Nicole Magoffin and Jaybee Anzac (Zac), photo taken a few weeks ago at the
2007 Qld Festival of Dressage

WOW this is amazing....I am finally out of Warwick and have rushed home to see my kids. They look like they have grown up already..how long has it been???Well where to begin.

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 "Morgan Park Town" and I can tell you with the control of rubbish, manure and anything lying around I am sure we would win any "Tidy Town " prize.

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. Warren from Furneys worked so hard on Sunday to get feed in for everyone and he did an amazing job and still had a sense of humour !! I would also like to thank Angela from Mitavite (my amazing sponsors) as she immediately offered to feed Zac and Milo for the duration of our stay, so from both Nicoles thank you so much, it was a great relief and one less stress for us.

I will list what the government has agreed to pay:
All Vetinary expenses
All feed
All farrier
All stabling and sawdust
All food and drink for everyone staying there, this includes three meals a day, and snacks.

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.

Nicole and Jaybee Anzac winning the Grand Prix at the 2007 Great SE Qld Dressage Championships

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 Milo have rounded tummies and we need to be careful they aren't eating too much so we are trying to spread little feeds out often. I then hang out with my new found eventing friends, we play some games, good old Monopoly, cards and a bit of soccer. 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 Milo started to cough and surley enough this morning he had a temp of 39.8. Milo is sick and his best buddy Zac is following closley behind, he too stated to cough this afternoon....bugger!! well sort of as we can't start our 30 day count until the last horse contracts the disease... so we all have mixed feelings about our horses getting sick.

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 Milo and Zac make a speedy recovery and will soon be home with their families. Tracy

Nicoles' First Report

Nicole Tough's Update 28 August

Nicole Magoffin Media Release