BREEDS TO RETURN IN 2009
24 July 2008
All breeds which were cancelled in 2008 due to the effects of EI will return in 2009 to ensure a full horse program.
Led and ridden purebred Arabian classes are back in the program after a two year absence and we look forward to our Exhibitors support of these classes.
Several debriefs have been held since the Show and the Horse Committee are currently in the process of constructing the 2009 Sydney Royal Horse Program. Every endeavour will be made to take into account suggestions as expressed by competitors. Graham Davey, Chairman of The RAS Horse Committee says that "it is very likely that a mixture of the 2008 format and the traditional format will take place in 2009. This should please competitors as it takes into account many wishes expressed by exhibitors."
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR 2009
24 July 2008
The RAS Horse Committee would like to advise that it has agreed to retain existing performance requirements for the 2009 Show.
This means a minimum of 7 open wins for Saddle Horses and Show Hunters, 3 for Breed Classes and Riding), but due to EI and the lack of Shows available, these requirements may be modified if necessary.
Importantly, as for the 2008 Show, ALL horses accepted and participating at the show will be required to be microchipped. Microchip numbers must be recorded or registered with the Australasian Animal Registry (AAR).
HERE ARE THE HORSES
Despite initial concerns and obstacles with Equine Influenza, horses galloped into the 2008 Show with gusto, delivering an impressive range of horse events over 14 days. The RAS worked tirelessly alongside the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the larger horse community of NSW to have horses at the Show, to the delight of Showgoers and Competitors alike.
The Sydney Royal Horse Classic was the first horse show of this size in the State since the outbreak of EI, making it a monumental occasion for the entire horse industry.
Nearly 1,000 horses competed over the last six days of the Show, which was an extraordinary result and a great milestone on the road to full recovery for the industry.
Through the DPI’s funding and assistance, the Sydney Royal Horse Classic boasted a $100,000 cash prize-pool, spread across 38 Classes, including a cash prize of $3,000 for the Champion Working Australian Stock Horse and $5,000 for the Australian National Champion Hack.
Interest in the Competitions was high, with thousands of entries received. Arabian Derivatives, Australian Stock Horses, Australian Ponies, Show Hunters, Galloways and Riding Classes all witnessed increased entries in comparison to previous years’ Horse Competitions.
The quality of entries was also very high this year, despite the conditions, which made for tough competition and exciting viewing. A 2008 Sydney Royal Horse Classic win was not only an indication of exceptional quality, but a sentimental and important win in light of the recent struggles with EI.
In addition to the Classic, the 2008 Horse Show delivered some other fantastic horse events over the first eight days of the Show. Riders and horses alike dazzled the crowds with their prowess in the NAB Arena, competing in Showjumping, Polocrosse, Tentpegging and Campdraft.
Audiences in the NAB Arena were also treated to action-packed Polo matches throughout the Show. This sport requires a lot of skill and focus and this year’s teams certainly rose to the occasion. “Polo is a wonderful game and it has a long-standing tradition at the Show,” said RAS President, Rob Vickery. Some of the highlights were Australia’s win over Argentina, by a nail-biting two-point margin, and Country as the victor against City, 11 to 9.
Having horses at the 2008 Show was a great achievement and the RAS is grateful to all the Horse Exhibitors who were able to participate, for their willingness and dedication. We hope you join us in looking forward to a return to full-force in 2009, and an even stronger Sydney Royal Horse Show.
Message from Peter King
28 March 2008
On behalf of the RAS we would like to sincerely thank all of our horse exhibitors for your patience and understanding over the last couple of days.
I am sure you can all appreciate the enormous task we have encountered in mounting the inaugural Sydney Royal Horse Classic. The late entry processing which is a task that normally takes 4 to 5 months has been administered in virtually one month. The increased burden of paperwork due to biosecurity and inoculation we have had to manage has delayed the process also. Despite this all the horse community has responded so positively to the opportunity to compete that we have nearly 1000 horses looking to be stabled on site - this is about 200 more than normally seen here at any one time. Our staff have worked tirelessly to help overcome all of your concerns.
As of this evening we have around 100 exhibits still looking for stabling. We have nearly 900 already stabled. However, we are also receiving withdrawals and are contacting people immediately space becomes available to allow them to get on site ASAP.
This is the premium horse event in Australia and we take very seriously our commitment to provide a quality event - we know competitors aspire to be here and we are doing everything possible to ensure the competitive integrity of this show is maintained.
Please keep in contact with us via horse@rasnsw.com.au and we will ensure we keep you up to date with the latest information.
Once again please accept our appreciation for your consideration and support.
2008 ROYAL EASTER SHOW
BIOSECURITY PLAN
27 March 2008
Click here for the Biosecurity Plan relating to the 2008 Sydney Royal Easter Show.
EQUINE INFLUENZA UPDATE AND THE 2008 SHOW
28 February 2008
The Minister for Primary Industries, the Hon Ian Macdonald, has announced that the horse flu has been iradicated from NSW. Click here for more details.
Regardless of current zoning by the NSW Department of Primary Industries,, it still remains an RAS requirement that EVERY horse coming onto Sydney Showground MUST have submitted to the RAS a Certificate of Immunity or Horse Health Certificate.
To satisfy the Certificate of Immunity, or Horse Health Certificate, a horse must either be an EI recovered horse, or an EI approved vaccinate.
It is also an RAS requirement that EVERY horse coming onto the Showground MUST be microchipped and have that microchip recorded on the Australasian Animal Registry database.
JUDGING TIMETABLE RELEASE
25 February 2008
The Judging timetable for the Sydney Royal Horse Classic and the Sydney Royal Horse Show has been released. Click here for the timetable.
SYDNEY ROYAL HORSE CLASSIC
4 January 2008
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) is pleased to announce the Sydney Royal Horse Classic will be held over 6 days at the Sydney Royal Easter Show from Friday 28 March 2008.
The Minister for Primary Industries, The Hon Ian Macdonald, has announced the Department of Primary Industries will sponsor The Classic and provide $100,000 in prize money making this Australia’s richest Show Horse competition.
Competitions at The Classic will include many Saddle Classes, Led and Ridden Breeds, Riding competitions and Harness classes competing for the $100,000 prize money pool.
The Schedules for The Classic and other Sydney Royal Horse Competitions, including Showjumping, Rodeo, Polo, Polocrosse, Cutting Horse, Tentpegging and Campdraft have been posted on this website.
Horse Exhibitors who have already placed entries to competitions for the 2008 Sydney Royal Easter Show do NOT need to reapply.
The RAS will work with the DPI who will assist Exhibitors to access EI vaccine as required to meet biosecurity arrangements to compete at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
A vaccination request form will be posted to all Horse Exhibitors in the coming week.
The RAS thanks Horse Exhibitors for their patience in waiting for the finalisation of this Schedule and for their continued support of our Show. The Sydney Royal Horse Classic will be a spectacular tribute to the wonderful Australian heritage of showing horses at the Sydney Royal.
Rob Vickery
President
Sydney Royal Easter Show
Cancelled Horse Competitions
Following the outbreak of Equine Influenza (EI) in NSW in August 2007, the RAS Horse Committee and Management have worked closely with the Department of Primary Industries to devise a Horse Show program which addresses the restrictions associated with EI.
A full assessment of the 2008 Sydney Royal Easter Show Horse Schedule has been made and it is with regret that we announce the following classes and competitions have been cancelled for the 2008 Show:
- Andalusians
- APSB Part Breds
- Buckskins
- Clydesdales
- Led Hackney & Hackney Ponies
- Haflingers
- Miniature Horses
- Miniature Ponies
- Palominos
- Percherons
- Pintos
- Shetlands
- Shires
- Standardbreds
- Warmbloods
- Riding for the Disabled
- Station Horse Challenge
- Time Trial Challenge
- Small Arena Campdrafts
- Pony Club
- Pony Dressage
- Team Yarding
- EFA Equitation
I would like to thank Horse Exhibitors who have supported our Show for many years and for their patience in waiting for this announcement.
I appreciate this will be disappointing news for many Exhibitors in these classes, however I am sure you appreciate the difficult decision had to be made to ensure the health and safety of horses at the 2008 Show.
Rob Vickery
President
HORSES RETURN TO THE SYDNEY ROYAL EASTER SHOW
24 December 2007
Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald and the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) President Rob Vickery today announced that Australia’s best horses will be able to compete at the 2008 Sydney Royal Easter Show, despite the outbreak of equine influenza.
Minister Macdonald said the Department of Primary Industries has worked around the clock with the RAS to ensure the competitions can go ahead.
Please click here for the latest media release as at 24 December 2008.
Sydney Royal Horse Classic
Please revisit this website and the Department of Primary Industries website (www.dpi.nsw.gov.au) for updates on the Sydney Royal Horse Classic or click here for the latest media release as at 24 December 2008.
The Program, Competition dates, entry forms and Dept of Primary Industries EI Information kit will be available on the this website from January 3rd.
Please read the FAQs below, or if you cannot find an answer to your questions there, please call the Sydney Royal Horse Show Hotline on 02 9704 1202 or 02 9704 1171.
2008 Sydney Royal Horse Show – Frequently Asked Questions
Please keep referring to this Q&A page. It will be regularly updated as we get further information.
VACCINATON
30 November 2007
Question: What paperwork will be required?
Answer: See the acceptance letter or read the media release on this website
Question: Do I have to have all my horses on my home property vaccinated?
Answer: No, just the animals entered and accepted for Sydney Royal that have not already contracted the disease and have not already been vaccinated for EI in the current round of vaccinations.
Question: My horse has already had EI. Do I need to get it vaccinated?
Answer: No, your horse has the best immunity. However you will need to have it microchipped and blood tested to prove its immunity.
Question: My horse has been running with horses in the Purple Zone; they have contracted EI but my horse hasn’t. Does my horse have immunity and do I need it vaccinated?
Answer: You need to get it blood tested to determine its status. Your vet will advise you further.
Question: My horse is an imported horse who had an EI vaccination before arriving in Australia. Do I need to have an additional vaccination?
Answer: Please refer to your vet and/or NSW DPI for clarification.
Question: Who do I get the vaccination from? Can the RAS help?
Answer: It is the responsibility of all horse exhibitors to arrange to have their horses vaccinated and microchipped. You will need to meet these costs entirely. The RAS is unable to assist in this. Please consult your vet, and if he/she is uncertain as to where to access the vaccine, refer to the NSW DPI website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
Question: How soon should I arrange vaccination?
Answer: You will need to blood test to prove immunity and results of that test must be sent to the RAS by 9 February. Therefore the sooner you can arrange vaccination the better. However NO exemption or extension will be provided to anyone, who for any reason is unable to have their horses vaccinated within this time frame.
OTHER MATTERS
Question: How do I get a travel permit?
Answer: Refer to the NSW DPI website, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, as the protocols for travel will be updated on a regular basis.
Question: I need to submit payment in early January. If at that date I don’t know whether I can get my horse vaccinated or whether it has immunity, can I get a refund?
Answer: You will need to meet the payment deadline so we can allocate stables. However, if you discover after payment that you are unable to satisfy bio-security entry criteria, you will be eligible to apply for a part refund up until 15 February. Refund requests after that date will not be considered.
Question: I live outside the Purple Zone. How do I get to the Show?
Answer: Your relevant State Authority makes decisions about stock movements. You will need to check with them as to the whether you will be able to travel to the Show and return home. It is your responsibility to ensure you have all the appropriate travel documents and bio-security regulations applying in your State.
Question: What happens if there is an EI outbreak at the Show?
Answer: The risk of an outbreak at Sydney Royal is very minimal. However, if such an incident were to occur, affected animals would not be allowed to move out of the Purple Zone without a period of quarantine. For resolved horses (ie. those who have contracted the disease and recovered) the period will be shorter than for vaccinated horses. However, the quarantine zone will not be Sydney Showground. All horses will be required to leave Sydney Showground by the end of the Show, irrespective of their health status.
Question: What personal bio-security will be required?
Answer: Refer to the NSW DPI website, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au, which sets out a suggested routine.
Question: So I have to bring my own bio-security equipment?
Answer: A suggested cleaning regime is on the NSW DPI website.
Question: What is needed to have my vehicle decontaminated? Do I have to pay for that?
Answer: The washing facility will be available off site at a place to be advised, close to Sydney Showground. There will be no charge to exhibitors for this.
Question: What extra checks will be made for entry into Sydney Showground?
Answer: You will be provided with information as to how you enter Sydney Showground. It will involve off site checking of paperwork and animals, to ensure the animal is correctly micro-chipped and correctly identified.
Question: Can I or will I be stabled next to horses from another zone?
Answer: Yes you may well be. All horses on Sydney Showground will have the same status – ie they will all be vaccinated or naturally immune and they will all be resident in the Purple Zone. NSW DPI has advised the current Purple Zone boundaries will remain in place until 30 April. Sydney Showground is in the Purple Zone.
Question: Why does my horse have to be microchipped?
Answer: To ensure accurate identification of all horses at Sydney Royal. If a mare has a foal at foot, the foal also needs to be micro-chipped and details of the number supplied at the time of acceptance to the RAS. If the foal is born after the acceptance date, then details of micro-chipping must be supplied as soon as possible after foaling and implanting. Please note, the foal will not be allowed to enter Sydney Showground without a microchip.
Question: I intend to compete at the Show. I have friends who live in Sydney and always come to visit me at the Show. Will they be able to?
Answer: Yes they will, but with some restrictions. We would suggest they follow normal hygiene practices before and after visiting with you.
