National Show Q8

AUSTRALIAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION (AQHA) CONFIRMS DATES FOR Q8 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2008

AQHA has confirmed that the Q8 National Championships 2008 will take place from Wednesday 24th – Saturday 27th of September 2008 at the Sydney International Equine Centre in Horsley Park NSW.

Q8 will be a four day event showcasing many of the disciplines in which the Australian Quarter Horse breed particularly excels.

The thrill and excitement of Q8 will bring together a great number of AQHA Members at a world class venue to compete amongst the very best in their disciplines. An amazing array of Western equine skill is displayed with competitors and spectators holding a collective breath as winners are announced.

The program includes Western Pleasure, Cutting, Reining, Halter, Hunter Under Saddle and Barrel Racing. The competitors’ hard work and practice will pay off as the feeling of satisfaction and achievement becomes real in the Q8 arena.

Q8 is the event on the Australian Quarter Horse show calendar, a prestigious and exciting event that has something for everyone.
Sponsorship opportunities that will give your business a higher profile are now also available by contacting AQHA’s Marketing & Events Coordinator Lisa-Marie Windmill.

For further information contact:Lisa-Marie Windmill Marketing & Events Coordinator Australian Quarter Horse Association
P: (02) 6762 6444E: lisa-marie@aqha.com.au

Harness racing horses flu vaccinations begin

The first round of flu vaccinations for harness racing horses has been completed in Bendigo.
Harness Racing Victoria officials and vets will return to the region within weeks, and then again in six months, to give booster shots.
Spokesman Shaun Kelly says 1,200 horses at 250 properties have been vaccinated across the state.
He says about 50 per cent of Victoria's working pacers are being protected against the flu.
"We've had, as we've said, a voluntary situation so some trainers have decided they do want to vaccinate their horses, others do not and some have been waiting until their horses have cleared their racing commitments," he said.
"We've been conducting some vaccinations at racing meetings after horses have competed."

National park horse trails condemned

Over 500 kilometres of horse trails are to be opened up in five national parks in southeast Queensland, the Queensland government says.
A horse trail network consisting of 547 kilometres of tracks will be opened in Noosa and the Kenilworth-Mapleton area on the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture and Bellthorpe, north of Brisbane, the Brisbane Forest Park west of Brisbane, and on the Gold Coast.
An amendment will be made to the Nature Conservation Act to enable the trails to be established in the national parks.
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Andrew McNamara said the amendments would not allow for the destruction of national parks.
"Our primary concern always has been and always will be to protect the outstanding natural values of these proposed national parks," Mr McNamara said.
"Horse riders will be restricted to formed management roads which will be clearly signposted.
"It will be an offence to ride anywhere other than the identified trails, and on-the-spot fines will apply."
The Australian Rainforest Conservation Society has condemned the announcement, with society president Aila Keto saying the amendment to the act opened the way for the destruction of national parks.
"This decision undermines the cardinal principle of national park management that has stood the test of time and survived numerous changes of government over many decades," Dr Keto said.
"For the first time in 100 years of national parks in Queensland, walkers will be confronted by parties of horse riders.
"We can expect a wave of other user groups now to demand equivalent access. The critical impediment to developments such as cableways and tourism infrastructure has been removed."

New comment on Are the QPPHI representing YOU??.

Cindy,I am in the Red Zone & all my horses are in the Red Zone, not in any buffer zones. 4 of my horses had EI & are over it, 2 of my horses on another property never got it and both of these are being vaccinated thanks to the QPPHI negotiations. There are many people who are getting their horses vaccinated in the Red Zone not just racing or top competitors or breeders - many just like me, in it for pleasure. I also know of people missing out on the vaccines because properties around them are either still infected or have not yet been resolved (the DPI are now helping that by automatically resolving properties 60 days after they are reported since many people weren't applying to be resolved & that impacts on their neighbours for both vaccinations and travel permits).Regarding the permits, there are many government members & ministers (I have also spoken to Mike Horan along with a number of local, state & federal representatives) along with the QPPHI and DPI staff who worked together to resolve the issues. There is not one group or person who can alone take praise for any achievements to date, all efforts and negotiations have involved many. I have been able to get travel permits and I am very grateful for that as I had to get 1 horse back from NSW and I can also now travel 3 of my horses from a resolved property to other properties on a multiple movement permit to train again.I am also an event organiser and will be organising events in the red zone only for red zone participants - again, the DPI, in particular Simon Goddard, and QPPHI have worked together so the protocols do make it workable and Simon will personally help organisers through the steps. We've all been subjected to something none of us would wish for and had our horses and those of people around us suffer along with our businesses (my partner directly as he is full time equine industry as a farrier & horse trainer). Many are now trying to pick up and do the best we can to get going again and the DPI and QPPHI are trying to assist us.There will always be 20/20 vision in hindsight and always be differing opinions about the way to get things done. There is also the need to accept that government departments are driven by policies and paperwork trails that take time to negotiate - nothing happens quickly particularly when you do not live and breath government processes and lobbying. But things are happening for us in the pleasure industry and people are trying.No one likes to be attacked or face an aggressive person, perhaps you could practice some understanding for the situation of others, lobby positively rather than being aggressive or accusing people of not helping and you may find you get a more positive response. People are just people after all.
Kathryn, SE Qld.