Barastoc Horse of the Year 2008 Media Release

The Barastoc Horse of the Year Committee would like to thank all those competitors that have supported the forthcoming show. Entries closed on the 7th January and we are astounded at the huge number of entries we have received.

Due to the large number of Open Saddle Hacks entered for this year, in excess of 120 horses we have made the decision to run two Hack sections. The committee is still to meet to work out the program for this extra event however we will report once the program has been developed. In light of the extra Barastoc Horse of the Year Class we have appointed Mr. W Warke to officiate the extra section. Mr. Warke is no stranger to the Barastoc Horse of the Year himself being a multiple winner of both the Hack and Galloway section in the past.

The Barastoc Committee is very pleased to announce we have a new sponsor on board for our 2008 show and beyond. Edinburgh Horse Rugs are very happy to join forces and support our new In-hand Challenge Led Championship to be held on Saturday 16th Feb. The Edinburgh Horse Rugs In hand Challenge Final will be held during the International Challenge Gala Dinner in the evening. Our committee hopes that all competitors and visitors to the show visit Marjory and Greg at their Trade Stand or visit them on http://edinburghhorserugs.homestead.com

Just a reminder that the new Barastoc Riding Pony Young stock classes are to be held on the Friday 15th February and entries close for this section on 11th January 2008. Enquirers direct to David Puttock 0427 803799. Entry schedule and forms available on line through www.barastocshow.com

For all those competing at Barastoc look out for the Official Barastoc Horse of the Year Range of Show merchandise. All new stock will be available from the Administration building during the show. Once we have received the stock we will have online ordering available through the Barastoc website. www.barastocshow.com.

Fiona Mardling
Barastoc Horse of the Year Committee

Case Investigations

The latest weekly report says it all really....

http://dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/27_8761_ENA_HTML.htm

Case investigations

A report of possible infection in a horse in a racing stable in Cairns was a highlight of the holiday break. The private veterinarian in Cairns is to be commended for his work in reporting the matter to a slumbering holidaying Director. Communications were speedily restored to the current Director and LDCC swung into action. Laboratory staff at Yeerongpilly sacrificed their New Years eve celebrations and reported a negative PCR by 8.30 am on New Years day - definitely the first for 2008! While the clinical picture was equivocal a laboratory confirmation was essential. Considerable disruption to the northern racing program would have followed should a positive result been obtained. While vaccination of racing horses in northern centres has been progressing it is not yet completed.

Not a mention of how devastating it would be to the eradication plan, or the rest of the horse industry, JUST the disruption to the racing program!!

We wait to see what perfect little arrangements the Racing Industry are granted when the DPI converts the Amber to Green, will they then have 'Amber Compartments' in the green zone for racing just like they currently have 'Red Compartments' in the Amber Zone, TB's permitted to travel back and forth over the inner buffer on a day permit? Or will they hold off a few weeks and just turn the whole picture 'Green' to make it easier for the racing industry? Meanwhile the rest of the horse industry will be controlled by threats of lockdown in the event of an outbreak!!

Cindy M
SE Qld

Approved events - Notice something missing?

Maybe no one has applied for permits? But it would appear that the Racing and Harness Industry is going ahead full steam, that been the case there should be no reason shows and competitions will not return to the Queensland Calendar shortly........
It is also interesting that this seems to be the only page on the Qld DPI website that is updated reguarly - Considering on the Home page for EI "'Is the strategy working?' An update from the Chief Veterinary Officer" was from the 19th November, WELL IS THE STRATEGY WORKING? No-one would know from the 'official' website, you have to go searching on Forums and Blogs like this to get any up-to-date info!? Supposedly there are now 330 infected properties in Queensland, but the official info is slow to come...........

Frustrated.

Events in Queensland that have been approved by the Chief Stock Inspector

Note: Approved events are placed on this web page within 24hours. If this page has no recent events there have been no event applications or approved events.

Date	Racing Industry	Harness Racing Industry	Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry
10-Jan-08	Deagon Training Complex (DOC, 26kB)	Gold Coast Harness Racing (DOC, 27kB)
09-Jan-08	Sunshine Coast Turf Club (DOC, 27kB)	Redcliffe Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
08-Jan-08	Gold Coast Barrier Trial (DOC. 27kB)	Albion Park Harness Racing Club (DOC, 27kB)
07-Jan-08
06-Jan-08	Sunshine Coast Turf Club (DOC, 27kB)	Marburg Pacing Association Trials (DOC, 25kB)
05-Jan-08	Toowoomba Turf Club (DOC, 26kB)	Albion Park Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
04-Jan-08		Gold Coast Harness Racing Club (DOC, 25kB)
03-Jan-08	Deagon Training Complex (DOC, 26kB)	Gold Coast Harness Racing Club (DOC, 27kB)
02-Jan-08	Queensland Turf Club (DOC, 25kB)	Redcliffe Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
01-Jan-08	Gold Coast Turf Club (DOC, 26kB)
31-Dec-07
30-Dec-07	Sunshine Coast Turf Club (DOC, 25kB)	Marburg Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
29-Dec-07	Gold Coast Racecourse (DOC, 26kB)	Albion Park Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
28-Dec-07	Clifford Park Racecourse (DOC, 27kB)	Gold Coast Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
27-Dec-07		Gold Coast Harness Racing Club (DOC, 27kB)
26-Dec-07	Sunshine Coast Turf Club (DOC, 25kB)	Redcliffe Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
25-Dec-07
24-Dec-07
23-Dec-07	Ipswich Turf Club (DOC, 26kB)
22-Dec-07	Toowoomba Turf Club (DOC, 25kB) Queensland Turf club (DOC, 26kB)	Albion Park Harness Racing Club (DOC, 26kB)
21-Dec-07	Gold Coast Turf Club (DOC, 29kB)	Gold Coast Harness Racing Club (DOC, 29kB)
20-Dec-07		Gold Coast Harness Racing Club (DOC, 29kB)
19-Dec-07	Sunshine Coast turf Club (DOC, 25kB)	Redcliffe Harness Racing Club (Doc, 25kB)
18-Dec-07	Gold Coast Turf Club (DOC, 26kB) Clifford Park Racecourse (DOC, 25kB) Doomben Racecourse (DOC, 27kB)	Redcliffe Harness Racing Club (DOC, 27kB)Albion Park Harness Racing Club (DOC, 25kB)
17-Dec-07		Gold Coast Harness Racing Club (DOC, 27kB)

14th March - plan for NSW state to be Green Zone

DPI NSW
9th January 2008

After meetings yesterday, the NSW DPI is aiming to change the whole state to green by the 14th March. Provided the science delivers the results we want, and so far we have tested over 1000 horses, with no surprises - that is no active virus detected - and provided there are no new cases, there is no reason for this not to happen. The powers that be have said that the number of cases levelled out just prior to the vaccine taking effect - I cannot quite get my head around that, but who am I to argue with scientists and vets.

We are on track to change the western red zones to amber later this week or early next, and thus approx 2 weeks after that to change nearly the whole state to green, apart from the purple zone itself and a small barrier around it. I think we await the Ministers' pleasure on announcing these things - I think he is in Italy at the moment.

There will be no division of the purple zone, no shrinking of it (that has never been an option) - just removal of it by 14 March if all goes well.

Please pass this news on to all and sundry - remember that it our aim, not set in stone, until the science justifies it. But it is news far better than expected, and will help people to remain vigilant until we are all in the clear.

I would expect for a few months that THS and event registration and some extra biosecurity measures will still happen, but this would be precautionary only.

Regarding future vaccination, again I would expect that we would as a precaution, keep vaccinating for perhaps 12 months (2 further shots and not everyone, but elite horses and I know Racing NSW wants to keep vaccinating), but at some stage, we would like to regain our EI free status, and this will mean that we will have to end any such vaccination.

We have only been able to get this far, and fix this with your co-operation - the DPI really recognises this. Just a few more weeks of pain and inconvenience to go.

Qld Govt to give free horse flu help

The Queensland Government is offering free blood testing and microchipping to owners of performance and pleasure horses, in the wake of last year's equine influenza outbreak.
Acting Primary Industries Minister Andrew Fraser says the $600,000 scheme is available to horse owners in the red zone, who need proof of their horses' immunity to the virus.

The same arrangement has been offered to commercial horse owners in affected parts of south-east Queensland.

Horse 'flu cans Ross Rodeo

Next month's Ross Rodeo has been cancelled because of concerns about the recent equine influenza outbreak.The event was to have been held early next month but it will now be held in February 2009.
The President of the Ross Rodeo Association, Robert Brown, says it has been cancelled as a precaution.
"Because it's a council ground, if a horse had a cold or anything and we got shut down well we could've been there for a week or a fortnight after the rodeo until the results got back and because it's used by other people in the municipality cricket and everything else and croquet use the ground, we decided to leave it this year," he said.

comment on Fewer horse flu cases prompts review

When did Mr Tuttle become a representative of the Qld DPI and issue media statements on there behalf finally we are starting to see the truth come out Qld Racing has been directing the Qld DPI the whole time thru this whole mess of EI. Everything is about the racing industry and to hell with rest of us.

comment on Has QPPHI adopted the DPI tactics?

First of all how do you find out about updates from the QPPHI they don't have a web site as they closed it before it really started
It would seem that the QPPHI members are looking after there own self intrests and if any of us can pick up some help on the way its only good luck.
This bunch of self appointed people will eventually have to answer to someone and I hope it is to the people they claim to represent.