Back in the saddle - soon

As things are getting progressively better (for most of the states now we believe) I would like to thank Horse Deals and the thousands of contributors to this site who have enabled an insight and information about EI during the last few months.

Whilst not wishing to denigrate DPI (in particular) I would have to say that for many of us during this time, this site has provided up to date information that has been easy to access and easy to read and understand. I would hasten to point out that apart from the South Australian PIRSA site, other official sites have been lacking real time information that is easily understood by the lay person. I am only talking about on line sites of course, and many people still do not have access to that source of information anyway. The DPI sites are notoriously difficult to get into and find what you want – everything should be only one or two mouse clicks away at most.

I noted that the Horse Council site has now opened up a section where people can advertise their upcoming horse event for free which is a good start in the right direction.

I also noted recent comments about breed societies being difficult about holding events under the cover of ‘insurance agreements’ and so on, and that many people who belong to these breed societies feel somewhat let down and unsupported during this time. I am referring of course, to the southern states where EI never reared its head at all and where all events of any type were cancelled. The few brave committees who forged ahead and held events anyway are to be congratulated for their common sense, their ability to make the best out of a difficult situation (given that I can imagine the sort of meetings that were held before the said event!) and their grim determination to carry on safely. It just goes to show that it can be done.

The good news for the southern parts of Victoria anyway is that events are finally getting up and going again. A few pony clubs around here are holding and have held, successful and uncomplicated mounted days during the last few weeks already. The QH Sprint Association has held several meetings without fuss or issue and have a full circuit planned right up until April. The SCA have managed to get entries in (no doubt in the hundreds) for the few campdrafts remaining at the end of the season. As a result, our calendar is suddenly full right into April! As my husband is Clerk of the Course for some of the sprint races, he is finding an outlet for his young horse’s energy at long last.

As for us, the Western Victoria Branch of the Australian Stock Horse Society, we have held on grimly determined to run our annual show. This has now finally been approved by the Society and will be held on March 8^th and 9^th 2008 at the Camperdown Lakes and Crater Equestrian Centre.

Contact information at this early stage will be with our branch secretary Karen Owen klowen21@hotmail.com

We are also planning to hold our annual Branch Stockman’s Challenge during April (finalising a date as we speak) here in Warrnambool but have yet to get approval from the Society to run this event.

We will publish both the events more fully and the entry forms will be uploaded to our website: www.westvic-stockhorse.com

Regards,

Karen Harrison