Vaccination Logic - How it might affect "endurance"

Deb Chisholm (hi Deb) referring to the vaccination of racehorses in preference to putting their efforts into a "functional" buffer zone.

"Very well said Yvonne,I can feel your frustration,

It disturbs me greatly and I have written about it before, that they are vaccinating horses who are in an EI free state, just because of the spring racing carnival. The understanding of the race horse people I have spoken to, is, - that once their horses are vaccinated then they are fine.

I remind the list that when I asked a senior DPI Vet for the logic behind vaccinating in an EI free state, when there are buffer areas desperate for assistance to stem the spread of EI and where vaccine may be of some help in doing so, I was told Victorian race horses HAVE to be vaccinated as a matter of priority because we HAVE to have the spring carnival because it is worth so much MONEY!

The Poor horse owners and concerned others in Qld and NSW who are trying to confine EI are suffering for this stupidity, and vaccination is being done holus bolus down here for no other reason than bloody race horse MONEY SPEAKS. Blood on their hands! They made the choice to do this weeks ago and the media propaganda machine is in full swing.

WE will not get any more than lip service, THEY ( the race horse lot) will get the bulk of all assistance because they are more regulated, aggressive and seen to be of more value economically.WE are still spending money on preventative and treatment measures, so money is still pouring into the economy from the REST of the horse owners.

Make no mistake, there are other fish to fry once this settles, if we are given official EI positive status exports may not resume. Currently UAE will not import horses from Aust. (even if we could export them, which we can't according to Aus regulations too). Riders need to think very carefully of the ramifications of this export issue,whether or not they sell horses, because the export business (like it or not) has propped up the endurance sport and industry for the past ten years and without it there will be little capital input and dwindling numbers across the board (as would have been the case if we had not had international money flowing in).

Also the issue of running rides has to be considered, no-one seems to want todiscuss this, - are the issues related to this too big? too far off?, too ridiculous to contemplate?If we all put our collective head in the sand and wait for it to bite us on the bum it surely will. The DPI knows that many horse events of all types, will fall by the waysideafter the recovery period, ( whenever that may be) simply because of the new regulations that will be included in risk management policies for individual events, I know, i can hear it already, - call me pessimistic, but I have this information of good authority, beware and be informed NOW!

In future we need to consider what and how we could fund a lockdown in the event of an outbreak when proposing to run an endurance event. That is those of us who run rides and those of us who want to ride at them need to consider this. Official enquiris have revealed incorporation is but a smoke screen, if there is litigation the incorporation is worth diddly squat, the people running the event's can have their assets got at, and there is no disclaimer that can overide a DPI directive, nor is there any back up capital for support proposed, nor is there any chance of shifting the expense to a government body at this stage, or to other individuals or whatever.

So, if we continue vaccinating all the race horses and hoist the surrender banner and declare we have EI status and it is accepted as endemic, we all have to work within the confines of factoring in lockdown in the event of future outbreaks. If we don't accept it as endemic and go along with the containment policypathway, ( the media are gleefully reporting EI is burning itself out in NSW and is on the decline) we still have to factor in how to deal with lockdown in the event of future outbreaks.The best outcome for us is erradication, and containment, but that is looking more elusive every day.

Is it Mismanagement? Under resourced departments ? Too little too late? Failureto recognise how big the industry is? Political duck shoving, paper shufflingand fence sitting? Misinformation? Disinformation? Media propaganda? Lipservice? Last minute patronizing of the increasingly vocal and frustrated FORGOTTEN horse owners? Priority for some sections of the industry?Take your pick! It is all of them!It's an even money bet that we are just out of the barriers in QLD and NSW and not even in there yet in the other states, and we have a long race to run!

Will we have an EI case announced before the coveted spring carnival MelbourneCup? - I think not! Give it some thought people it is OUR sport!

Call me cynical, I don't mind."

Debi Chisholm

Interesting post Deb. Wondering how they get around this overseas in the other countries where it is endemic???? Jo