Police greys get horse flu vaccinations

South Australia's police horses will have an extra bit of defence after today, because they are receiving their first dose of the equine influenza vaccine.

The 35 police greys are expected to have developed a resistance within weeks.

Chief veterinary officer Rob Rahaley says the vaccinations are a precaution, as South Australia has remained free of any cases of horse flu.

"We're vaccinating the police horses really as a risk mitigation strategy, just to make sure that in the unlikely event that equine influenza comes into South Australia that the horses won't get sick and will still be able to operate," he said.

Horse flu inquiry hears of Tamworth victimisation

The horse flu inquiry has revealed a degree of victimisation given to people who were caught up in the equine flu outbreak in the Tamworth district in north-west New South Wales.

A man has told the inquiry his daughter was ostracised at her Tamworth school after the outbreak.

Emma Hindmarsh and her father Norm were called to give evidence to the inquiry as they attended an equestrian event near Maitland, which is linked to the spread of the virus into the wider horse population.

Miss Hindmarsh told the inquiry the three horses she took to Maitland were well and did not get sick until several days later.

Even then she thought they only had a cold, prompting her to take two of them to another event at Moonbi the following weekend.

Her father told the inquiry his daughter was hassled at school because she was deemed unclean.

He said that is how stressful and harmful equine influenza has been in the Tamworth district.

Easter Show horse ban 'mars Olympics bids'

The Equestrian Federation says the decision to cancel horse events at the Royal Easter Show has weakened Australia's hopes of competing in the Beijing Olympics.

The decision has been prompted by indefinite travel bans on horses in different quarantine zones across NSW because of horse flu.

Federation spokesman David Lawrence says it will mean there are less practice events for Olympics hopefuls in the run-up to Beijing.

"We have riders overseas, of course, which are positioned to be able to ride for Australia, but we have a lot of very good riders of horses in this country that we just won't have time to evaluate," he said.

Mr Lawrence says it seems "stupid" to be putting protocols in place now for an event that is running in March.

"We'd like to think that they could be a lot more liberal than what they are in what they're asking to be done," he said.

"They're talking about quarantine for two weeks before and two weeks after, and that's just an impost that most exhibitors can't handle."

EI probe targets mystery coughing horse

The hunt for a coughing horse that attended a New South Wales Hunter Valley equestrian event just before the equine influenza (EI) outbreak has intensified.

The flu outbreak has been blamed on a breakdown at Sydney's quarantine station, but the Carrolls Ranch equestrian event near Maitland, in August, is a considered a crucial link to its spread into the wider horse population.
Several competitors have told the inquiry they heard and saw a horse coughing at the competition.

Yesterday, counsel representing the state of NSW, John Agius SC, said: "It's now likely the person who had a coughing horse at Maitland recognises that their animal is of some significance, but they may be afraid to come forward."

The inquiry commissioner, retired High Court judge Ian Callinan, said he would be prepared to consider allowing the owner of the horse to remain anonymous, to encourage them to come forward.

As rodeos buck the system, MP kicks out

A STATE MP has called for rodeos to be outlawed, comparing them with banned blood sports such as bear baiting and cockfighting.

Greens MP Sue Pennicuik denounced rodeos as "a cruel spectator sport" in which bulls, horses and sometimes other animals were provoked into bucking by use of spurs, electric prods and flank straps.

"Rodeo animals may suffer many kinds of injuries and are sometimes killed or so badly injured that they have to be destroyed," Ms Pennicuik told Parliament.

About 1000 rodeos a year are held throughout Australia, with about 40 in Victoria.

Read more.

EI Heading to Victoria TOMORROW

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22930833-11088,00.html

Merry Christmas Victoria, just a little token of the NSW's TB's appreciation for you all sitting still whilst they run the EI Disaster.

THREE DAYS QUARANTINE IN NSW AND THEN THREE DAYS QUARANTINE IN VICTORIA at the Inglis Oakland sales facility!

Its time we all started DEMANDING OUR RIGHTS FOR IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO VACCINATION to protect OUR HORSES and OUR Industry!

Cindy M
SE Queensland