Emotional Rollacoaster At Parkes

“Everyone is getting a bit uptight, as it has been 38 days since we have been here now”, commented Parkes detainee, Donna Wright. “The tests taken last week came back positive for horse or horses still positive for shedding the virus. They took the second lot of samples on Friday and promised to have the results back yesterday (Sunday) and then today, but at 6pm we were none the wiser. Its very frustrating and the feeling is that we are being given the runaround. They shouldn’t tell us they are going to give us results and then don’t. They would be better saying sorry we just don’t know and will let you know as soon as possible. People get their hopes up and some people have started decontaminating and things like that. It just makes it so hard for people to organise their lives. Those of us who can have taken leave without pay, but those who have horse related business are desperate financially.

“It was easy for the DPI when the horses were sick, but now they are getting better, I don’t think they know what to do with us. The horses are getting better but even that is frustrating, as the vets tell us to keep them out of the dust and wind, because of the respiratory disease, but how do you do that in Parkes? It is as dry as here and windy. Not only can we not get the horses home, we are keeping them in an environment that is not conducive to their recovery.

“But it’s not all bad, the showgrounds people and the locals are beautiful. The caretaker here yesterday bought legs of lamb and vegetables and came and dug a big hole and started a fire and brought huge camp ovens and six hours later produced a Grand Final dinner, the best meal I have ever had, it was beautiful. Another local lady also brought us a Grand Final dinner that we will have tonight. There is lots of bad, but plenty of good, more good than bad.

“The DPI officers were fantastic in the beginning, helping with yards and everything, but now there is not much for them to do, but they are still paid to be here. It’s not their fault that nothing is happening, but it is like ‘a cone of silence’. The emphasis has been on the racehorses and we understand that, but we have been put on the back burner. But we’re surviving. We are told there is to be a Disease Control meeting tomorrow at Orange, so perhaps we will know more after that”.

Perhaps so. Horse Deals will stay in touch with the Parkes lockdown in the hope of announcing that they are at last on the move.

EXACTLY WHO IS PAYING FOR EI VACCINATIONS

DEAR HORSE DEALS

I MUST ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING WE UNRECOGNISED HORSE PEOPLE PUT WORDS TO PAPER.
AND FOR THE WONDERFUL JOB YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR INFORMATION AND UPDATES.
YOU ARE TO BE CONGRATULATED AND THANKED SINCERELY. I AM SURE YOU ARE ONE OF THE BUSINESSES THAT IS SUFFERING WITH THIS DREADFUL SITUATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO LET SOME PEOPLE KNOW THE REAL FACTS ABOUT THE EI VACCINATIONS HAPPENING IN NSW AND SE QLD.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE SO LITTLE INFORMED (ME INCLUDED) IT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO SOME IF NOT ALL THAT THE COST OF EI VACCINATION IS BEING PAID AS FOLLOWS. (STRAIGHT FROM MY VETS MOUTH) WHO IS ONE OF THE VETS ADMINISTERING THE VACCINE.

AUSTRALIAN RACING I.E QLD AND NSW ARE FOOTING 80%--------------------- THEY MAKE THE CALL WHO AND WHO DOES NOT GET VACCINATED
DPI QLD AND NSW ARE FOOTING 20%--------------------- DON’T THINK THEY HAVE MUCH SAY IN IT AT ALL.

SO FOR ALL THE REST OF US ------------------------------ 00%-------------------- NO GOVERNING COMMITTEE TO PUT THEIR HANDS UP FOR US.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO SAY THAT BOTH ORGANISATIONS ARE GOVERNMENT RUN.

SO FOR ALL OF YOU THAT PAY TAX OR HAVE PAID TAX WE ARE INFACT PAYING 100% FOR THE MINORITY OF THE HORSE INDUSTRY TO BE VACCINATED.

JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO ME.

OUR VOICE IS TO SMALL AND BY THE TIME IT GROWS I DO THINK IT WILL BE TOO LATE.

I HOPE YOU CAN ALL KEEP YOUR SPIRITS HIGH AND MANAGE TO GET THROUGH THIS.

I FOR ONE MISS HAVING MY HORSE FRIENDS FOR DINNER OR A VISIT I ALSO MISS NOT BEING ABLE TO RIDE MY SHOW HORSES AS I CANT TAKE THEM OUT THE GATE. ITS GOING TO BE A LONG LONLEY TIME FOR MANY IN EI INFECTED AREAS, AND FOR THOSE WAITING THE WAITING GAME. AT LEAST I HAVE TIME TO MOW THE LAWN CLEAN UP MY TACK ROOM ETC ETC. I GUESS THAT THE GOVERNMENT IN THEIR WISDOM DECIDED I NEEDED TO HAVE A GOOD SPRING CLEAN.

SUZANNE

Does Cairns Have EI?

Hi

I saw something strange this morning. I was trolling through all the regular websites looking for new information about EI this morning and I came across a table on the National Pests and Diseases Web site that set out the shires that have confirmed EI and how many properties in each shire are affected. We in the Esk shire had 99 while Ipswich City had 112 and then I saw Cairns City listed with 1 infected property. I was gob smacked. When I returned to the DPI website they calmly informed me that QLD has 601 infected properties all of which remain in the red zone. Last time I looked Cairns City was not in the red zone. I contacted DPI about this and since have not been able to access that table on the National Pests & Diseases website.
I was just wondering if anybody reading this is in Cairns and if you have it.
If EI has made it to Cairns, there is no buffer zone that can save us (QLD) now. And it won’t be long before it gets to Victoria if it is in fact in Cairns.

After the meeting at Marburg on Thursday night courtesy of the Tofts (thanks Peter and Penny) I was left with no doubt that after the vaccinations have been put in place that the movement restrictions will be relaxed just enough for those of you who don’t have it to move around and contract it. That the only way this bush fire is going to burn itself out is to infect every unvaccinated horse in the South East Corner so don’t be so hard on the man who infected his horses on purpose, he is just trying to get over the inevitable as quickly as possible and as for him going off to New Zealand and leaving his grooms to care for the sick horses, he probably would have gone to NZ just the same if his horses had contracted the virus naturally. I am sure his grooms are very capable at looking after his horses as that is what they do and being left to look after sick horses might be just a little better than being laid off, at least they still have jobs.

Leslee

Graph from NSW DPI

DPI QLD - GREEN LIGHT FOR MORGAN PARK

Minister for Primary Industries and FisheriesThe Honourable Tim Mulherin
Monday, October 01, 2007

GREEN LIGHT FOR MORGAN PARK

The 255 horses that have been quarantined at Morgan Park, Warwick since August 25 have been given the green light to leave tomorrow morning (Tuesday, October 2). In accordance with the AUSVETPLAN, the horses can be moved off the premises 30 days after the onset of signs in the last case of equine influenza, subject to some conditions.

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said a lot of people had been looking forward to this day. “When Morgan Park was quarantined many owners stayed on to be with their horses and care for them through their illness and confinement,” he said.

“The Department of Primary industries and Fisheries is working closely with all owners to make their departure as smooth as possible while still following prudent biosecurity measures. “We have to be certain that every horse is fully recovered and that releasing them does not pose any further risk of infection of other horses.

“I know the past five weeks have been very difficult for the owners concerned and I want to thank them for their patience and cooperation with the ongoing program of containment and eradication of equine influenza.”

About 120 people, who have stayed on to care for their horses, remain at Morgan Park. As part of their travel requirements horses must have a permit to travel and that permit must physically accompany the horse(s) for the entire journey. Horses must travel directly to their destination. If any stopping or spelling is intended, this must be discussed with an inspector prior to obtaining the permit.

Those horses moving to destinations within South East Queensland are still essentially quarantined because they are subject to the general movement restrictions that apply in the Red Zone. Horses travelling to the Green Zone will be issued with special travel permits with conditions applying. Specific requirements will be discussed with each individual horse owner.

Horses must remain isolated on the property of destination for 14 days. Horses moving to New South Wales will be subject to any approval or conditions that might be applied by the Chief Veterinary Officer of NSW. Owners must take appropriate biosecurity measures to prevent any possibility of virus transfer on themselves or equipment.

DPI&F inspectors will oversee the decontamination of vehicles and associated equipment upon departing from Morgan Park. For regular updates, to register your horse and apply for a movement permit, or view the buffer zone maps, visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au and subscribe to the e-newsletter.

For the exact location of buffer zones visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au/equine-influenza

DPI Qld - Monday 1 October

Monday 1 October: There are currently 601 infected properties (IP's) 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.

NSW DPI Spa bath for purple zone trucks and floats

01 Oct 2007
Stringent decontamination requirements will see all horse trucks and floats carrying animals into and within the equine influenza purple zones washed out before leaving the areas.

It is a permit condition that all trucks carrying horses into or within the purple zones visit special disinfection centres as they leave.

The permit system now in place will allow stallions and mares to move into purple restricted areas for horse industry mating programs.

“The horses will stay inside the zone until the movement restrictions are lifted,” said the deputy chief veterinary officer Steve Dunn.

“The vehicles used to get them there will be disinfected when they have delivered their load of horses, and then again at the exit centres.”

Mr Dunn said it was preferable for the initial disinfection to take place on leaving infected properties, as this helped with the appropriate disposal of manure and litter.

The trucks could not pass through the exit points without a certificate of compliance with the disinfection procedure. The penalty for failing to properly disinfect these vehicles is a fine of up to $44,000 and 12 months imprisonment.

Horse movements into the purple zones will take place until 19 October to fit in with the equine industry calendar.

Disinfection centres have been set up at Richmond and Scone.

Details are:
Richmond: Maxi Shine Car Wash, 770 Richmond Road, Berkshire Park, open 8am to 6pm seven days. Contact the FCP 4588 2150 or 0407 290 773 to book in or just drive in (with your permit).
Scone: Scone Saleyards, end of Muffet Street, Scone, open 7am to 6pm seven days, contact the FCP 6544 4900 or 0408 288 394 to book in or just drive in (with your permit).

NSW DPI 01/10/07 Vaccination underway for Olympic horses

01 Oct 2007
Vaccination of horses shortlisted for Olympic competition has begun following a special allocation of up to 100 doses of horse flu vaccine for high value equestrian horses.

NSW deputy chief veterinary officer Steve Dunn said vaccination would minimise the clinical signs of the disease in any horses that became infected.

“Vaccine has been allocated so these horses have enough time to get back to full training and compete at an elite level in lead-up events,” Mr Dunn said.

Equine Federation of Australia’s NSW veterinary advisor Derek Major said immediate vaccination was the first step on a long road to Olympic competition.

“Although Olympic horses are not due in Hong Kong until next August we are working back on a tight timeline to make sure they will be competitive,” Mr Major said.

“They must demonstrate they are fit, competitive and experienced to an elite level to achieve Olympic selection.

“Selected horses will also have to be free from this disease in time for some to travel to New Zealand and Europe for further lead-up competition.”

Mr Dunn said accredited veterinarians had begun vaccinating horses on the central coast, south coast, southern highlands and Hunter Valley.

“At the moment they are permitted to vaccinate only shortlisted horses in the high risk red zone that have not already become infected,” Mr Dunn said.

“Vaccination will not stop them getting EI, but it will reduce the clinical signs and speed up recovery from the disease.”

Mr Major said competition at Olympic qualifying events could not begin until the current movement restrictions within and between zones were eased.

EI Farse

Firstly thanks HD for the chance for venting. I don't know about you but we are possibly the most informed people in the world regarding EI , lets face it perhaps there will be some jobs up for the offering in the DPI soon.

EI so far hasn't touched our property but to say it isn't affecting us isn't true. No farrier, 9 weeks plus since our animals have had their trim .. now can't work them any more for fear of damage. Ongoing personal biosecurity with the kids to go to town and back you never know what or who touched the trolley/ fuel bowser etc...

We are beyond angry. Two people - close personal friends to be exact have the virus on their property with exactly the same attitude with paddocks of broodmares / performance and youngstock - their comments all end with "whats the big deal" continuing on with well now we are stuck here can we come for a visit

""DUH" are they kidding. So they got off lightly, they are no longer "believers" .The vaccine should have landed with us a long time ago. As of today AM on the dpi qld website we became a part of the new "buffer zone" I rang my local vet as requested by their website to discuss and utilise the vaccine, to have the rabid wife obviously so overcome by the pressure of answering such requests, tell me if there was a vaccine available they would be vaccinating their own paddockful of horses first in order for him to conitnue treating!!!!

Holy Moly when does this end ?

The Peter Horobin Dressage Championships

ENTRIES STILL OPEN UNTIL FRIDAY 5TH

Dear Competitor,

We are happy to announce that The Peter Horobin Dressage Championships to be held at Treehaven Equestrian Centre will be going ahead on October 14th 2007 as scheduled.

The EFA has advised that we are able to commence competitions in Victoria.

However, all competitors will be asked to sign and abide by the biosecurity protocols that will be in place.

We are anticipating a large number of entries as competitors have had training regimes interrupted.

Bio Security forms CANNOT be downloaded from the EFA However, they must be signed and attached to the entry form. To obtain the forms please email Treehaven Equestrian Centre enquires@eqlife.com.au or fax a request to 03 59 776008. There will be two forms, one a bio-security form and another with information for tracking horses. We are sorry this is so diffucult but the EFA says that forms cannot be placed on a web site.

Due to the late closing date, we will not be sending out draws, however they will be published on this site.

We are taking a big risk to hold this competition, with two horses here ready to travel overseas. However, we think it is important to try and get things going again. So we hope for your support.

Regards
Julie Scott
Show Sectretary
Treehaven Equestrian Centre
53 Western Port HighwaySomerville,
3912
Victoria,
Australia
Ph/Fax: + 61 (0) 3 5977 6008

Where to now?

My experience of the recreational, pleasure and performance horse community has always been one of friendship, willingness to share information and to help one another out at every turn. A group of people united by love for the beautiful, graceful and responsive animal that is the horse.

I live in the western suburbs of Brisbane where my three horses (one an ex-racehorse) have been locked down since the 25th August. During the last month I have diligently observed biosecurity measures, have not visited any other horse properties, have not seen my friends and have given the same information to the DPI five times.
You cannot hold the wind and my horses are showing symptoms of EI.

My heart goes out to all horse owners, but I've closed off the part allocated to the gentleman who deliberatley infected his own stables and then left the strappers to care for his sick horses while he went off to the only other EI clean country left in the world!

Meanwhile my poor neighbour across the road has had to juggle two very sick horses in Warwick (she did the right thing by the rest of us and stayed at Morgan Park) and two at home. Now that the horses might be able to come home from Warwick, the properties around her here have EI and her other two horses are at risk...

Stay safe, stay strong, take care of each other.

Beth

Equine Infuenza

To whom in may concern,

I am a owner / rider / breeder of Arabian horses .I compete inEndurance ,shows & trailride.Horses i have bred or trained have beenexported overseas.My daughter was involved with Pony Club,Campdrafting,trailrides & was about to start endurance this year..My parents also have horses ,my life so far,over 30 yrs, has beenrevolved around horses.Im not a registered business,i dont makemillions of dollars out of horses ,we just love them & enjoy sharinga life with horses.

When my horses inevitably get the virus,which they will as its closing in on us, as much as we followed the bio security measures. I don't have staff to help, I will be looking after all my 13 daily withthe help of my 10 yr old daughter.

I have two young foals here as well as two older horses in their twenties, these are the ones that seem to be most affected .I have two stallions here that will probly miss this season as the mares will most likely abort when they get the virus & stallions apparently become infertile for a specified time if their temp is too high. I did have outside mares coming to them. So my 'valuable'breeding program misses out....

If I have a horse that dies here from the virus I sure as hell won't be paying for vet bills, burials or vaccinations, I'd like to knowwhere to forward these accounts, should this occur !

I am here daily worrying & checking my horses waiting for them to get sick, my daughter is very worried for her old pony, its an awful feeling .I cannot believe this virus escaped from quarantine in the first place. It should not have happened.

As a person that is not involved with racing I strongly object tothe preference being given to thoroughbred interests. Our horses arejust as important.

I would like you to continue to control and eradicate EquineInfluenza in NSW. This is a National program and the control depends on NSWsuccessfully controlling the disease.

I support the idea of buffer zones and strategic vaccination to contain the disease.Though I do believe as we are in a red zone already we won't be offered the vaccine anyway.? If the disease is declared as endemic to Australia, I as arecreational owner, will be forced to vaccinate my horses and that because my horses are not as valuable as a racehorse the cost to me will be proportionally higher.

I dont believe I should be paying for someones mistake. If Governments decide to call off the disease control effort without the support of the majority of horse owners that the Australian Horse Industry Council would be justified in refusing to pay any costs of disease control as required under the Cost Sharing Agreement.

Stop pandering to the thoroughbred lobby. Our 'recreational' horsesmean just as much to us , its not all about money. Might I add 'recreational' horses out number the precious !

Sincerely
J.& G.Curry.

Cruelty and Discrimination

I think you will find that discrimination and cruelty is illegal in this country .So there for the DPI and all the state governments are Guilty of both.Lets do something about it.They are treating the racing industry as they are be all and end all of life as we no it.JUST REMEMBER WE ALL VOTE not just the racing industry.Most of the people that own a race horse are not even horse people they would not know a horses head from its a_ _ _.

So lets get real here we are all getting screwed over in a very big way.PLEASE SOMEONE WITH A BRAIN TAKE CHARGE.I have the money to vaccinate my horses so why cant I ?.I thought money talks in this Industry.To all the state governments you are nothing but a pack of over paid _ _ _ holes.You have NO right to do this to people it is DISCRIMINATION that is ILLEGAL plain and simple you are GUILTY

To all the real horse people good luck with your horses and hang on the worst is yet to come.
A very very very upset real horse owner.

Linda

EI Green Zone

I am fortunate to be in a green zone, But have not been notified as to what that means.
My horse float is due for rego this month, I dont know whether I have to get a permit to take it into town, nobody appears to know the answers.

As for feed it is for sale and available, but when I ask the Question "where has it come from?", there is the answer, "pardon, what are you asking that for?", I am breeding small ponies in a small way and I also would like answers to questions and I find the DPI sheets hard to understand.

Any suggestions?

Lisa Ward
Rye Park

EI in other species

I found this information when resercing EI. ss Central Qld

A Cornell University virologist has isolated a highly contagious equine flu virus that is spreading a sometimes-fatal respiratory flu among dogs, and is responsible for a major dog-flu outbreak in New York state. There is no evidence that the virus could infect people.

According to a paper published in the Sept. 26 issue of Science Express, the online version of Science magazine, this is the first time an equine flu virus has been found to jump species.
The equine influenza virus, H3N8, was isolated at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine after University of Florida researchers sent fluid and tissue samples from greyhound race dogs that had died from a respiratory illness at a Florida racetrack in January 2004.

"Of all animals, dogs have the most intimate contact with humans on a daily basis, so the potential for human infection has to be in the back of our minds," said Ed Dubovi, director of the virology center at Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, who isolated the virus from the University of Florida samples.

Still, he added, there is no evidence of the virus jumping to humans, and there is no expectation of it doing so. It is possible the equine virus has been infecting dogs for some time, although the symptoms are very similar and could be mistaken for common "kennel cough," a bacterial disease related to pertussis (whooping cough) in children. Nevertheless, the paper cautions that the newly discovered flu virus must be closely monitored.

With close to 100 percent of dogs exposed to the virus becoming infected and about 80 percent of infected dogs showing symptoms, the flu could be spreading throughout the country. It was originally documented in greyhounds at tracks and kennels but now is infecting all breeds of dogs. Ongoing testing is being done to track the spread of the virus to different regions of the country.

"Right now, we have a major outbreak of this disease in all breeds of dogs in New York state," said Dubovi, noting that symptoms can include high fever and a respiratory infection that lasts a few weeks, although 1 to 5 percent die from related hemorrhagic pneumonia. From January to May 2005, outbreaks occurred at 20 racetracks in 10 states (Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Rhode Island and Massachusetts), according to the paper.

"This infection will become a major concern for all dog owners, since 100 percent of dogs are susceptible to infection by this virus ," said Dubovi. "With 50 million pet dogs in this country, even if you have 1 percent mortality, this is going to result in a number of dogs dying from it."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta sequenced the virus' entire genome and found all the segments were from the equine virus. This is unusual, because flu viruses will often swap genetic material with other flu viruses when they jump species. For a new virus to enter another species it must overcome a number of barriers, such as finding a cell receptor to bind to in order to enter the cell and to reproduce sufficiently in the new host.
"There are probably many examples of viruses jumping species, but then it becomes a dead-end issue," said Dubovi. Researchers have long known that equine flu was capable of growing in dogs, since scientists experimenting with equine influenza use cell lines from canine kidney cells.

When Dubovi first received the University of Florida samples, he and his colleagues isolated a virus and determined that it was an influenza not typically found in dogs. The next step was to test to see if it was an avian flu virus, like the virulent H5N1 that has jumped from birds to humans over the last few years. A highly sensitive test -- called a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) that amplifies and detects small amounts of DNA or RNA in a blood or tissue sample -- ruled out avian flu strains H5 and H7.

The isolate was then sent to the CDC where Ruben Donis, Cornell Ph.D. '87, one of Dubovi's former graduate students and currently chief of molecular genetics for the influenza branch, found that it tested positive for equine influenza virus. Donis also ruled out the possibility that the sample had been contaminated with equine virus from another source.
http://www.cornell.edu/

They're Out!

“They are all very excited up here,” declared our Warwick correspondent (and Heath Ryan’s groom), Alishya Hill. “Warwick Event Organiser, Simon Goddard told us this morning that the horses will start leaving tomorrow. It will take a week to get all 250 horses out, as it is a big process with all the decontamination procedures required. Every horse will have a permit from the DPI to go straight from Warwick to home and they will need a special permit if home is in the Green Zone.

“It was a case of ‘first in, best dressed’ and already the first three days’ allocation has been made. I will leave next Monday or Tuesday, which will make it six weeks that I have been here. Heath’s horses have not been showing any symptoms for the last three weeks”.

Heath and Rozzie’s faith in Alishya’s ability to cope with the pressures of the lock down were not misplaced. “Alishya will get on with everybody and be involved in everything,” commented Rozzie. That ability proved very useful at Warwick, as not only was it necessary to be a good groom (by no means an easy job in these or any other circumstances), it was also necessary to be a diplomat. And what did Alishya think of the whole experience? “Good but different. But I am really looking forward to seeing my horse back at Lochinvar”.

Horse Deals will have one more report from Alishya to hear about the much-anticipated exodus.

EI

Whoever wrote the blog entitled "Wake Up Australia, Its Over", needs correction.

The people in charge at Morgan Park have been doing everything they possibly can to contain the virus. They could not legally stop the people who chose to leave Morgan Park on the Saturday. If they had of locked the gates at that point in time, it could have been classed as unlawful imprisonment or whatever that charge is called. A main part of the spread of this virus has been because peoples lack of knowledge of the situation or their stupidity.

Use common sense and take all of the necessary precautions and we may be able to limit the spread of EI.

Tegan

All of this vaccine talk ignores the threat from above

If vaccination is the way to go, Hasibar said the majority of horses must be vaccinated. Not just the thoroughbred population. It makes up less than 10 per cent of the horses in Australia. Recreational horses, show jumpers, equestrian, rodeo horses - don't forget donkeys - far outnumber the thoroughbred population.

"It is estimated that 80 per cent of the horse population needs to be vaccinated for a vaccine strategy to be effective," Hasibar says.

Read more.

Warwick quarantine may end tomorrow

The Queensland Government says horse owners could be allowed to leave the quarantined Morgan Park Equestrian Centre at Warwick by tomorrow.

Read more.

IT IS TIME WE ACTED

Hay Everyone,

**** Please read Debera Ebbett's email update from a DPI meeting yesterday –

DEB IS CALLING FOR ACTION FROM US ALL – I TOTALLY AGREE WITH HER – INFORMATION IS POWER BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED AND PHYSICALLY ATTEND A RALLY OF SUPPORT (PEACEFUL BUT VERY LOUD AND STRONG) – LET'S SHOW THE POLITICIANS JUST WHO AND WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH AND HOW MANY OF US ARE BEING TREATED WITH CONTEMPT.

I WILL BE THERE AND I IMPLORE YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR FRIENDS TO SUPPORT DEB AND SHOW UP ANDBE COUNTED.

DEB'S DETAILS ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF HER EMAIL – PLEASE INUNDATE WITH SUPPORT AND DON'T GIVE UP TRYING.

(of course remember at such a huge gathering not to further spread the damn EI and follow all the proper protocols and attend clean)

Mark Freemantle

Hi all

A small group of local people was asked to attend a meeting at the DPI Resource Centre at Tambourine to discuss the EI matters.

Within hours of my requested attendance we got the revised, revised, revised plan that immunisation was no longer an option and they were now going to immunise a buffer zone as defined in yellow on the map.

Given that we have all been given 55 versions of THE PLAN, obviously I was keen to attend this meeting to see what they had to say.

OBSERVATIONS

Qld DPI DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE !!!!!!!

NSW DPI has a much clearer grasp of the situation (an admission by Qld DPI)

Qld DPI believes the government rhetoric that the Race Horse industry must be revived before anything. ( and the general feeling of the rest of us..... well do not hold your breath because you will die)

Many thoroughbred owners are not happy they are being put in the us and them category.

Anger is at boiling point, an observation repeatedly put to the DPI with little effect.

The DPI is in control but requested us to write down what we think they could be doing better. A very stupid question. Naturally they were told.

General consensus, there is no buffer zone and they are doing nothing but saving the governments TAB cash flow.

While the few race horses at the tracks are being immunised some of the largest thoroughbred studs and spelling complexes see nothing. Some of the large Thoroughbred studs in Beaudesert have 600 foals due this season and are in no better position than the rest of us.

The reality is that government is looking after government and what is happening in Qld has nothing to do with assisting the equine industry but is all about playing politics.

The things discussed at this meeting should have been discussed on day 2.

The questions asked should have been asked on day 2.

WHERE TO FROM HERE

Let everyone be real here, the problem is not the disease itself, the horses will get over it. The problem is the economic impact this is having which clearly our government cannot see past its own nose to grasp and the long term ramifications and costs to the equine community if this is not bought under control.

The reaction to this disaster has been slow and ineffectual. The ship has 100,000 people on board and 100 life jackets and is sinking fast.

IT IS TIME WE ACTED

Somehow we need to wake up this government and get them with the programme.

WE NEED EVERY PERSON THAT HAS A BUSINESS INTEREST IN HORSES TO STEP UP AND BE COUNTED.

WE NEED EVERY PERSON WHO HAS BEEN ADVERSELY EFFECTED BY THIS OUTBREAK TO STEP UP AND BE COUNTED.

WE NEED TO BOMBARD THIS GOVERNMENT WITH VOLUMES AND VOLUMES OF IMPACT STATEMENTS

AND WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING EFFECTED.

The Toft's made a great start and should be highly commended for their efforts but now is the time for all horse people to rally together and show the government the power in numbers. As was clearly the case with the meeting that Toft's arranged there is heightening unrest in this sector also. We all need to organise a large rally into Brisbane and deliver the impact statements to government house.

What we need from the DPI is real evidence that they know or understand any of this and are approaching this like the true disaster it is and the potential devastation it can reap. Many many people will go to the wall because of this and may never recover. The horse industry as we know it may change for ever unless we act NOW.

If everyone can pass this email on to as many people in SE Qld as possible and print it out for those that do not have access to email and contact me we will be putting together a group to organise a rally as soon as possible. If we wait too much longer I fear there will be no industry to save. This is a state and federal problem and our one saving grace is that there is an election due in the federal arena soon so everyone knows that is the best time to try and get something out of a politician if they think it may keep their seat another term.

Regards and best wishes to us all

Debera Ebbett
ph 5547 8888
fax 5547 8877
mob 0412 483816

Special Treatment

I will never place another bet or attend another race meeting again. The racing industry will realize that us ordinary horse people do have some pull if we all decide to do this. There are enough numbers of us to make it hurt if we all did it and if we all pull together the government might realize that we have had enough of watching racehorses get special treatment.
Jo.

Positive assistance

I am another individual caught in this whole EI debacle and have been writing as many emails as possible to every politician I can to get our voices heard.

A small group from our area had a meeting last night with the hard working and also under informed people working at the local DPI information centre. We decide to try and help the situation by identifying the points that have been poorly handled by the DPI. Now I know you think that list would be endless but we are about trying to help get out some practical information for all the people in our community. We are going to put together a newsletter with this information and get it into every letter box in our district (horse owners and non horse owners) There appears to be so many conflicting stories about the spread of the disease and how the decontamination works etc. If you don't have the internet or the time to check it you probably have now idea what you should be doing. If you listen to the news reports then you would think it is all under control and only the race horse industry is involved.

We are also writing to the ministerial press secretary to pressure them to put on community service reports in all media to give accurate information to everyone on the current situation.

Keep the pressure on those who are responsible for this mess, but lets start getting out accurate information to our communities on how to deal with the situation. This is not about scaring people with horror stories but giving practical solutions to help people better manage the outbreak and to inform those who don't have access to the internet. Those who don't have horses also need to know how there actions can impact on the spread of the disease.

Hope you are all coping as best you can, get out there and do what you can, there are a lot of us if we all pull together we can make a difference.

Kerrie Haynes-Lovell

Tamborine Queensland

Equality - What about our pets?

What about those of us that have horses as pets that have been life long friends? Ignoring the whole farcical nature of the effectiveness of vaccinations in the buffer zone for the privileged few for the moment, what about those of us that have horses that mean more to us than money can buy? Some of us have had companions for over 30 years, and yet other people, right next door, qualify for free vaccines for horses that will be discarded the minute that they don't run fast enough? Some of us would pay any amount of money to protect our treasured family members, yet the vaccine is not available to us, and furthermore, if we were able to get hold of any vaccine ourselves, it is currently illegal to do so! So we just play the waiting game, and watch and wait while the virus creeps closer to our faithful companions, while next door life goes on as usual with people profiteering from their newly vaccinated "money making machines".

Peter, SEQ

BUFFER ZONE.... JUST ANOTHER DPI JOKE

JUST READ LATEST QLD NEWS HEADLINES. VACINATIONS STARTED IN QLD IN THE RACING AREAS.... WAS IT NOT STATED ON THE DPI SITE THAT THE YELLOW ZONE WAS TO RECEIVE THE FIRST VACINATIONS? NEXT AREA TO GO IS STILL IN THE CENTER OF QLD RED ZONE..... WHY THE HELL DID THEY BRING IN THIS YELLOW BUFFER ZONE WHEN THEY ARE NOT VACINATING THE HORSES IN THIS ZONE.... IF ANYONE IN THIS YELLOW ZONE HAS HAD HORSES VACINATED BY THE DPI PLEASE EMAIL ME PERSONALLY crisann@westnet.com.au BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL THE DPI IS DOING.... ALONG WITH THE REST OF OUR QLD HORSE OWNERS.
CHRISTINE