AUSTRALIA BAN IRISH AND BRITISH HORSES The Australian government today reacted to the foot and mouth outbreak by placing an indefinite ban on the importation of horses from Ireland and Britain. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service announced the measure, which could potentially hit the practice of shuttling stallions between the northern and southern hemispheres. If the ban is still in place in July, prized stallions such as Danehill would be prevented from covering in the southern hemisphere season. Danehill covered 130 mares at Coolmore`s Hunter Valley Stud in Australia last year where his covering fee was Aus200,000 (approximately stg#70,000). It is estimated that around 50 stallions, including the likes of Grand Lodge and Danzero, could also be adversely affected. The move is not without its critics and Quentin Wallace, chairman of the International Racehorse Transport Company which flies around 80 stallions around the world, called the decision political rather then scientific. He added: 'Horses can`t harbour the disease, they can`t contract it or spread it any more than people can. They are in quarantine for some time where their legs are cleaned, shampooed and disinfected.' Singapore has also banned the importation of horses from the United Kingdom due to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
