Horse flu puts Wagga festival in doubt

Equine influenza has thrown the National Horse Festival in Wagga Wagga, in southern New South Wales, into doubt, with events unlikely to go ahead in March unless restrictions are completely lifted.
Vice-president Bob Drummond says the virus had meant the paperwork involved in staging a horse event would be too expensive and onerous for the small organisations involved.

Participants from the purple zone equine influenza zone in the north of the state would be unable to attend, while border restrictions would prevent those from Victoria from returning home.
Mr Drummond says while no definite decision had been taken, most of the events were likely to be put off until next year.
"We're waiting for the custard to set as they say, but then a lot of people have also taken it in mind that it's no good training ... the horses and everything," he said.
"They may as well just turn them out for a season, which a lot have done, so they won't be holding events in their sports."