SA horse restrictions eased

The South Australian Government has eased restrictions on horse flu biosecurity from today in an effort to get the industry back on its feet.

Events with 10 or more horses will no longer need a permit and can simply be registered with the Department of Primary Industries and Resources (PIRSA).
Strict quarantine measures will also be lifted for most horses travelling into SA from New South Wales and Queensland, with a permit system replacing screening tests.
PIRSA chief veterinary officer Rob Rahaley says itwill help reduce red tape for show organisers.
"With the containment and eradication of the disease interstate, it's important for us to get the industry in South Australia back operating as close to normal as possible," he said.
"We can't totally let our guard down, but we've certainly eased restrictions on the industry to allow them to get up and running."
The secretary of the Yorke Peninsula Shows Association, Max Smart, says the changes will help bring the spark back into a lot of country shows.
"Without the horse in action section well it certainly impacts on the show," he said.
"It's been an inconvenience as far as the industry is concerned and a lot of people I know it's made them wonder about keeping horses and that kind of thing, so definitely they'll definitely be welcome for sure," he said.

AQIS knew about 'unsafe' horse handling: inquiry

A senior vet with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) has told an inquiry into last year's horse flu outbreak that problems with quarantine procedures were identified as early as 2001.

Dr Ainslie Brown has told an inquiry in Sydney that altered health certificates were routinely accepted by the quarantine department because no procedure existed to stop their clearance.
She said procedural issues had been raised in quarantine department emails since 2001, including the excessive and unsafe numbers of horse handlers having access to the quarantined animals.
The chair of the inquiry, Commissioner Ian Callinan, said he did not understand how a senior vet could accept health certificates with names and dates changed using correction fluid.
He said it was irresponsible for Ms Brown to give clearance to horses when she could not confirm that the stated treatment had taken place.

Horse flu restrictions relaxed

The country's chief vet is confident Australia is three months ahead of schedule in getting rid of horse flu.

To date there have not been any new outbreaks this year in NSW and Queensland, and authorities believe the disease could be eradicated by mid-March, instead of June.
The nation's chief veterinary officer, Dr Andy Carroll, says from today, horses can travel more freely into Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
And he says horse events that were cancelled can now resume.
"We're trying to get this message out very early that things have accelerated, so event organisers can reconsider their position if that's still available to them", he says.
"Most importantly, those who have events coming up in the next few months will know the fact that things have progressed more quickly and that the movement restrictions will be easing, because more and more of Australia will be classified free".
Meanwhile, the offical inquiry into the horse flu oubreak continued in Sydney today.
The hearing has heard evidence that problems with quarantine procedures were identified as early as 2001, with altered health certificates routinely accepted by quarantine.

Qld to be "white zone" by June 30

BRISBANE - Plans are underway to have all of Queensland categorised as a White Zone on June 30 this year, according to Queensland Racing Limited's (QRL) chief operations manager Malcolm Tuttle.

"With Queensland having White status in June, we would be regarded on the same footing as other States and Territories in Australia that have been free from EI, thus freeing up horse movement completely interstate," Tuttle said.

"In terms of achieving an ‘all White' status in both New South Wales and Queensland, various transitions to the existing zone structure had to occur and the timing of these changes is contingent on no new cases of EI."

Tuttle said the last reported case of EI occurred on December 25.

"Movement protocols will continue to apply until the ultimate zone transition from Green Zone to White, although it has been confirmed that work will continue to reduce restrictions where possible," Tuttle said.

Olympic hopeful, 12, killed by her own horse in freak accident at indoor event

A promising young rider was killed when she was thrown from her pony as she competed in front of a packed crowd at an indoor event.

Olympic hopeful Shannon Bloomfield, 12, died when her pony fell over a jump and crushed her as spectators at the cross-country event looked on.

Shannon Bloomfield was thrown by her horse when it fell at a jump and landed on her. She was described by her head teacher as 'a lovely girl and a wonderful student'

Paramedics and a doctor who were at horse riding centre ran into the arena and tried to save Shannon, but she was taken by ambulance to hospital where she was pronounce dead.
Fiona Gifkins, boss of the centre, said: "She was competing and her horse failed to negotiate a fence properly and fell on top of her.
"She was an excellent rider who had great hopes of one day riding at the Olympics."
Today, as her inquest was opened and adjourned, tributes have poured in from friends who have set up a group on the social networking site, Facebook called "R.I.P Shannon we miss you!!!"
Her father Darren Bloomfield also paid tribute to his young daughter on a website for the Milton Keynes Eventing Centre.
"From the day she sat up, she sat on a horse and even then she wanted to jump.
Shannon Bloomfield died on Sunday morning at an indoor cross-country event. She had high hopes of riding in the 2012 Olympics
"She loved all sports and pony club got her into tetrathlon which is running, shooting, horse riding and swimming but for that she had to learn how to swim in weeks because what ever she done she gave it her all.
"At 10 years old she qualified at Addington for the British Show Jumping Championships at the David Broome centre in Wales with over 300 competitors in each class, out of the six classes her and Poppy came away with a 5th and 10th rosette. Even on the day she left us all, she had to win her class"
"I would like to say a big thank you to staff at the Milton Keynes Event Centre for the past couple of months they have helped her and to everyone else over the years who has assisted Shannon on her short but successful life as an athlete."
Shannon was introduced to showjumping by her parents who are both accomplished riders. SHe also had a brother Tony, 20.
Shannon, of Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, had been competing in a novice indoor cross-country event on Sunday and had won the class before the tragic accident happened.
A memorial fund is being set up in memory of Shannon, who was a Year 7 pupil at Cottlesloe School in Wing, Bucks.
Andy Fortune, a friend of Shannon's parents, Darren and Wendy, said she would often compete alongside her father in cross-country riding.
He said that despite the tragedy Mr Bloomfield would carry on riding in her name.
"They are just absolutely devastated. Shannon was a very well-loved and well-liked child. She was very funny and she was also an exceptional rider."
He added: "Shannon died doing what she loved. She lived and breathed horses and her whole life revolved around them,"
"She was looking forward to her 13th birthday in September, when she would be old enough to compete in three-day equestrian events.
"She was such a happy bright young girl who had an adult head on her shoulders.
"She was considered to have a good chance of going on to compete at the 2012 Olympics. Before the tragedy on Sunday she had already won another event."
Her head teacher Nigel Fox said: "She was a lovely girl and a wonderful student who will be sadly missed by the whole community."
Friends on the Facebook site remembered the young rider and "special girl"
Lottie Wemyss said: "My deepest sympathies to Shannon's family. It is devastating news. What a waste of such a young girl who had so much to give."
Lucy Monger added: "We will all remember Shannon for her beaming smile and success as an athlete and young horsewoman."
The Eventing Centre has cancelled next weekend's shows as a mark of respect.
The Health and Safety Executive are investigating the accident.

Recovery Plans for Queensland Horse Industry

Delegates from Queensland’s major equine associations have come together to form a Queensland Horse Council Industry Advisory Sub Committee. This group will actively address issues that are important to the recovery of the Queensland Horse Industry post Equine Influenza.
QHC President, Mrs Julie de Visser said, “We’re delighted to announce that this new sub committee has today elected Mr Bob Frappell as its Chair. Bob is well known as the President of the Queensland Thoroughbred Breeders Association and his appointment is a giant step in bringing the recreational and racing sectors together. We see this as a positive step in uniting the voice of Queensland’s horse industry.
This group represents QHC’s current membership of 22,400 people. Additionally, Pony Club Australia has asked to be included as consultants to the Industry Advisory Sub Committee. This brings the combined voice of approximately 65,000 people as a point of reference and consultation for Government on all matters relating to the horse industry. It is a major achievement to bring this number of organisations together, representing so many horse owners in such a diverse industry.
The QHC acknowledges the efforts of the EI Crisis Committee and Mr Rob Setter, Deputy Director-General of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries during the recent Equine Influenza outbreak. The QHC has extended an invitation to members of this committee to join the QHC Industry Advisory Sub Committee so that their experience and expertise in addressing the EI crisis will not be lost”.
Established in 1986, the Queensland Horse Council consistently addresses problems affecting the horse industry. The work of the QHC is crucial to representing the voice of all industry members to the Government.
The QHC has worked tirelessly to represent its 22,400 strong membership over many years in negotiations with Government on issues such as the public liability crisis and state forest trails issue and we are now working actively on the EI recovery process.
Visit our website at www.qldhorsecouncil.com, email us at info@qldhorsecouncil.com or
mail us at Box 1110 UQ Gatton, GATTON QLD 4343 for details on how to join.

Equine Influenza - SA changes from today

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 1 February 2008

EQUINE INFLUENZA – CHANGES FROM TODAY

Changes to the strict requirements in place to protect South Australia’s horse
industry will be relaxed from today (Feb 1 2008), reflecting the increasing confidence
interstate that equine influenza might be eradicated in the next month or two.
The changes aim to facilitate recovery of the state’s horse industry and include:
• Moving from a permit system for events to a registration system (all
gatherings of more than 10 horses from two or more properties)
• Freeing up horse movements between the green zones of New South
Wales and Queensland into South Australia (allowed under permit with a
relaxation of pre-entry and post arrival requirements)
Organisers must register events with PIRSA and people attending events must
complete and hand in an Event Participant Declaration (EPD) or a Horse Health
Statement (HHS) if travelling from interstate on arrival at the venue.
Appropriate biosecurity measures will still be required at all events.
Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rob Rahaley said that it was pleasing to be able to relax
requirements but warned that it was important for horse owner to remain vigilant.
“It’s about five weeks since a new case of EI in either New South Wales or
Queensland, but the risk now is thinking there is no risk and we can’t afford for that to
happen when we’re so close to becoming EI free.”
Dr Rahaley said that the new requirements for event organisers and horse owners
were a balance that provided greater scope for events and horse movements to
resume but which maintained a reasonable level of biosecurity.
“I am confident we have the mix right and if everyone plays their part in the next
month or so, we will be able to further relax the requirements. Of course, any change
will be dependent on continued success in eradication of the disease interstate.”
A number of community briefings are being arranged to provide more detailed
information to horse owners about the changes and recovering from EI. Details of the
meetings are on the PIRSA web site and will be advertised in regional print media.
More information:
• PIRSA website – www.pir.sa.gov.au/horseflu
• PIRSA hotline – 1800 675 888
• Equestrian clubs and associations
• Horse SA 0402 488 306
Media contact: Kaye Noske 0401 121 444.

A poem written by an old timer for a mate of mine who is a drover…

'' Gasoline Cowboy ''


The stock routes looking barren,
And waters short as well
you won’t hear the hobble chains
Or the horses bell.

The drovers have to make a change,
And its one that they don’t like,
Their horses have been quarantined,
And they have to ride a bike.

You don’t have to use a nose bag,
To catch them every day,
A bit of fuel is all you need
You have no use for hay

Now this iron horse won’t kick you,
But can throw you just as hard
As any touchy youngin’
In some dusty station yard.

This flu can’t go on forever,
And will finally run its course,
It’s only a matter of time old Mick
‘Til you are back up on your horse.


by cob