Getting events going again
(It appears that the webmail system stopped during the first attempt after this e-news had been sent to 900 addresses and after 5,800 addresses in the second attempt, so a few of you will have received what follows twice. My apologies. Franz) There has been much discussion about whether we should encourage the holding of equestrian events in the current EI outbreak. A number of horse organisations have opted to cancel all events for the remainder of the year in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. This has even been happening in disease-free states like Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia (events are still being held in Western Australia). State Departments of Primary Industry have been congratulating these horse organisations on their ‘voluntary’ restraint. What seems to be forgotten is the fact that there are hundreds and thousands of people and businesses that rely on events for their income, either directly or indirectly. It may be fine for ‘ordinary’ horse owners to keep their horses at home for six to nine months and possibly even ‘save’ money (at the cost of not being able to enjoy the sport), but what about those who make a living from the sport? Without them and their contribution, equestrian sport cannot exist. We are also concerned that the current virtual shutdown of the industry will lead to a permanent loss of events and of horse sport participants, including clubs and their committees, who may simply give up and won’t make the effort to return when things get back to normal at some time in the future. We hope this will not be the case. Events are the lifeblood of the sport, the clubs, and also of the commercial sector of the horse industry. Riders and owners buy new horse gear and horse services when they want to go to shows or when at shows. Not having events reduces this business considerably. Events and other gatherings are also important to professional riders, horse trainers, coaches and others, who have seen their basis of making a living disappear. I am not advocating an open-slather approach to the holding of events but I have to ask the question why clearly disease-free horses in a clearly disease-free area of the country far removed from infected zones cannot gather without much ado for competition, at least at the local or regional level. Why are authorities in some States effectively frightening clubs and other organisers with onerous regulations and forecasts of doom so much that organisers don’t even consider holding events? We need the authorities to assist clubs and organisers to hold events, not to make them impossible. EI and biosecurity risk assessments need to be realistic and apply to the context of the particular situation. VaccinationI attended a meeting of members of the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD) and the National Management Group (NMG) reviewing the emergency response so far and the path ahead (download a summary). I was again amazed to hear some of the ‘decision-makers’ compare the cost of yearly vaccination (around $200) with the small average amount of the containment and eradication effort (a likely levy of $20 per horse or horse owner). Their way of thinking changed when they found out about the millions of dollars the standstill and other aspects of the emergency had cost the industry – that for the majority in the industry it has not been a simple matter of a small additional cost for vaccine and eradication levies. Heath Ryan and Sharon Carroll have been putting together a document that shows the enormous damage done just to the sector concerned with the Olympic Disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping. The Proof of Freedom Working Group of the CCEAD should soon release the conditions for horse movements across zones and interstate. Immunity acquired through vaccination or through infection will feature largely in these conditions. This means that horses from green zones or from EI-free States and Territories that are, for example, being entered in events taking place in the purple zone in NSW should be vaccinated. Vaccination and microchipping of horses in ‘non-combat’ areas will be at owner’s expense. The first major event taking place in the purple zone will be the Olympic Dressage Team Assessment at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre (SIEC) 03 – 05 February 2008. The FEI Ground Jury will travel here having judged the Japanese team and some Australian combinations in Cannes (FRA). After Sydney, the judges will go to New Zealand for the final assessment. The FEI will announce on Tuesday, 12 February 2008, which two of the three nations will have Team qualification for participation at the 2008 Olympic Games. And it looks as though the Sydney CCI*** will be held in conjunction with the Australian Jumping Championships at SIEC 17 - 20 April 2008, EI permitting. The combination of these two events is certainly a 'first' for this country. Callinan InquiryThis inquiry has been going for a couple of weeks now. Reading the daily transcripts leaves little time to look at the many documents that have been filed and to which the EFA as a party to the proceedings has access. Law firm Gilbert + Tobin together with other lawyers are acting for the EFA on a pro-bono basis. If you have had dealings with AQIS in the import of horses and feel that your ‘evidence’ can assist the inquiry, either in finding the causes for the current crisis or in designing a system that will prevent further outbreaks, please contact the Inquiry. There is a financial assistance scheme for witnesses. You can find details of the Inquiry at www.equineinfluenzainquiry.gov.au. National Board MeetingThe EFA Board met last Saturday in Sydney and dealt with a number of matters. In fact, it was the first reasonably ‘ordinary’ meeting since the outbreak of Equine Influenza in August. As usual, we will publish a summary of business conducted within the next week or two but should mention a couple of items now:
‘My Horse and me’In a couple of days, you will receive a further e-mail announcing the launch of this FEI-initiated computer game. The e-mail is part of an undertaking that we gave the FEI early this year. Some of you may have seen the recent FEI Equestrian World program on BBC World that included a behind-the-scenes look at how the game was developed. Absolutely amazing!!! In any case, Christmas is getting closer and the game could be the ideal gift for someone you know! Supporters and SponsorsI would like to thank our funding agencies, sponsors and supporters for their continued assistance. In particular, we would like to mention
For more news and other information, please visit www.equestrian.org.au or your State Branch web (www.[state].equestrian.org.au). Make it a good day! Franz Venhaus | ||
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