QUEENSLAND HORSE COUNCIL CONFERENCE

Some respondents wanted to know who would get the fee and what the fee would be used for.

Results from the recent survey conducted at the Queensland Horse Council’s Conference at Gatton on the 2^nd February 2008.
From 217 participants, 66 surveys were returned – a 30% participation rate which is expected when the respondents have a high interest in the subject.
66 people owned a total of 779 horses, for an average of 13 horses per person.

The range was from 1 horse to 130 horses, with the most common number owned being 4 (mode).

Respondents were from 32 post code locations from Albany Creek to Kingaroy and Maryborough.

56% of respondent’s horses had had EI
34% of horses were microchipped
12 % of horses were pleasure horses
37% of horses were competition horses
30% were used for breeding
23% were used for business/income producing
4% other (aged/retired)
Respondents were asked if they would be prepared to register their horses:
92% would be prepared to register on a free data base
53% would be prepared to register for a nominal fee
Many people commented that they were already registered with breed associations etc and why should they pay to register again.

MPs Saddle Up for Horse Industry

Mr Mike Horan MP, Shadow Minister for Primary Industries & Fisheries, Shadow Minister
for Sport and Racing and Member for Toowoomba South and Mr Ray Hopper MP,
Member for Darling Downs and Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Water both
attended Saturday’s Equine Influenza Conference which was hosted by the Queensland
Horse Council Inc.
Mr Horan believed the information provided about EI and the lessons learnt were
particularly relevant. “I strongly believe there needs to be a united voice for the horse
industry because the lessons learned from the EI outbreak were that the racing industry
was very organized and was able to immediately lobby government and obtain access to
vaccinations when they became available.
I am pleased to support the efforts of the Queensland Horse Council in uniting the voice
of the horse industry particularly as they incorporate members of the racing sector and
are able to draw on their experience” said Mr Horan.
Mr Hopper also said “The Queensland Horse Council [has] displayed initiative in
organizing a democratic forum that allowed over 200 representatives from within the
horse industry, to hear from an array of diverse speakers to address the recovery of the
industry from the EI crisis.
I would support any moves from the Government to endorse the QHC Inc. as the peak
equine industry body in Queensland as the focal point of contact for the horse industry in
the future.”
QHC President, Mrs Julie de Visser said, “Such support for the horse industry and QHC
is extremely pleasing. The QHC EI Conference was incredibly successful. We have
received very positive feedback which indicates to us that the Industry and QHC are
clearly focused on recovery and the future. The number of people represented by the
QHC has risen to over 25,000. Industry is speaking and we are listening.
Clearly many of our members are still suffering and we will continue to represent their
needs to government, but overall, we do believe that the horse industry will be back
better and stronger than ever.”
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 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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION regarding this press release, please contact: QHC
President Julie de Visser on 0438 1892 72.

EI a major talking point in stewards conference

BRISBANE - The bi-annual National Chairman of Stewards Advisory Group conference has focused on how stewards will cope with the consequences of the equine influenza outbreak.

The conference was hosted by Queensland Racing Limited in Brisbane and was chaired by QRL chief steward Reid Sanders.

Sanders said the the agenda was substantial.

“The group worked effectively to achieve outcomes which hope to create consistency amongst racing jurisdictions within Australia,” Sanders said.

Some of the major items discussed at the conference included:

Equine Influenza

• Protocols and systems that may be required to assist with any on going vaccination strategies;
• The effects of EI in each state.

Training Partnerships

• The Advisory Group discussed training partnerships at length and any difficulties that were perceived with such arrangements between states.

Drug Testing of Stablehands

• The Advisory Group proposed a standard Australia wide drug policy.

Betting Deductions

• The Advisory Group reviewed a new scale of deductions which mathematically re­stored the market to its position prior to the late scratching occurring.

Sanders said the discussed matters would be referred to the Australian Racing Board for their consideration.

The conference was also attended by international stewards including Jamie Stier (Hong Kong Jockey Club), Peter Chadwick (Singapore Turf Club) and Cameron George (New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing).