It's been a week since my last post. All residents have moved past the sickly stage of the Equine Influenza Virus. The two preggie girls are still coughing and snotting a bit... so after a chat with Monika, we have decided to put them on another course of antibiotics just to be safe, much to their chagrin.
Talk about moving through the highs and the lows ... they still say it's nobody's fault, which to me is a load of crap as the majority of the infecting now is being done - not through the four legged equines, but through the 2 legged human variety.
When will people get it through their heads that they are the ones spreading this disease? Naturally people are too arrogant to think that it would be them.
Each day I have heard stories from different people in the industry speaking about their personal disasters from this breeding season and the prospect of losing their businesses, homes etc because the selfishness of people who continue to ignore bio security measures and spread the disease a little further across the country.
Every one has been touched. Every one who owns a horse will be touched in one way or another. Every one will know of someone who has been affected.
And yet we still havent heard as to where and who started this. Perhaps this starts with the greed of the big players who insist on bringing in their stallions from overseas trying to lure the Australian public into producing an overpriced yearling from breeding their mares with a horse that has no hope of producing a winner on Australian Green Turf.
Its interesting to see Government Departments both Federally and at State level throw their arms up in the air not knowing how to administer the relief fund that has become a life line for many, many people in this industry. While they are busy scuttling around trying to find a procedure to process the relief packages, people are without money to put food on the table.
It has become evident that the DPI just cant cope with this outbreak, with no budget to allow for extra manpower to support quarantined properties. Many people are having to do the best they can without any support.
Yesterday we found out that our neighbour lost their 3 day old foal as it had contracted EI on it's first day of life. It was just bad timing for the poor little one and the DPI couldnt attend and sent a private vet to do the autopsy where the diagnosis was confirmed.
Hmmmmm. Is there a silver lining? Im still waiting and hoping.
On a much brighter note, we have been contacted by Phill Quinnell and he has told us that Ballina will be holding a stand alone meeting this Friday - and yes... our boy MAZ is ready and rearing to go. Unfortunately the public are not able to attend, but if that means that it lessens the chance of these horses being infected, then so be it.
I certainly dont trust the general public not to infect my horse!
Still, life goes on and each day I wonder if today I will see the silver lining.
Where there is life, there is hope.
Helen.
Talk about moving through the highs and the lows ... they still say it's nobody's fault, which to me is a load of crap as the majority of the infecting now is being done - not through the four legged equines, but through the 2 legged human variety.
When will people get it through their heads that they are the ones spreading this disease? Naturally people are too arrogant to think that it would be them.
Each day I have heard stories from different people in the industry speaking about their personal disasters from this breeding season and the prospect of losing their businesses, homes etc because the selfishness of people who continue to ignore bio security measures and spread the disease a little further across the country.
Every one has been touched. Every one who owns a horse will be touched in one way or another. Every one will know of someone who has been affected.
And yet we still havent heard as to where and who started this. Perhaps this starts with the greed of the big players who insist on bringing in their stallions from overseas trying to lure the Australian public into producing an overpriced yearling from breeding their mares with a horse that has no hope of producing a winner on Australian Green Turf.
Its interesting to see Government Departments both Federally and at State level throw their arms up in the air not knowing how to administer the relief fund that has become a life line for many, many people in this industry. While they are busy scuttling around trying to find a procedure to process the relief packages, people are without money to put food on the table.
It has become evident that the DPI just cant cope with this outbreak, with no budget to allow for extra manpower to support quarantined properties. Many people are having to do the best they can without any support.
Yesterday we found out that our neighbour lost their 3 day old foal as it had contracted EI on it's first day of life. It was just bad timing for the poor little one and the DPI couldnt attend and sent a private vet to do the autopsy where the diagnosis was confirmed.
Hmmmmm. Is there a silver lining? Im still waiting and hoping.
On a much brighter note, we have been contacted by Phill Quinnell and he has told us that Ballina will be holding a stand alone meeting this Friday - and yes... our boy MAZ is ready and rearing to go. Unfortunately the public are not able to attend, but if that means that it lessens the chance of these horses being infected, then so be it.
I certainly dont trust the general public not to infect my horse!
Still, life goes on and each day I wonder if today I will see the silver lining.
Where there is life, there is hope.
Helen.
