EI Where Are We Now?

Compiled by Anna Sharpley.

Trying to discover where we are and what we have to do to move horses, conduct competition and generally go about our horse business at the moment is rather like herding cats. The unprecedented 2007 EI outbreak has really knocked the Australian equestrian industry for six, not just in a physical sense, but EI has also brought our national lack of accountability crashing down on our heads. We are reluctant for government to know how many horses, dogs, cats etc we have, except when we want compensation for actually having them. The Racing industry cannot get away with such unaccountability, and has, as a consequence received more assistance, much to the chagrin of the so called “pleasure industry”. Mind you, I am told there are a few very slow and very lightly raced horses in training at the moment. It is to be hoped many of the newly learned lessons regarding animal husbandry will be remembered, but sadly (and an argument for permanent, selective vaccination), we all become less diligent with time. We will and so will AQIS.

You would think that the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD) would have provided us with a national strategy and indeed colour scheme to fight EI. Seemingly all colours of the rainbow have been used to try and identify the status of EI infection. Why South East Queensland has to have a different colour code from NSW and all the states seem to have made up their own rules is mystifying and depressing. However, the country does appear to be coming out of the worst that EI, or more to the point, its “containment and eradication” has thrown at us.

As of the 16th January we made an effort to look up the current movement requirements and restriction and made several calls to the various DPI Media spokespeople, who almost without exception did not return our calls. Hot off the press this morning came the statement from Victorian Chief Veterinary Officer, Hugh Miller. “Strong evidence shows the disease is close to eradication in NSW and Queensland, with no new cases reported since the 21st December, the epidemic could be over by mid March. The battle against the EI epidemic will enter a crucial stage of recovery when new arrangements, currently under consideration take effect to ease horse movement restrictions. The new measures are an important step in assisting horse industries to make a swift recovery and we expect the new arrangements will have a massive impact on many horse owners”.

At the time of writing, movement of horses from NSW and Queensland into Victoria is still banned without a permit supplied by the DPI. However in Victoria, “in consultation with Racing Victoria, we have determined biosecurity measures at race meetings can now also be eased and recreational horse groups can now resume events confident that the disease has been kept out of Victoria. But we need to remember a small element of risk remains until the disease is completely and demonstrably gone from the affected areas of NSW and Queensland”. Even on that cautionary note, it is good news for Victoria horse owners and show organisers. However, it is doubtful that any of the 16 (of 27) VASA affiliated shows conducted from Christmas until the end of March which have decided not to have horse events, will change their minds. Perhaps some of the 11 still undecided may now resume horse activity.

There has been much made of the horse events at Sydney Royal. We spoke to Francesa Christie, who plans to take eight horses if she can. Francesca tells us that Sydney has committed to vaccinating horses in order to get them to the show. The paperwork from them requesting vaccination has to be back in Sydney by 21st January. As yet Francesca has not received the paperwork. Getting to Sydney, which is in the Purple Zone may not be the problem, getting back to Victoria sounds a little more difficult. Remember a vaccinated horse in the Purple zone is at the bottom of the pecking order, due to the difficulty in determining whether or not the horse is an EI carrier or not, based on the fact that it may have EI, but not show any symptoms, which is the point of vaccination. However, it can spread EI amongst a naive population. But the horses which have had and recovered from EI, now known as “resolved” horses cannot catch and therefore cannot spread EI. Once you have made it to Sydney and whilst there (and at this stage at least, not before) you must apply for an export permit to get your horse back into Victoria. At this stage, the Green Zone in NSW is close to becoming a White Zone, which allows free movement from NSW into Victoria. But the Purple Zone will remain a logistical complication for some time to come. That of course is not to say that movement is not possible, it is, but you have to comply with certain DPI regulations-:

• DPI Victoria must be contacted at least seven days prior to the movement from property in NSW, to ensure all Victorian requirements are met.
• An application must be made to import horses to Victoria, with evidence of the requites testing supplied.
• An importation permit is required from DPI Victoria prior to movement of horse/horses to Victoria.

A “resolved horse” wishing to enter Victoria must -:
• Test positive by the cELISA blood test within 60 days of movement.
• Be examined by a veterinarian.
• Have negative PCR swabs within 72 hours prior to embarkation.

The route you take where you stop etc all has to be organised with the Victorian DIP. Extensive contamination must take place, prior to leaving, with appropriate documentation, and again at an approved post-arrival wash down facility in Victoria, with more documentation. After that you are free to move within Victoria.
As of the 15th January, if you come from Queensland or NSW and you have been allowed into Victoria, you are now permitted to travel to Western Australia, once you have meet all the existing requirements for horses from South Australia and Victoria. Before the 15th, if you came from NSW or Queensland, “the computer said no”. This all sounds quite a to do, but if you were buying a horse and it was a one off, it is not so tedious. However you would not be wanting to whip across the border every weekend.

Back to our Sydney Royal attendees. The situation is similar for a vaccinated horse, but there are differences.
• The horse has to be vaccinated with ProteqFlu, with the second dose applied at least two weeks previously.
• Must be microchipped and listed on the vaccination register.
• A minimum of seven days must be spent at an Approved Quarantine premises in the Purple Zone, or 14 days on a private property under approved conditions, during which time the whole property is quarantined.
Again, buying a horse is worth the effort, going to Sydney may not be. And of course the situation can change and even though, “every day that goes by things get better”, they can get worse too. In a lock down situation, vaccinated horses will be the last to be released. No doubt a lot will change as the months go by.

Whilst still in NSW, on the 14th January is was stated that-:
• All horse movements require a Traveling Horse Statement (THS)
• All events must be registered with the NSW DPI.
From the 4th February, only horses that are immune to EI infection (resolved or vaccinated) will be able to move freely in the Purple Zone. In addition you will have to carry a Certificate of Immunity or a valid Vaccination Certificate. Therefore we presume that horses which have neither had EI nor been vaccinated can no longer move (freely).

In Queensland, “no new cases have been reported since Christmas and there are now fewer than 300 infected properties in the Red Zone and that number is dropping each day”. Events are expected to commence in South East Queensland, with “30 applications for events in the period January to April”.

Queensland has a Red Zone, (infected) an Amber ‘buffer’ Zone and a Green EI free Zone. On the 11th January movement restrictions were eased in the Red Zone. Basically you can go for a ride, or take you horse for a walk, in daylight hours, as long as horse does not have EI! Permits are required to move horses by vehicle in the Red Zone. In the Amber Zone a way bill is requited to move around, but you cannot move out of the Amber Zone without a permit. A way bill is required to move around the Green Zone. To get from Queensland to NSW you need documentation regarding your horses’ health status (things are easier if it has had EI) from Queensland and a permit from the NSW DPI to come into NSW, which is said to take two weeks to issue. Again it can be done. The entire system is complicated by having to deal with each State DPI. Have they not heard of Federation?

On the 1st February South Australia “will make changes to facilitate recovery of South Australia’s horse industry”. Hallelujah.

The changes involve-:
• Moving from a permit system for events to a registration system.
• Freeing up horse movements between the Green Zones of NSW and Queensland into South Australia.
Documentation and biosecurity will of course still be required, but it is certainly a move in the right direction.

By the time you read this, much might have changed. Let’s hope for the better. We are certainly moving in the right direction with travel certainly now possible around the country. Although I have been critical of a certain alarmist tendency that has prevailed throughout this epidemic, now is not the time to slacken off our newly found diligence. It is just possible that our approach to animal husbandry may have benefited from this EI epidemic. We have had more of a rein back than a half halt; perhaps it is what we needed.

Arrangements To Reopen Aust Horse Exports

Yesterday's Australian Racing Board announcement also noted: "Arrangements for the re-opening of Australia's export market are progressing with Biosecurity Australia & the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service negotiating conditions with Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Iran, South Africa & the United Arab Emirates. Macau has provided amended conditions for the importation of horses & the Philippines have agreed to conditions for horses purchased at the Magic Millions & William Inglis sales. Negotiations with the Philippines on arrangements that will allow for wider sourcing of horses within Australia are continuing. The US, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland & the Republic Of Korea continue to import horses from Australia in accordance with conditions in place prior to the outbreak."

EI Transport Protocols Eased In 4 Weeks

Australian Racing Board chairman Bob Pearson also announced yesterday: "The current trends are exactly what we have all been working to achieve". EI in Australia has been contained & we are now moving very quickly towards total eradication. One of the results of this is that we can be confident the transport protocols that have already been successful are likely to be further eased within the next 4 weeks."

South Australia relaxes biosecurity

ADELAIDE - Thoroughbred Racing South Australia has announced that, following a meeting with the state's chief veterinary officer, Dr Rob Rahaley, biosecurity protocols for thoroughbred race meetings in South Australia will be relaxed.

"They will not be removed entirely as was widely reported in various media as being the case in Victoria," TRSA chief Ian Hart said in a statement.

"We are advised by Dr Rahaley that our protocols are similar to other states. Accredited owners will now be permitted into the restricted horse area and mounting yards. For the present, the general public will remain excluded from the restricted public area."

"Whilst there is increasing confidence that the infection has been contained interstate and that eradication appears likely, I urge our trainers particularly to note that Dr Rahaley remains concerned about complacency and that the fight against EI is not over," said chief steward Graham Loch.

"Trainers should remain vigilant and continue to apply biosecurity within their own stable environments."

Back on track: ARB

SYDNEY - The Equine Influenza outbreak in Australia has been contained and is on track for early eradication, according to Australia’s chief veterinary officer, Dr Andy Carroll.

“Since reaching a high of some 10,000 infected premises in October-November last year, we now have less than 1,000 infected premises indicating that our strategy in combating the disease has been highly successful,” Dr Carroll said in a statement.

The number of infected premises was rapidly decreasing, with no new detections of the disease reported since December 22.

“This success, and the use of vaccination, has allowed non-risk horses to move more freely to participate in events around Australia.

This is a great development in getting our horse industry and horse sports back on track,” Dr Carroll said.

“We are winning the battle against the disease and we are increasingly optimistic that horse flu will be eradicated much earlier than previously expected,” Dr Carroll said.

Australian Racing Board chairman Bob Pearson said the industry could be confident that transport protocols were likely to be further eased within the next four weeks.

“EI in Australia has been contained and we are now moving very quickly towards total Eradication,” Pearson said.

“One of the results of this is that we can be confident that the transport

protocols that have already been successful to date are likely to be further eased within the next four weeks.”

“2008 starts on an excellent note for the Australian racing industry with all of the major sales and racing events traditionally scheduled for the first half of the year now allocated new dates and set to proceed under full steam,” he said.

“Obviously there will be biosecurity precautions, but these will be sensible and manageable, causing the minimum possible amount of inconvenience to both vendors and purchasers. They are certainly not of a nature that should deter anybody from participating.”

He said arrangements for the re-opening of Australia’s export market were progressing with Biosecurity Australia and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) negotiating conditions with Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Iran, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Macau has provided amended conditions for the importation of horses and the Philippines have agreed to conditions for horses purchased at the Magic Millions and William Inglis sales. Negotiations with the Philippines on arrangements that will allow for wider sourcing of horses within Australia are continuing.

The United States, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and the Republic of Korea continue to import horses from Australia in accordance with conditions in place prior to the outbreak.

Happy trails again

THE red, green and amber equine flu zones remain, but things are starting to free up for horse riders, says David Somerville, the southeast Queensland co-ordinator of the Australian Horse Alliance.

Later this month, equestrians will be able to obtain permits to venture beyond their properties and use specified local roads and areas, and by March-April, they are hoping that horse movements within restricted areas will be eased even more.
Somerville expects horse owners in certain areas may then be able to meet and compete in local gymkhanas, endurance and trail rides, cutting futurities and other horse sport events.
This dovetails with on-going negotiations over horse riders' access to roads and tracks through Environmental Protection Agency-controlled bushland.
Until then premier Peter Beattie's abrupt state election eve backflip on horse access to traditionally used State Forest trails, the recreational horse riding lobby were battling against regional plans which would have placed horses close to busy roads and railway lines.
But just before Christmas, the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, announced 547km of horse trails have been approved in five areas of southeast Queensland.
Through a special amendment to the Nature Conservation Act, horse riders would now be able to enjoy an integrated network of trails across southeast Queensland, centred on the Noosa, Kenilworth-Mapleton, Caboolture-Bellthorpe, Western Brisbane (Brisbane Forest Park) and the Gold Coast areas.
Even though this allowed 200,000 hectares of state forest to be declared national park, riders would still be able to use management roads adjoining these proposed national parks.
"Horse riders will be restricted to formed management roads which will be clearly signposted," he said.
"It will be an offence to ride anywhere other than the identified trails, and on-the-spot fines will apply."
Somerville said: "This announcement is the culmination of years of negotiating with relevant government departments.
"The breakthrough came after horse riders were able to prove conclusively that horses do not spread weeds nor are they responsible for any greater erosion than other users."
A Freedom of Information investigation unearthed an EPA document which confirmed this point, he said.
After another 15 months of negotiation, "this decision approves 95 per cent of the trails identified by local horse riders," Somerville said.
However, the AHA was seeking further negotiations over other areas.
"One glaring example of intransigence is in the Tamborine area.
"Children from the local pony club will be forced to ride beside a 100km/h major road to access the state forest instead of riding along a powerline easement.
"Due to an oversight this easement is within the boundary of a national park and the EPA will not grant permission.
"It has had all the chemical sprays which keep the ground denuded under the power lines.
"It is just bureaucratic stupidity when all they have to do is move the national park boundary.
"Such bureaucratic decisions will endanger lives of children, horses and motorists."
Another problem was a short section of EPA-controlled track near the Gold Creek Reserve.
It was the only part of the track not owned by the Brisbane City Council and, if riders cannot use it, they face a 25km round-trip to access roads within Brisbane Forest Park, he said.
To conserve riding tracks well into the future, riders had "pursued a co-operative communication with the relevant government agencies".
Suggestions under review include a code of conduct for all users of forestry tracks, and a trail grading classification system, similar to colour-indexed ski-runs, to identify the difficulty of tracks for all users
Riders also wanted to be the "eyes and ears of the forest"; a system where horse riders could report to the local ranger dangerous situations, such as trees blocking trails or illegal activities.
Detailed maps of the horse trails are on the EPA website www.epa.qld.gov.au

Confused pony has sex change

TOOTSIE - a hermaphrodite pony whose owners thought he was a female for 12 years - has undergone a sex change and found a friend.

For most of his life the Shetland pony, who has both male and female genitalia, was thought to be a mare and went by the name of Amy, reports metro.co.uk
And to add to his confusion he has been taken into care, undergone a sex change operation and been re-homed - only to be shunned by his peers.
But now Tootsie - named after Dustin Hoffman's cross-dressing character in the film of the same name - finally appears to be settling in at the Bransby Home of Rest for Horses, near Lincoln.
And he has found an unlikely friend - in stablemate Derek the donkey.
Verity Chappell, welfare manager at Bransby, said the other animals at the sanctuary had not been very tolerant of the exotic new arrival.
'He doesn't seem to know what he is.
'I think behaviourally he is not sure and the other animals seemed to have an issue with him,' she said.
'Before they even touched him, we noticed they flapped their ears back, which is a sign they don't like someone, as if to say "you're not normal".
'We knew we were going to have to pair him with another animal.
'He seems to have settled in with a little donkey called Derek.
'To begin with there was a little animosity, but he will remain with Derek now for the rest of his life.'
The Shetland, who lived with a family for all his life, was only found to be different when he was taken in by the RSPCA. Vets are now carrying out blood tests to check Tootsie's chromosome levels and determine his exact sex.

Pink wants horse and carriages banned in New York

OUTSPOKEN singer Pink has decided to use her celebrity status to raise awareness of the plight of working horses in New York.

The pop star is backing a campaign to ban horse-drawn carriage rides in the Big Apple.
"The goal is to have horse drawn carriages completely banned in New York City" -Pink's face appears on a giant billboard in Times Square, that reads "Buck Cruelty! Say No to horse-drawn carriage rides."
She said: "The goal is to have horse drawn carriages completely banned in New York City, just like Tokyo, Beijing, Paris, Toronto, Key West, Santa Fe - it's already banned in all those cities.
"I want New York to step up and completely rid itself of this outdated cruel tradition."
The singer - who spent her childhood riding horses - believes that the animals are kept in cruel conditions.
"They've got their blinders on and they're breathing in fumes right behind a taxi. Loud noises, construction, ambulances, police sirens, noisy crowds - it's just the most awful environment for a horse," she said.
"Horses needs to be in an open quiet space, they're nervous animals, I mean they're absolutely unnerved by the business. You can just look at it and see, it's awful, it's not a good thing."
Pink's campaign comes after she took back her decision to back a PETA campaign against mulesing.

Thousands expected for Tamworth Country Music Festival

The camping grounds are full, the boot scooters warmed up and the streets of Tamworth, in north-west New South Wales, taken over by buskers for the start of the annual country music festival.

The rainy and overcast conditions may have settled in for the start of the festival, but it has not dampened the enthusiasm of the many buskers hoping to be discovered.
The hot and humid conditions also have not disheartened the young line dancers hoping to break the record for the longest line.
"It's definitely my favourite - it's pretty special to do because we want to break the record," a dancer said.
And on the banks of the Peel River, thousands of campers are settling in for 10 days of festival activities.
"It's a great - a terrific spot - close to town, [you can] jump in the river if it gets too hot, with a few stubbies," one camper said.
More than 50,000 people are expected in town for the festival.

Queen orders Ascot fillies to cover up

Too racy: strapless dresses are now banned at Royal Ascot.
Photo: AP

THE only bottom on display at Royal Ascot this year will be Swinley Bottom, the downhill bend on Britain's pre-eminent racecourse, as the Queen has outlawed mini-skirts, midriffs, cleavage and "chavs" — bogans — from her wing at the venue.
A guidance issued to the 80,000 members of the racecourse's Royal Enclosure specifies that strapless dresses, spaghetti straps and halter-necks are out. And mismatching trouser suits are a no-no. Women must wear a hat — or at the very least a "substantial fascinator" (ornate clip or head-covering). And men not wearing a top hat, morning suit and waistcoat can forget it.
Complaints by traditionalists about rising levels of flesh at the exclusive racecourse have been heard, it seems, by Ascot's governing board, chaired by the Queen's representative, the Duke of Devonshire. Those who transgress the dress code will be turned away on the Duke's orders.
"What we're trying to do is make it much clearer to (Royal Enclosure) badge-holders what constitutes respectable day wear," Ascot spokesman Nick Smith told the Daily Mail. "There won't be someone in a bowler hat checking straps with a tape measure. It is common sense. Ladies who turn up with bare shoulders will be sold pashminas before they can enter the Royal Enclosure."
The five-day race meeting in June at Royal Ascot has been a national institution for 300 years, since Queen Anne declared that the open stretch of heath near Windsor Castle would be the perfect place for "horses to gallop at full stretch". Queen Elizabeth II has attended the race every year since 1945, and has watched 19 of her own horses win it.
Given the event's noble roots, the infiltration of chavs — a derogatory term personified by the tracksuit-wearing, gum-chewing, inarticulate and unattractive Vicki Pollard in the TV comedy Little Britain — are clearly unwelcome. One badge-holder told the Telegraph: "The Duke, with the Queen's backing, is trying to keep the 'chav' factor down. I hope he succeeds. It's not been the same in the last few years. You never know quite where to look with all those celebrity girls."
But all is not lost for those wanting to show off their belly rings and tattoos: they can enter the Silver Ring, a separate area with no access to the parade ring or grandstand, which presumably protects one from the gaze of the royal fashion police.

Federal govt says EI outbreak contained

The equine influenza (EI) outbreak that devastated the horse racing industry is currently contained, the nation's chief veterinary officer says.
Dr Andy Carroll, from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, said a large number of government officials were frequenting the infected areas of Queensland and NSW.They have determined the virus is contained and unlikely to return.
"We have a large number of already immune horses because they've had the disease or they've been vaccinated," Mr Carroll told ABC television.
"We also are quite conservative before moving an area or a property from infected to clean.
"We take a conservative stance and we don't see a large risk of areas reverting back."
An inquiry into the outbreak, that began in August last year, is being conducted by retired High Court judge Ian Callinan.
Mr Callinan is expected to hand down his findings before April 25.
The first case of EI in Australia was detected at Sydney's Eastern Creek quarantine facility on August 23 in a thoroughbred stallion which had travelled from the northern hemisphere and was awaiting release.
The outbreak, which brought horse racing to a halt in NSW and Queensland, is estimated to have cost the industry more than $500 million.

Victorian Agricultural Shows Ltd Letter to members - 18th Jan

Dear Members

Dr Hugh Millar Chief Veterinary Officer of the Department of Primary Industries Victoria and his staff provided a briefing on the equine influenza situation on Tuesday 15 January 2008.
The information that was provided demonstrated that the last known outbreak of equine influenza occurred in Queensland on 22 December 2007 and that EI is on the wane. Dr Millar said that his department is working towards allowing the relatively free movement of horses into Victoria from the green zones in NSW and QLD starting from early February. All such movements would require permits but these would be processed expediently without the requirement for veterinary checks or periods of quarantine.
Dr Millar said that the risk of EI spreading to Victoria is now assessed as negligible. He went on to say that he could see no reason why our equine activities could not return to normal but earnestly requested that we do not abandon all bio-security measures, particularly traceability. There is no longer a need to separate the public from horses, however tracing records still needs to be kept of where horse/s come from and where they go after any event.
Dr Millar thanked everyone present at the meeting and through them their organisations for the outstanding co-operation throughout the EI crisis. He said that the lockdown immediately after the first outbreak was discovered, the containment measures taken in QLD and NSW, the onset of warm humid weather and the voluntary action taken in Victoria combined to allow authorities to deal with the problem quickly and effectively.
Equine organisations can now consider holding horse events in the light of the following :
~ Bio-security measures as outlined on the DPI website are still good practice
~ Traceability means a written record must be kept (provided by the entrant) of every horse attending, where the animal/s has come (address of the properly) from and where it will return at the conclusion of the event;
~ A copy of the interstate movement permit must be sighted if the horse has come to the event from interstate;
~ The event must be registered with DPI; and
~ Venue managers have given permission for the event to be held.

Contingency plans should not be completely abandoned as an outbreak of EI or some other disease may occur at any time and therefore a risk will remain. The risk of EI being detected outside of restricted areas is very low. Despite this the permit system for movements into Victoria from NSW and the bio security measures referred to above are a responsible part of managing this very low risk.
Thank you for your patience and co-operation over the past four months during this EI period.
Yours Sincerely
Bob Johnson
Chairman

VICTORIAN AGRICULTURAL SHOWS LTD