Confused...

I have a question, there is a lot of talk about when we are allowed to compete again our horses will need to either have had EI or have been vacinated. Does this mean in the red & purple zone? Or does it also mean all horses in the amber & green zones need proof of either having had EI or have been Vaccinated. Is this just for 2008 or on going?

It is confussing trying to find out info, this blog seems to be best. If passports are needed we are never going to be able to enjoy our sport as it was ever again. What about our pony club kids, also our adult riders who compete locally, not for the competition but for the love of their horse & the social side & friendships made with like minded people. I have been involved in alot of different sports in my life & I have found people in horse sports to be a completely different breed. They are always eager to lend a hand when needed without being asked, a total stranger will stand by & offer moral support to someone in need,( new friendship made). I'm not sure why horse loving people are so different to other people.

If our sport changes due to restriction put on us due to the EI outbreak, & extra money involved in being able to compete, this will be a very sad out come for alot of special people.

Can anyone please give me some answers.

JB

Doomben confirmed for Racing resumption.

26/10/07: Today, QRL’s Chief Operations Manager, Mr Malcolm Tuttle, confirmed that, “The Brisbane Turf Club (BTC) will conduct the metropolitan Saturday meeting on December 1, as racing gets back on track.”
“On October 12, we outlined our plan to resume racing on December 1, so that trainers had an opportunity to determine a trackwork program for their horses with a key date in mind,” Tuttle said.

“Today, I am able to confirm that the BTC at Doomben will conduct the first metropolitan meeting as racing resumes on Saturday, December 1.
“This meeting will be complemented by meetings conducted by the Gold Coast Turf Club and the Toowoomba Turf Club on the same day.
“On the Sunday, the Sunshine Coast Turf Club will also conduct a TAB race meeting.
“To mark the resumption of TAB racing in South East Queensland, the BTC will conduct an A Grade race program with seven races of $50,000 plus a feature event of $100,000.
“Each of the provincial meetings will also conduct a signature event of $40,000 to mark the resumption of racing.
“These will be significant meetings and we will give the marketing a push along with the clubs.
“On a Non-TAB racing front, the racing program is set to resume to normal from December 1, 2007.”

Tuttle went on to add that, “Tomorrow is also a key date as we head towards the resumption of racing.”
“Approximately 5,000 thoroughbred horses that received their initial inoculations on the weekend of Saturday, September 29, and Sunday, September 30, are due for their second inoculations 28 days after the primary vaccination.
“QRL will have 11 vaccination teams in the field from 6:00 AM tomorrow, working through the vaccination schedule.
“By Monday approximately 5,500 horses will have received their second inoculation,” Tuttle said.
“These horses will receive a further booster in March, 2008.”

Float Movements
On a permit basis float movements will commence as from November 4, 2007.These movements will be predicated on horses being transferred from a precinct, to a precinct with a similar level of immunity. The general principle applied to the movement of floats is that horses may be floated 42 days after the initial inoculation or 30 days after the last known clinical signs of EI at an infected premises.

Race horses in SE QLD will be allowed to move?

I have been told from a racing contact that race horses in SE QLD will be allowed to move from Monday week. Does anyone have any information on this? Is it true? What happens to the eradication plan then? What about non-racing horses?
Thanks, Kathryn

Fine for illegal horse movement

A Victorian woman will receive a fine of more than $300 for failing to finalise a permit and failing to provide a current vet check on a horse that was transported from Victoria to South Australia this week. Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Rob Rahaley, said the woman was aware of the permit requirements due to her involvement with an equine transport company.
"We are doing everything we can to keep SA free of horse flu and it is important that people understand that they will be fined if they don't follow the rules," Dr Rahaley said.
"It's very important that people applying for permits ensure that the documentation is completed prior to departure because PIRSA is monitoring horse movements and permit applications."
The illegal movement of horses and horse equipment can result in fines of up to $20,000. The woman will be fined $315 plus a $20 victim of crime levy.
Background
The woman applied for a permit to move the racehorse from Sedgwick in Victoria to Mt Gambier.
She was aware of the transport requirements implemented as a result of the horse flu outbreak interstate and asked the trainer of the horse to arrange the vet check prior to departure and to fax the certificate to PIRSA.
However, on the morning of 24 October the trainer faxed a certificate dated 16 October to PIRSA. (PIRSA requires a vet check within 48 hours prior to departure.)
The horse left the Victorian property on the morning of 24 October and arrived in South Australia later that day without a permit and was immediately quarantined pending a current vet check. Thankfully the veterinary inspection found the horse to be healthy and restrictions on the movement of the horse have been lifted.

Only a week............

Or maybe it will be a bit longer, before horse flu hits Victoria!!! (it would be too obvious if it were announced the day after the cup).

JH

Fresh horse flu outbreak at four NSW properties

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has started a horse flu vaccination program north of Wollongong after an outbreak of the virus at Darkes Forest and Helensburgh.

Four properties at Darkes Forest and three at Helensburg, south of Sydney, have been infected and placed under quarantine.

The zoning of the area has been changed from amber to red.

The department's deputy chief veterinary officer, Ian Roth, says the area has been zoned for vaccination but no horses have been immunised yet.

Mr Roth says the new zoning will allow the department to move in and start vaccinations quickly to stop the virus spreading further.

"It'll be north of Wollongong and than we'll move," he said.

"We'll vaccinate north and that way, the immunity starts about seven to 10 days after vaccination and so you start south just in case there is a little bit more southerly spread."

The Good Fight.

29th October.

There is so much to think about and do regarding the fight against EI or the care of horses with EI, that it would be easy to get out of kilter with our horses regular health programme.

Horse Deals spoke to Virbac Equine Product Manager, Reagan Petzel about the importance of maintaining our horse’s regular worming programme. “You need to help your horse’s immune system work as well as it can and worm infestation will seriously undermine that. I think people have been concerned about going to their saddlery and feed stores for fear of bringing the virus back to their own horses. But now I think with more knowledge about bio-security, people are a little more confident about correct sterilization processes. Sales of course were down last month, but this month is looking a little better, but really, I expect sales to be quiet for the rest of the year. It is to be hoped things will get up and going for everybody early next year.

“It is important too to make sure your horses are as well as they can be and are getting all the vitamins and minerals necessary to keep them well and boost their immune system. Feramo H is a very good supplement for that, especially when horses are spending a lot of time in the stables. The products that have been selling well are Clean Up, which really helps a horse when it goes off its feed, which is a symptom of EI. We have completely sold out of Cough Control, which is understandable at this time, with coughing a heartbreaking symptom of EI.

The feed and saddlery stores are really feeling the affects of EI and to help them and our customers, we did a mail order form for the stores to hand and send out to their customers. It includes all our products, but the stores can put other items on it as well in an effort to get business moving”.

How about a real poll

The survey I refer to is this one http://www.surveymaster.com/AHIC/Q3.asp )

BUT

Where is the poll for us to vote on that in future all Ausvet plans, INCLUDE THE PROTOCOLS NECESSARY FOR IMPLEMENTATION be already in place instead of waiting 4 weeks for the paperwork and i understand a bill passed in parliament to import the vaccine for the buffer zones.

NEXT question we need to be able yes or no too.

THAT IT BE MADE LAW that no minister either State or Federal can overrulle the Ausvet plan and hijack vaccines from their designated buffer zone use?

This mess and its massive extent is soley because of said interferance.
This was an australia wide emergency not just a TB/TAB issue.
WHY ARE Politicans not being asked what is Australia's future quarantine intentions? This a an election, these questions need (no these questions) demand answers.
someone said it cant be talked about because the claytons enquiry has been called.
this is bollocks.

If we as voters cannot know what policy each party has on this subject how can we make an informed decision????????
frankly I am totaly disgusted and disallusioned with both state and federal Agriculture ministers.

They did not act in the best interests of all the electrorate in any way whatsoever.
How about a royal commission into how that was permitted?
as for the clayton's commission, is it going to make it public that the virus spread from eastern creek to all the surrounding horse properties?
is blame going to be allocated to the totally inedequate facilities at eastern creek to contrain airbourne virus?

NO some worker at the bottom of the food chain is going to cop the blame for taking it to Maitland. Job done pats on the back.
It got out on its own as well. but whats the odds even if that was the only breakout and it never got to maitland the agriculture ministers would have done just as they did, allocated the month later arrived vaccines to their precious race horses. the creation of the purple zone spread it far and wide anyway?
As for that so often stated ONE VOICE of the racing industry?if it was so strong how come the likes of even Makybe Diva had to take her chances with the riff raff?the vast majority of Thoroughbreds are the broodmares, youngsters and youngsters being prepared for racing, their owners voices seemed a little weak just like ours.
the only ones vaccinated all had one connection they were racehorses in training with a minimum of one start.
from where im sitting that one strong voice sounds a bit more like TAB than TB.How many others suspect the same?
A poll asking who has the strongest voice.

TB
or TAB would have interesting results perhaps?
If this was our dry run for foot and mouth or any other viral outbreak, there is great reason to worry is there not?

Sandy

RedZone Extension

I guess there are a lot of people in my area, the Wollongong area ,that should know that the RED ZONE has now been extended as far south as Fairymeadow where the old Horseland Saddlery was as well as taking in Mt Ousley and Mt Keira Road. Why you ask? There are reportedly confirm cases of EI in Darkes Forest and through Helensburgh.

Tell your horsey friends and let the public know please.

Where are our vaccinations?

DPI please don't leave it too late as you did with these people at Darkes Forest. They had just had there first needle last week. All cancelled now.

Why are there no quarantines in place? Why are riding schools still operating in this area allowing the general public in to spread the disease unknowingly.

This is not getting better?

This is spreading.

The RED ZONE has been EXTENDED, MADE LARGER, EXPANDED ITS AREA.

Tracy Stead Equestrian Services

Congratulations!

I just wanted to say to Werribee Park, EFA Victoria and Horse Deals, which has supported everyone during this travesty, congratulations.

I read with gratitude and thankfulness that a group of people ran a show/horse trials and managed it well. No fanfare - note: press. No screaming headlines - unless of course EI had managed to make its presence felt.

Flemington just down the road - all eyes to the race horses, which are all now vaccinated, so who cares what dressage horses are doing?

A wonderful smack in the face to the authorities (who ever they are) to say that 'Well, actually, we can do this. Sensibly and safely'

Can I ask - how did the event manage for insurance?

This vexes me somewhat - our own breed society has managed to stop us all, even in EI free zones, from doing anything at all (including allowing trainers or judges to do anything either) by waving insurance at us. Or the lack of it.

And congratulations to the 300 riders who attended, and made it all work. From the pics on this site, you all look fantastic.

regards,
Karen Harrison

Foal lost battle to survive horse flu

Watching mare and first-time mother Piper gently nudge her dead foal, willing him to stand up, is a heartbreaking image of the Equine Influenza outbreak.

That’s the scene that confronted breeders Gail and Ed McCane, of Trevallyn, after they lost a week-long battle to prevent valuable five-week-old foal Barnesy from succumbing to the virus.
“Piper was standing over him, waiting for him to wake up, but he was dead,” Mrs McCane said. “It was just so sad.”

Read more.

Horse Shows in Victoria

To whom it may concern, I have found te equine influenza blog very informative and helpful, many regards for that. I would just like to ask if you know when horse shows are going back in Victoria.
Kind regards,
Helena Metzke

Welcome EI to Victoria.

Just thought i'd throw out the warning about EI in Victoria. In about a weeks time not only will all show/recreational horse owners have to sit through the "Race that stops the nation (and then hands us EI)" but I know for a fact the Victorian Dog shows start on the 3rd of November. Show dog owners and breeders from ALL states bring their dogs into Victoria for about a week straight. Now I know how bad the border patrols are so I'd say EI will be here as soon as the first couple of cars get through. So to all Victorian horse owners please start prepairing. EI will get here - there's no way it can't. We have all heard the horror stories from the other states and as our Government isn't interested in helping us, we'll no doubt be in for a fight as there are ALOT of horses in VIC and EI will spread quickly. To all who have foals I hope they make it through.

7 days and counting....

Emma L.