Thank You

We wish to thank the Levers, EFA, Judges, Stewards, Volunteers and all concerned with the Show Horse Vic which was held on Sunday 9th of Dec.

We need organisations to take chances (with proper Bio Security measures in place) and proceed with competitions to get things back on track in Victoria.

It was a lovely day at Tree Haven in Somerville, well organised and everyone seemed to be happy to be out and about again.

Merry Christmas to all
Kind regards

Amanda and Scarlett Luscombe

Don't give two hoots

It seemes to me it is very obvious the goverment the DPI and the show council don't give two hoots about the horse industry and the people that make there living out of it. People that own saddleries ect have had there income taken away from them. There children are going to have a very sad xmas. The racehorse industry are able to cross zones and race there horses where they like. This is just so unfair on the pleasure horse people who are not even allowed to have a event even if they are in a green zone. Why is it that the racing industry can effect these poor saddleries yet they go about there business as if there is no EI. Yes I agree this disease needes to be wiped out forever in this country. But you cannot take away 4/6/8/10/12 weeks or more of there income while every one else just dose not realise they are going broke and out of business'
Thanks a lot Eastern Creek/DPI/Show Council and this bloody racing industry who brought it here you all have a great day as I know a lot of people who wont.
stephen

Adelaide Royal 2008

2008 Horse Exhibitor Information - 4 December 2007

The Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society has amended the minimum qualifying performances for the 2008 Royal Adelaide Show, please refer to Adelaide Royal website for the latest updates and changes to the minimum performances required.

Bombarded with calls!

"Our Grey was advertised under 'Performance Horses' for $10,000 in the December Issue Horse Deals. A beautiful Julie Wilson photo was used. Even after all the EI trouble we were totally bombarded with calls. He was sold to the first people who called, we are still getting several calls daily. Thanks so much Horse Deals crew, you do a terrific job. Hopefully our horse in the January Issue goes just as fast. Cheers and thanks again, James and Bronwyn. **Click on advert to enlarge**

We thought we would email to let you know some latest news on the EI situation.

Our property Winchester Lodge Thoroughbreds is located at Nowra, NSW and is to become the first NSW property to be able to move previously infected horses from the purple zone into the green zone under strict biosecurity measures. Our first arrival of 3 thoroughbred Horses a 4yo mare, 2yo gelding and a yearling are arriving from the Inglis sales in Sydney where pre quarantine measures had also been in force for all horses. All have previously had equine influenza and tested clear and carrying antibodies.
The strict measures put in force by the DPI involves decontamination of the truck before carrying the 3 horses and on arrival of destination whilst horses are still on the truck. Although we own quite alot of acres fencing had to be built 100metres from all boundaries of the property and also 100 metres from any other horses. All horses will have the one handler responsible for their care and have the facilities at hand for decontamination of themselves before and after each handling.
We are excited that we are able to meet the strict measures put in force by the DPI and we shall become a quarantine zone for quite some time as another 2 arrivals come in 2 weeks. But i would like to express to those excited at the news horses will be allowed at Sydney Royal in 2008 owners must be aware of the distances and quarantine measures on their return home. Many were caught unaware with new inglis purchases and thought taking them home to their stable with no horse within 100 metres was acceptable only to find they didnt meet the requirements of the 100metres from property boundaries such as roads, neighbours etc. As we also produce show horses we would not like anyone to be caught unaware and their loved friend not be able to return home.
We shall be upgrading our quarantine facilities to cater for more horses and owners who may require our services in the future. Hopefully all goes well at Winchester Lodge with the new arrivals and we can start a new chapter in the movement of horses for the future and a return to some normality.
Jean Coward
Winchester Lodge Thoroughbreds

Protocol For Ongoing Supply & Admin Of EI Vaccine

Protocol for the Ongoing Supply and Administration of Equine Influenza Vaccine (ProteqFlu™-TE) to NSW Thoroughbred Horses

read the full report

FEES
The cost per dose of vaccine as supplied by Racing NSW to veterinary practitioners is $24.50. Included in the costs are the supply, bar coding, transport and handling of the vaccine.
The costs of the supply of vaccine and the veterinary costs of vaccination of any horse as an ongoing part of this protocol will be a matter of direct negotiation between the veterinarian and the client/person responsible for the horse.
However, Racing NSW will continue to meet the associated costs to vaccinate thoroughbred racehorses, 2yo and over (not including breeding horses) with the First Dose Primary and Second Dose Primary course that have not already received these doses.
Racing NSW will contract veterinarians to administer the vaccine for these doses. Note, however, that an application for this vaccine must be received by Racing NSW Stewards no later than 4pm Friday, 14 December 2007.

Victoria: HRV Commence EI Vaccinations

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) this week commenced its Equine Influenza vaccination program.
Australian Pacing Gold yearlings and racing stock nominated by their trainers were the first standardbreds to receive the vaccinations.
About 400 of Victoria's 1400 licensed trainers have registered their horses, therefore around 2000 racehorses and 250 yearlings will be the subject of the first round of vaccinations.
The first round of injections will continue through December. Booster shots and the necessary injections to horses that missed the first round of shots will be carried out in January.
Trainers will be contacted approximately 24 hours before the vaccination team will be visiting their area and are asked to be patient as the teams work their way across Victoria.
Any horses engaged to race will not be vaccinated in the seven days prior to their race. They will go onto a raceday list and will be vaccinated after their next existing engagement.
Finally, trainers are reminded they are obliged to report any adverse reactions to the vaccinations to Brant Dunshea at HRV on (03) 8378 0222.
07 December 2007

Victoria:Quarantine Expressions Of Interest Sought

Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) would like to hear from New South Wales trainers wanting to compete at the 2008 Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup and Watpac Inter Dominion Carnivals to be held in Victoria.
HRV is working with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) on the development of protocols that will allow the importation of a limited number of standardbreds from Equine Influenza (EI) affected states into Victoria for the February / March features.
HRV is hoping to receive confirmation from the DPI in the coming days as to whether the protocols have been approved.
As a result, HRV is calling on all NSW trainers eager to compete in Victoria to inform it of their intentions by close of business next Tuesday, December 11.
Only a limited number of places are available in the planned quarantine facilities at the Harold Park Paceway (NSW) and the Geelong Harness Racing Club (Victoria) and in order to be eligible horses must have:
· Been vaccinated against EI and received their booster shot, or had the EI virus and made a full recovery on a property resolved as an infected property.
· Be ready to go into quarantine at Harold Park on December 27 for an expected period of seven days.
· Be available to be transported via commercial transport operators to Geelong, where they will be in quarantine for an expected period of 14 days. Subject to there being no problems during quarantine, the horses will be released from detention in Victoria around Friday, January 18 after which they will be permitted to race.
· Be an elite three-year-old pacer or open class pacer/trotter. In the likely event that the number of horses that wish to enter Victoria to contest the Hankook Tyres Hunter Cup and Watpac Inter Dominion Carnivals (including the Alabar Victoria Derby) under the planned quarantine protocols exceeds the number of places available, the final selection decision will rest solely with HRV.
· Comply with the strict biosecurity protocols in force both before and during their quarantine periods in NSW and Victoria.
HRV advises connections that a fee, currently estimated at $5000 plus GST, will be charged for horses that are granted permission to travel from NSW to Victoria for these carnivals. This will cover the cost of quarantine at Harold Park and Geelong and the commercial transport of each horse between the two quarantine stations.
Accommodation facilities will not be provided for trainers and stablehands at the quarantine. This expense will need to be met by connections, again with strict biosecurity protocols to be adhered to as part of the quarantine process.
Owners and trainers are also advised that horses who enter quarantine are not guaranteed a start in any races during the aforementioned carnivals and that each application to enter quarantine will be subject to final approval by the DPI.
Connections of horses eager to enter Victoria in accordance with the above conditions and who have not yet been contacted by Shane Gloury should contact him at HRV on (03) 8378 0238 or via email sgloury@hrv.org.au to register their interest no later than 5pm next Tuesday, December 11.
07 December 2007

Equine Influenza – Qld Infected Properties

The QHRB was advised during the course of the EI outbreak of about 90 properties which were reported to have had horses showing symptoms indicative of Equine Influenza. Some of these properties were visited by veterinary officers of the DPI&F who confirmed horses were exposed to the virus. Other properties were visited by practicing veterinary surgeons, who also confirmed horses were exposed to this virus based on observed symptoms.
On the advice of the DPI&F, the remaining 59 properties not visited by veterinarians, were visited by QHRB officials and a veterinary surgeon to obtain a series of blood samples from horses on these properties to ascertain and confirm whether they had been exposed to this virus. Of the samples taken, analysis confirmed that 100% of the samples collected showed the presence of antibodies indicative of sero conversion as a result of infection from the Equine Influenza virus.
The DPI&F have now advised in the interests of horse welfare, and the racing industry, that for the purposes of racing in the future EVERY STANDARDBRED HORSE, that is to compete at an event, will need to have blood samples taken and analysed. Horses previously blood tested for viral sero conversion will not require further testing.
As such, the QHRB requires any person who reported a property as infected to complete the attached form (click on link below) advising the details of horses not previously tested which will need to have blood samples taken and analysed to allow these horses to race in the future. This information must be returned to the QHRB by Friday 14 December 2007.
Stallions, broodmares, retired horses or other breeds of horses do not need to be included in this form. Only horses racing or expected to race in the future (i.e. unnamed, weanlings, yearlings etc.) need to be notified.
Participants are advised that the blood sampling will be undertaken in the near future and failure to complete and submit this form may result in blood samples not being taken and therefore permission to race these horses being denied in the future. This information should be passed on if horses have since moved to other properties.
Further information on the commencement of this blood sample collection will be notified in the near future.
http://www.harness.org.au/qld/equine_influenza/Horse%20Survey%20Form.doc
07 December 2007

NSW – Maitland Blood Testing Results & Training & Trialing Information

Blood Testing Results
Unless otherwise advised, all blood tests taken from horses presented at the open day at Maitland Showground have revealed that those horses have developed the necessary seroconversion to provide immunity against EI.
This means that all of these horses are able to return to their local racetrack so long as a "return to training" application (download below) has been submitted to the Stewards and been approved.
http://www.ghrra.nsw.gov.au/Data/Forms/629.pdf
Either the GHRRA or the Maitland Harness Racing Club will try contacting the trainers who have been given approval for a return to training/trialing/racing.
Training & Trialing Information
Harness Racing Training tracks will officially re-open at Maitland Showground as from Saturday 8th December 2007.
Normal track work times will apply.
Trials will resume in early 2008 with a date announced in coming weeks.
For further information please contact either GHRRA Harness Racing Stewards or the Maitland Harness Racing Club.
10 December 2007

Dressage NSW

Update on events in the purple and green zones

Toni Venhaus, Thursday, 6 December 2007

New protocols for green and purple zone activities/competitions

There has been some changes to the protocols for running events in the purple zone which will make it much easier for Clubs to manage running events. Guidelines for activities in the green zones have been updated - follow the link below for more information.

Purple zone: We suggest that all Clubs notify their members who horses have had EI should get a blood test done to prove EI immunity as they may need this in order to compete and also get their horses micro-chipped. Owners whose horses have been vaccinated should keep details of their vaccinations and also have a blood test to prove EI immunity. You may need to have these papers on hand at event or at the request of organisers - so we suggest you get your paper work in order if you wish to compete next year.

At the recent DNSW Committee Meeting, the committee decided that all “Official” competitions are to be cancelled up to the end of January 2008. This may be extended past January depending on the situation with EI. The Committee felt that due to the current restrictions and travel limitations across the zones, it is not possible to conduct “open” competitions. Competitors in some zones can not compete at all, while in other zones, events are limited to riders within that particular zone. Therefore it is not a level playing field.

Please contact Toni (02 8824 8065) e-mail or any member of the Committee or your local Area Delegate if you have any questions.

Horses back on show at Western Plains Zoo

Equine species at Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo, in central western New South Wales, have been allowed to return to exhibition after the horse flu outbreak.
Zebras, przewalski's horses and persian onagers have been kept in behind-the-scenes holding yards since September as a precaution.
A zebra foal which was born in October is now on exhibit for the first time.
The zoo is experiencing a baby boom, with a persian onager foal and giraffe calf also born last week.

Horse events scrapped at Canberra Show

Equine Influenza has claimed another high profile event.
There will be no horse events at the Royal Canberra Show in February next year, as New South Wales tries to bring horse flu under control.
Spokesman Geoff Cannock says the decision will have a big impact, but organisers couldn't risk a lockdown of horses.
"You know, we are the biggest horse show in Australia, what about the restaurants in Dickson, the motel and hotel owners?
"This is an enormous impact.
"The cost to our society will be close to $300,000 and it's probably the greatest crisis since World War Two when we actually cancelled the show".

Quarter Horse and Western events for 2008

• Victorian Quarter Horse Congress 21st to 24th March 2008 at Werribee Park.

• National Quarter Horse Championships looking at holding Q8 later next year, dates posted on our website: www.aqha.com.au as soon as we have them confirmed.

• Victorian Reining Championships 24th November 2008.

• National Cutting Futurity Postponed.

For further enquiries and confirmation please contact your relevant head office.

No Pony Club Events at Sydney Royal

In the current circumstances surrounding entry conditionsfor Sydney Royal the RAS Horse Committee has decided to not stage Pony Club classes at the 2008 Show. We look forward to welcoming back Pony Club events at the 2009 show.