Horses from the PURPLE ZONE freely moving to the AMBER ZONE

Wow if only I owned magic racehorses as they are allowed to come from Sydney (Purple Zone) into Kembla Grange Illawarra region ....TO RACE!

Oh yes they have been vaccinated, which don't read me wrong this is what I want for my horses, but a vaccinated horse can still carry the virus.

And yes DPI I know that "racehorse vets" will be swabbing for the virus ect ect ect but are you really seeing the irony of this????

More floats on the road, more horses in transit and a bigger risk of the virus spreading.

But you equestrian people make sure you stay at home keeping those germ developing, virus carrying second grade horses at a standstill won't you and don't you dare vaccinate as it is ILLEGAL for you to. Can't have them mixing with royalty in racing can we???

So now magic racehorses are allowed to travel within zones comfortably. Wow!!

You know what I think?.......while the racing industry forges ahead and brings in the millions the DPI has allowed our equestrian sporthorse and pleasure industry to deteriorate fast. They have depreciated the value of our industry as a whole. It has taken years of hard work for Australia to get on the same tables as leading sporthorse countries. Oh and not because we were never good enough but lets face facts here we had to just keep showing our face, our flag, at these world events until they recognised us a "maybe in with a chance as they just keep turning up", and then we won!!!!! BUT........

But we may start to lose those rankings we have spent years achieving and we may be set back years in our dedicated work. In 5 years time how are we going to buy nice Aussie bred 4 years olds to train on as our olympic hopeful when there aren't many around...if any! How many mares went in foal this year.

So now the government has just forced more importations of 4 year old overseas stock in 2012. Great move DPI. Well done! Really got to take my hat off to you that you have the gall to tell us in the sporthorse and pleasure industry "to LOCKDOWN and lose everything (and we have) but sorry we can't stand up to the racing industry as they intimidate us and we don't want to make them angry. Plus we are a government body anyway and the government makes a packet out of gambling with racehorses. But we will make a mockery ourselves with the 83% of all other horse owners and industry workers."

Talk about rubbing salt into the wound. Thanks DPI for yet losing more brownie points with me.

As an EFA member I can have only performance card registered horses vaccinated (at my cost) but not my up and coming novice horses, even though it would be at my expense and they are all on my property!!

Oh it seems to get better and better day by day. The rest of the world must be having a field day with us. Probably got us on 'Funniest Australian Disasters".

Tracy Stead
Equestrian ServicesNCAS EFA Riding Coach & Equine Trainer

EI FLU INJECTIONS

Does anyone have any information on how the needle should be injected? My horses reacted to their 2nd shot which was given in the standard way (no lifting of the skin) while tthe first was given with a pinch to the side of site...with no swelling etc I would like to clear this up prior to the next one in 5 months
Horse Deals Reader

Horse Deals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

By Julie Wilson

Horse Deals regular reporter, Anna Sharpley and I have taken time out from reporting on horse flu to accept an invitation to visit the KL Grand Prix and go onto Hong Kong courtesy of Tourism Hong Kong. This is our fourth trip to KL and as always it is wonderful, with great hospitality, wonderful jumping and KL is a vibrant and interesting city. We arrived late Wednesday night and headed straight for our hotel, the Crowne Plaza Mutiara. One of the huge benefits of a visit to Malaysia is that you can stay in a five star hotel for the price you would pay for a budget hotel in Australia.

Thursday morning we started the day with the amazing breakfast provided by the hotel. The breakfast room is like a meeting of the United Nationals and every culinary request is met from corn flakes, dim sims, curries and rice, wonderful platters of fresh fruits and eggs cooked to any request. It is fascinating watching what people from different countries eat for breakfast. After breakfast we were picked up and taken to the Putra Stadium, home of the 1998 Commonwealth Games gymnastic competitions and now part of the National Sporting Complex of Malaysia. The first day was taken up with two competitions consisting mainly of young and junior riders. The daily temperature in Malaysia at this time of the year ranges from a low in the twenties to a high in the low 30’s, with a high humidity. However, in the press room the average temperature is about 14 degrees and any amount of readjusting the air conditioning does not seem to fix the problem.

We spent Thursday evening at the Petalang Street markets, offering an amazing array of designer copies from hand bags, pens, watches and clothes, sold by some charming streetwise salesmen. The markets also include a wonderful collection of food stalls, however, we chose to eat at Sao Nam, one of the best restaurants you would find anywhere and always a highlight of our visit to KL.

Friday started with our United Nations meeting in the breakfast room, followed by a walk around the city. Kl is a fascinating city with the old parts of the city intermingled with the new high rise buildings. Both the old and the new architecture is enchanting. However, on each of our visits there is less of the old and more of the new. It will be a shame if the street vendors and the old buildings disappear forever. Many of the locals feel ashamed of the old parts of their city nevertheless, it is what makes a visit to KL so charming and different from many other cities.

Just after lunch we were picked up and taken to the show for an entertaining jumping program, (as seen on the Horse Deals Gallery)

http://www.klgrandprix.com/

Grooms signed but 'didn't read EI docs'

Jet-lagged grooms signed documents on arrival at Sydney's Eastern Creek quarantine station without reading them, the inquiry into equine influenza (EI) heard.

James Carey, a senior groom who accompanied a consignment of stallions from Coolmore in Ireland on August 8, said delays in the flight had resulted in a trip of around 40 hours and all he wanted to do was get the horses settled and get to bed.

He also said a log book grooms were supposed to sign every time they left and re-entered the station, which is administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) was not always used because it could not always be located.

"I recall meeting (station manager) Greg Hankins and signing papers before being given a swipe card and gate key," Carey said.

"After a 40 or 50-hour trip from Ireland, we had problems with the flight and I was very badly jet-lagged, at that point, the best thing you want to do at that time of night is get settled as quickly as possible.

Read more.

Horse owners in amber zones to maintain biosecurity

Horse owners are urged to remain vigilant in maintaining good biosecurity and hygiene around their animals despite the upgrading of red zones at Mudgee and Temora to amber this week.

"While this week’s transition is excellent news we can’t afford any relapse in these areas," deputy chief veterinary officer Steve Dunn said today.

All horse fittings, equipment and tack must be decontaminated after use.

People who have any contact with horses, including farriers, veterinarians, trainers, and horse owners must also shower, wash clothing and change into clean clothes between visits to properties.

"We are aware that some infection has clearly been the result of human transfer of the virus," Mr Dunn said.

"That’s why it remains vital that everyone who comes in contact with horses or horse equipment must maintain strict hygiene and biosecurity.

"You need to wash or shower thoroughly and put on clean clothes before and after you have any contact with horses, ponies or donkeys to ensure you don’t unwittingly transfer the virus."
Mr Dunn said soap, household detergents and disinfectants can easily kill the EI virus.

"At the very least you should wash your hands and arms with hot water, disinfect footwear and horse gear, wash your clothes and decontaminate or wash your hat," he said

"And you need to ensure that any person or equipment coming onto your property has been cleared. Don’t be afraid to ask people where they have been and what cleaning procedures they have followed."

While vaccination is making big inroads in containing equine influenza, vigilance to hygiene standards remains the key to eradicating the virus.

Victorian DPI Situation Report - Nov 23

http://www.horsecouncil.org.au/_upload/files/vic%20dpi%20sitrep%20nov%2023.pdf