Berwick Show Society decides not to have horse competitions at its 2008 Show

Equine Influenza has forced the Berwick and District Agricultural & horticultural Society to take the difficult decision not to include horse events at its Feb 2008 Show.
read the full story

New Dressage Events for January

To all EFA members,

As there are quite a few events being cancelled, WPNEC dates have become available in January 2008.
EFA Vic Dressage are taking this opportunity to try to make up some events which have been cancelled.
Click here to download the program
Note: The office will be closed from 22 Dec until the 2nd of January, we need everyone to enter ASAP .
If you have any questions, please attach to your entry form and we will contact you before we process the entry.
Please also note that the Treehaven event on the 27th January will now go to Inter 1.

Regards
Jackie Woodhead
CEO EFA Victoria
Ph 03 9974 0511
fax 03 9974 0577
www.efavic.com.au

'Horse Racing' at Sydney Royal??

After listening to the interview on the ABC below (SEE "PI Minister 'disappointed' Sydney show cancels horse events" Below and follow the link), is Ian Macdonald for real?
Not only did he comment on what a shame it would be not to have Horse Racing at the Sydney Royal but could not understand why!!??? (perhaps he thought we could punt on who would win grand champion and there may be some revenue in this for the Government)
Let's make it simple for Mr McDonald - Unless you have a Thoroughbred (preference to some studs of course) the DPI regulations to attend Sydney Royal were all but impossible, the organisers had no choice unless they wanted to run a 'purple' show! I wonder if Mr McDonald will 'look into this' and grant the same lenience to the competitors as he would to the racing industry. We won't hold our breath.

Discgraced and Disgruntled!
Sharon B.

Sport of kings and kids

FORMER Royal Children's Hospital patient Hamish is jumping for joy at the chance to see real polo this weekend. Hamish, 8, and other children from the hospital will be out in force for Emerald Cup play at Albert Park today and tomorrow, from 10am-6pm.
They will watch polo up close, with six teams battling it out on a spectator-friendly mini-field for the Viva RCH fundraiser.
Polo is usually played on a 4ha field, but the smaller Albert Park field will enable fans to see all the action.
The two celebrity teams will feature TV host Suzie Wilks, fashionista Katie Davenport, model Saskia Noomen and actor Kate Kendall. Tickets are still available.
The traditional stomping of the divots will be a feature on both days when an emerald stone worth $5000 can be won.
Energetic types can kick off their shoes for the women's champagne dash sprint or the men's beer run sprint.

EI Infections Drop 50% In NSW

Meanwhile NSW Minster For Primary Industries Ian Macdonald also revealed "the number of equine influenza-infected properties in NSW has been halved". From a peak of more than 5,000 farms, the current number of EI-affected properties is now 2,554. In the meantime "more than 45,000 doses of horse flu vaccine have been used as part of the NSW Government's control & eradication campaign". (Dec 18)

NSW horses to Oaklands

SYDNEY - NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald has confirmed Turf Monthly's Friday report that 66 NSW horses will cross the Murray River into Victoria.

He said in a statement that, 114 days after equine influenza (EI) was detected at stables in Sydney’s Centennial Park, the group of horses was the first to meet tough new interstate travel biosecurity protocols.

“The horses will be transported by truck from a William Inglis and Son quarantine facility at Newmarket this afternoon to a quarantine facility in Victoria, arriving early Tuesday morning," Macdonald said.

“Their movement is in line with policies from the national consultative committee on exotic animal diseases and is consistent with the national campaign to control and eradicate EI.

“Each has previously been infected by horse flu, developed full immunity to the disease and has made a successful recovery back to full health.

The protocols entail:

• Been tested at a NSW DPI laboratory to confirm they don’t have the disease;
• Is from a property now scientifically proven EI free through resolution testing;
• Have returned blood tests with strong anti-bodies, showing immunity exists;
• Also, each truck will be decontaminated twice in Sydney before the horses are loaded.

Macdonald said that as an extra measure, the animals have been under tight quarantine in NSW and will be placed under quarantine at Oaklands in Victoria when they arrived.

He said in NSW the number of properties infected with EI has dropped from more than 5,000 to 2,554.

Yearlings to head arrivals

ABOUT 60 yearlings will be the first thoroughbreds to move into Victoria today from New South Wales.

The yearlings, and a group of recreational horses, are the first horses to be allowed into Victoria from NSW and Queensland since the outbreak of equine influenza on August 25.
Stranded Victorian and autumn carnival-bound horses, as well as standardbreds for the Inter Dominion harness series, will filter into Victoria by the end of January.
Depending on whether they come from purple, red, amber or green equine influenza zones interstate, horses will have to serve quarantine periods at isolation farms or quarantine centres before mixing with the Victorian horse population.
The period of isolation at designated areas or Sandown quarantine station will vary from three to 14 days.
Chief Victorian veterinarian Dr Hugh Millar reassured Victorian trainers and owners there would be no risk of an EI outbreak in Victoria.
Dr Millar said the decision to allow horse movement to resume had "not been a hasty one," with chief veterinarians around Australia working on the protocols for a "long time".
"As chief vets we would not approve anything that hasn't covered all the risks.
"The risks have been well and truly thought through," Dr Millar said.
"I haven't spent three months of pretty intense effort of keeping Victoria EI free to just throw it away with some hasty decision on moving horses."
Dr Millar said the first consignment of horses to enter Victoria was a group of stranded recreational horses that "had been waiting patiently" in NSW since August.
He said horses that had recovered from EI are immune from further infection.
"They are very safe horses," he said.
A consignment of horses, believed to be about 60, for the Inglis sales, will also enter Victoria today.
Dr Millar said these horses would spend three days in isolation where they would be monitored by DPI officials.
He said other thoroughbreds would come into Victoria through January and early February.
"We would hope the disease-containment protocols are such that by end of January it will be slightly easier to move horses," Dr Millar said.
"But this isn't the end of the containment policy or border protocols."

Fleming the first to sue over equine influenza

A MEMBER of one of Australia's most influential racing families will be the first to sue the Federal Government over the equine influenza outbreak.Paul Fleming, son of the late former STC chairman Jim Fleming, will seek potential lost prizemoney for his filly Just Dancing.
Fleming said trainer Grahame Begg had given him a list of five races in which the Group II winner would have been competitive over the spring - and he would send the bill to the Government.
"Why not have a go - they have taken away my opportunity to win a lot of money,'' Fleming said.
Fleming's reaction is the first public expression of the anger felt among owners who have read recent headlines of a dysfunctional AQIS at Sydney Airport and Eastern Creek quarantine centre in the face of EI. The Callinan inquiry adjourned on Thursday until January 28.
The inquiry is still unsure of how and when equine influenza was able to spread from the Eastern Creek facility.

EI zones may be lifted

THE racehorse movement restrictions across NSW could be lifted in time for Sydney's showpiece autumn carnival.Racing NSW officials met with the NSW Department of Primary Industries yesterday and pushed for a relaxation of the horse movement protocols that have been in place since the equine influenza outbreak in late August.
"At present it is a deterrent to bring horses into the purple zone and race in the Sydney area because of the necessity to spend 14 days in quarantine before leaving,'' Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys pointed out.
"We have asked the DPI to reconsider the length of this quarantine period. It is just too long.''
V'Landys said negotiations went well and he believes there is "some light at the end of the tunnel''. DPI officials had initially indicated the coloured zones across NSW would remain in place until June but there is now a chance they could be withdrawn in two to three months.

Recap: Polocrosse World Cup fever hits Warwick

For anyone after an action-packed Horse fix, Landline had a 'best of' on the weekend. Read the transcript to this great story....
Reporter: Pip Courtney
First Published: 06/05/2007
SALLY SARA, PRESENTER: Four years ago, the Queensland country town of Warwick hosted the first ever Polocrosse World Cup. The event was a huge success, and since then, the horse sport has boomed both here and overseas. Last week, the world's best polocrosse players and horses fought for the coveted trophy, with the Australians showing, yet again, they are the best in the world.
Read the transcript

Purple Pony Saga Continues

The DPI Vic returned my call at lunchtime today after leaving 2 messages today and yesterday enquiring about moving a Pony from the Purple Zone in NSW to VIC.
Straight up I was told the ‘border has opened a little bit’ particularly for those horses that have had EI and recovered as those that fit been there done that with EI are classed as the least risk. The been there and done that horses had be held for 3 days in quarantine in NSW and 3 days in quarantine in Vic. I asked what horses have already entered Vic and was told yearlings for the Inglis sales, and today 50 recreational horses that have been held up in NSW since the outbreak.

Now back to my purple pony, as he is vaccinated what does it mean for him? I was told that a vaccinated horse from the purple zone is classed as a higher risk that those who have had EI and recovered, as my pony could shed the virus, as he is a higher risk he would need to be in quarantine for 7 days either side. BUT the problem is there is no quarantine station for my pony both in NSW and VIC as currently Werribee Pk is only an available until the end of December. Naturally I asked how have the horses that have already moved from NSW to VIC bypassed this sticky problem, to be told that Inglis organised the quarantine station in NSW and in VIC and their property has been approved as a quarantine station and this has been checked and passed by the DPI, the other horses were provided with on farm quarantine in NSW (must be assessed, approval and fit the DPIs rules) , and have now gone to Werribee Park. If I want to move my pony I need to find a property that can fit the criteria of the DPIs vigorous risk assessment for quarantine in both NSW and VIC no easy task one would think.

So lets hope with the movement of Thoroughbreds leads to the movement for everyone!!

Jennifer
Vic

PI Minister 'disappointed' Sydney show cancels horse events

The New South Wales Primary Industries Minister says holding the Sydney Royal Easter show without horses means it won't be much of an event. Ian Macdonald says he's disappointed the show's cancelled competitive blue ribbon and medal events. But show organisers say they're baffled by the Minister's comments, as it used advice from his department to cancel the events.
Click here to listen to the audio

Horses return to Vic after Equine Influenza

The first Victorian horses stranded in New South Wales and Queensland by the outbreak of Equine Influzena will return home today.
A ban on the movement of horses has been relaxed.
Thoroughbred horses have been brought across the New South Wales border this morning.
Another 46 recreational horses cross into Victoria later today.
The Chief Veterinarian with the Department of Primary Industries, Hugh Millar, says all horses will be placed in quarantined for at least three days.
"There are protocols for horses that have had EI and recovered. So they have relatively short periods of quarantine at their origin and three days at their destination," he said.
"But there are other horses that have been vaccinated and they will require weeks of quarantine before they come."

NSW horses cross border

Horses have crossed from New South Wales into Victoria for the first time since the outbreak of horse flu four months ago.
The group of 66 racehorses were last night moved from a Sydney quarantine centre to Melbourne, along the Hume Highway.
The movement of horses across the border has been banned since the equine influenza outbreak in August.
Brett Fifield from the New South Wales' Department of Primary Industries says the horses do not pose a risk to Victoria's disease-free status.
"The horses that are moving have had equine influenza, have recovered, are off properties that have had scientific proven not to contain the disease so these horses are safe, each of them has been tested, to ensure that they aren't transmitting the disease and have built full immunity, so really they are the safest horses in New South Wales," he says.

Purple Pony to Victoria

Waiting........... rang the Victorian DPI again this morning as have not had my call returned, they tried to steer me to the DPI Website to do my own research by I wanted an answer- could I get a permit to move my Pony from the Purple zone to Victoria? The delightful lady was not able to give me an answer but is going to get the 'Movement Control Officer' to call me ......... later............ maybe.

Jennifer Sandson
Vic

Annoyed

I like a lot of other people read the blogs everyday, and, like everybody else annoyed at the way this has all been handled by the previous government and DPI hope this new government will listen. My annoyances: I dont think the OGTR read what they were signing off on. Quote the emergency permit no., 10306...Efficacy of "Proteqflu Suspension for injection for horses" against the strain causing the current Equine Ifluenza outbreak in Australia has not been established ...end quote. If the horse that introduced us to the virus was vaccinated, which being a shuttle stallion he would have been, but not with strain that is now active out here, Whats the difference his vaccination against this one they are using on our horses. So what makes these horses going into Vic., any better and any less a risk, Proteqflu carries the strains Kentucky/94[H3N8] and Newmarket/2/93[H3N8] what is needed is one that matches the Wisconsin strain,and there has been a vaccine (killed) available on emergency permit standby since the 2nd -3rd week of outbreak this being Intervet (world leading manufacturer of equine vaccines) Prequenza and it carries the genetic twin to the Wisconsin the Ohio/03. Now is this fair or logical Sth.Africa called in all available vaccines. Another quote, the Bulliten mag.,20th November 2007. Pox risks for the birds. quote....Proteqflu, has not been tested on native birds, says Gibbs, visiting fellow and retired professor at the ANU....... there is also evidence, albeit limited, that avipox viruses the group to which canarypox belongs, could infect marsupials. There are safer, alternative vaccines available, he says....end of quote. GMO already people on the blog have had concerns of mares abhorting, I know of 3 diffucult foalings after vaccination in the mares, 3 foals and 1 mare lost. People in drought areas cant afford to keep feeding horses on their place, cant get a permit to move them down the road to good feed, their breeding stallion been in lockdown in Sydney since august 25th at 35$ per day, vaccinated twice cant get him home but TBs can move, he's a quarter horse lost stud season, but who cares, nobody is listening to the basics. When one door closes another opens, the DPI havent shut theirs yet, I shudder to see what is behind the one that opens.

Pam schiller

Purple Pony to Victoria

I have been reading with interest about the yearlings from NSW being given entry into Victoria for the forthcoming Inglis Sales in today's newspapers, the Horse Deals blog and other equestrian forums. There is many comments in relation to double standards given to the racing industry compared to what has been known as the recreational industry, so much so that I thought I would just see for myself if there is any merit.

I called the NSW DPI, advised I had a pony in the purple zone of NSW that the pony had been vaccinated, that I wanted this pony to be moved from Sydney to Victoria. I was told by the helpful DPI person that there were certain protocols I must follow and if I met these protocols re quarantine and isolation (which I do believe could be met) than I would receive a permit from NSW but to get into Vic I would need to contact the DPI in that state.

I have since called the DPI VIC twice, given the same speel only to be asked the second time around is the horse a yearling for the sales or a different horse. My response was what is the difference its still a horse, to which I really did not receive any answer. On advising that the horse in question was a pony I was told that there are new protocols on movement into Victoria, and at this stage they do not know what they are, but they will be posted onto the DPI Vic website either today or tomorrow. I then raised the question well if the protocols are not known or not available how have the yearlings for the Inglis sales been moved from NSW to Victoria today, once again no answer. The DPI representative could not answer this question and was obviously finding the questions difficult to attempt to answer, if you have no answers how can you give one.

The DPI particulary in Victoria keep hiding behind the fact the recreational industry is fragmented compared to the racing industry that has bio security measures in place, contigency plans on tap and this may have some merit but if DPI Victoria cannot answer the question I have posed, then double standards do certainly exist.

If DPI Victoria have nothing to hide then where are the protocols that allowed the movement of yearlings from the purple zone in NSW into Victoria??

Jennifer Sandson
Vic
Monday 17th December

Human Horse Trials proves to be a success!

The Wallaby Hill Human Horse Trials were held on the 16th December were a huge success despite the weather, the day raised funds for riders trying to get to Beijing.

Highlights of the competition included Vince Roche's spectacular efforts at the Liverpool jump, Brett Delamont's priest, body surfing through Shane Rose's legs, Amanda Wood's deeply disobedient deflating horse, Harry Potter's magical wipe out at the last. In the Dressage, some of the most memorable were the 6 legged horse's nose dive into the dirt, the Fasher's Mad Hatter spanking the naughty bunny routine among so many other accomplished performances.

click to go to the gallery
Photo: Stuart Tinney had a rail down at the last. Copyright Peter Orr.

STABLES FULLY BOOKED FOR BARASTOC HOY SHOW

Due to the enormousity of this popular event and the number of stables available unfortunately Werribee Park stables are completely booked for Barastoc HOY show.

We thank you for your understanding.

No room at the inn if NZ opens borders to Aussie horses

New Zealand's existing quarantine facilities would be able to cope with only a fraction of the likely demand from trans-Tasman horse movements once the country re-opens its borders to horses from Australia.

The New Zealand Racing Board's publication, Inside Running, discussed the recent formation of a contingency planning group aimed at ensuring the country had cohesive risk management and plans in place should New Zealand be exposed to a similar equine-related crisis.

Greg Purcell, appointed as project manager for the group, was commenting on the eventual recommencement of horse imports from Australia.

Read more.

Flu scare fades as horses make tracks south

MORE than 100 horses stranded in NSW since the outbreak of equine influenza four months ago will arrive in Victoria today.

The horses, who have built up immunity to equine influenza after contracting the disease, will be placed under quarantine at Oakland, near Tullamarine, and at Werribee Equestrian Centre for at least three days.
The first pack to be moved since the outbreak 114 days ago set off from a William Inglis & Son quarantine facility in Sydney's Randwick yesterday evening.

Dr Hugh Millar, Victoria's chief veterinarian, said it signalled an end to the outbreak of equine influenza. "It's a fairly symbolic step … it is significant because it's a small start to relieving the major restrictions on industry and on people's ability to move horses," he said.

Read more.

News from Tassie

Still no suspect EI cases in Tasmania. Things continue to improve nationally.

Vaccination - it looks like the local racing industry is only going to vaccinate yearlings for the yearling sales at this stage and will be making a decision about vaccinating other horses after the Summer Carnival. I understand the pacing industry has decided to hold off on vaccination at this stage as well.

Non-racing events - some minor changes to the mandatory biosecurity requirements for events with 10 or more horses. The most significant is clarification that a competitor, judge etc from NSW or Qld must have a 48 hour break between handling horses over there and handling a horse at a Tasmanian event. The new version of the mandatory biosecurity requirements should be live on our website by now. We are still getting feedback that some event organisers are running into difficulty with mainland-based insurers' attitude towards holding an event here in Tasmania. If you think your insurer would benefit from a discussion with us about biosecurity at events, please feel free to get them to call us at the disease control centre (6233 6875)

Importing a horse from the mainland - no major changes but we have simplified the stuff on our website.

The first legal movement of horses from NSW to Vic since the EI outbreak began in late August is scheduled for this afternoon (Monday). 66 horses, each having had EI and now with a natural immunity, will be making the trip. Another significant step on the road back to normality. We've got a bit of a PR campaign in the rural and regional papers urging people to continue to do the right thing EI-wise over the forthcoming holiday season, when there'll be a lot of folk out and about. And another postcard mailout to the 1.5 million or so rural smallholdings, hobby farms etc around Australia to coincide with the start of the holiday season

Info for vets - We'll be loading onto the website some advice to vets responding to suspect cases of EI - this is in case a vet or two has to do some sampling while the disease control centre is closed over Xmas/New Year. A private vet will still be able to get our on-duty vet in any emergency over that period. So will you, if you were to see anything that looks like it might be EI - the hotline number is 1800 675 888.

On behalf of the disease control centre, I hope that you - and in particular your horses - stay well over the Xmas/New Year period !!

Cheers Barry Calderbank

EI and thoroughbred coming to Vic from NSW

I believe this is very important......

Below is a story from today’s Herald Sun Newspaper I think is important to all horse owners in Victoria. Also find attached a link to a petition for those wishing to voice their feelings against these movements. http://www.petitiononline.com/EIFREE/petition.html

Jayne

EI horses heading into Victoria

Herald Sun
December 16, 2007 12:00am

The beginning of the end of the crippling billion-dollar horse flu
crisis will start this week.

The equine influenza virus, which threatened the Spring Carnival and
brought racing to a standstill in NSW and Queensland for almost four
months, is apparently under sufficient control for authorities to
ease restrictions on the movement of horses.

It is believed the floodgates will open for horses to travel freely
from state to state - with minimal quarantine protocols - as early
as tomorrow.

It is understood NSW already is on the move, although Victorians are
awaiting confirmation of the pending influx of EI-affected
gallopers.

Thirty gallopers and 33 yearlings are understood to have been moved
from the badly hit Hunter Valley to Sydney, in anticipation of the
Department of Primary Industry ratifying protocols to allow the
horses into Victoria.

Victoria's chief veterinary officer, Dr Hugh Millar, will meet
racing officials on Tuesday afternoon - by which time NSW horses
will be ready to immediately cross the Murray River.

The 30 gallopers are believed to belong to Bob Ingham's Woodlands
Stud/Crown Lodge. After three days of quarantine in Sydney and a
further three in Melbourne, at the William Inglis complex, they will
be stabled at Flemington by Friday in the boxes of Peter Snowden.

Those stables are alongside those of David Hayes, who was
pleased "free travel" will again be available.

It is understood the 33 yearlings are the first batch of hundreds
being organised from the rich Hunter Valley breeders for sale in
Victoria in March.

They will undergo the same quarantine protocols (three days in
Sydney and three in Melbourne) before being prepared for the
Victorian Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction.

All horses must have been affected previously by EI to be allowed to
cross the border.

EI locked down most of NSW and Queensland racing from the start of
August, costing more than $1 billion.

Racing Victoria Ltd chief executive Stephen Allanson said the DPI
was "on the verge" of approving horse movement between states.

"All I can speculate is that those in NSW have speculated the
protocols will be ratified and have started moving their horses into
the quarantine stations already," he said.

"As long as the DPI is satisfied that the health and safety of
Victorian horses is guaranteed, we will be pleased that the nation's
horses are free to travel again.

"It is the beginning of the end of the EI virus crisis, another
progressive step."

The suddenness of the return to free travel comes as a surprise to
many, particularly those concerned the introduction of EI-affected
horses into the untainted Victorian area could risk a virus
outbreak.

The National Management Group, which comprises the chief vets from
all states, is steering the EI crisis.

Thoroughbred Victoria Breeders president Mike Becker said news of
the impending movement of horses across the border was stunning.

"I am shocked to know that they are on the move," Becker said.

"There has been no official announcement. The wider racing community
of Victoria has no knowledge of this. Racing Victoria Ltd has made
no announcement. The Department of Primary Industry has made no
official comment.

"Yet it seems the decision has been made some time ago - how else
could horses from the purple zone (Hunter Valley) be on their way
here already?

"One minute we are patrolling borders and stopping any horse
movement, and the next NSW EI-infected horses are crossing the
border."

B S

I couldn,t get a permit to bring my QH stallion home from red to green even though he's been needled twice and no horses where he is have had the flu, when the DPI rang to brake the news to me the gentleman said "sir you just cant take a horses from red to green" YEAH RIGHT

Now they are sending red and purple RACEHORSES to VIC its BULLS*#T, i may as well just go and bring my horse home, after all i think from memory it only cost the feller down south $2000 take his horses from the ACT to VIC thats not bad when the maximum is $44000, im sure the 10 or so mares that are waiting here for my horse should cover $2000 between them.
TO THE POWERS THAT BE, WE ARE SICK OF THE BULLS#*T
David R