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Here is the tale as it developed...

On 25/8/07, the NSW Minister for Primary Industries has called a complete standstill on the movement of horses in NSW.

At 5pm, 25/8/07, the NSW DPI ordered the cancellation of the 2007 Shahzada.

At a meeting held 7pm 25/8/07 at St Albans, entrants for the 2007 Shahzada were advised of the cancellation of the 2007 Shahzada.

Two NSW DPI staff and a NSW Police Officer arrived in St Albans at about 1530 26/8/07 and they issued Movement Permits for the removal of the NSW Shahzada horses from St Albans on 27/8/07.

On 27/8/07 at approximately 7.30am, a Senior Inspector from the DPI arrived in St Albans and advised verbally that all movement permits were revoked. This means that the horses can not be removed from St Albans at the moment. The DPI officer is on site at Shahzada base in St Albans until further notice. The DPI officer is very sympathetic to the welfare of the horses and their owners.

1720, 28/8/07 - The lock down continues, at the moment indefinitely, but the mood of the camp is good. There was concern when a float was towed along the road looking loaded. The contents were found to be firewood !

Message from the DPI Inspector located at the 2007 Shahzada, St Albans.

The Department of Primary Industries is managing the situation at St Albans (Shahzada 2007) where 90 plus horses and approximately 200 people are affected by the current ban on horse movements due to the equine flu outbreak. From the outset, there was no evidence of any horse associated with Shahzada showing symptoms of equine flu.
Unlike other similarly affected events and lock down sites, the St Albans situation is hampered by a lack of basic facilities and communications.
The horses that arrived are in peak fitness and are subject to “tie-up” if they do not get appropriate exercise.
A risk-assessment was conducted to enable appropriate exercise to be undertaken and a short, suitable course identified.
This process was essential for the welfare of the animals in order to prevent a real risk of permanent damage in those horses.
The DPI is providing feed and veterinary support for the horses.
Welfare and sanitary arrangements are in place for those people required to remain at the camp.
Rob Bowman
Senior Inspector, August 29, 2007


Its ironic, all the other hurdles had been overcome... Back in June, there was a massive flood in St Albans. Most of the camp areas used by Shahzada entrants were under water. The water was up to the floor level of the Settlers Arms hotel. This dried out and the river had been given a much needed flush out. Another flood in the St Albans Common made the road impassable on Tuesday 21/8/07, just 6 days before Shahzada was due to start. This dried out enough before the start. Alternate tracks were being planned where the water was too high for the river crossings. The rain in the lead up week made setting up in the Shahzada base more difficult than the usual, but the setting up went ahead on time. Entrants were arriving from Tuesday 21/8/07 and Saturday 25/8/07 was the start of the good weather which persisted for the whole week. The tracks were soft under foot. The setting up problems were overcome, it looked like a record attendance year, what could go wrong ?? Well yes, the Equine Influenza unfortunately provided the answer to this question which wasn't part of the Risk Analysis for how to handle whatever could possibly go wrong.

Endurance riders are masters at making the most of a bad situation as the following update demonstrates...

Update from Camp Shahzada, 1505 30/8/07.
Wednesday (29/8/07) started in with the best news that all the horses in Camp Shahzada have normal temperatures. The TPR team, headed by Tom Perkins Snr, have recorded temps twice a day since the shutdown commenced on Saturday – all listed on a spreadsheet for the DPI inspectors.
The noon update meeting confirmed that the shutdown continues. The situation of the interstate riders was discussed and the various state DPI representatives are being contacted.
The Hawkesbury Council are looking after rubbish removal and Kenny has done his rounds. People are free to head into Windsor to pick up groceries.
In the afternoon we had Mockzada. The horses went out for their 32km loop exercise run but had to present for vetting after the traditional 30mins. With some role reversal arranged, Kym Hagon was Chief Steward, Jeff Bonham, resplendent in a white skirt was Head Vet assisted by Kevin Sayer and Brad Jones.
The efforts people made to ensure they received a Mockzada buckle were unbelievable.
They tried to hide the intravenous drips attached to their horses, horses presented in band aids and bandages to hide serious injuries sustained whilst standing around, bribery in the forms of beer and chocolates were offered to the officials and there were lots of people and horses dressed in South Sydney colours. Horses were vetted out for having one ear shorter then the other, being too clean or not clean enough, tails too short or too long, being the wrong colour or having the wrong coloured feet, looking too fit to continue or too well conditioned. low heart rates, loud gut sounds.
Some people even tried to take advantage of the trot out to escape beyond St Albans’s boundaries but the DPI inspectors were on the job.
The ride review report – Mockzada is first endurance ride in the history of the sport to have a 100% non completion rate. With all the Mockzada buckles still in the box the event will have to be restaged at a later date. Vets and Chief Steward very pleased with the results – hic!!
We sent the DPI inspectors down to the river to sort out a group of louts who were making a nuisance of themselves – have not heard from the louts since – we didn’t ask!!!
The 6.00 pm DPI briefing again brought us no joy with the situation remaining unchanged.
Schnitzel Dinner and Red Faces helped to ease the anxieties for a while. Great entertainment and audience participation from a group of people who are making the very best of an unfortunate situation.
Program for Thursday – DPI briefing at noon followed by the Stockman’s Challenge, a variety of races (human, dogs, equipment) and a Mock Gymkhana.
Congratulations from everyone in Camp Shahzada to the Australian Endurances Squad at the African championships in Namibia – well done!!
Thursday’s events will include a Stockman’s Challenge, a variety of non horse races and a novelty gymkhana.
Remember – keep contacting your local member of parliament if you have relatives or friends at Camp Shahzada. The horses here are clean – the longer we sit here the more chance there is of equine flu getting into St Albans.
Johanna Yule, 2007 Shahzada Publicity


Update from Camp Shahzada, 1210, 31/8/07.

Thursday - 30/8/07 - Another all clear from all the horses who were TPR’d this morning. Spreadsheet getting bigger with the daily records to confirm there is no equine flu amongst the horses locked down at Camp Shahzada, St Albans.

The DPI briefing at noon reiterated the status quo – no horse movement indefinitely. Riders were asked to put in writing their requirements for their horses from Saturday on if they had to head home and leave the horses behind. Not something that is being considered by the riders. Rather than have DPI appointed minders, those here will work out who must go and who can stay so that endurance horses are looked after by people who understand endurance horses. Additional work being put in by DPI for the interstate riders.

So on with the Mockzada events for the day. A day when horses with ability for sporting events could show their stuff. The meeting area, formerly known as the Shahzada vetting area was set up with water containers and a jump or 2. Two teams competed, negotiating the barrels, over the jump, dismount, and fill a cup with water, remount, back through the barrel course carrying the water.

After every rule of the competition was broken, every rider cheated, every rider tried to block their opposite number and the horses started to get jack of the whole game, it was declared a draw.

The horses changed hats to become a guard of honour for the Mock Wedding. With Kym Hagon officiating, the groom Darryl arrived with a noose around his neck and hooked up to a very large fishing pole but elegantly dressed in a formal suit. The bride was walked up the aisle in a strapless gown and riding boots, a bouquet of flowers tied with baling twine and her horse amongst the bridesmaids.

Trevor Knight serenaded the couple and Archie catered for the reception with a 2 tier Pavlova wedding cake and champagne. The couple was noticeably absent from the 6 pm DPI briefing.

The meeting commenced with news that Telstra agreed to upgrade the local mobile telephone service. It will take a couple of days, but we might retrieve some brownie points from the locals over events of the last week as they will benefit in the long term.

The DPI inspectors continued the meeting with discussions on plans for next week when a phone call came through from the DPI stating that if all horses passed vetting on Friday morning permits to travel home would be issued for the NSW riders and for travel to a specified location within NSW for the interstate riders – the cheer would have been heard in Windsor.

Thursday night, prior to the showing of the Shahzada 2006 documentary, the DPI inspectors briefed the audience on the steps needed to be undertaken on Friday morning to fulfil the protocol requirements of the DPI.

Everyone went to bed with the Friday am vetting on their minds – not much sleep

Johanna Yule, 2007 Shahzada.




Update from Camp Shahzada, 1342 31/8/07

We have just received the great news - all the horses have passed the vet checks and the permits are in the process of being issued by the DPI. It will take most of the afternoon but is is happening.

We have some concerns that people travelling with horses will be given a hard time on the road. If you know Shahzada horses will be coming your way, please contact your local radio and television stations and local newspapers to advise that floats with permission to do so will be coming through.

If the media can make announcements it might make the trip home more comfortable.

Johanna, Shahzada 2007

Sunday 2/9/07, - The only equine is a white pony in Peter's yard and there are a number of committee members packing up the vetting area. There is not a Shahzada horse in sight.

Update from Camp Shahzada, 0845 4/9/07

Camp Shahzada was extremely subdued on Friday morning, 31/8/07. The plan had been for a St. Albans Citizenship Ceremony with the Mayor of St Albans Peter McKecknie officiating. But following the enthusiastically received announcement by Greg Glasgow at the Thursday evening DPI briefing that the NSW Shahzada horses would be issued with permits homeward bound provided they were given a clean bill of health on Friday morning, most people remained in their camps packing up and waiting on the vet team to arrive.

Whilst the vet team progressed steadily around the ride base, a team of volunteers accompanied DPI Greg dressed in white plastic overalls to spray all vehicles, horse gear, and metal yards. Decontaminate does not make the best saddle dressing. But if it didn’t move it got sprayed. In the hot sun, those flattering suits were murder.

The vetting took until 1.00pm. Tension in the air – if one horse showed an elevated temperature, who knows how long we would all have to be in Camp Shahzada.

We had also heard that the Wiseman’s Ferry was out of action and prayed it would be running by the time the first float was ready to head out.

Mid morning an ABC Television crew arrived and interviewed riders and crew around the camp. They timed their visit well and were onhand to film the announcement by DPI Rob that all checks were done, all horses were clean and we were going home - yah!!! Throughout the afternoon the phone ran hot with radio stations wanting to interview their local riders. All positive publicity for endurance riding.

The permits would take all afternoon to issue – paperwork, triple copies, faxes and emails, phone calls for the next 5 hours. The meeting area, formerly the Shahzada vetting area, now became the permit waiting area. Biscuits, snakes and stories were passed around. As each permit was issued there were heartfelt cheers for the rider, crew and horse as their vehicle zoomed out of town – couldn’t risk word coming from DPI headquarters as it did on Sunday that the permits had been revoked.

We made signs “DPI Approved” on A4 paper with letters as large as the tiny portable printer could cope with. These were placed on the back and sides of the float and around the vehicles to dissuade the public from harassing our already stressed inmates. The police would still pull the vehicles over to inspect permits – that was their job.

A media alert was issued to the ABC and commercial networks, AussieEndurance and anyone else we had contact details for requesting an announcement be made about DPI approved floats heading out. Hopefully this helped prevent any harassment. Mind you, I would think twice about giving some of our riders any grief.

The interstate riders still had permit problems – most headed out on Friday afternoon bound for NSW endurance riders’ properties where their horses would remain until the ban is lifted. The rest were released from Camp Shahzada on Saturday morning, 1/9/07. Their Shahzada story will continue for some time.

Now for the clean up. With everyone so keen to be out of there, few people were left for a massive clean up of the ride base. All manure had to be collected and placed in skips for disposal by the DPI. Thanks to those riders who left it in piles. This was a long and smelly job – what do some riders feed their horses!!!

All the rubbish had to be collected. We hope that the Shahzada tradition will continue at St Albans so the locals would be given no cause for comeback re the way the ride base was left.

Tents, PA systems and speakers to be dismantled, office stuff, water troughs and signs to be stowed away. The accounts, ride paperwork and records taken home to be finished. Ironically the track markers had to be removed.

What happened to my holiday? I didn’t get to ride. I spent it with a group of people who remained first and foremost concerned for the welfare of their horses, made the very best of a stressful, tense and uncertain situation, had fun where there could have been just disappointment, cooperated with all the DPI requirements, assisted the committee, volunteered for camp tasks, geed each other up, shared and offered whatever was needed. With a few exceptions, Camp Shahzada inmates accepted that the DPI inspectors and the committee were doing whatever was needed doing to get them out of there.

We were lucky that DPI Greg and DPI Rob were prepared to go into battle for us. Other horse enthusiasts think endurance riders are a little obsessed with TPRing. Thankfully a few wise endurance people started TPRing horses from Friday as they arrived at St Albans. The temperature chart showing the week’s twice daily temp records for every horse that made it to the ride base was a very big factor in getting us out of there.

Another major factor was a young man who took reluctantly took on the role of Shahzada Committee President 2 years ago and this year diplomatically managed the numerous facets of Shahzada 2007 week. Neil Clarkson smoothed over many a tense moment, got the DPI inspectors on our side from the outset, quietly handled various hiccups, kept the committee focused and ensured the Camp Shahzada inmates were informed, entertained and finally out.

With the equine flu spreading all around us, we may not have any rides for the rest of the year. I hope your horses stay healthy and are able to back out there soon. Shahzada 2008 – as the ever optimistic Sue Todd would say - bring it on.

Johanna Yule, Shahzada 2007 Publicity

click for How Shahzada 2007 was shaping up before the Equine Influenza