As you would recall, leading endurance rider Meg Wade was left a coma after a fall during a ride on Sunday 12 April 2009. Meg had been competing at the Tumbarumba ride when her horse reportedly shied at a puddle, causing Meg to fall.
ABC Landline will be featuring Meg’s story on Sunday 1 August 2010 at 12 noon.
The making of this story has been a 12 month project, commencing shortly after Meg’s accident and follows her progress through to the Manilla Quilty 2010.
The story will run for 25 minutes of the 1 hour Landline program.
Australia’s Boyd Exell today notched up his third individual victory at Aachen, the most prestigious international Four-in-Hand Driving competition, to add to his wins in 2003 and 2009. Exell had a head start in the dressage and held onto his lead throughout.
Four times World Champion IJsbrand Chardon (NED) finished second, ahead of Christoph Sandmann (GER), and it was the Netherlands that won the Nations Cup ahead of hosts Germany, with Switzerland in third.
Changed format
The CAIO and World Cup Qualifying competition in Aachen was run in a different format. The Four-in-Hand drivers drove the regular dressage test on Thursday, followed by the obstacle driving competition on Friday. The marathon, broadcast live on television, was run as the final phase to bring the combined driving competition to a dramatic finish.
Dressage
Exell’s outstanding Dressage test was unanimously awarded first place by the international Ground Jury, which included four of the five World Championship judges. Dutch driver Theo Timmerman was second after the Dressage, ahead of USA’s Jimmy Fairclough. Exell drove a near faultless test with his team of black geldings, which were extremely light and elegant throughout. The current World Cup Champion won the CAIO Aachen 2009 with the same horses and says his team is getting better at every show.
IJsbrand Chardon started with a disadvantage after his all-round horse Argus had injured a leg just before the horse inspection and was taken out of the competition.
Obstacle driving competition
Hungary’s Zoltan Lázár and his team of grey Lipizzaner horses won the second phase of the combined competition. Lázár was the first driver to go clear and inside the time on the challenging course, designed by Germany’s Dr Wolfgang Asendorf. The former Pair and Four-in-Hand World Champion proved to be a true show man and treated the spectators in the stadium to a very exciting and fast drive-off round, which he won ahead of home drivers Rainer Duen and Christoph Sandmann. Sandmann is competing in his first outdoor driving event of the season after undergoing knee surgery four weeks ago.
Boyd Exell kept his lead in the individual standings despite one knock down and time penalties. USA’s James Fairclough drove a clear round and kept his third position, just behind Dutch driver Theo Timmerman. Fairclough is driving a team of Dutch and Austrian warmbloods, which have only been together since March of this year. The KWPN leader horses are leased from his compatriot Keady Cadwell, who successfully competed with this pair at the FEI World Pair Driving Championships in Kecskemét 2009. The Austrian full sisters were driven by Georg Moser from Austria in the FEI World four-in-hand Driving Championships in Beesd 2008.
New obstacles on the marathon
Asendorf had designed eight challenging obstacles for the 24 drivers from 10 nations in Aachen. For the first time, he used transportable elements in four obstacles. The beautiful bridge obstacle, which was only built four years ago for the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, was completely renewed using treated wood. Obstacle 4 and 8 were brand new and more collapsible elements were placed in every obstacle to ensure the safety of the horses. The drivers started in reverse order of merits after dressage and cones, which resulted in an exciting battle between the top drivers.
IJsbrand Chardon had a communication problem with one of his horses in the first obstacle, but got his team back on track from then onwards and drove a very strong marathon. Chardon won the marathon, but only by a narrow margin from Boyd Exell, to leave Exell in front overall. Switzerland’s Werner Ulrich, driving the team of Lusitano horses owned by the Portuguese Stud Sociedad Quinta des Terras, took third place in the marathon.
Individual results CAIO Aachen (Ger) 14-17 July 2010:
1. Boyd Exell (Aus) 142,90
2. IJsbrand Chardon (Ned) 149,19
3. Christoph Sandmann (Ger) 154,34
4. Theo Timmerman (Ned) 156,70
5. Zoltan Lazar (Hun) 159,57
6. Daniel Würgler (Sui) 160,61
7. Werner Ulrich (Sui) 169,11
8. Tucker Johnson (Usa) 171,57
9. Rainer Duen (Ger) 173,02
10.Dirk Gerkens (Ger) 173,75
Team results CAIO Aachen (Ger) 14-17 July 2010:
1. The Netherlands 305,89
2. Germany 316,65
3. Switzerland 329,72
4. Hungary 352,84
5. Sweden 352,92
6. USA 367,09
7. France 414,62
Standings FEI World Cup Qualification after 9 of 15 competitions:
Place Driver NF Total
1 Zoltan Lazar HUN 59
2 Werner Ulrich SUI 58
3 IJsbrand Chardon NED 57
3 Daniel Würgler SUI 57
3 Tomas Eriksson SWE 57
6 Theo Timmerman NED 51
7 Koos de Ronde NED 50
8 Boyd Exell AUS 45
9 Fredrik Persson SWE 44
10 József Dobrovitz HUN 35
Queensland researchers expect to produce a human treatment for the deadly Hendra virus within six months.
Scientists have started work on monoclonal antibody treatments — pure human equivalents of the highly experimental therapy given to Sunshine Coast woman Rebecca Day and her 12-year-old daughter Mollie in May.
The pair chose to take the US-made treatment, designed for trial on ferrets and monkeys, after being exposed to the Hendra virus through a pet horse. The virus is transmitted from bats to horses, and on to humans.
Four people have died from the virus out of the seven who have tested positive.
Queensland Health chief medical officer Jeannette Young said the new treatment would be preferable to the US-made antibody therapy.
“It wasn’t produced under the conditions that we would normally want a human therapy to be produced under,” she said.
“It’s not an alternative to prevention. The best way is (for people) to protect themselves from horses.”
University of Queensland professor Paul Gray said researchers had acquired the cell line from the US and were working to make 99.995 per cent pure human antibodies. “We will get a preparation that is world-standard in respect to purity,” Professor Gray said.
“We’re working up a process so we can make large amounts in the future, if we needed it.”
The recent Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) stated that by 1 December 2010, the horse industry need to have a commitment to be a signatory to the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement and a preferred levy option that would be required to pay the industry’s financial requirement if another serious disease outbreak occurs.
A single submission is being put together from the Horse Community to the Government on EADRA and levy options. The submission will hopefully contain the signatures of representatives from as many horse groups as possible who support EADRA and also support a preferred levy option.
The attached newsletter is both an update on what has happened so far and a heads-up for a critical phase of the process - your feed back on a preferred levy option. These options will be sent next week.
The newsletter refers to the Terms of Reference for the Horse Levy Working Group and its membership. These will appear on the Animal Health Australia website soon - www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au.
Contact:
Dr Diane Ryan
Regional Veterinary Officer
Industry & Investment NSW
Executive Officer, Horse EADRA submission horse.EADRA@industry.nsw.gov.auThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Franz retired on Friday 9 July 2010. Equestrian Australia (EA) has lost a dedicated and loyal servant who has been part of the fabric of EA/EFA for many more years than his eight as CEO. Not that EA expects to lose Franz altogether for there is little doubt that he will find a niche for himself somewhere in and around EA and its activities and whatever that may be, he will invariably do it well.
Franz came to Australia from Germany in 1970 and has been part of our equestrian scene since the early 1980s. Together with his wife Toni, he has “created” the Sydney CDI, one of Australia’s most prestigious and important Dressage events, and directed the world’s first combined League Finals for the FEI World Cups of Dressage and Jumping. As Equestrian Competition Manager for Sydney 2000, Franz had a major role to play in the triumphant equestrian effort that was the Horsley Park venue and the attendant equestrian competition.
During his early EFA days, Franz also served as Treasurer on the Dressage NSW Committee, was delegate to the National Dressage Committee, became Treasurer of the NSW Branch, when it almost collapsed, and built it up again, was a delegate to the Federal Council and later member of the National Board, was instrumental in the preparation of the first EFA Development Plan and also the appointment of a High Performance Manager, and drafted many national policies and other initiatives.
Franz officially joined the staff of EA in 2002 when EFA National was ‘in a spot of bother’. Franz answered the call of then Chair, Russ Withers, to help out and at considerable personal cost, Franz filled the breach by becoming our temporary CEO camped out in our then Adelaide HQ.
At the time, in 2002, it was intended that Franz’s appointment would be temporary only, the ship would be righted, and EA would sail on when a new, permanent CEO was appointed. That was not to be and the EA Board was quick to see in Franz a dedication to the task and much needed experience, administrative skills and sporting professionalism, and Franz came on board on a permanent basis. EA has not faltered since with Franz leading us ever onwards and upwards, including taking the national office to its present Sydney home.
Franz has served with distinction under four EA Chairs in his eight years as CEO with us - first with Russ Withers, then by Geoff Sinclair and followed by Mary Seefried and finally myself, for the last 6 months or so. Each of us has, I am sure, enjoyed a successful working relationship with Franz.
Some of the key benefits introduced while Franz was CEO include, as I said, getting EA back into shape financially, moving us to Sydney, establishing a national database, introducing an interactive web with integrated Branch and club web sites, overseeing the introduction of a new and progressive governance regime and associated constitution, the NCAS and education programs, placing our rider and coaches’ insurance arrangements on sound and commercial footing and strengthening our ties with the FEI by placing with them on a mature basis.
Over the period of Franz’s tenure, EA has developed as a truly elite professional sporting organisation. We are not only recognised as a leader by the various equine industry bodies in Australia, but we are now recognised as such by governments. Franz has overseen the strengthening of our relationship with the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Olympic Committee. He earned a real feather in our cap when through his own efforts we were elected into full membership of Animal Health Australia (AHA) with the support of our big brothers, the national Thoroughbred racing associations and harness racing. That we are the only individual recreational horse body to be admitted to membership of AHA speaks volumes for the work done by Franz.
As far as international sport is concerned, Franz has certainly left his mark, building on relations established during his time in SOCOG. During last year’s FEI General Assembly, it became quickly clear to me that Franz is held in very high esteem both by the President and by many, many of the leaders that were at the Assembly and I think that this was certainly a great compliment to Franz but also something of which we in Australia and as a Federation shuld be very proud.
I thank Franz for his extraordinary efforts as CEO and wish him all the best for his retirement, from full-time work I hasten to add, as Franz will continue to work for the sport, hopefully for a long while.
The FEI has undertaken a review of the Protocol for Thermography and Clinical Examination (Hypersensitivity of Legs) and, in an effort to further strengthen the Protocol, has issued the following mandatory guidelines to be applied by the Veterinary Commissions appointed for FEI Events.
The new guidelines state:
(i) all Horses that are tested pursuant to the Protocol for Thermography and Clinical Examination will continue to undergo a thermography examination as one part of the evaluation process for hypersensitivity;
(ii) no horse may be retroactively eliminated from a Competition pursuant to the Protocol for Thermography and Clinical Examination;
(iii) the Person Responsible, or his or her designee, will be presented with a written form if his or her horse is disqualified for hypersensitivity that expressly describes the examination process and the rights of the Person Responsible under the circumstances;
(iv) if any Horse is disqualified pursuant to the Protocol more than twelve (12) hours prior to a Competition, the Person Responsible, or his or her designee, will be advised that a written request to the Ground Jury may be submitted within 30 minutes of being notified that the horse is disqualified, for the Horse to be re-examined pursuant to the Protocol. Such request must be granted and the Horse will be re-examined prior to the next Competition at a time determined by the Ground Jury on the day of the Competition. If upon re-examination it is not clear and obvious that the horse is unfit to compete due to signs of hypersensitivity, the horse shall be allowed to compete in that next Competition. However, the horse remains eligible for examination under the Protocol throughout the entire Event. This specific written request opportunity may only be exercised one (1) time during any Event for the same horse.
Leading world experts on Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) research in equestrian sport will be joined by prominent speakers from the non-scientific field at the FEI global Congress on NSAID Usage and Medication in the Equine Athlete which will be held at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland on 16 and 17 August 2010.
Roly Owers (GBR), Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare, will talk on ethical and welfare implications of permitting the use of NSAIDs in competition and Dr Lynn Hillyer (GBR), veterinary adviser to the British Horseracing Authority, will address the conference on the topic of why racing authorities have banned NSAIDs in racing.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) perspective on the in-competition use of NSAIDs will be presented by Dr Martial Saugy (SUI), Director of the WADA Laboratory in Lausanne, while the equine veterinary angle will be further boosted by recently confirmed speaker Peter Kallings (SWE), who will talk about the effects of NSAIDs use on equine performance.
Former FEI Veterinary Department Director, Alex Atock (IRL), will present an overview of the history of NSAIDs in the FEI and the situation before 1993. The full timetable with all speakers is now available here.
FEI President HRH Princess Haya will give the opening address at the two-day Congress, which will be chaired by Sven Holmberg, FEI First Vice President. Both days will include panel discussions, when National Federations, vets, officials, Riders Clubs, Organisers, FEI Laboratories, racing and breeding authorities, sponsors, the IOC and the media will have the opportunity to debate the issue further.
Registration for the Congress is still open to representatives from all stakeholder groups. Booking information is available here and there is a discounted rate for early registration. Please check www.fei.org for updates.
The vote on the use of NSAIDs in competition will not be taken until the FEI General Assembly in Chinese Taipei (1-6 November), but all interested parties are advised to register for the Congress to book their places and ensure that their voices are heard in this important debate.
Horse owners in South East NSW are being urged to step up their bio-security measures to protect animals from two serious diseases.
Strangles disease has now been confirmed on a number of properties in the Illawarra, and people are being asked to vaccinate their horses.
A warning has also been issued about Hendra virus, which is spread by flying foxes and killed a horse in Queensland last month.
Animal bio-security specialist, Belinda Walker, says although the Hendra case was well away from the South East, there is still cause for concern.
“One sort of worrying trend is the fact that the Grey Headed Flying Fox, which is one of the foxes that carries the virus, has now been recorded as far around the coast as Adelaide,” she said.
“It’s not really clear whether they’ve actually cut across country to get to Adelaide, or whether they’ve gone around via the coast and via Melbourne.”
Ms Walker says precautions should be taken now.
“It makes sense for anybody who competes with horses and has them moving from competition, from show to show, that they do get their horses adequately vaccinated,” she said.
“Particularly in the face of an outbreak like this where it does seem to have taken off, to some extent, more than normal.”
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