORSE INCOME ASSISTANCE GRANT. I still do not know if the business grant, or the wage supplement grants will come, or if it will follow the horse OUT THE GATE!!!

The only assistance flowing over the borders, and EVERYONE is starting to realize this, is to the RACING MULTITUDE. We are doing our damndest to keep it out of our state, to protect what?? THE MELBOURNE CUP.

The flow on follows when horses are not competing, Werribee Park is in a financial struggle, show societies, saddlery stores, rug repairers, feed merchants, transport business.... the list goes on and on, and what is the government doing about it............NOTHING. There will be a MUTINY before long, and that is a worrying thing.

Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and WA join in the voice to parliament and let them know how it is in a united front from every direction. This is a huge KICK IN THE TEETH for those that are teetering on the edge, those who have their EVERYTHING tied up in the horse industry, and are seeing no relief at all. I know, the real relief will be when this THING is truly extinguished from our country, but are our chief's capable of that?????....I am starting to think not!!!

Forgive me if I sound a little muddled, or have spelt wrong, it is 4am, and sleeping for me is not an option when I am as riled up about a cause as this. Sleep may now pre vale as I have at least got it off my chest!! My family are sick of my ranting and raving!!! But as the saying goes. .SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT. Stay strong all of you who are actually holding your sick horses hoof, my prayers are with you. Lets all get through this together in one piece.

Sarah Allen (Arthur's Creek Victoria)