EFA Horse Trials - 27th/28th October 2007

Following the cancellation of Candlebark and the postponement of Tooradin there is a large gap in the Horse Trials calendar until Wandin in November and Lakes and Craters in December.

Victoria remains EI free and many members have expressed the desire to start competing again. The EFA Vic branch will therefore run a competition at WPNEC on October 27/28th 2007. Classes will be offered from intro – Pre Novice. There will also be Training 2 – 4 classes to cater for those PC members disappointed to have missed their competition at Werribee in September.
There is currently no CNC* class scheduled due to the difficulties of making minimum X/C distance within the grounds of WPNEC. However if there is sufficient interest in a CNC* class it can be run. Please call Elaine if you are in interested (03) 9974 0544.

WPNEC has been badly affected by the EI crisis - any monies raised by this event will go towards supporting WPNEC

All riders need to be aware of their responsibilities in relation to the EI situation. Please read carefully the information from the DPI ‘for participants at horse competitions’ contained in the attached schedule. A ‘horse event participation form’ must also be filled out by every competitor before your entry will be accepted. (These forms will be the same for any competition or clinic you attend for the immediate future).

click links for
Entry Forms
Schedule or Enter Online
Non Member Waiver Form

Any assistance on X/C day would be appreciated, this event is being organised at quite short notice so all help is welcome. Entries close next Friday, please pass the attached schedule along to anyone who might be interested.

I look forward to seeing you at the event J
Best Regards
Elaine Edwards
Eventing Coordinator
email eventing@efavic.com.au

Horse flu inquiry reveals quarantine problems

The first day of an inquiry into the outbreak of horse flu has revealed major gaps in Australia's quarantine procedures.
The inquiry, headed by former High Court judge Ian Callinan, has been told of a number of problems, both at Sydney Airport and at the Eastern Creek Quarantine Station in Western Sydney.

The inquiry has been adjourned until November 8.

Read More.

EI AT Forbes:

Some serious questions should be getting asked about how did the EI get to Forbes. There has been no information on this, only to say that there is an outbreak there. The horses at Parkes were one of the first lot of horses to contract the EI virus. Now almost 6 weeks later it has popped up in a town 30 odd km away. How does this happen. Was it people, the wind, maybe birds or even another horse?

The DPI have an obligation to the public to inform everyone when there is an outbreak in a non-expected area, to explain how and why! Not just one sentence in an article.
Please inform us, as I feel the green zone will be getting smaller all the time.

Andrea

Equine Influenza Inquiry

If you want to follow whats happening with the Inquiry they have a site where you can read
transcripts of the days proceedings , check out the terms of reference etc. Then you'll have
the facts. Here is the link -

http://www.equineinfluenzainquiry.gov.au/


M.j.

Doesn't make sense

Why isn't the Howard Government helping us by providing the money needed to vaccine all Australian horses? We are all tax payers. The government taxes our wages then taxes every thing we buy with GST tax. Our Treasurer says that our economy is great and we have a surplus of money. When ever there is a disaster overseas from natural forces such as earthquakes, floods, terrorism etc the government moves very quickly to provide financial assistance in the dollar value of millions ($1,000,000.00's) to those countries and communities that are affected. These millions of dollars that the Howard government generously gives away to show that Australia is there to help in times of need is all funded from Australian taxpayers.

Why can the government publicly make media statements pledging financial assistance in a matter of days to another countries when they need help and assistance but will not make a media statement advising that the government will fund all Australian Taxpayers horses to be vaccinated? If it's money that is the issue, lets just take the funding out of the GST tax that we all pay for our groceries, phone bills oh and the horse food that we buy which has GST tax added.

V.Atkins
Qld

HELP us before it’s too late

Hi Tracey,

I do not know you but in reference to your blog here on horse deals. I am with you I have been an EFA member for many years and all of my horses are registered EFA. No I am not an EFA instructor but was looking at doing a course this year.

As for that I will know review my plans........... I do agree Mr Sinclair. Who is looking after the EFA. You ask us to be members we fill out our forms, WE PAY OUR MEMBERSHIP FEES EVERY YEAR.... and when we need help where is it????

EFA is not only about the elite squad. It is about every member you have.

Please tell me how many of us, are there in NSW and QLD. OR MAYBE TELL US HOW MANY OF US THERE ARE IN AUST. And while you’re at it tell us how many horses are registered with the EFA??????

For all of the groups trying to fight against the discrimination between the Race horse industry and the dare I say the pleasure horse industry. You may just be our light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

You Mr Geoff Sinclair must have a huge no of horses registered Aust Wide. And dare I say a huge membership, consisting of ongoing membership fees.... So go on tell us how many. And while you’re at it put your hand up and fight for us, we may not all be Olympians but we help pay the bills.

So EFA you are a governing body so HELP us before it’s too late.

THANKS HORSE DEALS

Suzanne

Brumby announces horse flu package

The measures in today's $2.2 million package include:

■ $950,000 for a major public awareness campaign along the NSW border, at Melbourne Airport and at Spring Racing Carnival venues;
■ $500,000 for grants to not-for-profit recreational horse organisations that have cancelled events to help reduce the risk of horse flu from entering Victoria;
■ $350,000 for enhanced surveillance activity involving private practitioners testing for EI.




Read more.

Lower Than A Snake

Whilst for some today marked the longed for return home, spare a thought for those people who have been locked down for six weeks, nursed their horses back to health, but who are still confined to Parkes Showground. “Our morale was lower than a snake this morning, when we saw the others drive out the gate,” declared Nerida Corbett, one of the Parkes detainees not permitted to move. “There are still six families here and 23 horses. We have had two tests done and all the horses are clear, but because we come from Amber and Green Zones we are not allowed to move. It’s a joke really and it is so depressing getting no answers. We can’t get any sense out of anybody.

“We are doing it pretty tough here. I come from Peek Hill just 50 kilometers away and the virus, if it were heading that way would have well and truly been and gone. We are just so looking forward to sleeping in our own beds, but we can’t move and we are not in a position to agist anywhere off site in the Red Zone. People here come from, Bega, Nowra, Candelo and Numbaa. If we thought we would spread the virus we would not think of moving. They told us we would be out of here on the 28th September and that has been and gone, perhaps they meant 28th September 2008?

A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

This should be about Horses, NOT making money.

Why is it that the Government believes that because racehorses make more money than most other horses that they are worth more?

I am 17 and my family's 3 horses (who are all young) are all stabled, healthy (at the moment) and are given the best feed to keep them in the best condition. They are un-rugged and re-rugged everyday, worked weekly and more importantly given the chance to just be horses. Off the top of my head I can name every scratch, every bump and every time one of my horses have been sick - Can all the Melbourne Cup owner's do that? Probably Not. You'd have to ask one of 12 people they have taking care of the horse to find these things out. My problem with the Government and Racing Industries is that they don't see what Show/Recreational horse owners see - A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. We don't expect them to do anything incredible for the sake of a dollar. We show them but only cause we think they're worth it - not because we expect something back. They're Athletes yes, but that does not mean they need to be worked into the ground. Besides what happens to a racehorse once it comes of the track? Most of them find good homes with the "NON-RACING" crowd and become a show pony's best buddie.

I personally don't think (like most owners) that there's a horse or pony that can compare to my family's 3 boys. But that's the way us show/recreational people see them. Be it a Shetland or a Warmblood - there's no one faster, stronger, smarter or cuter than your own.

So all I ask it that people understand it's not about getting back to shows or whatever it is you do with your horse, this is about protecting the members of our family who trust us to take of them.

Thank youEmma.

Sick of the blame game.

We did the right thing and left our ponies in Forbes due to DPI instructions when this first broke out unlike a lot of other Victorians who just went home and I thought how selfish were these people, but now after many times approaching the DPI both in Vic & NSW we were refused ok we excepted that, only to find out now the EI virus is in Forbes 1km for my ponies.

Had I got them home 4 1/2 weeks ago they would be safe but no.

Now to this distress my young 11 yr old daughter is now fighting a disease brought on by stress over here ponies & disappointment, we have been at RCH for the last 2 weeks with doctors trying to stop this problem.

I have had to watch my child in server pain and agony not being able to walk with this, I only hope the racing industry are proud that the racing is still going ahead in Melbourne god forbid we loss a day at the races, while we struggle to pay extra agistment for these ponies, doctors trips to Melbourne 3/4 days a week as we can't afford to stay down there as we also have other horses at home and try to fit in work.

I do feel so sorry for everyone else stuck in this mess.

A upset mum.

On Limited Release

When Horse Deals spoke to Parkes detainee, Donna Wright today she delighted in telling us, “I’m on the road. It’s wonderful to be on the way home. The DPI have let the highway patrol know so we should not be pulled up. The permits came through yesterday. We live in the Red Zone, (Donna traveled with the group from Centennial Park), and so we could get permits to leave, however, there are still horses there, which cannot get permits to leave as they are from the Amber or Green Zones”.

“I’m home and a bit emotional,” declared Meg Drury, who has been giving us situation reports from the Moonbi lockdown for the last six weeks. “I got my permit last night and have just brought my horses home this morning”. It is however, not all joy for the inmates as they may be allowed out of Moonbi, but those in the Amber and Green Zones have been told they must find agistment for their horses in the Red Zone for a further two weeks. A Level dressage judge and rider, Joy Seccombe is one of the Moonbi detainees with a ‘restricted’ pass out. “Five or six horses, including mine come from the Amber (buffer) or Green Zone and last night they told us we were not able to go home, although our horses have been tested twice and given the all clear. They have changed the rules. The reason the DPI gave us was that they don’t know if the horses are still shedding the virus or not! I don’t know what the tests were for and I thought our science was better than that. They tell us we have to agist in the red Zone for another two weeks. I have been in the Red Zone for six weeks and now they want another two. I asked if I could get a permit now to go home in two weeks, they told me, no. It’s quite beyond me really. I feel our horses are the safest in the country, they can’t get it and they can’t give it. I am trying another avenue to get a permit to go home to Ebor, (halfway between Armidale and Coffs Harbour), so we will see how that goes. I have found agistment in Armidale and I do have a permit to go there”.

With Australia’s excellent record in scientific research and endeavours, you would not think it so difficult to determine whether or not a horse was shedding the EI virus. And if he is not, he is not, or is there some other argument?

“Blair Richardson and Chris Burton have already left,” declared our Warwick correspondent, Alishya Hill at midday. So the “battle of the border” has been won in this case at least, with Blair to take his horses back to Scone and Chris to Glossodia. It is certainly not a laughing matter, but what were they going to do all the way home, shed the virus like a tip truck dumping gravel? Again, where is the science or is voodoo the answer to EI?

“All the decontamination procedures are going according to plan”, continued Alishya “and 66 horses left Morgan Park yesterday (Tuesday). I am getting a bit tired and I’m ready to go home”. Alishya will accompany Heath’s horses back to Lochinvar next Monday or Tuesday, permits permitting.

What are the large Equestrian bodies doing?

Hey I agree with Pam from Esk, there seems to be small groups trying to get together. What are the EFA and PCAQ committee heads doing. Are they coming together to be one voice for their members and lobbying for action from the Government? I breed both racehorses and performance horses and are very grateful that QR and the Thoroughbred Breeders Association are lobbying for my thoroughbreds.

Chris

Vaccinations

DPI Queensland have an application form on their web site which is an application for vaccination of high performance high risk horses. The interesting feature of the application is "the applican is responsible for the veterinary cots of administration of the vaccine and implantation of the microchip and all ongoing costs of the vaccination program"
Can someone please tell me why if any one of us applies for the vaccine we should have to pay when the racrehorse industry does not.
Annette-Gatton.Qld

HELLO any body there ??

Tis bushfire season,we are surrounded by smoke, firetrucks going past daily!! we cant even move our horses to safety, THANKS, this is RIDICULOUS!!! Just vaccinate all horses so we can get on with our lives !!!!

Macquarie Park Arabians.
The Oaks,NSW.

There is always one in the crowd!

“There is always one…”

To say I am disappointed is probably a huge understatement. There is always one in the crowd that ruins it for everyone else. As a horse owner in the “Red Zone” of the Berry area of NSW, I and the majority of owners are following strict bio-security measures to the nth degree. If the DPI are being straight with us, it seems to be working and so far only two properties right next to each other is the only infected locale (Broughton Village) in the Berry area to this point (Tuesday, 2nd of October) and this all began on the 25th of August!

What disappoints me is that we have a professional rider in our area that does not seem care about anyone but himself. A friend called me the other day lamenting about this person. This professional rider has been seen out riding with a second rider by a number of different people on a regular basis around the roads and tracks in the Broughtonvale area of Berry which has remained an EI free location to this point.

This will not be the case for long though if he keeps this up as he is actually going onto other properties that have horses. Individuals who have witnessed this irresponsible attitude find this behaviour frustrating and even a bit frightening that he thinks so little of the rest of us (other horse owners and their horses) and what is happening around Australia and continues to do as he pleases. Because he can be such a nasty piece of work no one wants to be the one to turn him in. Well the rest of the horse community in Berry would like to give him notice from this moment on. Wake up to yourself “mate” and accept the reality of this situation, you are not immune from all the rules and regulations we all have been abiding by!

We have literally been “chafing at the bit” to get off our properties and just have a ride or attend a show (any show!)! We know that this is just not possible though and console ourselves over a good stiff drink and talk about what we will do once the quarantine is lifted. We are lucky in this area as we have a number of different barriers including escarpments and wind direction this time of year that have probably helped prevent the spread of EI so far. To keep this “Red Zone” ‘clean’ though everyone needs to follow the rules that the DPI have set up and prevent the spread of this nasty virus. There can not be any slackers!

The B.S. that everyone should let their horses get this virus and get it over and done with is also a bit frightening as I have friends in other red and purple zones that have/had very sick horses and foals. One friend has even had one horse that has died as a direct result from complications of EI and these “ain’t no racehorses” but beloved pets and expensive show horses. I suppose if you have a healthy strong animal you may not be that concerned as your animal(s) will probably recover and live to fight another day. Or will they? Who really knows and do you want to take that chance? Either we vaccinate every and all horses in these “danger zones” no matter what their profession may be or continue “no movement status” or a combination of both methods to eradicate this virus. This new vaccine, Merial ProteqFlu (live canary pox combination) that has just arrived from France (according to an expert at the D.P.I.) is a much more potent vaccine that should see very few horses acquiring the virus if they have been vaccinated (unlike many of the overseas horses that have only been vaccinated with a killed vaccine --we’ll see…).

However, WHO will ultimately pay or compensate in one way or another for all of our vet bills, lost wages, disappointed and disheartened children/equine enthusiasts, Pony Clubs and local Riding Clubs going bust, businesses without any income that are fast approaching their breaking point, etc.? The government’s feeble attempts at assistance to this point are a drop in the bucket, much more needs to be done especially for those businesses that can not survive for much longer. Coupled with the Drought, many are suffering immeasurably. This includes the smallest trainer/coach to the guy who mucks out stalls, owns a tack shop, sells food or takes pictures or even builds courses at Horse Competitions and Agriculture Shows! The long term affects will be catastrophic for many and the “ripple effect” will be felt for a number of years by everyone not just the Australian Horse Industry.

At least most of these bigger racing stables will have already been carrying insurance on their animals; it is part of their business. How can most of us afford to have done this beforehand and certainly will not be possible at this point in time?

It seems that Racing NSW is taking some of the responsibility for this virus arriving in Australia through one of its thoroughbred stallions (byway of Japan…) by helping to supposedly subsidise the current vaccines (a more pessimistic person would claim that Peter V’Landys and his organisation are only trying to have more say on who gets these vaccines…). A.Q.I.S. is also so deeply involved in this controversy; it is hard to separate responsibility between these two entities (Racing NSW and A.Q.I.S.).

This unfortunately is so little so late as both groups must accept blame for causing the biggest predicament the Australian Horse Industry in general has ever had to face in its long history. If I and my friends have this wrong pleassssse correct us as we have been disseminating every bit of information through every possible source (right or wrong…) since the 25th of August when this nightmare started. We would love to have the real story if it is otherwise (but me thinks this is probably close…!).

Just Another Confused Horse Owner Caught Up In This Chaos!

EFA membership???

I am a bit gob smacked! I didn't realise that the only horses considered elite enough to receive funding from the fed or state govts were those registered with the EFA. ( Apart from the already wealthy racing industry, and why the greyhounds need funding I don't know)

Pardon my ignorance but what about all the other competitions that go on all around the country that are not EFA events, such as campdrafts, cutting, polo, pony clubs, hack shows etc etc??? Are all these horses worthless? I don't think so. Come on EFA don't be so elitist yourselves and kindly recognise the existence of other disciplines that are professional and have valuable and sometimes extraordinary horses involved. I for one would like to see bodies like the EFA and the horse council of Australia get behind EVERY horse owner in the land and lobby the govts for FAIR compensation. I am praying that we don't get infected in our area ( Amber) as I am a pensioner and already have a very sick horse I am struggling to keep alive and pay the vet, without the fear of getting EI with all that extra expense involved let alone the risk to my sick horse. EFA give the trainers a break and get your heads out of the sand.

Thanks to Horse Deals for a fantastic job of keeping us all informed.
Penny.

EI

I would like to know why we are not told when EI is in our area. When it hit Brookfield there was a massive door knock, police presence etc etc. I have an infected property 500m from me. We were not given the notice of this. We think we are in an area where there is still no trace, and then I get a text saying someone was told it was down the road from me. The infected property had the decency to email people and tell us, as the DPI would not confirm anything to me after 3 phone calls. Our local vet did not even know. They hadn’t even notified him.

My horses are still healthy at this stage because I have put them at the back of our acreage. I have told all the other horse owners in our street, as they had no idea either. Finally a local paper had it on the front page saying our suburb NARANGBA. I get a phone call from DPI 4 days after these horses have tested positive to see if mine are healthy. The DPI only had my details because I was contacting them! It is now on the DPI site.
WHY CANT WE GET NOTIFIED IF IT IS IN OUR AREA SO WE CAN WATCH OUR HORSES MORE CLOSELY. EVEN A LETTER BOX DROP OR SOMETHING! IF YOUR IN NARANGBA , CABOOLTURE SHIRE BORDERING ON PINE SHIRE WATCH OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thanks Karla

Workers wanted to fight the horse flu crisis

03 Oct 2007
Around 150 jobs are on offer for people with horse experience or good administration skills as part of the Iemma Government’s equine influenza response, NSW Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.

Mr Macdonald said the jobs will provide a welcome boost to the industry, in particular for those who are currently unemployed or for those whose businesses have been heavily affected because of the horse flu crisis.

“This disease outbreak has resulted in a major upheaval of the entire horse industry because of the bans on racing and other horse events, and this is a chance for those people to earn a wage again,” he said. “Over the last five and a half weeks, the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has had more than 250 people working in response to the outbreak - we now need more people to complement our efforts.

“A lot of these roles on offer, particularly those at Forward Command Control Centres, involve working with horses, so people with experience in the industry would be particularly appropriate for these job opportunities.

“The jobs range from working on infected sites, through to assisting with decontamination, other field-based tasks, administration and clerical roles.

“These positions are expected to be available for at least three months.

“They will be based at either the Local Disease Control Centre at Camden, or at the forward command control centres at Narrabri, Tamworth, Parkes, Scone, Richmond and Gosford.
“This is an excellent opportunity for interested people to play their part in this important control and eradication program and I encourage anyone who thinks they have skills to help out to contact one of the employment agencies involved.

“These jobs, as well as the NSW Government’s $7.5 million Relief and Recovery Package, will help alleviate some of the burden of the horse flu crisis.”

Skills required for each position include:
Infected Premised Site Supervisors
Practical knowledge/experience in rural working environment
Good communication, coordination and supervisory skills
Knowledge of equine industry
Ability to access and interpret data
Decontamination Coordinators
Knowledge of decontamination procedures
Ability to access and interpret data, and to maintain records
Knowledge of equine industry
Good communication and supervisory skills
Administration and clerical officers
Good clerical and/or office skills
Good communication skills
Ability to operate office equipment
Ability to maintain records
Field Assistants
Ability to undertake a range of general field based tasks
Ability to work with minimum supervision
Good communication skills
Ability to understand and work to direction

Interested people should register with any of the following employment agencies:
GWS Personnel: 1300 731 100
Morrison recruitment: 4629 7129
Adecco employment: 9223 4626
Mission Australia: 9219 2000

October Horse Deals On Sale Today

October Horse Deals On Sale Today for the Full Story......

Equine Influenza - Your questions answered.

Equine Influenza - What is it, where is it and what are we going to do about it?

EI Lockdown - The inside story on the Lockdown.

Plus - Your responsibilities and what happened overseas.

EI Ring of Fire

I live on the Sunshine Coast - in the red zone of SE Q'ld. I'm below the buffer zone - by less than 10 kms. The race horses on an adjoining property were vaccinated yesterday - by Queensland Racing. What about the other horses in close proximity to this property? Oh! Sorry - nothing we can do!

No, at his stage we are being left to crash and burn - we can expect our horses to get sick in upcoming weeks unless a miracle occurs! What is happening to the next lot of vaccinations- are they going to be used to innoculate the healthy horses that are still in the red zone - or will these go to the elite? Sorry to sound negative but I'm way over the incompetencies of those in charge of this haphazard innoculation process. 28 year old ponies are being innoculated because they are companions to race horses. Doesn't this innoculation process need to be more thorough - or are the little people just being ignored?!

Well Said Joan!

I can’t agree more with Joan McSpadden, here here to you Joan!! I for one am tired of the moaning and blame throwing. We are all in the same position, let’s just face it, deal with it and concentrate on getting through to the other end. Whilst it’s frustrating, we don’t have any other choice but to learn from it and know how to manage it if god forbid this ever happens again!

JK

Horse Deals Catches Up with Denis Goulding re EI

Tower Of Babel

By Anna Sharpley 28th September.


In an effort to find out what is really happening with the fight against and protection from the unprecedented EI outbreak in Australia, Horse Deals spoke to Olympic Team veterinarian, Denis Goulding. What is evident and very frustrating for Denis is the Tower of Babel situation amongst the states regarding the fight against the spread of EI. It seems we are back to changing trains at Albury, with all the states having a different width railway line.

Our first question to Denis was; why given the experience of overseas countries, in particular South Africa was Australia trying to fight Equine Influenza with isolation and standstill alone?

The epidemiologists have spent years writing the Ausvet plan and they are determined to stick to it. However, the initial effort to contain the virus has failed and now we are in stage two, which is ring/buffer vaccination.

Are you for Vaccination?

I am for vaccination, there is not question about it. Apart from New Zealand, we are the only country in the world not vaccinating and now we have EI. The only way to halt the disease is through vaccination. The argument that the anti lobby put forward is that vaccination does not stop an outbreak. That is true, as the virus can alter, but in an immunised area the illness is mild and the outbreak easily isolated, the country does not shut down. Vaccination is something we have to live with and we need it to halt the disease and enable the general equine population to get on with their lives. That does not necessarily mean mandatory vaccination forever. A few years down the track we might decide to try and live without it based on the fact that Australia is an isolated continent and that does help in keeping the virus out.

As Australian Team Vet what are you doing to protect the Olympic horses?

I have put in applications to the various states to vaccinate the elite horses. David Lawrence, President of the NSW EFA, has obviously spoken to the right people and has done a good job in acquiring vaccine for the elite horses and elite training squad horses there. Queensland rang to say they are giving the elite horses priority and how much vaccine will be required. An application to Victoria received a "that won't happen" reply, and that elite horses would not be vaccinated there, despite the 4000 plus vaccines going to racehorses at Flemington. A special exemption to the rule is being given to Group 1 racehorses and I explained to them that these FEI elite horses were Group 1 horses too, and every one of them deserves that vaccination as much as any horse running in the Melbourne Cup. They say there is not enough vaccine available, but there will be plenty of people nominating their horses for the Cup meetings; it's quite a farce really.

It will take just one horse to have EI in Victoria and we will all be vaccinating then, but it will be too late. If EI gets across the border, the Victorians will be up in arms regarding the discriminatory nature of vaccination there. Victoria has always been very opposed to vaccination, as has South Australia, more so than the other states. At the moment we are going to get all the elite horses vaccinated and (regrettably), in the larger community outside the ring/buffer zone nothing will happen until it gets across the NSW/Vic border and then we will all be lining up for vaccination.

There is some confusion as to what vaccines are to be used, what will be used?

"There are three types of vaccine, live EI virus, recombinant, and inactivated. The inactivated vaccine is the one that is used widely all over the world and it is the vaccine all our horses are vaccinated with when they go overseas to compete, and AQIS have some in hand for that purpose. Whatever other vaccines horses have received, they will probably have to be vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine before they travel. The vaccine that is being used in NSW and Queensland, to put the fire out as it were, is a recombinant vaccine, with a genetically altered DNA canary pox virus. This vaccine is said to give an earlier cellular immunity. However, Tasmania and WA will not accept genetically modified vaccines. I don't think we should continue with the canary pox vaccine, as it is too complicated. I think we should stick with the inactivated, which provides good immunity. I have been traveling overseas with horses for 20 years now. We vaccinate and we have traveled through many countries and we have never had a problem. The elite horses outside the zones will be getting inactivated vaccine. The horses are being vaccinated on a value basis, but the virus does not understand value; it does not make sense not to vaccinate all horses. We need plenty of vaccine and plenty of vets to administer it. There is some light being shed with this second phase of the Ausvet plan, at least vaccination is beginning to some degree.

Information from the Horse Industry Council

We say on the AHIC website in regards to Equine Influenza (EI):

“We will do what we can to help all horse owners in Australia, irrespective of where you live, what type of horse you ride or what you do with your horses.

“This is a challenging assignment and getting harder as State argues against State, Minister against Minister and racing versus everyone else. We are trying to maintain unity as we face the biggest challenge that the horse industry has ever faced in Australia. Unless we have 100% support and compliance we are not going to control and eradicate EI. Despite the frequent comments to the contrary, the prospects of eradicating EI are still very good. South Africa and India have eradicated EI in recent years.

“Irrespective of where you live”

This is a national emergency and the overall strategy is to stop uninfected areas becoming infected prior to eventual eradication. If you live in NSW or Queensland you might be suffering movement restrictions, loss of income, sick horses and numerous other complications from our first big encounter with an exotic disease. You might want movement restrictions removed, events held again and vaccinations of all horses permitted.

If you live in Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia you might want all movements in NSW and Qld restricted to ensure that the disease does not spread southwards.

The disease control effort is being overseen by the Consultative Committee on Exotic Animal Diseases (CCEAD) which has been meeting almost daily by teleconference. All states, the commonwealth and horse interests are represented. The overall strategy is outlined in the AUSVETPLAN manual on Equine Influenza. Proposals not conforming to the strategy are usually rejected. Some proposals put forward by NSW and Qld are rejected by CCEAD as being too risky or are deferred until further information is provided. The disease control efforts are therefore a compromise between getting things back to normal as soon as possible and removing all risk that the disease will spread further.

“what type of horse you ride or what you do with your horses”

We know that all horses are equally susceptible to EI and that the value that owners place on their horses does not equate to their purchase price. Therefore, we understand the extreme anger that has been generated among horse owners as vaccines are allocated by political decisions to protect racehorses before non racing horses.

We have conveyed this sense of frustration to NSW Minister Macdonald. He and his staff have received over 1,000 emails and many phone calls expressing opposition to what is seen as favouritism for the racing sector. Despite this the NSW Government still gives support in decision making and financial support to the racing sector. See the latest NSW press release (http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/content.asp?z=14&c=126&p=324&x=2&id=798) and an ABC piece from Media Watch (http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2048295.htm) as examples.

The reality is that racing has a much greater political and media pull than other horse interests. The average punter and voter have more interest in racing than in what the recreational horse riders do with their horses.

The AHIC has to be even handed about horse industry problems. Indeed we represent thoroughbred interests too. The disruption of the racing sector has a great economic impact. The vaccination of racehorses has little to do with the health of the horses. It is being done to protect racing. Yes, it is all about money. The horse industry is a very big employer and generates economic benefit. Therefore if we wish to limit the economic impact of EI, racing has to have a priority.

But if the thoroughbred industry is to be protected, the disease must be controlled in the general horse population. The ongoing containment and control of EI depends on disease control in non racing horses which represent at least 80% of the total population. We strongly support the NSW and Qld decisions to make vaccination of buffer zones the highest priority. The horses in the buffer zones are overwhelmingly non racing horses.

The thoroughbred racing and breeding interests have enjoyed advantages such as earlier release from movement restrictions, earlier vaccination and potentially earlier release from quarantine control. The AHIC continues to argue for these freedoms to be granted to the wider population.

Approval has been granted for the vaccination of valuable and vulnerable uninfected horses within the red zones. This is subject to CVO approval and conditions might vary between states because of differing disease situations.

We would like to see the extension of purple zones so that other breeds can move their mares to stallions as has been allowed for thoroughbreds. Many breeders will go broke if their breeding operations are halted. Luckily most breeds can start to serve in October with little economic loss – this is a more rational start to the breeding season as has been recognised by Standardbred breeders.

We do realise that creation of more purple zones or the widespread use of vaccine may delay an area being removed from quarantine because it may be harder to prove freedom from infection.

We do not see why racehorses are allowed to travel up to 5km daily in amber zones to a racetrack when other horses are not allowed to move 500 metres to a different paddock. We also hear of discrepancies between controls being implemented differently in different states. Since early in the outbreak NSW horses have been allowed to move to a veterinary hospital for welfare reasons. In Queensland these movements have been restricted.

Movements and horse events are now allowed in green zones subject to conditions imposed by the DPI. These areas will be extended as red and amber zones shrink with successful containment.

The AHIC continues to press for control and eradication of equine influenza but has consideration of the costs of these restrictions and will press for these to be eased as soon as possible.

We thank you for your words of encouragement and support. Our office is dealing with many requests for assistance and has been trying to find answers where we can. We have been passing on questions to the State Industry Liaison Officers based with the DPI to make them aware of the issues that you face.

If you have not done so already, please join the AHIC and the Victorian, Queensland, South Australian or West Australian State Horse Councils.

EFA SA

2 October 2007
EFA MOVES TO KEEP SA FREE OF HORSE FLU
The Equestrian Federation of Australia (SA) supports the cancellation/postponement of all horse events, clinics and training days until the end of the year.

EFA (SA) Executive Officer Angela Yeend said that it was hoped that the eradication program in New Wales and Queensland succeeded so that 2008 events could proceed as planned.
“It is very disappointing for organising committees to have to cancel their events,” Ms Yeend said.

“In many cases, a lot of work has already gone into the planning and substantial costs have been incurred but our first priority must be to contain the spread of horse flu.

“We expect our members and the members of affiliated clubs and associations to strictly adhere to the respective biosecurity guidelines.”

Ms Yeend said it was understood that some individuals and industry groups had called on the State Government to accept the fact that Equine Influenza was here to stay and that all horses ought to be vaccinated.

“The EFA (SA) believes that current efforts to contain and eradicate the virus must be given our full support,” she said. “While the current crisis is creating financial difficulties for many individuals and businesses, accepting vaccination as a fait accompli brings with it many other long-term costs, not just the cost of regular 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 - it 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.”

Regular updates will be posted on the EFA website - www.sa.equestrian.org.au

EFA fast facts:
• EFA (SA) is the peak state body for equestrian sport
• There are 1700 affiliated clubs and individual members of the EFA (SA)
• EFA sports include – show jumping, dressage, eventing, carriage driving, vaulting and show horse

Just a thought!

Just a thought! If us humans can carry the flu on our clothes and stuff, what does the walk from property to property that horses are doing. Can they also carry it? If you have a answer let me know.

CATCH YOU LATER
SANDRA

Make a bet on when Ei gets here

If EI gets to Victoria lets just say 2 or 3 days after the melbourne cup we all know it will be let run because the government will have had the magnificent Melbourne cup and they no longer have to care for the racing industry and bugger us all.

Could the person IN CHARGE of the VRC please come out and speak with the rest of us (the real people) and explain why he thinks he has the right to discriminate against our horses and not give them the same treatment that the racing industry is receiving. You are certainly looking at a class action of some sort because what you have done is by no means legal.
If any of my horses get EI I will certainly be taking legal action against the government be it DPI or Racing Australia they will be receiving all of my vet bills. I have just today received delivery of a made to order $15,000 horse float (I had too save five years for) which now has to sit in my yard until next season because someone who was getting paid a lot of money did not do their job the right way.

So I guess that is just bad luck for me. I am a tax payer and I do vote our government is an absolute disgrace and a laughing stock. I am just so very disappointed and ashamed of these people in charge I am not sure how you can possibly live with yourselves thanks Horse Deals.

Influenza

I'm Thirteen, I regularly compete at local shows, pony club events and rally days. I currently have 2 horses in work for the show season, only to be stopped due to the EI outbreak.
I am very unhappy that there was an outbreak, to think that the quarantine should have detected this disease in the horses that were infected before they were let out.
I was reading an article the other day, it stated that the quarantine period for the Racing Thoroughbreds is only 14 days were as for you and I it is 21 days. It also stated that the disease incubation period is between 1-5 days and can remain active for another 10 days. The Thoroughbreds that had the disease I'm presuming, is that they were race horses, and with the quarantine rules for racers is only 7 days, the disease may have been lying dormant in the horse while in quarantine, after release the disease was detected.

Then what happens?
You have a highly contagious disease potentially lethal to young foals, pregnant broodmares(which then may abort the pregnancy) and aged horses on the rampage through the country.

Do you try and stop the disease or do you let it run it's course and spread through the entire nation?
Well, stopping the disease is almost impossible in my point of view, as there are so many people with horses and at least 1/2 of these people transport their horse/horses around, close to home and far away. The lockdown did work to a certain point, but had its drawbacks as the disease could have been carried on anything to any were and infected other properties, hence causing more spread. The vaccination scheme is a good idea, but why do the racers get top priority?. The racing industry should have automatically cancelled all spring races for 2007, as the Pony Club Association of NSW did for all the rallies and competitions, then there might have been a chance at stopping the spread. But the government was concerned that the loss of money from the TAB etc would affect their money situation (im not sure what they call it), so allow racing.

Do WE help the cause?
If properties who were infected had a lock out system, meaning no one is to go in (to some this may cause problem sand dispute) and only, lets say 2-4 people out with a vigorous scrub out and in, you might be helping.

This is just my point of view. So to all out there who have/are suffering from EI, goodluck.

T.M

P.S- I am in the green zone so hopefully wont get affected

Response to EFA National HD Newsletter

Well thank you Mr Geoff Sinclair President of the EFA National. The body that I have been a member for over 25 years.

One thing I would like to say from your very moving letter to me and the rest of the EFA members is thank you for reminding us of how we are saving money by not competing or paying coaches and Trainers to upgrade our horses. Yes the beautiful spring weather is UPON us and we can all enjoy the butterflies and birds flying around us as we enjoy the endless hours of riding our beautiful horses through the evergreen fields. Oooooh!

But lets look at reality Geoff! I for one am one of those trainers and coaches that are caught on the EI tsunami. No I don't have any money coming in to save. No I don't know how I am going to afford to feed myself or my horses! Oh and riding my horses! Sorry finding it a little hard to do that considering I won't allow a farrier onto my property to shoe my horses and I am now the makeshift farrier. My horses are 17.2hh and do not handle well without shoes. Yes my decision as it has been human error spreading it.

I notice as well that your department had a 'Sling' at us coaches and clubs who are saying we won't be able to pay our registrations and insurances. Well you see I for one am not going to try to pay for an item that will be of NO USE to me over the next 6 months and I have to now start making some decisions so that I stay afloat! Its NOT that we need more time to gain points to stay a coach its just that we have NO MONEY TO PAY!!! Or then again I do see your point....Us coaches and clubs, who don't have a dollar coin to our name, should in fact somehow find the funds to help the EFA pay for their out goings!

This may sound harsh Geoff but you collect a wage at the end of every week. You are not concerned about struggling to just live like we are at the moment. Us horse businesses have always looked after our selves and associations like the EFA. Please don't try and glorify a situation that may see the end to a lot of peoples livelihoods.

Yes Geoff THE END!.

Horse trainers, coaches and businesses are going to start falling apart. Don't even be surprised if stud owners or businesses don't start a 'Culling' method to lesson the financial burden. And I mean the bullet kind. They can't afford to feed their horses as CHAPS won't pay for anything that isn't registered with the EFA as a competition horses and tough luck that all the horses an equine business owns and is part of their income and part of their tax and they can't be claimed on the CHAPS scheme. Although I noticed that you wrote the CHAPS scheme covered professionally trained horses but you won't allow two of my horses that are professionally trained by me! And what about the Broodmares owned by breeders. These 'business owners' can't claim for these horses, so they can no longer afford to feed them. So they will 'cull' them just like they do in severe droughts. Well you can't 'dog' them and you can't give them away. Isn't the EFA in charge of the equestrian CHAPS scheme and who gets what?

So WHY OH WHY does not the EFA recognise all our horses that are INCOME PRODUCING. ALL!!!!

Oh and on top of this today I was reminded about my Coaches Registration payment due, when are you going to get it in your heads Geoff and the rest of the EFA committee, we have NO money to pay you.. No money! And why has the racing industry today the 2nd October received more money grants. "You need to jump up and down" just as the racing industry said today on the radio and they say that its the only way to get what you need, so start jumping up and down.

And did you, our EFA representatives, ask all EFA members on whether or not we want the vaccination or not OR did you just make a decision on behalf of yourselves, as I wasn't asked. You work for the EFA as a whole so ask the whole EFA members what they want with their horses and livelihood. We have a right to decide. They are our horses.

What are you going to do to help us. Its bad enough that the DPI is treating us like mushrooms, don't let the committee representatives of the EFA start treating us the same, there are too many of us.

If the EFA needs help from us tell us what you are organising. You represent us all. ALL MEMBERS.

STAND UP FOR US.Tracy Stead Equestrian Service

News from Dianne White

How are you going with the getting your horse back home from Europe?

Sorry for the delay in answering, Ive moved and the internet was not working, Im back on the air again, what did we do before computers?

Its very frustrating, to say the least, I should be coming out of quarantine on 3/9, not here getting a new date every time I ask. I can't see why horses from countries with no current diseases can't be allowed in to Australia. The quarantine time in Australia has been increased to three weeks. Its a shame someone didn't think when EI broke out in Japan to be extra careful with the horses from there.

I'm not sure how successful that really would have been, we have a young guy who works at the stud and he agists his horses less than one kilometre from the quarantine station at Eastern Creek!

The blog site is excellent, it was a great idea!

Regards, Dianne White.

EI what else?

Everyone is asking how EI got into Australia, that is very negotiable, but what I can say is the bio security at Eastern Creek is or rather was non existent several people that I have spoken to have imported horses from overseas and have gone to see them on arrival( taking friends with them) at Eastern Creek, no spraying of vehicles, no washing of hands, no bio security, allowed to pat horses and leave, the feed truck drivers drive in, unload, allowed to pat horses and leave, to then go on to various other equine premises to deliver their feed with no bio security, this does not bring it in but it does let it out, what’s next foot and mouth !!!! I think that because we have been free of most serious viruses and diseases for so many years everyone has become complacent and that in turn has allowed this disaster to occur. We can all hope that we can contain this to a large degree but it can come back as it did in England a few years ago.

I was lucky my precious horse only had a mild dose, being young and healthy may have helped.

JaneWh
NSW

What can we do to help the vets?

I have just caught up with the latest blogs and was taken by the comments from Andrew Speers (Vet).

If we are in an area with EI all around us (waiting for the inevitable to happen) couldn’t we have the information that the vet needs for his paperwork already prepared, that is, if we knew what the questions were, couldn’t we already have the answers noted down? For instance if the vet needs to know who’s been where, we could keep a diary detailing this information from ‘now’ until we get EI or it goes past us (we wish). That shouldn’t be too hard should it? I’d be prepared to do that.

Unless the questions are a secret, could a vet post them on this blog so we can help minimise their workload by being a little bit prepared.
Pam, Esk SE QLD

Tonimbuk Equestrian Centre

NEWS FLASH - MONDAY 1st OCTOBER 2007
TONIMBUK EQUESTRIAN CLUB CAN RECOMMENCE ACTIVITES
NEW EFA JUMPING EVENTS COMMENCE 21st OCTOBER 2007
MORE NEWS SOON - PROGRAM AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK.

Visit the Tonimbuk Equestrian centre web site.

DEAR DIARY

GOOD LUCK TO VICTORIA

It is 3am, and once again sleep eludes me. Not sure if it is the pain from a HAMMY I did on Saturday!!!!!!??????( did you not see that screamer I took in the third quarter?????? or is it the fact that I can finally pack the truck, and prepare to go to a show. "What is that" you say, "SHE MUST BE HILLUCINATING".

"WHAT PLANET IS SHE ON". What ever the reason, the excitement of actually setting off down the highway behind the wheel of my beautiful truck (NO, not sold yet!!), is sooo intense, I think the pain is an excuse I need for Robbie(husband) explaining why I spend half my nights stuck to the computer, instead of snuggled up next to him!! Just a minor detail that I don't have a jockey at the moment, seems to be a little preoccupied in South Africa at the moment!!

For those that do not have a clue what I am talking about, dear daughter (JOCKEY- BECKY) is riding for Australia in the Tri-Nations showjumping on borrowed horses in South Africa at present, so when I finally get these wild horses to their first show( courtesy of EFA Vic branch, and Ian Mouser, they may be a little underdone!! (hope she arrives home in time and in one piece, or I might just have to pull on the strides, over the stretched hammy?????????

Forgive me the rest of Australia, if I sound like I am boasting. (Can't help living in the best state)!! but we truly are not telling a lie when we say "WE ARE THE LUCKY STATE".Everyday I scan the Horse Deals Blog, ( A WONDERFUL CREATION) to pick up on the fact, sadly, that there is unrest in the camp, and I do not blame anyone. The preferential treatment shown to the 'thoroughbreds' (and all of use ride ordinary common, other breed horses!!!!) is getting very hard to take, most especially for you in THE THICK OF IT.

I do hope that you all can hang in there, with FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND THE BANK MANAGER!!!!!!!!!! and survive this to live another day.???????? Remember, we are all in the same SINKING BOAT, and all trying to reach the life raft.DO IT TOGETHER???????..................... I PRAY WE ALL DO................. GOODLUCK and keep up all the letters everyday, its better than the BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL!!!!

SARAH ALLEN(AGAIN) ......Arthur'S CREEK......VIC

Reinventing the wheel?

It’s obvious from all the posts on this blog that the equestrian industry feels they have no voice with which to counter the lobbying being done by the racing industry.

I thought the Australian Horse Industry Council (AHIC) and it’s State Committees, was our ‘voice’? I understand that the council is run by volunteers and is seriously underfunded, but they are involved with the Ausvet plan for bio security on our behalf, even if this is not being communicated.

Could we not throw our support behind the AHIC? Are we reinventing the wheel by organising separate meetings and rallies? Isn’t this keeping things exactly as it is now - disjointed? If we all pushed the AHIC barrow, perhaps they would get enough government funding to allow them to run the council with full time employees instead of part time volunteers, then we would have one voice that could be loud enough to be heard over the top of the racing lobby. Is there a reason for the seeming lack of support for the AHIC? If there is, what is it? Can it be fixed?

I also have a question for the owners/trainers more recently arrived from overseas than I, from countries with EI, what do these country’s equestrian bodies do? How do they handle (or did they handle) all the issues that we are now facing? Could we not use their models instead of re inventing the wheel? Is it working or not? Could we improve their models?
Food for thought?

Pam, ESK SE QLD

EI inquiry gets underway

An independent inquiry into the equine influenza outbreak gets underway in Sydney this morning.

The Special Commission of Inquiry will be headed by retired High Court judge Ian Callinan and has been given the powers of a Royal Commission.
Under the terms of reference set out by the Federal Government, Justice Callinan has been asked to examine the circumstances contributing to the horse flu outbreak and whether quarantine processes for imported horses need to be strengthened.

Read more.

NSW horses still in Limbo at Warwick

Horse Deals spoke to Blair Richardson again this morning hoping to catch him on the road travelling home to Scone but he and all the others with horses from NSW are still waiting for permits. Blair said the permits were meant to come thru last night but they still haven't and they are running out of daylight hours to travel today. Blair commented that they are not allowed to travel at night and are not allowed to take the horses off the truck! Blair is frustrated that DPI is trying to make them de-route from the normal way he travels home and direct him thru Qld, rather than travel along the New England Highway when his horse has been cleared of EI. Blair is going to call today if the permits come thru, otherwise it is another day at Morgantown.