Olympic equestrian team gets $1.5m boost

Australia's equestrian team finally have something to smile about after months of bad news, following the equine influenza outbreak last year.

The federal government has announced the Olympic team will be given a $1.5 million funding boost after preparations for the Beijing games were hampered by the flu crisis.
The funding will allow prospective Olympic riders, horses and support staff to travel overseas for training, competition and games qualification events.
Australia's major Olympic qualifying events had to be cancelled late last year due to restrictions on horse movements.
"The equestrian federation asked the Rudd government if it could assist and we were happy to take up their request," Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said in a statement.
The funding will be made available through the Equestrian Federation of Australia.
Federation president Geoff Sinclair said equestrian riders had been under "massive strain and disadvantage".
"The whole equestrian community, and especially the national squads, which are finalising their preparations, thank the Australian government for providing decisive support," Mr Sinclair said in a statement.
Australia was declared provisionally free of equine influenza on March 13.