DPI comment to Sheila

Re Gold star to DPI, just to clarify that the DPI did not know that we were on a TB stud and both horses were not resident or coming to the stud.
David M

Breed Associations and Competitions Breed Associations and Competitions

Just had a thought - small local clubs are wary of organising competitions and events due to the chance that a lockdown could occur, exposing the club, venue owners and committee members to unacceptable costs.

With most horses in previously infected zones being either Recovered or Immunised, the chances of an EI infection surfacing at an event are low, but still unacceptable.

In Green zones, EI is not present, and horses from other zones are currently not permitted to travel into Green zones. Chances of an outbreak there are also low, but again, committees would be unable to cover the costs of a quarantine lockdown.

My suggestion is for the big Breed Associations - in our case, the AQHA - to underwrite the costs to local affiliated clubs should a lockdown occur at a sanctioned event. Likewise, for Dressage and Junping comps, the Dressage Council, EFA etc could come on board.

This initiative would allow showing and other events to get back underway, without the threat of the (slim) possibility of astronomical costs to small clubs in the event of positive swabs and a period of enforced quarantine.

The big associations have the financial resources to subsidise lockdown costs, and getting events underway would also bring in their extra revenue from lagging membership renewals, transfer applications and so forth, further offsetting any outlay.

It would be great PR for the Breed and discipline associations, and a very practical way to assist in getting horse activities back on track.

KM

Equine Influenza Stories / Letters - Please

We would like to hear from people who have been affected by the current Equine Influenza outbreak in Australia.

Whether you own a business which has been affected by EI or you own a horse or you are the person who makes sandwiches in the canteen at the local horse event.
If you own one horse or a hundred horses, we would like to hear your story through letters. Tell us how it has been for you.

These stories will one day become a part of history, a record of what happened to the Horse Industry because of Equine Influenza. If enough letters are received, they will be presented to Parliament, so the Politicians can hear first hand and know the effect that EI has had one people lives. Whether it be financial hardship, the social impact of not being able to compete each weekend or not being able to visit your friends who are also horse people, we would like to hear from you. Sit down and put pen to paper.

We want the voice of everyone in the horse world to be heard, breeders, owners, juniors, supporters and not just the Racing Industry.

Send your stories or letters to : EI Stories, PO Box 322 Quirindi NSW 2343.

comment on Equestrian events in south east Queensland to resu....

Interest in running events may be running high BUT when event committees find out what they have to do to run an event and the fact that if anything goes wrong ( read EI ) the organising committees are the one's who will be left to carry the responsibility, so in the end the interest may be high but in reality the no of events will be low. ( interest doesn't mean events running)
Anonymous

New comment on Gold star for the DPI

I would add support to David M's positive blog at the very good service coming out of the DPI's in respect of Permits. Now I'm sure there's thousands of stories out there and perhaps not all are as good as this one.

Nonetheless...
I emailed a Multi-Movement Permit Application (as attachment) through to Qld DPI around 8.30am last Tuesday. By 10.30am, I had a call to clarify one of the properties by Lot Number vs address...excellent initiative. By 4.00pm I had another call from a senior assessor just seeking a reassurance from me that the destination properties were same day visits...which of course they were and he was so informed. By 6.00pm ON THE SAME DAY the Permit was emailed back to me as an attachment.
I was absolutely delighted to say the least.

Here's what I learned...Email works. Be correct and accurate, write legibly and provide as much detail as you can. Show some ordinary garden variety common courtesy, and that's what you get back.

GOOD LUCK...

KGR
QLD RED ZONE

Escaped pit bulls kill horse

Rangers are investigating an incident in which two pit bull terriers attacked and killed a horse at a property south of Perth.
Rangers were called to the Lakelands property to capture the two dogs, which had escaped from their owner.
A spokesman for the City of Mandurah says pit bull terriers are automatically registered as dangerous dogs and are required, by law, to be restrained at all times.
The dogs have been impounded.

Govt orders review into quarantine service

The Federal Government says it is concerned about a report which shows cargo, mail, animals and people are entering Australia without being checked for exotic pests and diseases.
A review of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service ordered by the Howard government found the organisation is failing in many areas to screen for potential problems.
Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke says it is concerning but not surprising in light of the equine influenza outbreak last year. He says he has ordered a thorough review.
"Not just into the quarantine service but into the biosecurity agencies that they relate to and making sure that we can go all the way through these processes and try to make sure we get targets and the procedures right," he said.

Yearling sale prices up on last year

Harness Racing Tasmania says sales at this year's Tasmanian yearling sale in Launceston were up considerably on last year.
A filly fathered by prize stallion Art Major fetched the event's highest price of $23,000, with the average lot selling for about $7,000.

The organisation's Chief Executive, Kevin Neilson, says many of the state's breeders are using top quality stallions to improve stock standards.
He says an improvement in stock presentation by vendors also helped attract higher prices.
"What we found was that the breeders who had sourced the best stallions in the world, and we certainly have got breeders who go to the best stallions in the world, they were rewarded with good prices through the sale," Mr Neilson said.

More Qld horses being shifted across border

Queensland Racing says more race horses will head to New South Wales today after being successfully quarantined in south-east Queensland to prevent the spread of equine influenza.
Chief executive officer Malcolm Tuttle says 17 thoroughbreds were successfully quarantined for seven days, with 12 already on their way to Victoria, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

Mr Tuttle says the last five horses will cross the New South Wales border today.
"Some of the horses were heading down to New South Wales, we had a handful heading down to Victoria and some up into the Rockhampton area," he said.
"So its been terrific for the industry that we've been able to facilitate the movement of these horses."
Meanwhile Queensland Harness Racing says a decision by the Tax Office not to tax horse trainers on horse flu compensation payments will save the industry millions.
The Tax Office has confirmed hobby trainers will not have to pay tax on the daily assistance payment after Queensland and New South Wales racing organisations fought to have it dropped.
Horse trainers have to pass the money on to owners and Queensland Harness Racing chief executive officer Andrew Kelly says they would have been paying tax on money they did not have.
"It's been a very, very important decision for many hobbyists within the racing industry," he said.
"Eight-seven per cent of our participants are structured in a hobbyist manner so this is an important decision to them particularly come the 30th of June."

MPORTANT NOTICE - EQUINE INFLUENZA HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE FUND

Please be advised that final applications to the Federal Government Equine Influenza Hardship Assistance Fund must be lodged by Thursday, 24th January 2008.
NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
After Thursday, 24th January 2008 enquiries may only be taken on applications lodged on or before that date.
All transactions and correspondence relating to the fund will be finalised on Thursday, 31st January 2008, after which date the administration of the fund will be disbanded.

Equestrian events in south east Queensland to resume

Equestrian events are poised to resume in the state's south east as concerns about Equine Influenza ease, Treasurer and Acting Minister for Primary industries and Fisheries Andrew Fraser said today.
"With no new cases reported since Christmas, there are now fewer than 300 infected properties in the Red Zone and that number is dropping each day,'' Mr Fraser said.
"There are 30 applications for events in the period from January to April.
"Event organisers have identified suitable sites and have committed to implementing strict biosecurity including blood tests to prevent any infection of healthy horses.
"That the pleasure and performance horse industry has reached this stage as quickly as it has is the result of the responsible approach taken by the horse industry as a whole and by the public.''
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Chief Inspector of Stock Dr Allison Crook said details of all approved events, the necessary protocols, biosecurity plans and contingency plans in the event of a lockdown were now available at www.dpi.qld.gov.au
"All event organisers must read these and comply with the requirements before making an application."
DPI&F events coordinator Simon Goddard said interest from organisers and competitors was enormous and people were obviously very keen to get back to normal business and competition.
"While DPI&F and horse groups are doing everything possible to facilitate this process, event organisers must appreciate that EI is far from over, and the highest levels of biosecurity will be needed to hold an event," he said.
Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry spokesperson Peter Toft said many event organisers had decided that only vaccinated or blood tested horse were eligible for nomination in the red zone.
"This is entirely appropriate, especially for the first few months of the event calendar for 2008," he said.
"Things are not back to normal yet and horse owners should not relax, but we all hope that the end is in sight.
"Hence we are working very closely with DPI&F to cautiously allow very tightly managed events to resume.
"It will be a real 'dipping the toe in the water' experience for event organisers, and DPI&F and equestrian sporting groups will be on hand to help in the running of these first events.
"I would encourage all event organisers and competitors to compete within their specific zones at this early stage.

"There will be plenty of time in the mid to latter part of 2008 for across-zone events if these first few events go well and there are no further cases of infection." For more information contact the event organiser, call 13 25 23 or visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au

NSW 17th January 2008

Recent vs older cases

The graph below shows the changing numbers of recent and older cases over time, as well as the number of infected premises that have been resolved.

• Recent cases (red bars) are ones which have been reported as infected within the last 21 days and are likely to still be actively infected.
• Older cases (blue bars) are ones that have been infected for more than 21 days.
• Resolved cases (green bars) are ones that have been assessed and are no longer considered to be infected.

As can be seen, the number of recent cases reached a peak in late September, started to decline from about the second week of October and is now down to zero (0). Numbers of older cases has also decreased rapidly since late November, as increasing numbers of IPs are resolved. There are now 47 cases remaining to be resolved, out of a total of about 5,800 cases for the entire outbreak.

Weekly epidemic curve

The graph below shows the number of new infected premises recorded each week of the outbreak since 25 August, as well as the 3-week rolling average number of new cases (red line). Numbers of new cases increased rapidly in the first few weeks, reaching a peak of about 1,000 cases in the 4th week (late September). Numbers of new cases have declined substantially since about week 7. During weeks 11-14 (early November to early December) the number of new cases averaged about 50 per week and has declined further during December to less than 5 per week.

There have been no new cases since the 24th December 2007.

New infected premises

There have been no new infections confirmed by laboratory tests since 24th December 2007.

Time to ease on-farm EI biosecurity for essential services

Now that concerns about the spread of equine influenza (EI) have eased, horse owners who quarantined their properties have been urged to relax their restrictions for utility crews.
NSW deputy chief veterinary officer Graeme Eggleston applauded organisations such as Country Energy and councils for co-operating with the control and eradication campaign during the height of the outbreak.
"Some organisations voluntarily postponed meter reading, power line inspections and maintenance in order to prevent the spread of EI and this is greatly appreciated," Mr Eggleston said.
"With EI rapidly burning out utility crews can once again be safely allowed on most properties, provided they stay clear of horses and continue to follow biosecurity guidelines.
"The last thing we would want to see is public safely jeopardised by crews not being allowed to carry out vital maintenance.
"Until we can confirm NSW free of EI, I urge horse owners to continue with their biosecurity, but to use a common-sense approach by allowing entry to essential services."

NSW EI contacts
Hotline: 1800 675 888
Website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza

New comment on Gold star for the DPI

All the 'complaints' have come from NON racing persons. Maybe THAT is the difference. As far as bureaucracy is concerned a TB Stud is a RACING entity.
Sheila

Firefighter was always a hero

DON Dosser died a hero's death, helping a friend defend their farm in the face of a raging bushfire.

But yesterday friends and family at Sale's Delbridge Chapel were simply farewelling a much-loved mate.
The country send-off suited the down-to-earth bloke who lived for his stud ponies, his dogs, his roses and his family.
"Don, you are now classed as a hero," his nephew, William Stubbs, said.
"That is nothing new to this family. You were always classed as a hero to us."
Three hundred people overflowed from the chapel, where a simple coffin was surrounded by a saddle, a show trophy and a battered Akubra.
Mr Dosser, 48, was a popular miniature pony breeder from Longford, outside Sale.
He died in a fire at Cooper's Creek last Thursday after falling from a trailer at the fire front.
Smoke from nearby fires was still thick outside the chapel as mourners gathered at 2pm yesterday.
Parents Les and Nell Dosser led a tearful procession to start the service as Kasey Chambers' song This Flower played.
Family members all carried roses that Mr Dosser had grown on his stud, Donalyn.
Mourners heard stories of a young boy who hid in his family's dog kennel to avoid going to school and went on to make animals his life.
Family and friends remembered a welcoming man who would always give a friendly "G'day, mate" to anyone and everyone.
The lifelong outdoors man was shown in a slide show of photos pictured with horses, dogs and smiling young relatives on horseback.
The fourth of five children, Mr Dosser had 10 nieces and nephews and was a great-uncle to many more.
Mr Dosser won scores of prizes for his miniature ponies.
His best-loved pet horse among them, Collie, led the funeral procession out of the chapel.
The crowd queued to place roses on the coffin before forming a guard of honour for the hearse.
Mother Nell Dosser carried her son's Akubra as family walked behind the hearse, crying and waving.
As the hearse pulled away, distraught sisters Sheral and Angerlina waved a final farewell to their heroic brother.
22nd December

Omar Osama bin Laden organising horse race for peace

THE son of the world's most wanted man is planning a race for peace.

Omar Osama bin Laden, 26, one of Osama bin Laden's 19 children, raised a storm last year when he married a 52-year-old British woman, Jane Felix-Browne, who took the name Zaina Alsabah.
Now the couple is planning a 4800km horse race across North Africa to draw attention to the cause of peace.
"It's about changing the ideas of the Western mind," Omar said at a cafe in a Cairo shopping mall.
"A lot of people think Arabs - especially the bin Ladens, especially the sons of Osama - are all terrorists.
"This is not the truth."
Of course, many may have a hard time getting their mind around the idea of "bin Laden: peacenik".
"Omar thinks he can be a negotiator," said Alsabah, who is trying to entice her husband to Britain.
"He's one of the only people who can do this in the world."
The couple has applied for a visa to Britain. Meanwhile they are planning their endurance horse race across North Africa, which they hope to start in March.
It is in the planning stages - they are seeking approval of governments along the route and need sponsors to help pay for the event and raise money for child victims of war.
Omar said they planned to ride 48km a day, with periodic weeklong rests in each country.
Teams from around the world will be encouraged to join in what the couple sees as an equine version of the cancelled Paris-Dakar car rally.
"I heard the rally was stopped because of al-Qaida," Omar said.

"I don't think they are going to stop me."

Gold star for the DPI

Been reading for many weeks everyone's complaints and miss information about the DPI's and thought I would set the record a little straighter.

We are on a TB stud deep in the red zone of Qld and over the last few weeks have had many dealings with QLD and NSW DPI's, one such incident regarding a brood mare of ours stuck in VIC. All of the necessary permits to travel through NSW and QLD to get her home were processed in less than 5 days, unfortunately due to a cockup at place of agistment, the wrong horse travelled on our permits to Qld. When I contacted NSW DPI and explained the situation they extended our permits immediately, as the original permit had become expired, Qld did the same.

Just this week we sold a horse to a NSW purple zone resident, Wednesday am we had conformation a truck could take the horse, leaving Thursday am, applications to both NSW and Qld DPI,s were faxed at 8 am with a follow up phone call explaining the urgency and requesting special consideration both permits were back to us by 5.30 pm Wednesday. We can only say how much we appreciate there good service and understanding. Oh and I should mention these horses are warmbloods! I don't believe the TB industry is receiving special consideration from the DPI's, its just that they are a far more organised group.

David M