Protest AGAINST Albury Wodonga Equestrian Centre Quarantine Facility

There is a protest being organised today @ 12 noon at Albury, against the wrongful use of our equestrian centre as a quarantine centre the transfer of horses into victoria. This equestrian centre is surrounded by un-protected, un-vaccinated horses. They say that they will only bring horses here that are from the green zone – sure, like we trust them, they (DPI) don’t care about us, and they can quite easily change the rules to bring vaccinated racehorses from god only knows where to our currently EI free town.

Remember, vaccinated horses can spread the disease and there are horses living within several hundred metres of this centre.

Not really any need to say more!

JH

Doesn't surprise me

It doesn't surprise me there are more EI outbreaks every day. I do live in a red zone but my horses did not contract it till 14 days ago.

I managed to escape it for over 2 months and considering I was in a red zone I was prepared to get it. But the way I did shocks me!!

You see I work in a business that is located on the main highway and regularly serve customers (up to 1000 a day) that have pulled up in their truck or horse float. Not carrying horses but carrying saddles and rugs etc. Hmm my understanding was these items were restricted movement as well as horses themselves. So if they are carrying EI then I’m unwittingly transferring it to other customers.

Not once have I seen them pulled over and questioned and considering it's a red zone I thought it would be more strict than it is.

So until this is policed more I suspect the whole country will get it.

BK

What the West would have been like with Shetland ponies

Call for regular shots to stop EI

A BRITISH expert has urged racing authorities to allow thoroughbred owners to regularly vaccinate their horses against equine influenza.

As an inquiry into Australia's horse flu outbreak begins in Sydney today, Richard Newton, a veterinary epidemiologist with the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket in Britain, said it would be sensible to allow horse owners to "take out their own 'insurance' and vaccinate".

On September 17, a national agreement was reached by federal and state officials to vaccinate horses to help control the outbreak of equine influenza, but it is not part of an ongoing protective strategy.

Dr Newton, who is in Melbourne for the 13th International World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians Symposium, said vaccination of thoroughbred racehorses became mandatory in 1981 under Britain's Jockey Club Rules of Racing.

Ireland and France have adopted the regulation.

"It's part of owning a racehorse," Dr Newton said, noting that it's not mandatory to vaccinate horses outside the industry.

Read more.

HORSE BORDER BREACHES TO BE CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Equine Influenza (EI) border security controls in Victoria are set to become stronger, with new ‘night-vision' camera surveillance to be established at undisclosed border crossing points.

Minister for Agriculture, Joe Helper said that the success of the Spring Racing Carnival did not mean Victoria could relax its tough border security, and would remain serious about apprehending people breaching the NSW/Victorian border controls.

“The cameras will be on 24 hours a day, seven days a week and they will add to the border security staff already in place. Equine Influenza is still present in NSW and our efforts to prevent it spreading to Victoria will stay in place as long as necessary,” he said.

Mr Helper said the Government would commit a further $25,000 each month to camera surveillance in addition to private security guards and DPI employees already protecting the border. The five permanent cameras will be in place by December 3rd on major border crossings.

Read more.

Equine influenza daily update - 16 November 2007

5417 infected Properties (IPs); 454 Dangerous Contact Properties (DCPs); 530 Suspect Properties (SPs). Read more.

EI Inquiry

Read all the transcripts from the Inquiry.
http://www.equineinfluenzainquiry.gov.au/www/inquiry/equine.nsf/Page/Transcripts

Uncertainty surrounds Toowoomba Show's horse competition

The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland (RASQ) says it is holding off on printing its schedule for next year's Toowoomba Show until it knows for certain if it will be able to stage a horse competition.
The 2008 show circuit starts in Stanthorpe at the end of January, while the Royal Toowoomba Show traditionally stages the second largest horse competition in the country.

RASQ chief executive Damon Phillips says authorities need to make a decision soon on which horses can attend these types of events.
"There's certainly going to be a downturn in attendance, they're very popular for people coming to watch," he said.

"As far as revenue coming in, entries and stabling and whatnot will be well down and so we need to manage that, look at better ways of putting on a great show for people to come and see."

Toowoomba Royal Show
10th-12th April 2008
http://www.rasq.com.au/

Horse Industry Council says help available for West Wyalong breeder

The Horse Industry Council says there is help for a West Wyalong breeder who is contemplating shooting her animals as she waits to find out whether she can access help.

Diane Glennan says she cannot afford to keep the 45 horses because she has run out of feed and being in the 'amber zone', cannot travel to horse sales to earn income.

The Federal Government has pledged almost $230 million in income and business support for those hit by the equine influenza outbreak.
Barry Smyth from the Australian Horse Industry Council says the breeder can apply to move the animals to another property and feed can be secured.
"The RSPCA is one, there are several horse rescue organisations around in the various states, so people need to get onto the networks and find those and see if they can also offer assistance," he said.