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Life inside Warwick's Isolation Compound by Nicole Tough

Life Inside Warwick's Equestrian Triequathon Isolation Compound
By Nicole Tough
Preface by Tracy Mayhew, Cyberhorse Qld Rep

I was attending the Warwick Horse Trial's FEI Eventing World Cup Qualifier over the weekend in order to report on the event for Cyberhorse readers when the news hit on Sunday morning that the event had to be cancelled owing to the outbreak of Equine Influenza (EI).

It goes without saying that the announcement of the virus was, and is, devastating to horse owners all around Australia, and my sympathies also go to the organisers of this prestigious event - they had put so much hard work into the event, it's a double whammy for them.

As I had parked my car outside the 'compound' on Sunday morning after the decision to cancel the event had been announced, after having my shoes and hands disinfected, was able to leave the compound to return home. I offered some 'locals' a ride home but they all declined in order to stay with their horses (understandably).

One of those there was my good friend and trainer, Nicole Tough who, along with Nicole Magoffin were there to give a dressage demonstration on Saturday. As the directive is "no horses to travel", they are still at Morgan Park, Warwick and Nic has very kindly written a 'diarised' insider's view of what she's experienced there so far:


Nicole Tough - the 'mover & shaker' behind the recently held Qld Festival of Dressage

Saturday, 24th August; Day 1 -

Nicole Magoffin and Nicole Tough (me) arrive in Warwick to do the Test Ride for the 2 and 3-Star events, and performed a Pas de Deux Dressage Demonstration to the Blues Brothers music 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 Australia here!! Julian Willmore, Dick Wright, Nathan Anthony and Janine Dwyer. If horses are going to get sick, here's not a bad place to do it.....

9am: The World Cup CIC and the entire event is cancelled and all horses are asked to return to the stables immediately.

The Warwick Horse Trials club keep us updated with regular de-briefing's, and at this stage there are more questions than answers. However, the blood tests on the 6 sick horses have so far tested positive to the Influenza Disease. 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 mad 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. Furthermore - Angela from Mitavite organised heaps of Mitavite feed for Nicole and myself (and I'm not even sponsored by them!!) Thankyou Mitavite! and Don Campbell from HyGain Feeds generously gave me 4 bags of Showtorque for Milo! Thankyou Hygain!!

Other than the panic for feed, 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 warwick shut down!

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 rota system to look after the horses whose owners had to leave. Nicole Magoffin, her student Kyla Reid (who was coming 2nd in the event before it was cancelled), and myself have set up our own rota system, taking the horses temperatures 3 times a day and recording them ourselves.

The TV reception is getting marginally better, but we are missing Australian Idol!

Keep you posted....

Hanging in there! (just)....Nic

I'd like to thank Nic for taking the time for giving us a 'first hand' insight as to what's been happening out at Warwick. As soon as I hear more, I'll be sure to upload it here on The Virtual Equestrian. Tracy

Nicole Tough's Update 28 August

Nicole Magoffin's Update 29 August

Update - Day 8 from 'Morgan Park Town'

Update - Day 11 from 'Morgan Park Town'

Pictorial of "Morgan Park Town", Warwick Quarantine

Update - 5 September

Update - Day 13 from 'Morgan Park Town'

Update - Day 14 from 'Morgan Park Town

Update - 11 September

Update - Only 21 days to go (hopefully)!

Update - 14 September

Update - 17 September

Update - 19 September in 'Morgan Park Town'

Update - 23 September

Update - 25 September: "We're Coming Home!!"

Update - 28 September: Bad News

Update - 30 September

Final Report from the 2 Nicoles - Home at Last!

Photos from Morgan Park Town

Nicole Tough Media Release

 

29 March 2024
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