News

News News 2011-12-21 10:Dec:st 2011-12-21 10:Dec:st http://www.wpcs.com.au office@wpcs.com.au Copyright 2011 The Welsh Pony & Cob Society of Australia Inc Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:17:25 +1000 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:17:25 +1000 http://www.wpcs.com.au/news/id/29 Horse Care Information If you are interested in reading some very informative articles written by KOHNKE'S OWN you can go to the form and information section (under Horse care information header) of our web site to download the PDF files or follow the links to loads of information.   Latest update is Talking Breeding and Preparing for Foaling - Important Aspects.   <a href="http://wpcs.com.au/administration/website/formsinfo/form?id=782&asset_id=16&category_id=1&command=display_form&on_tab=descriptions_tab">http://wpcs.com.au/administration/website/formsinfo/form?id=782&asset_id=16&category_id=1&command=display_form&on_tab=descriptions_tab</a> Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1000 Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +1000 http://www.wpcs.com.au/news/id/13 2012 Welsh National Show <h1 style="text-align: center"> 2012 WELSH </h1> <h1 style="text-align: center">NATIONAL SHOW</h1> <h3>QUALIFYING PERIOD: 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2011</h3> QUALIFYING SHOWS AND PLACING: * 2011 Welsh National Show and State All Welsh Shows - 1st to 6th placing * WP&CS run shows and Royal Shows - 1st to 3rd placing * Agricultural Shows and Welsh, Part Welsh and Native classes at Breed Shows - 1st & 2nd placing QUALIFYING EVENTS: Class at WNS Qualifying Class at Qualifying Show: * Led purebreds Led Welsh A, B, C, D, Gelding * Led part welsh Led Part Welsh * Ridden purebreds Ridden Welsh, Ridden Native Pony * Ridden part welsh Ridden Part Welsh * Leading rein Welsh, Open or Native Leading Rein (open leading rein at non welsh shows will qualify for Welsh or Open Leading Rein at WNS) * First ridden Welsh, Open or Native First Ridden (open first ridden at non welsh shows will qualify for Welsh or Open First Ridden at WNS) * Ridden Welsh Hunter Ridden Welsh Hunter, Ridden Welsh, Ridden Native Pony/Hunter * Ridden Show Hunter Ridden Show Hunter * Ridden Working Hunter Ridden Working Hunter (1st to 6th placing) * Harness Welsh, Part Welsh or Open Driven The full program and entry form will be in the Summer edition of Action. Further enquiries may be directed to: Chairman – Janet Evans – 0357662283 or email <a href="mailto:evansrp@bigpond.com">evansrp@bigpond.com</a> Secretary – Fiona Forge – 0260260612 or email <a href="mailto:forges@activ8.net.au">forges@activ8.net.au</a> Get out and about and get qualified..!! Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:00:38 +1000 Sun, 04 Sep 2011 16:00:38 +1000 http://www.wpcs.com.au/news/id/28 FORTHCOMING EVENTS <h1 style="text-align: center"> Please click on the EVENTS CALENDAR </h1> <h1 style="text-align: center">icon  for all forthcoming shows to be held by WP & CS of Australia Inc.</h1> <h1 style="text-align: center">RPG Sub-Committee</h1> <h1 style="text-align: center"> </h1> <h1 style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.wpcs.com.au/events"><img alt="" src="/sb_cache/news/id/12/f/calendar.jpg" style="width: 210px; height: 76px" /></a></h1>   This icon appears on the right hand side of all pages of the Society web site, CLICK this picture to go straight to the list of show events.   Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:19:04 +1000 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 03:19:04 +1000 http://www.wpcs.com.au/news/id/26 Hendra Virus & Updates BIOSECURITY QLD INDUSTRY COMMUNICATION (ALL PDF documents regarding weekly updates are at the bottom of this page.) BIOSECURITY ALERT HENDRA VIRUS On Tuesday 28 June 2011, samples from a horse were tested and found to be positive for Hendra virus. The horse was from a property in the Beaudesert area. The horse was reported as becoming suddenly ill and a private vet visited on Saturday 25 June 2011. The horse was depressed, with hind limb incoordination, fever, respiratory distress and congested mucous membranes. The horse died the following day. Biosecurity Queensland has quarantined two properties in the Beaudesert area and is working with affected horse and property owners in conjunction with other government agencies. Restrictions are in place on the quarantined properties and apply to the movement of horses and other items onto and off the properties. No other movement restrictions for Hendra virus are in place for horses in Queensland. The movement of people onto and off the quarantined properties is not restricted, however good biosecurity practices should continue to be observed. Hendra virus is not related to Equine Influenza virus. Hendra virus is not considered to be highly contagious between horses. A community engagement program has commenced including the relocation of the DEEDI mobile office to Beaudesert. More information about Hendra virus is available at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or by following Biosecurity Queensland on Facebook and Twitter. Horse owners are urged to review their biosecurity procedures and contact their veterinarian if they suspect Hendra virus. Horse event organisers are encouraged to review their biosecurity plans. More information Notify suspected Hendra virus cases by contacting Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23 (during business hours) or the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 (24-hour hotline). More information is available at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au Contact your GP, local Emergency Department or local Public Health Unit if you have concerns about possible exposure of people to a horse with Hendra virus infection. General enquiries about Hendra virus infection in humans may be directed to the Queensland Health Hotline on 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84). Contact Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on 1300 369 915 or visit<a href="http://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au"> www.worksafe.qld.gov.au</a>  if you need information about managing Hendra virus risks at workplaces. Dr. Rick Symons Chief Veterinary Officer Biosecurity Queensland Biosecurity alert Hendra virus – information for industry 29 June 2011   Important information NSW DPI advises horse owners to take precautions in areas with flying foxes - to reduce the risk of their horses becoming infected: • Place feed and water containers under cover. • Do not place feed and water under trees, especially trees with fruit. • Do not use feed that could attract flying foxes, such as apples, carrots, or molasses. • Remove horses from paddocks where fruiting or flowering trees have temporarily attracted flying foxes. • If it is not possible to remove the horse from the paddock, tape off the area under the tree. Follow us online <a href="http://www.agriculture.nsw.gov.au/info/hendra">www.agriculture.nsw.gov.au/info/hendra</a> Twitter: http://twitter.com/NSWHendraHQ   HENDRA VIRUS HORSE TESTS – FIRST ROUND RESULTS NEGATIVE Test results from samples taken from five horses on a property at Kerry near Beaudesert have come back negative for Hendra virus. Biosecurity Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Rick Symons said while the results were promising, these were just the first of three rounds of testing. “These results were for the five horses on the property where a horse became infected with Hendra virus,” Dr Symons said. “Yesterday samples were taken from all twenty horses on the second property at Biddaddaba where the infected horse was transported and later died and the results are expected back in the next couple of days. “All of the horses on both properties are under observation by Biosecurity Queensland staff in conjunction with the horse owners. “However, we need to complete three negative rounds of testing on a property before the quarantine can be lifted. Typically this takes around 32 days. “All neighbours of the infected properties have been visited by Biosecurity Queensland and Queensland Health who provided information about the incident and discussed Hendra virus.” Dr Symons said people in the Beaudesert area could obtain information about Hendra virus from the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s mobile office. “The office is at 29-31 William Street and will be open from 9am until 4pm. “There are a number of horse owners in the area and more than 50 people visited the mobile office yesterday. “The main queries were around the transport of horses and specifics about the virus itself. “In relation to transport, apart from animals on the two affected properties, horses can be freely moved within and outside of the Beaudesert area. “As for Hendra virus, it is present in flying fox populations which can be transferred to horses, between horses, and from horses to humans. However the risk of horses being infected, and in turn humans, is very low. “The few cases of Hendra virus infection in humans have been the result of very close contact with an infected horse’s body fluids such as blood, nasal discharge, saliva, or urine. “There is no evidence of human-to-human or flying fox-to-human spread of Hendra virus.” Dr Symons said there were precautions horse owners could take to help prevent Hendra virus infection. “Owners can help protect their horses by taking measures to keep them away from trees where there are flying foxes, keeping water containers under cover and feeding horses under cover.” For more information about Hendra virus visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23. Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:56:51 +1000 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:56:51 +1000 http://www.wpcs.com.au/news/id/25 PROPOSED VICTORIAN FIRE BRAND BAN Proposal to ban fire branding in VICTORIA in an amendment to the Animal Welfare Code of Practice <a href="http://www.horsecouncil.org.au">www.horsecouncil.org.au</a> There is a proposal to ban fire branding and branding with corrosive substances in Victoria, as part of an amendment to the Victorian Animal Welfare Code of Practice. This proposal is due to go to the Minister for Agriculture in Victoria in the near future. If the Minister approves, it will then go before Parliament for the amendment to be approved. This would leave freeze branding as the only option for members of the WPCS Autralia Inc. When conducted in the proper manner, fire branding is a very satisfactory method of identification with little discomfort to the animal. Many members currently fire brand their own stock and the associated additional cost with freeze branding is of concern. Members are free to choose the option of either fire or freeze branding currently. On behalf of the Society I have written a letter to the Honourable Peter Walsh, Minister for Agriculture and Food, Victoria. If members wish to write and voice their concerns and support of fire branding, email contact details for Minister Walsh are: <a href="mailto:peter.walsh@parliament.vic.gov.au">peter.walsh@parliament.vic.gov.au</a> A copy of the letter sent on behalf of the Society is available if you follow this link to the WPCSA Website: <a href="http://www.wpcs.com.au/sb/modules/news/attachments/25/WPCSA%20Letter%20to%20P%20Walsh%20MP%20-%20June%207%202011.pdf"> (copy of letter) </a> Yours sincerely, Michele Baker Chairperson   Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:32:08 +1000 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:32:08 +1000 http://www.wpcs.com.au/news/id/23 Equine Neurological Illness  Please follow this link for more information on this illness.   You may or may not be aware of the recent increase in neurological disease in horses, due to a flavivirus carried by mosquitoes. further information is available at <a href="http://www.outbreak.gov.au/pests_diseases/pests_diseases_animals/disease-in-horses-insect/index.html">http://www.outbreak.gov.au/pests_diseases/pests_diseases_animals/disease-in-horses-insect/index.html</a> and also on the NSW DPI website at <a href="http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horses/health/general/nervous">http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horses/health/general/nervous</a> Fortunately as cooler weather sets in this will reduce the mosquito population, and therefore the risk of disease. Anyone who suspects that their horse is affected by this disease should contact their veterinarian promptly. Belinda Walker Technical Specialist Animal Biosecurity Department of Industry and Investment 35-37 Abbott Street, (PO Box 546) Gunnedah Phone: 02 67418363 Fax: 02 67424018 Mobile: 0427 311817