Prevention measures worked against horse flu: Chief Vet

The Department of Primary Industries says Victoria remains free of equine flu, on the eve of the Melbourne Cup.

The D-P-I has spent about four-million dollars on efforts to stop the disease, since the first outbreak was discovered in New South Wales in August.

A ban on moving horses across the Victorian border is still in place, while a vaccination program is underway.

Victoria's chief vet, Doctor Hugh Millar, says he's pleased the measures have worked so far.

"It certainly gives me a lot of pleasure that we've got to this point but having said that I wouldn't want anyone for a moment to think that that's what it was all about," he said.

"And that when the Spring Carnival is over we'll all simply pack up and go home because that's absolutely the last thing we're going to do."

DPI Reports November 05

Victorian DPI Situation Report November 05

NSW DPI

Equine Influenza epidemiology report

Second round EI shots: We’ll call you
05 Nov 2007

The NSW Department of Primary Industries has reminded horse owners whose animals are due for a second equine influenza (EI) vaccination that they will be contacted by their local vaccination centre (LVC).

All horses vaccinated in the first round will given their second shot approximately four to six weeks after the first shot.

NSW deputy chief veterinary officer, Ian Roth, has asked owners to be patient and wait until they are contacted by the LVC rather than calling about their horses’ second shot.

“LVCs across NSW are working 12-hour shifts to vaccinate all the horses, ponies, mules and donkeys in the buffers – veterinary teams have to reach close to 20,000 animals which are spread over a vast area of the State,” Mr Roth said.

“The second round has started in a number of buffers but that doesn’t mean your horse will be vaccinated this week.

“We want horse owners to know that we will get back to them but it could be anything up to six weeks between EI shots.

“Constant calls to LVCs about second round vaccinations will only slow the process.”

VDC Competition 24 Nov- CANCELLED

Rebecca Keartland, Monday, 5 November 2007
The Victorian Dressage Club competition scheduled for the 24th of November has been cancelled due to Werribee Park's Quarantine Station.

HELP NEEDED TO FIND SURROGATE MARE FOR ORPHAN FOAL

I am trying to find a surrogate mother for my two day old Clydesdale TB X filly foal. Her mother has to be put down during the night due to a prolapsed uterus and I am desperate to find a mare who may have lost a foal in the last week to mother it. Travel around Victoria would not be a concern. Or, alternatively I could host the mare at my property if appropriate. The foal has been fortunate enough to have spent the first 36 hours of her life drinking well from the mare prior to her death, so I feel she has received a good supply of colostrum. I live in south Western Victoria, Woolsthorpe near WARRNAMBOOL.

If there is someone who can help, contact me by phone on (03) 55692038 or 0428692039 any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Rebecca Hay rebecca.hay.2@bigpond.com

The forgotten victims of the horse flu outbreak

Broadcast: 02/11/2007
Reporter: Tamara Oudyn

LAURIE LEVER, SHOWJUMPER: Seven days a week, morning and evening. You know, you have to look after them. They are expensive animals. They cost as much to feed as racehorses, you know. So the cost does not go away and that is probably one of the biggest things that hurts. You can't just put it on standstill.

TAMARA OUDYN, REPORTER: Equine influenza still has a menacing presence in Australia so it will be with an enormous sense of relief for the racing industry that the starter's pistol sound at the Victoria Derby tomorrow marking start of the biggest week in the state's racing calendar.

COMMENTATOR: Ready! Racing! They're off...

TAMARA OUDYN: But it is not just the racing industry that has borne the cost of dealing with the equine influenza outbreak. Olympic riders like Mary Hannah face huge financial hurdles just the stay in the competition

MARY HANNA, OLYMPIC EQUESTRIAN: There is a massive population of horses out there and people who want to travel and do things with their horses and they can't.

Caroline Wagner runs a saddlery business on the Mornington Peninsula and says her turnover is down to 20 per cent capacity because of the ban on horse movements in Victoria. She is worried this won't be the last time EI affects her.

CAROLINE WAGNER, SADDLER: Maybe it will be gone in a few months and then it will break out again which means suddenly we will all be halted again. So this could go on for over a year or two years. Who knows? Whereas if we are able to vaccinate, then we have some sort of timeline where things can get back on track and people can resume their normal activities.

Read more.

Wagering turnover - the facts

Wagering turnover

Wagering turnover in Victoria and New South Wales has improved since the initial impact of Equine Influenza on Saturday 25 August 2007.

$m NSW 06 VIC 06 TOTAL 06 NSW 07 VIC 07 TOTAL 07 Change
Sat 25 Aug to Fri 31 Aug 86.9 65.1 152.0 29.7 22.2 51.9 -66%
Sat 1 Sep to Fri 7 Sep 82.3 64.5 146.8 74.5 66.5 141.0 -4%
Sat 8 Sep to Fri 14 Sep 84.4 66.5 150.9 73.1 64.7 137.8 -9%
Sat 15 Sep to Fri 21 Sep 89.7 68.6 158.3 72.9 64.7 137.6 -13%
Sat 22 Sep to Fri 28 Sep 91.9 75.4 167.3 74.9 70.2 145.1 -13%
Sat 29 Sep to Fri 5 Oct 92.7 64.7 157.4 70.4 60.5 130.9 -17%
Sat 6 Oct to Fri 12 Oct 95.2 77.4 172.6 78.5 76.0 154.5 -10%
Sat 13 Oct to Fri 19 Oct 97.0 86.3 183.3 83.1 83.9 167.0 -9%
Sat 20 Oct to Fri 26 Oct 102.1 92.9 195.0 87.2 86.9 174.1 -11%
Sat 27 Oct to Fri 2 Nov 102.6 94.9 197.5 89.8 91.9 181.7 -8%

The table represents the total amount bet on thoroughbred, harness and greyhound races across Tabcorp's TAB network in New South Wales and Victoria.
The table does not represent Tabcorp's revenue or profit/loss.
Figures exclude Sportsbet and Trackside.
Comparisons against equivalent period last year.
On some days, there will be additional racing, which will make year on year comparisons less reliable.

Sourced from www.tabcorp.com.au

BOYCOTT THE MELBOURNE CUP & IS E I IN VIC?

Hit them in the hip pocket nerve where it counts. Boycott the Melbourne
Cup. Don't have your annual flutter on the "big" race, if every Horse Deals
reader saves their few bucks or more that would certainly put a big hole in
the betting revene. No doubt there are plenty of horse people who won't even
be able to afford it this year anyway.
I have heard the following rumour so many times I am finally beginning to
believe that it is true. And the rumour is that E I is in Victoria and they
are keeping it quiet so they can run their precious race. There's no doubt
there has been a lot of testing done in Vic, that is for sure.
Victoria Ferguson

Infected areas in South East Queensland 4 Nov am - New

***Click on map to enlarge***

CURTAIL EQUINE INFLUENZA NOW OR FACE THE COSTS

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin

Wednesday, October 31, 2007
CURTAIL EQUINE INFLUENZA NOW OR FACE THE COSTS

Equine influenza remains containable and eradicable, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today.

“And that has to continue to be our aim or the annual costs to industry would be enormous,’’ Mr Mulherin said.

Mr Mulherin said the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics estimated that the current direct costs resulting from the EI outbreak at about $3.94 million per day nationally.

As DPI&F ramped up its vaccination program and beefed up its buffers, Mr Mulherin said experts remained increasingly confident that under the current strategy the disease would burn itself out.
“Their optimism is inspired by the infection still being restricted within the South East Queensland Red Zone, as well as better availability of vaccine which will allow us to more aggressively contain the infection within the existing areas. The strategy is working.
“I know there are those who say the horse standstill is too difficult for many people and we should just stand back and let horse flu run its course.
“But if we let that happen, horse owners could face the recurrent costs of two or three injections per year.’’

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Chief Veterinary Officer Ron Glanville said the Department had to look at the “big picture’’.
“The decision to impose movement restrictions was not taken lightly.’’ Dr Glanville said.
“After more than eight weeks, horse flu in Queensland is still restricted to the South East corner of the state – this is directly attributable to the tight horse movement restrictions, which help prevent any further spread.
“Horse owners in the Red Zone can apply for a movement permit in cases where a horse's life is at risk. However, this is considered on a case-by-case basis and we have a responsibility to minimise any movements of horses that may further spread the infection.
“These restrictions may be relaxed in December depending on the success of our vaccination program, but for the time being it is critical that people continue complying with the movement restrictions.
“The alternative is the cost and inconvenience of an annual vaccination program costing hundreds of dollars per horse, which is what horse owners in other countries go through.”

As part of the containment and eradication strategy, DPI has now created an inner buffer zone on the Sunshine Coast north-west from Wild Horse Mountain forestry tower.
More inner buffer zones are planned through Crows Nest and Esk district, linking to the Sunshine Coast inner buffer as well as to the west of Toowoomba and Warwick.
Mr Mulherin also said today more than $80,000 in interest subsidy support has been approved for small businesses affected by EI as part of the Queensland Government’s Commercial Horse Small Business Emergency Assistance Scheme.
Since the scheme was launched on September 28, 2007, the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority has received 40 applications from applicants operating in various industries.
Under the Scheme, eligible small businesses that derive the majority of their income from the commercial horse industry and have experienced a significant downturn in income as a result of the outbreak, are able to receive an interest subsidy payment of up to $5000 (up to a maximum of 50% of the interest payments) on new or existing loans to assist in meeting their operational and other essential costs.

Mr Mulherin said a wide variety of industry groups impacted by the influenza outbreak were eligible to receive the assistance and encourages affected businesses to apply.
“The assistance available as part of the Commercial Horse Small Business Emergency Assistance Scheme is not confined to businesses involved in the horse racing industry, but for all businesses that are directly impacted by the commercial horse industry,” he said.
To be eligible for the subsidy support, applicants must own and operate a small business with less than 100 full time equivalent employees, have experienced a significant downturn in income as a result of the outbreak, derive the majority of business income from being part of the commercial horse industry, have been operating the business on August 25, 2007 and continue to operate the business.
Applications for support under the Scheme must be submitted to QRAA by March 31, 2008.
For further information about the scheme, as well as full details of the eligibility requirements, terms and conditions and application forms, contact QRAA on Freecall 1800 623 946 or visit the website at www.qraa.qld.gov.au.

A question on Werribee as Quarantine Station

Just a question on Werribee being used as a Quarantine Station, correct me if I am wrong or if someone can shed some light-

The Vic government have leased/hired Werribee for the months of November & December, apparently the horses are to do 2 weeks in NSW PRIOR to coming to Werribee.

Is the Quarantine station in NSW even set up as yet and have any horses started their quarantine in NSW for delivery to Victoria??

We are already in November and this means that even if the NSW quarantine is set up (in a green zone) we are at least two weeks away from receiving the first horses for quarantine at Werribee - How likely is is that all Quarantine will be completed by the end of December? How likely is it that the Victorian Government will decide that they require Werribee for longer than the current November/December booking? (How likely is it that Major competitions booked for February at Werribee will be going ahead?)

The Victorian Government no doubt made an offer 'to good to refuse' to Werribee Park who is no doubt suffering the effects of EI along with most other Equine related business and industry.

PIRSA to prosecute trainer re Mt Gambier Races EI Scare

Whilst it is obvious that the Racehorse Trainer from Victoria did the wrong thing by taking his horse to a race meeting in SA without a Permit, surely PIRSA would also be considering prosecution of not only the trainer but of TRSA (Throughbred Racing South Australia).

How did the horse even get ON the racecourse to start with - surely they would be checking all horses at the gates and SURELY the security would notice Victorian plates (he was the only Victorian horse accepted for this race meeting).

I have attended the PIRSA meeting in Mt Gambier and we are constantly told that racing can go ahead because they have such strict regulations and are basically self-policed by their own security and stewards!! ARE THEY JOKING?? Yet my young daughter cannot attend any competitions because obviously the recreational industry cannot be trusted with bio-security or regulations!

Make TRSA responsible for Racing - Fine them like to Poor Trainer who stuffed up!

Margaret.

Ridden over rough-shod, ignored, not consulted, ill-informed and mindlessly spoken ‘at’ by DPI, State governments and MP’s

To say that we should be outraged regarding the previous post (Horse Deals – EI Situation in Victoria post 2/11) is an understatement. Again, again and again, the 80% of non-racing horse owners (whether it is in Victoria or elsewhere) are being ridden over rough-shod, ignored, not consulted, ill-informed and mindlessly spoken ‘at’ by DPI, State governments and MP’s as well, it seems, as by some within the groups that are supposed to be working with us.

When is enough going to be enough I wonder? Now that Werribee is going to be used as a quarantine station (which genius thought this one up by the way?) you can effectively cancel anything that might have been held there for the next 6 months, never mind the next 3 months.

We have had vague agreement about when small horse events might take place again in Victoria, where the public could be excluded. In reality, the only time you get the 2 mixing is at Ag shows and other local shows / celebrations where the 2 might mingle. Many horse events take place without the presence of the public in great numbers. So, if common sense was to prevail, might not small shows be held where the competitors were from a certain radius, with appropriate bio-security measures in place?

I suppose what concerns me most is that the horse sports we all have taken as part of our everyday lives is going to be eroded into a shadow of its former self as a result of this travesty, and we do not even have EI in Victoria. If we accept that Werribee is going to be a quarantine station, then quite frankly it will only be a matter of time before something happens human nature being what it is. No human interactions ever occur without error. No rider in their right mind will wish to take their horses to Werribee to compete even if they could.

I also have to say, that the response from the Federal Member for Wannon, David Hawker (I wrote to him about 10 days ago now) has been eerily missing. Therefore, the chance that we have to be heard needs to be at the upcoming EI public information sessions to be held around Victoria during November. Please attend and listen, and make your point politely!

Regards,

Karen Harrison

Treehaven Events

Annie Lever would like to advise that unfortunately the Xmas SJ Weekend has been canceled, however she would like to confirm that the Dressage on the 16th December and the 28th January are still going ahead.

Horse flu war being won as restrictions eased in NSW, Tas

The campaign to eradicate horse flu has turned a corner today, with the equine influenza status of a large part of NSW moving from high risk to lower risk, and travel restrictions being eased in Tasmania. NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, says the second phase of the State Government's plan to defeat the exotic disease is now underway. "The Iemma Government has spent about $19 million so far on its effort to eradicate EI from NSW, we are running within the estimated budget and there is no doubt we have reached major milestones," Mr Macdonald said. "Infection in NSW peaked on 26 September and since then has been steadily declining. "And today almost half of the NSW Red Zone - about 4.5 million hectares - will be moved to Amber Zone status." This means that all or parts of the Coonamble, Moree Plains, Gwydir, Coonabarabran, Coolah and Dunedoo districts have now had their risk status downgraded. Testing of horses in those areas will continue to achieve proof-of-freedom in the future. And in Tasmania the Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, has lifted the ban on importing horses into the State, but only from jurisdictions free of EI, and under strict permit conditions. Horses from NSW, Queensland and the ACT will not be permitted to enter Tasmania, and those horses that are allowed to enter will be subject to a horse movement strategy. "The protocols require that all horse movements will require a special authority issued by the Department," he said. "People applying for special authorities will need to provide details of the identification of each horse, properties from and to which they will be moved and the EI vaccination status of the horse. "Following risk assessment, a special authority may be issued for movement imposing a number of conditions."
In NSW Mr Macdonald said phase two of the EI Protection Plan includes:
* continued revision of zoning boundaries;
* second round vaccinations targeting 18,000 plus animals;
* exhaustive proof-of-freedom testing along the north coast to ultimately move 15 Local Government Areas from Amber to Green;
* further testing in other Amber Zones to move areas to EI Protected Green;
* vaccination of priority uninfected horses in the Purple Zone; and
* extension of the permit and travelling horse statement systems.

"Our intention has always been to contain the infection and ultimately eradicate it completely. This goal is reflected in our plan," he said. Mr Macdonald will meet with State and Federal counterparts later today where he will officially unveil phase two of the NSW EI Protection Plan.

SOURCE: The Land, NSW, weekly rural newspaper, posting news updates daily on FarmOnline.

No Prizes.

There would be few in the broad equestrian community not familiar with the much sought after Mary Pinsent Bronze trophies, for years handed out to the lucky few. In fact over the last 30 odd years there have been quite a few of the beautiful cold cast bronze statues presented, but rather than diminish, the appeal has increased as, although not originals the beautiful reproductions of all things equestrian are indeed works of art.

Mary Pinsent and her husband, Dick started the company, Realities Cold Cast Bronze about thirty years ago. The company was clearly based on Mary’s talent as a sculptor and the continuation of the company is still based on Mary’s formidable body of work. Horse Deals wondered how the business was being affected by the outbreak of EI and picked up the telephone. Greg Osland answered and related a rather interesting story.

“About 12 years ago, my son Danny began working for Mary and Dick in the business and through Danny I started working for them as well. We always got along with them very well and about eight years ago, Mary and Dick (originally from England) decided they wanted to travel. They said to us one day, we’re going overseas for two years, the business is yours, do what you want; if you get sick of it, just lock the doors and walk away. So they went overseas for two years and when they came back, I had all the books ready for them. They had a brief look and told us they were going to buy a property in Queensland and retire. What about the business, I asked? Just keep doing what you are doing, was the reply; it was all done with a handshake. Mary has been retired now for seven or eight years now, but as you can see on the website she has and incredible body of work and a great range, covering most breeds and disciplines. So with my sons Danny and Scott and my wife, we continue to make cold cast bronze reproductions of Mary’s sculptures.

“The process is labour intensive and involves a rubber mould being made of the original. This is done by applying many cigarette paper thin layers of rubber combined with a fixer over a period of a week. Danny does all the rubber work and Scott does the casting. It is difficult to explain over the telephone, but it is quite a complicated and delicate exercise, especially getting the cast out of the rubber mould using a very sharp scalpel. We make a bronze solution, and apply it to the rubber mould and then fill it with sand and resin, which gives it its weight, and that process is called cold cast bronze.

“It is a family run business and it has been good to us. We don’t advertise, we rely on word of mouth and wait for the telephone calls, faxes and now emails to come in. When EI first started I thought, ‘oh crikey’, we might be in trouble here. Just about all our business is directly related to trophies for horse shows and just about all the shows are cancelled. We had already produced the trophies for Adelaide Royal before it was cancelled. They took them as they can use them for next year, but that will of course affect us next year. Melbourne Show has cancelled and we received an email from the Australian Arabian Society letting us know they may cancel or postpone their National Show. That is such a big show for us. Thanks to racing trophies produced for Victoria, the last couple of months have not been too bad, but they are usually excellent months. We sell trophies to New Zealand and the UK, but most of our work is for Australia.

“The boys are getting work away from the business, with Danny working as a builders labourer for a mate for the last two weeks. That helps tremendously and at the moment we are just playing for time. We are hitting our retailers pretty hard to get them to push horses as Christmas gifts, but until they start having shows again, we are in big trouble and I don’t know what’s going to happen”.

Footnote.
During our conversation with Greg, he explained how easily it was to fix broken statues. “Cats and grand kids are the biggest worry. I would hate to think how many statues had been discarded because a leg had been broken off etc. We can repair them quite cheaply, of course the cost of postage (Realities is in Bellingen NSW) is quite high as they are heavy”.

Mary Pinsent trophies are very hard to come by and not something to be relegated to the cupboard because they are damaged. Now would be a good time to have your trophy repaired and back on the mantelpiece where it belongs.

http://www.realities.com.au/

Farriers keep racing industry on its feet

Towards the end of the horse racing food chain is the farrier, keeping the thoroughbreds - literally - on their feet. But as a trade, it is back-breaking, and as a business, fraught with cost pressures. Transcript

PM will not attend Melbourne Cup

Posted on the news tonight that the PM will not attend the Cup "I'll be spending Melbourne Cup day elsewhere" where would that be Johnny????

A good place for him maybe would be spending time touring around/visiting all the people that have been so affected by the EI and not having a spare dollars to pop on the cup this year as their income has been so drastically culled due to the "FLU THAT STOPPED THE NATION"
Do something like that Johnny and my vote might be reconsidered as at the moment you are definately not one of the favourites in my book.

Waiting for it to happen here in the NT, concerned horse owner

Megan