Answers supplied to Allied Equine 30/10/07
1) Are you aware of any equine events going ahead in South Australia?
PIRSA has issued permits for a limited number of clinics, a couple of remote area bronco
branding activities and a range of equestrian and western clinics and events. The permit systems the same one that applies to racing.
2) The vaccination program appears to be going well in NSW and QLD. How do you think that the South Australian horse industry will cope with another two months or so of movement restrictions?
Horse SA, in conjunction with PIRSA, has held ongoing community meetings, which have
provided opportunity to explain about the disease and the measures in place to keep EI out of South Australia. The Permit system combined with State border controls and a high level of cooperation from the horse community has seen EI kept out of South Australia. It is expected that some sort of movement controls will be in place in Australia while the disease is present.
3) What impact has the outbreak had on Horse Federation of South Australia members?
It has had a huge impact. Many members make their income solely from the horse industry, and even though we have not had the flu here, there are sectors which have almost has still shut down, causing hardship for many.
Messages coming directly from Small to Medium Enterprises directly are:
• Turnover down by up to 70%
• Laying off of staff
• Cancellation of plans to open new stores
• Inability to invest by corporate sector into not-for-profit sector (sponsorship)
• Possible closure of business if EI disease management restrictions extend for too long
• Loss of cash flow
If it has a good side, it is that the horse community is somewhat more united; it has raised the profile of the industry within government, and will help people to see the value of horse identification and property registration.
4) Any additional comments on the outbreak would be welcome.
Horse SA supports the decisions of the EI National Management Group in relation to measures undertaken to control the disease. It has also been an opportunity to educate the horse owning public about disease control in general, and this has been a great benefit for the equine sector as a whole, now and into the future.
