Horse Driving Trials Club Inc.
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Account of Equine Influenza from Inside!
From 25th August to Home 2nd October 2007
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Saturday 24th August; Day 1 –
Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough (me) arrive in
Later on Saturday afternoon.... The Pas de Deux went great, but then we were hit with the news that the 6 sick and isolated horses on the grounds, were showing symptoms of the imported Equine Influenza Disease, and that everyone was to be detained at Morgan Park until further investigation.
We didn't come planned to camp??? what to do? Local friend and judge, Sheryl Herring kindly brings us blankets, pillows and towels for a shower......
Sunday 25th August; Day 2 - 6am ALL horses on the grounds have their temperatures taken and recorded. The Warwick Horse Trials Club have a team of the best vets in 9am; The World Cup CIC and the entire event is cancelled and all horses are asked to return to the stables immediately. The We were looking at a 30 day quarantine period. Dr Willmore didn't pull any punches, saying, "we expect 100% infection of the horses here." No people or vehicles or horses were permitted to leave the grounds, and we were told that horse movement throughout QLD was at a standstill, to try and contain the disease. People and vehicles may be able to leave the grounds later that day. People were in a panic trying to get produce for their horses! Furney's Produce stepped up to the challenge and came on board to supply produce! QLD representative for Mitavite, Angela Mc Leish and the Coprice team of Julie and Peter de Visser stood in to organise hundreds of panicked feed orders. Angela from Mitavite organised heaps of Mitavite feed for Nicole and myself (and I'm not even sponsored by them!!) Thank you Mitavite! and Don Campbell from HyGain Feeds generously gave me 4 bags of Showtorque for Thank you Hygain!! The mood stayed light with a human showjumping competition and touch rugby games. In the meantime, the Army Reserve have moved in to surround the perimeter, and take registrations of all trucks, floats and vehicles. The Fire Brigade is brought in to do major dis-infecting of cars and people, and the police are represented for control. People are permitted to leave on foot, after a stringent de-contamination process. And in the meantime, horses temperatures start to rise and coughs are heard more, horses are tagged and removed to the Isolation zone. Reality is starting to kick in..... from the 2 nicole's in ..................................................................................
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Quarintine Continues -Day 3
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Monday August 26th; Day 3 -
30 horses are sick, and there's no more need for the "isolation zone."
The media is moving in, and the Police, Fire Brigade and Army Reserve have already moved in.
The Warwick Horse Trials Club have set up School for all school children, and the canteen is set up to serve 3 meals a day.
Things are quieter today as many people had to go to work.
The Warwick Horse Trials Club have set up a roster system to look after the horses whose owners had to leave.
Nicole M, her student Kyla Reid (who was coming 2nd in the event before it was cancelled), and myself have set up our own roster system, taking the horses temperatures 3 times a day and recording them ourselves.
The TV reception is getting marginally better, but we are as good as missing Australian Idol!
Keeping you posted....
hanging in there! (just)....
Quarantine -Day 4
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Tuesday 28th August - Day 4 (I think)??
40 horses now infected, and with a 3-5 day incubation period,
Ken Ford from Equitec has just sent heaps of stuff to boost the horses immune systems - Pro-Mune, and a Zyphis treatment which apparently kills one cell viruses, so we'll give that a try!
Peter Beattie helicoptered in and called a meeting. The QLD government have allocated $20 000 for human food, are bringing in school teachers, and washing machines! They are setting up a TV and the internet, and allocated $50 000 to the
Furney's Produce at Toowoomba have set up and are helpful with the provision of produce - but it is costing a heap!
Nicole M's sponsor, Angela McLiesh who is the sales manager for QLD Mitavite have offered to feed both of our dressage horses for nothing! and I'm not even sponsored by them!
Ron Major from Pryde's have given us an alternate produce contact, with MUCH cheaper hay, and organised Pryde's feed at stud price.
People are blowing us away with their generosity and support!
Warwick Horse Trials Club had a huge load of sawdust come in today for stable bedding, and the vets are all still busy treating the horses as more and more come down with the disease.
All horses are being routinely checked twice a day.
There is a farrier, Peter O'Day, who is also stuck on the grounds due to quarantine, and we have organised him to shoe our horses on Monday.
Overall, there is a calm atmosphere, with people just doing what they can, helping each other out, and looking after the 300 horses stuck here in Quarantine.
We all just have to stop moving the horses ANYWHERE!! if we all stay put, this disease will die out! If it gets out, it is fatal to young stock, and detrimental in the long run to performance horses.
We don't want Equine Influenza to be virulent in
Let's all work together for the good of our industry!
that's all for now...
from the 2 Nicole's in
Quarantine- Day 5
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Wednesday - Day 5 -
Of the 300 horses here, 105 are sick this morning.
He started his anti-biotic this morning, and seems quite bright within himself. Zac is still hanging in there. They are absolutely in love with each other now and cannot be separated, which for Milo is quite something as he HATES other horses and usually saves his love for people??!!
The vets do 2 checks twice a day on every horse. They are stranded here as well and are absolutely wonderful. Word is, after the last horse has been infected, we are here for 30 days.... so it could be a while yet!
The QLD Government has been AMAZING! They have set up a mini-community in the hope to reduce the comings and goings of everybody and hopefully prevent the spread of this disease. We have 3 free meals a day provided, school teachers and recreational activities are in place. Washing machines, TV and the internet have all been brought in. Centrelink and QLD Health are also here.
Hope everyone at home is coping, and that all horses are well.
from the 2 nicole's in
Quarintine- Day 6
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Diary from Morgan Park By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
2007 Qld Festival of Dressage WOW this is amazing....I am finally out of I will start with the progress of the compound first then move to a more personal note. The most significant day was yesterday.
After Peter Beattie visited us, the ball really started to roll. These guys were fantastic. We have set up " As far as I can remember because the amount of information is mammoth the following is under way and most is in place as we speak/read.
Firstly I want to make big thanks to Furneys Rural Produce as they have been amazing. I will list what the government has agreed to pay: They have supplied us with washing machines, driers, clothes lines, TV's, school teachers for the 20 or so children out there, bus services to Warwick three times a day. They are employing the five vets we have on grounds 24hrs, all chemist and personal health requirements, they have people there to entertain us with sporting games - karaoke- discos and so on....thinking thinking.... I am sure there is more just stuggling to remember, but you must agree this is an awesome effort. I know what you are thinking you wish you could be out there too... well bad luck for you it is closed to any sight seers just horse owners only and organisers.
So on a personal note I will set the day out. I wake around 6 30. I always thought eventers would be early risers but hardly anyone is moving at that time. I feed the horses and clean the stables. By 7 30 the helicopters start their routine circling of the skies above and the reporters make their way in for the updating news. Our stables are the first and only ones the reporters can get to, so before you think we are hogging the press we are just the most available, and of course our horses the most beautiful!! I walk the horses everyday for an hour and a half each just keep them interested and to let them stretch. Milo is always keen to drag me around and investigate , Amy (Kyla my student's horse) is keen to show everyone her ability to Piaffe and passage with a lady hanging on to the end of the lead for dear life and Zac well he really just wants to get to the closest available grass ,eat ,roll in the dirt patch and go back to his stable for the chance of some more hay.
I think he has heard the feed is free and believes it should be an "all you can eat bar". This is a little stressful, both Zac and
Time to walk horses, again feed ,up take temps, hang around for the vet checks and have some dinner. Catch Australian Idol ( a little dodgy reception, but we can hear them) go to bed. That is my time so far, and I guess really just waiting around for our horses to get sick. Well it happened last night Well just hoping you are all doing your part and not moving any horses and not having contact with other people's horses, we do have a chance to stop this virus if we all just do our part and if you see any horse being transported by foot or vehicle please ring the police immediately. Thank you for you support and I will keep you updated. Nicole Magoffin and from compound Nicole Tough I have passed on everyone's well wishes and thanks to the 'Two Nicole's for their fantastic reports and hope that |
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Quarantine-Day 8-
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Saturday - Day 8 - "
First - I would like to make a sincere apology to Furney's produce - In the panic on Sunday (Day 2 ) I erroneously reported that their feed was expensive. There was such a panic on Sunday, with everyone thinking we were stuck here with no feed - and rumours were flourishing. Being an untrained journalist - I should have checked my sources! I am learning as I go!!
Furney's have been wonderful! Any product purchased prior to the Government subsidy, is not being processed as personal expenses as the government subsidy will cover it.
There is 95% infection now, and our countdown doesn't start till 100% horses are infected, so we are not counting down yet. It is like a hospital here, with horses running high fevers, joint pain, lethargic, coughing, and thick yellow discharge coming from the nostrils. Zac and
On day 1 of infection: The vets give an anti-inflammatory to control fever. They cannot do anything about the virus. As Gold Coast vet, Janine Dwyer says, "A virus does its own thing."
The next stage is the cough and yellow discharge, which the vets can treat and do so immediately with antibiotics.
The joint pain presents like colic, and it is stressful. If only they could talk! and tell us its their joints and NOT their stomachs??? The other thing is that high temperatures dramatically slow down gut function - so their symptoms could be colic!?
There are 2 "vet rounds" each day, where every horse is consulted and treated. Imagine 250 people sick with the flu - and you may be able to imagine how sombre we are about the horses.
As Anstead Vet, Nathan Anthony says, "We are seeing different reactions to the drugs than we have seen before."
Our QLD expatriate dressage rider and good friend, Denise Rogan is experiencing these adverse reactions. Denise's horse, Remi, went into Anaphylactic shock after his treatment and wasn't doing too well a few days ago.
Denise - we are all thinking of you and sending Remi good wishes!
The biggest thing to worry about is secondary conditions, like pneumonia and laminitis.
Make no mistake - the horses here are sick! We do not want this virus spreading!
We just keep them out and about, walking and grazing, and watching them like a hawk!
As Nicole M, reported, there are plenty of sport and recreational activities organised, with a Ping Pong tournament, mobile library and so forth. They are also organising a movie night, and a seminar night. Everyone is doing their best to come up with activities to prevent us from going stir crazy! As Nicole reported it is "
Spare a thought for Andrew and Steffi Stevens of Courtland Performance Horses. Agisted horses returned to their property from Maitland ODE, unknowingly taking this foreign virus with them. To Andrew and Steffi, we hope your horses are well, and we are thinking of you!
The vets here say after the horses are well,
"They should not be worked for 30 days" - so that pretty much ends our competition year.
Karen Herald from Caboolture - maybe don't process our State Championship entries??
To everyone at home - just do your best to restrict farrier and vet visits and report anyone moving horses. We just have to ride this virus out. If we contain it, it will die out, and
Quarantine Report-27 days to go?
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
27 Days To Go - (we think!!)
Our spirits were dampened last night at the nightly de-brief meeting, when we were told that the DPI may not have started our 30 day countdown..... On top of this, the weather here is FOUL!! Gale force winds force awnings and tents down, rain makes walking out the horses miserable, and the day yards resemble ice skating rinks! On top of this - it is FREEZING!!! I am more than ready to come home.....
We have just heard that the National Dressage Championships have been postponed.... AND we've heard that there are suspected outbreaks at Benobble (close to Canungra) and Aubury - not to mention Brookefield and
Warwick Horse Trials club refuse to let us get down! They keep coming up with ways to entertain us. Travis Templar has organised a Touch Footy competition, Melanie Wilson has started an EFA Introductory course and Sandra Oppermann is tireless in her efforts to organise more activities.
To my support team at home - THANKYOU! Tamsen Sala, Shannan Makauskas, Sally Keay, Tanya Pavey-Loyd and Toni Cash - you have been an enormous help.... and thanks to Rosie and Alyssa Webb who are looking after my mare and her new bubby better than I could ever hope!
That's all from
Quarantine- Day 13
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Day 13 - Setting the scene...
Imagine standing on top of a hill in the snow fields, sleeting rain, gail force winds, looking after three kids, all with the flu and getting really bored.........oh did I mention the mud! Well I don’t feel too from that.
I was woken around 5am this morning by an escapee horse, who was entertaining himself with bags of carrots and Mitavite’s Xtra Cool....must taste good as he seemed to choose that over anything else!! Once he filled his stomach he made his way around tormenting the other horses, and took a particular liking to
Today is pretty miserable. I put the horses out in their yards, but they weren't enjoying themselves, so I brought them back into their stables.
Everyday less treatment is required by our vets, just monitoring temps and oral antibiotic.
It appears that all horses will require 2-3 weeks off after all symptoms of the flu have gone, severity needs also to be taken into consideration.
The two major factors would be high temps and coughing. The horses will require light work and monitoring to see whether or not they may require more treatment or whether we could start to increase their workload.
This leaves Nicole T., Kyla and I out until a least mid to late October, and then of course considering around 3-5 weeks to return to their previous fitness and performance. Wow, I need to read that a few times it seems so unreal and was not in my programme for the year!!
Amy (Kyla’s mare) has quite a snotty nose today and has hurt her back leg, not badly but it is swollen and sore.
We were scheduled for a game of touch footy today but the weather has kept us all indoors, so it will be a day to catch up with Dr Phil and Oprah and give the horses warm molasses feeds.
They did get warm toast as a part of their brekky, which they all appreciated...I think????
Well signing off with the usual plea......Can you all please take the advised steps to help contain this virus, this includes no farriers and coaches!!! It is very contagious and trust me you do not want your horses getting it.
Thank you all for your support and kind words and messages.
From the 2 Nicoles - Nicole Magoffin from Warwick and Nicole Tough
Quarintine-Day 14 Morgan Park
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Quarantine Day-14
The weather has eased a little here at "
As the horses start to feel better their energy and boredom combine to make it a little tricky to lead them in and out of the yards, and some horses require leading chains and some even whips!!
We still have no confirmation of our "30 day count down" from the DPI as of yet, and our new concern is what happens if our 30 day count is up and the travel ban hasn't been lifted? We all really want to go home!!!
The community of Warwick and Qld are still digging deep. Donations of product and money are still flowing in and a trust fund has been set up for money, not sure what is going to happen with that, but have no doubt the organisers here will not let it go wasted.
I believe there has also been donations from Pony Clubs and Individuals of excess of $1000 each!!! On behalf of everyone out here, we are overwhelmed and appreciative of all the thoughts coming through.
Thank you to everyone who has helped in anyway this far, a long way to go but your support is not going unnoticed.
We hold a daily meeting and donations are read out so everyone is aware of your generosity.
Sad to hear of the continual outbreaks throughout Qld.
It feels so tough when we are trying so hard to contain this virus and yet it seems to keep spreading.
This Flu is so contagious everyone needs to take all precautions.
On departing Morgan Park we all have to shower and wash our hair, change into clean clothes, disinfect and scrub our shoes, spray all luggage and gear and stay out of contact with other horses for 48 hours.
I don't think it would be that crazy if these precautions where taken by anyone leaving their own property intending to have contact with any other horses and then repeating them when returning home.
Let's try our hardest to contain this disaster, we don't want Australian horses having to be immunised yearly and possibly 6 monthly and then the little less loved ones not being immunised contracting EI.
I will move to lighter note so I don't sound too grumpy. Today a few ongoing activities are on offer. Coach training, board games and talk of a touch rugby game is back on the cards...little muddy for my liking.
Tonight hosts live entertainment and a fancy dress disco, the hunt for funky accessories is on!! Activities are continually being revised in attempt to keep everyone sane, not sure we were all sound of mind before this though!
Well going home today handing over to Kyla and her Mum Karen for the weekend and we will keep you updated.
The 2 Nicoles from
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Day: September 11th 2007
Life in
We are into Week 3 now and counting down. We are still hopeful for an October 2nd release from Quarantine, but still await confirmation of this from the DPI.
I'm back from a more restful weekend spending time with my family and healthy horses at home (and my gorgeous little foal, is doing really well - Thank you Alyssa!!
The sun came out at '
Kyla left me a gorgeous behaviour report and
The food here in
He seems quite bright and has a good appetite, so fingers crossed, we can keep pneumonic symptoms at bay.
Zac is doing well with just occasional rises in temperature, and general crankiness setting in. I think he is a bit over this confinement......and being constantly annoyed by
Last night would have to have been my worst so far...... Kyla's horse, Amy, somehow managed to get herself stuck underneath the rails of 2 yards...... I awoke at 2am to the sound of thrashing.
Running out in my PJ's, I found Amy caught with her back legs entangled in her gate in one yard, and her head, neck and front legs in the neighbouring yard! Stable Manager, David Lyons was next on the scene - and all I can say is Thank God for David!
I was in definite need of more strength to help free Amy! A total of 4 people helped free her, and she finally got up in the next door yard, feeling very bruised and sorry for herself.
Other than superficial cuts and bruising, Amy is a very lucky lady!
People are ticking along here pretty well - the kids go to school, and the parents do their washing! There have even been men doing washing!!
Quite a sight, I can tell you!
Everyone is looking out for their own and each others horses, and the wheelbarrow frenzy to the sawdust loads are amusing.
The vets still do their rounds twice a day and they are wonderful!
There are 150 horses now off medication, with a small amount being treated for pneumonia.
We all just have the home stretch in mind, and are madly hoping for that October 2nd release!
Sounds a bit like jail...... but there you have it.
Thank you all for your kind messages and thoughts! All I can say now to everyone is, Hang in There, and encourage all to follow the rules.
Many thanks to
From the 2 Nicole's in '
Quarantine-Morgan Park-21 days to go?
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
21 Days To Go - (we think!!)
Life in Morgan Park Town - 21 days to go and counting!!
There are not many competition venues that could cope with what the Warwick Horse Trials Club have had no choice, but to cope with.
There are 150-180 people, and 250 horses living here, in an extremely confined and artificial environment. I cannot begin to tell you how difficult it is.....
What I can tell you is that there is never a queue for the showers and, so far, we've NEVER been out of hot water!!!!
There is a bar and huge dining area, and an area for the Table Tennis table!
There is the office and another office for the DPI.
There is the first aid room, and a conference room that has been transformed to the High School room..... and the many demountables that the QLD Government brought in for communications, school, recreation, health and centrelink.
The office here is a very busy place. Simon Goddard, Redge Weatherall, Natalie Nicholls and Cherie Pye take turns in manning the monumental job of running this place.
They have masses of Government paperwork to sift through, bobcats, backhoe's and sawdust to organise.
They have caterers and cleaners to organise, as well as everyone's personal needs to see too....... they are doing an amazing job. Hats off to them!
The DPI have daily meetings and have asked us to start bringing to the de-contamination zone all our gear, tack, and rugs..... what a job!!!! aagghhh......
The new vets are Mia Reeve-Johnson and Amber Ziolkowski from the Redlands clinic.
I cannot report enough on their professionalism, care and concern for the horses. They have begun taking nasal swabs and will start blood testing next week.
Warren Moore from Furneys Produce is a permanent resident at "Morgan Park Town" and does an excellent job chasing lucerne hay!!!!
Warren gets us anything we need for the horses - feed tins, water buckets, bandages, supplements - in short, he is The Produce God!! and he always has a positive cheery attitude!
Farriers Peter O'Dea, and now Luke Riding, are also permanent residents. They have the enormous job of looking after 250 horses' hooves. Do the math.... that's a lot of hooves.
Looking after the horses is a massive task.
There has been colic, laminitis, many still on anti-biotics, 25 upped to penicillin and 2 horses still in "intensive care."
There are 150 horses off all medication and starting to feel better.
There are now more and more injuries as these once fit horses regain their health. There are now 215 day yards, which give the horses some more room to move and let off steam.
In between looking after the horses, people keep themselves occupied doing daily chores and the choice of many activities and courses that are now on offer.
Everyone takes turns in chipping in building yards, filling hay containers, cleaning bathrooms and serving meals.
The atmosphere stays as positive as it can.
Hang in there everyone... it sounds as though life on the outside is starting to look more positive??
From the 2 Nicole's at "Morgan Park Town"
Quarantine Morgan Park-Week4-17-09-07
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
September 17th - 2007
Back to "Morgan Park Town" last night, after another weekend at home. My son, Mitchell, lost his U13's Rugby Union Grand Final against Beaudesert, but the team played their hearts out - and we were very proud of them!
Into Week 4 of quarantine lockdown, and we cannot wait to bring the horses home! I know how much Nicole and I look forward to releasing Milo and Zac into their paddocks! They will certainly be kicking up their heels!
At the top of each week in my yearly diary, I write memorable quotes for myself. Last week's quote was very apt for the week - "Hard times are inevitable; misery is optional."
What amazing foresight I had putting that quote on that week!!
Milo started on Bronchpulmin last Friday because of a lingering cough..... so the list of medication goes on....
Some good news..... the vets started the blood tests on all the horses here today, testing for anti-bodies to the virus; with a follow up test in 10 days time to ascertain rising levels of anti-bodies.
Depending on these rising levels of anti-bodies, many horses may be issued with travel permits to come home! This got a massive cheer at last night's daily meeting!!! The concern is, that some of the horses that didn't sick enough, may not have these anti-bodies, and so will be susceptible to re-infection and potential carriers of the virus...... these horses will not be permitted to leave, and will have to be re-infected to lift the levels of anti-bodies..... so we are all praying the anti-bodies will be there!!
Because of the mass blood testing happening today - Monday the 17th was officially called a Public Holiday for the school kids in "Morgan Park Town" today!! That got another massive cheer!
Regardless of all this, life in quarantine ticks along as normal. The stable manager, David Lyons, joked, that "we may need Backyard Blitz, for the grass and weeds growing around the floats, tents and de-mountables!" Certainly, a whipper snipper or two may come in handy!
Kyla and her incredibly supportive mum, Karen, have done the weekend shift with their normal efficiency. The horses and their rugs have been washed and the gooseneck had a spring clean! Thanks Karen and Kyla!!
Milo has quite the fan club, as he extends and twists his neck for attention at anyone who walks by! This usually earns him a rub, pat or even a carrot! He got an "A plus" for stable tidiness - another first!! Zac's eternal answer to everything (but food) is - "Whatever..." and he got a B for stable tidiness, with his report saying, "need to have a chat with his parent." In his defense though, his stable is smaller!!!
Gwen Lyons from Park Ridge, brought up mud cake last night for everyone, and local donations from Warwick Woolworths are regular treats!! I speak on behalf of everyone here, in extending a HUGE THANKYOU to such generous people and the Warwick businesses and public for all the little things they are doing for us!
People continue to get along with life here - and as the all important cricket season is bearing down on us; so to has cricket in "Morgan Park Town!"
We await our blood tests with bated breath, preying for anti-bodies and hopefully a REAL countdown to coming home! Thankyou again to everyone sending messages and donations! You cannot know how much they are appreciated!
from the 2 Nicole's in "Morgan Park Town"
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
September 19th - In "
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON GODDARD!!!
Simon is the "head honcho" around here, and manages somehow to do the "big brother" thing with a rare combination of command and fun. What can I say - the man has our respect!! There were 3 awesome meals today!!
Bacon and eggs for breakfast, hamburgers for lunch and a cooked roast with dessert for dinner. We are one big happily fed family today in
It is quite amazing how spirits around here manage to stay up...... everyone is doing their best in a lousy situation, because I kid you not, EVERYONE here cannot wait to come home! Living out of your float, gooseneck or truck for an extended period of time is not easy......
There are, of course, some real heroes in Ian Price - what a guy! He will fix anything that needs fixing - car battery flat - Ian will fix it; yards that need building - Ian will be there; flat tyre - Ian will be there too!
Warren Morris from Furneys Produce is always on the job, moving hay everywhere, and organising pallets and always manages his early morning walk around the cross country course to kick his day off.
David Lyons, the stable manager, got us some rubber and used up half his day lining Kyla's horse's stable; so no more night stable accidents are possible for her!!
And Peter O'Dea, the farrier, is always wherever you need him to be!
Cherie Pye, in the office, is always on the job, and never seems to tire...
And that's not even mentioning the Birthday Boy! His list is tiring even to read, and indeed, he does look weary! Hopefully he had an awesome day today!
An "escapee" horse overnight decided our feed corner looked the most inviting, and spent half his night consuming Mitavite's Economix and Hygain's Showtorque!
Unfortunately, said escapee ripped apart these bags within reachable distance of Zac's stable - and he thought all his xmas' had come at once!!!
Needless to say, we kept a watchful eye on Zac all day for signs of a belly ache!!
This is said escapees third escape - and I have now re-named him "Houdini" for obvious reasons!!! He is one smart cookie!
That's it from
We should know by Friday who is looking good to go. Keep your fingers crossed!!
From the 2 Nicole's in "
Quarantine-Diary Morgan Park
Diary from Morgan Park
By - Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough
Update: 23 September - "
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The pack up is well and truly under way!!! Reality has hit and we are getting out of here......still no confirmed date but it feels so close! As we still await the blood test results which will enable us to be categorised into two groups, positive for anti-bodies you go home, negative you stay another 30 days. We are all confident that we are leaving and I feel for anyone who may have to stay. (I had better be leaving as there is no medication available that would help me cope with another 30 days!) So I gave in to the inevitable and began the clean up. All our gear must be washed first then taken to the DPI spray and wash station, where it is drenched in some smelly stuff, hung out to dry, then bagged and preferably taken off the grounds immediately in waiting vehicles or kept sealed and off the ground until we leave. After I finished doing our gear I was on a roll and did the Toughs' lovely gooseneck, which had been our home for the last 4 weeks. I pulled everything out and washed down the walls, roof, tack box and floors, it looked and smelt brand new, which it pretty much is. So apart from the gear we are still using we are ready to go!!
Not that I am keen or anything ........ha ha. After speaking with the vets out here, our English vet Jamie O'Gorman who has had experience with EI and Rod Howard our Aussie vet with a wealth of knowledge, we were told that the horses could be WALKED for exercise and sanity. | |