First mass movement of horses since EI

As the threat of equine influenza (EI) eases, hundreds of horses will be loaded onto trucks heading from NSW to Victoria this week.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said it would be the first mass transit of horses across the border since the outbreak in August last year, which shut down the state's racing and breeding industry, resulting in widespread transport bans.
From Tuesday night, 229 horses will be taken from a quarantine facility in Sydney to a major sale in Melbourne.
"These horses are being transported to Victoria for the William Inglis & Son Premier Yearling Sale to be held in Melbourne in early March," Mr Macdonald said.
"This is great news for the thoroughbred sector, but also a huge step along the path to getting things back to normal for the entire horse industry."
Mr Macdonald said while it represented a major step in the NSW's recovery from EI, strict protocols remain in place for the movement of horses across state borders.
These include ensuring each horse has been tested to confirm it does not have the virus, and that their blood tests reveal strong antibodies showing immunity to the disease.
Mr Macdonald said government officials would oversee the loading of the horses, and the decontamination and sealing of the trucks.
Victorian authorities will check the seals at the border.
The announcement came as eight more official disease containment zones were downgraded, from red to amber, across NSW's central west on Tuesday.
"This is another step towards having NSW horse flu free by the end of March," Mr Macdonald said.
"There are currently infected horses on less than 50 properties in NSW and no new EI infections have been detected since December 21.
"These are certainly hopeful signs."
Almost 90 per cent of the state is now classified as a green zone, which has the least restriction on horse movement and is considered to be free of the disease.