Quest's Equine Flood Assistance Appeal has raised in excess of $26,000, which has far exceeded our initial expectations. The Quest committee would like to thank all of our generous donors for their extremely kind support. Each and every donation has contributed to achieving a better outcome during this desperate time for many horses. All funds raised in this appeal have been, and will be directed to providing assistance for the welfare of flood affected equines.
Due to the unforeseen circumstances arising from the recent flooding in Victoria, whereby Quest itself has now been impacted by the flooding and has lost its own stores of hay, we have now ceased accepting donations for our 'Equine Flood Assistance Appeal'. We will of course continue to administer our Equine Flood Relief Appeal funds to best effect, and will continue our presence and support for flood affected equines and their owners until appeal funds have been exhausted.
Total Donations to Equine Assistance Appeal: $26,925.44
This is an amazing effort from the equine community, particularly considering that we needed to close Quest's appeal far earlier than we had anticipated due to the organisation ultimately being significantly impacted by the Victorian floods itself.
Thank you to all who so readily gave towards this appeal, enabling Quest to respond in a very timely manner to the immediate urgent needs of flood affected horses and their owners. Close to $21,000 of appeal funds have already been utilised for their intended purpose, and Quest continues to maintain a presence in flood affected communities.
Quest has made contact with local Pony Clubs in flood affected areas, in addition to various state and national equestrian bodies, local veterinarians, and animal welfare agencies in an effort to identify any further horse owners in need of assistance.
CONFIRMED EXPENDITURE TO DATE
McIntyre Centre
Hay
600.00
C Burrows
Hay
1320.00
C & J Pollock
Hay
2267.10
C Burrows
Hay
5280.00
University of Qld. Equine Hospital
Veterinary Care
5521.52
Campbell Veterinary Services
Veterinary Care
275.45
Condoluci Produce
Hay
3520.00
Campbell Veterinary Services
Veterinary Care
132.00
Australia Post
Postage of Flood Appeal Receipts
107.40
N Frank
Materials for Flood Appeal Collection Tins
289.59
ZF Transport
Hay Cartage
759.00
M Benns
Hay
875.00
Sincere thanks toHorselandfor meeting the costs of the transport of one load of hay from Vic. to Qld.!
All other supplies that Quest has distributed to date have been made possible with the support of contributing business' and partners, (some of whom are listed in the column at left), and at no cost to donors. These supplies include, but are not limited to: Rugs, Halters, Leads, Buckets, Grooming Equipment, Insecticidal Sprays, Wormers, Wound Sprays & Creams, Herbal Healing Creams & Tonics, Feed Bins, Anti-Fungal Washes, Fly Veils, Bandages, Fencing Supplies.
Over the past two months Quest has continued to provide assistance to flood affected horse owners in South East Queensland. 750 bales of hay purchased in Qld., which was transported to Gatton, have now been kindly distributed to many horse owners by Hoofs2010 volunteers. The operation to distribute hay from the Tenthill Produce facility had slowly been winding down over the past few months, and has now ceased. We hope that with the distribution of over 1500 bales of hay, Quest has made a positive difference in alleviating some of the personal hardship faced by many horse owners severely impacted by the devastating floods. Most horse owners in this area have now sourced alternate feed supplies and have had time to make suitable arrangements to cater for the future welfare of their horses.
To date, Quest has assisted over 50 horse owners in Queensland with the provision of feed, medical supplies and essential equine related equipment. Many of these owners had large numbers of horses. Volunteers dealing directly with flood victims estimate that Quest has assisted somewhere in the vicinity of 400 Queensland horses.
Once again, Quest would like to convey our sincere appreciation to all of our generous donors for their support of this appeal, and also to our wonderful Queensland volunteers who gave so much to assist the equine community in their time of need. In particular, Jenelle Gills and Rebecca Thompson, (who though flood affected herself, made a super-human effort towards assisting others).
Quest submitted its application to fundraise for this appeal immediately upon realising the extent of the Queensland flooding and the inevitable consequences. For this reason, the legal terms of our fundraising approval were limited to what appeared to be the affected area at the time, Queensland. As we all know now, in the weeks following the Queensland devastation, Victoria also fell victim to extensive and catastrophic flooding. Quest has provided assistance to flood affected horse owners in the state of Victoria also, but has/is funding this assistance from Quest general funds, along with a kind donation made to Quest by the RASV for the express purpose of assisting Victorian flood affected equine owners. Thank you so much to all who contributed to the RASV collection! Quest general funds are made up solely by donations and administered by volunteers, therefore our thanks must be extended to include all of those who have supported Quest in the past, and do so currently. Not forgetting our Nicole, who made up 50+ beautiful equine flood assistance appeal tins in record time!
Thanks also to Horseland, who have been very supportive of Quest's appeal, and kindly distributed donation collection tins to all of their stores. Horseland also made very generous donations of much needed products and equipment directly to equine owners in flood affected communities local to specific stores.
We have received some lovely letters of thanks from individuals, which we would so much love to share with donors in order to give them a sense of the positive outcomes that their generosity achieved. We will look at editing some of these letters maybe in a manner that completely protects and respects the privacy of senders in order that we can do so.
We hope that all donors feel that their kind contributions have been administered wisely and transparently, and that each donor has an an understanding of the extent to which their generosity has translated to direct assistance.
Our sincere thanks to the Bendigo Pony Club for their recent significant donation of $1691, which was raised at a Horse Trials Clinic organised by the Club, funds to be donated to Equine Flood Relief in Queensland. What an amazing effort!
Thanks must also go to the many participants, riders attending from ten different Pony Clubs across Victoria. Well done, and thank you to all organisers and riders!
3* Eventer Emma Scott instructs Bendigo Pony Club member Melissa Harvey through the water jump:
Another load of Quest hay, purchased in Queensland by Quest, with thanks to our generous donors, headed for distribution to flood affected horses and their owners.
This hay is kindly being distributed to individuals on behalf of Quest by the fabulous 'Hoofs2010' team at their Gatton warehouse.
Thank you so much to the 'Burrum District Active Riders' for their recent donation of funds raised through a fundraising sports day organised by the group. Judging by the photos on their Facebook page, it was a great fun day and well attended, despite the rain! You can visit their album of pics from the day here. Just lovely to see so many supporting the day in aid of flood affected horses and their owners. Thank you so much to all involved!
Thanks also to the Miniature Horse Association of Australia - WA Branch, who have also forwarded a generous contribution towards the Equine Assistance Appeal. From one small volunteer run organisation to another..thank you, we know how hard funds are to come by, and we appreciate your kind gesture very much.
To the anonymous donor of $1000 towards our Appeal, deposited into the Quest bank account...please let us know who you are! We would really like to thank you, acknowledge your kindness, and of course...send you a receipt!
As per our update of Mon. 31st. of Jan, we did remove our Equine Flood Assistance Appeal 'Donate' button, and explained our reasons for ceasing to accept donations. However, we are still active in Queensland and our ladies up there are still doing a fabulous job of distribution Quest hay and assisting horse owners.The Appeal has hay stores in Walloon and Oakey from which to distribute, and also stores in Victoria for distribution in this state.
All the while that there remains funds in the Appeal account, we will continue to provide whatever support we can and to put those donations to best use.
Quest has not escaped the fall-out of the flooding here in northern Victoria. Although the main shelter itself did not sustain flood damage, our sister property and 'Sanctuary', which is located outside of Kerang, was entirely submerged. The horses and cattle on that property have been relocated, and we have confirmation today from committee member Tony Di Grande that all of the hay sheds were inundated and that all of the hay is lost. This hay included Quest allocated hay. The value of these Quest hay stores was $5000. This has placed Quest in rather a critical situation as we have horses in care and undergoing rehabilitation, and we have needed to urgently replace these hay stores.
We have been lucky enough to find 1000 bales located not too far from the Quest Shelter, and have purchased this hay with Quest general funds. This is a huge relief to us, but this unanticipated expense has completely depleted Quest's own bank balance. For this reason, we will have to direct some of our focus and time towards the Quest organisation itself, undertake some fundraising, and work towards ensuring Quest's own financial stability and capacity to fulfill its own responsibilities and commitments in relation to its equine welfare work. Throughout the period of our Equine Flood Assistance Appeal all donations made to Quest have been allocated to our flood related appeal. We are exceptionally grateful for the generosity of many, which has enabled Quest to be a small part of the huge relief and recovery effort being undertaken by so many.
As is always the case, we are still available to anyone who has a problem/issue with their horse/s which could impact upon this/her welfare and well-being, whatever their location. We will however be unable to devote the degree of time specifically to the appeal that we have been maintaining over past weeks. Without feed and funds, Quest can simply not maintain its core operations and provide the services and options that it ordinarily does for horses and/or owners needing assistance, and this must necessarily be the committee's priority. We will of course continue to monitor the situation in both Victoria and Queensland, and to provide any help that our time and limited funds allow.
A few photos below from our ladies up north in Queensland:
At left, some gorgeous gift hampers for flood affected horse owners, put together by Jenelle using the kind donations sent by some of our wonderful Quest forum members. Only token gifts, but hopefully enough to raise a smile.
The trailer load of donated hay pictured above was bound for this property. The images show this family's shed and round yard during the flooding, and the spot where they had been, after the waters had subsided. Completely swept away!
Some of the pictures taken by Jenelle near her property. If you enlarge the photo on the right by clicking on it you will notice the grass stuck in the tree. This will give you some idea as to just how high the waters were in some areas.
Sadly, there are many horses, ponies, and donkeys whose quality of life has become compromised as a result of the recent flooding, through injuries sustained, the development of various health conditions, or simply due to the inability of many owners to adequately house, feed and care for their horses. It is inevitable in some cases that euthanasia of the animal will be the only humane option for owners to take.
Quest is an organisation comprised of horse lovers, dedicated to promoting and advocating for the welfare of equines to live safe and comfortable lives. As part of that commitment we also believe it is crucial that equines be afforded the same dignity, comfort and respect when ending their life.
One of the services that Quest provides is to fund the humane euthanasia of equines in circumstances where euthanasia has been recommended by a Vet, and the owner is struggling to cover these expenses.
Quest's euthanasia grant payment will be made directly to the attending Vet.
Please
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if we can be of assistance in this regard.
"The flooding in Queensland over the past month has been on an unimaginable scale, with two-thirds of the state being swamped by water. With towns, farmland and major cities all affected, the impact upon this great state has been devastating, not least because of the terrible loss of human life and the destruction of homes, businesses and prime agricultural land. Sadly, the floods have also struck hard in the equestrian community, with many people not only losing their livelihoods but also their friends - many hundreds of horses are still unaccounted for. In this video Hamish Cargill and David Cameron visit the heart of horse country in Queensland, an area which was struck by some of the most serious flooding. Nothing prepared them for what they would encounter, and while shocked by what they saw they were also in awe of some amazing people and their stories."
In regards to a rumour circulating that it is not permissible to move Victorian hay into Queensland.
There are stipulations that need to be observed, and these details can be obtained from the DPI. It is however not a problem at all to do so. Regulations regarding this process are constantly under review and have been changing on a weekly basis, so please do research the latest available information prior to arranging to move hay from Vic. to Qld. Currently there are areas or restricted zones within Victoria from which hay cannot be sourced for transport to other areas. Quest's hay has not been sourced from any of these restricted/control zones, and therefore poses no risk from a bio-security perspective.
Consultation has taken place, and will take place with the Department of Primary Industry bodies in both Queensland and Victoria prior to the transportation of any hay from Victoria to Queensland as part of Quest's flood relief aid to Queensland horse owners.
Hay that was landed in Queensland yesterday is available to flood affected horses owners.
'Flood effected' can be any of the following; water through home, water through workplace meaning you are unable to work, flood water contaminated paddocks/ fences washed away, horses needing to be stabled due to injuries sustained in flood, flood water through feed shed destroying all existing feed.
This hay is provided free of charge by Quest donors, and has been trucked up from Victoria as a stepping stone to help people whilst they try to get back on their feet. Efforts need to be made by horse owners to source hay suppliers for the future. We understand that the hay situation will become dire for some over the coming winter. Please be practical when planning for the future. In some circumstances owners may need to consider de-stocking/down-sizing.
This load is stored on private property in the Walloon area. People who feel their circumstances fit any of the above criteria are welcome to call Rebecca to discuss, and to arrange collection: 0411 864 374.
Rebecca will make herself available between 9-10 am, and 4-6 pm each day for collections.
When collecting hay you will need to complete a declaration for our records.
* Please look out for those around you, and if you become aware of a fellow horse owner who needs this assistance, please relay this information.
Unfortunately there are many reports of unscrupulous individuals taking advantage of the various relief available. Be warned that Bek has an excellent bs radar, and she will not tolerate claims from those who do not fit the above criteria, and who aim to take hay for themselves that needs to go to the many who are seriously struggling to maintain their horse's well-being.
Thank you to those who assisted with the unloading and stacking!
* 100% OF THE PROCEEDS OF THIS AUCTION PLEDGED TO THE EQUINE RELIEF EFFORT *
$300 worth of SC Natural Horse Products pack includes:
500mls Deluxe coats shampoo - a luscious sulpahte and paraben free shampoo with aloe vera juice and essential oils. This shampoo thoroughly cleans the horse while being relaxing for the muscles, the mind and is very good for the skin; can be used as a temporary relief for itch.
500mls Deluxe coats spray - this all natural spray has a gentle, low pressure nozzle which many horses prefer. It gives a quick surface clean to the coat, is nourishing and hydrating for the coat and is also great to use after a bath
250mls Muscle massage oil - horses LOVE this oil! You don't have to be a masseuse to be able to use this oil, simple rub the oil on sore muscles to provide relief. Your horse doesn't have to be sore to benefit from this oil as it gently loosens muscles, releases toxin build up and is extremely relaxing. Use before work to relax muscles and therefore create a nice muscular topline with correct work.
250mls Soles and sores spray- this spray also has a low pressure nozzle. It can be used to hydrate dry brittle hooves, aid in the treatment of seedy toe or a hoof abscess and can also be used as a wound cleansing spray. It has a mild antiseptic action and is made on aloe vera juice, floral waters and essential oils.
250ml pot of Green honey blend - this cream can be used on all horses to aid in wound healing. It is made on a cream and aloe vera gel base with green tea extract and honeysuckle flower powder
250ml pot Itchy bites blend - this blend is to soothe dry itchy and inflammed skin. From chronic itch to an insect bite, this blend provides relief. Made on a cream and aloe vera gel base, essential oils are added to soothe the skin
250ml pot SC body blend - this blend is also made on cream and aloe vera and can be used on injuries affecting the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. It also provides relief from arthritis. This blend helps to repair injuries while releasing toxins and providing pain relief and a reduction in inflammation.
100ml pot Hair regrowth cream - this ever popular cream rapidly increases the rate of hair growth. Perfect to use on rug rubs, healed wounds that need hair growth, rubbed out manes and tails.
12mls calming oil - this oil can relax and calm a nervous, stressed or traumatized horse.
12mls lolly's oil - this oil is for horses that suffer mass anxiety
Calming oil rollette - a handy pocket sized rollette for you! This rollette can help with insomnia and anxiety.
$20 gift voucher redeemable at www.scnaturalhorse.com.au
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 18:42 |
"Quest is endeavouring to reach as many flood affected equine owners as possible in order to provide them assistance and aid for the welfare of their horses. We feel it very important that peer equine welfare organisations have a reciprocal relationship in order to optimise resources needed to assist flood affected owners. This will better enable the distribution of adequate amounts feed and other essential supplies to owners who are struggling to provide for their horses/ponies or donkeys. Your link has been added to the Quest website and we would be most appreciative if you could add the Quest link and text above to the Project Hope website as soon as possible. The dissemination of contact details of charitable organisations providing assistance to flood affected communities is an important service facilitated by the internet."
It is a constant frustration to Quest that there seems to be such reluctance amongst peer equine welfare organisations to work together. It seems very obvious to us that the capacity for all of us to provide better and more extensive assistance would be increased significantly if all organisations maintained a line of communication, and supported each other.
Above is a request made, which has been flatly refused, for no reason that we can fathom will be of any benefit to horses and owners in need.
...and in plain English...
Come on people, let's remember what we all say we're here for and leave the politics out of it !
"Dream's surgery went well today. We had donor blood available should she need a transfusion, however she remained stable under anaesthesia and did not require such intervention. The fistula over her withers contained a large amount of necrotic material that was removed, which included some bone as an abcess had extended into the dorsal aspect of one of the thoracic vertebrae. She had an excellent recovery from anaesthesia. She will remain on broad spectrum antibiotics (penicillin & gentamicin) and anti-inflammatories (phenylbutazone)."
This was major surgery. In the interests of those with sensitive stomachs, the intra-operative pics have not been posted.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:20 |
For those who have been following Tilly's progress, here is an update photo from the UQ Equine Hospital. What an incredible improvement already! Thank you to all at the University of Queensland Equine Hospital for the excellent care being provided.
Two days ago Tilly, who we are told is actually named 'Mishka', was reunited with her owner.
Mishka's owner visited the Hospital looking for her horse, and found her there safe and sound and doing well.
We would like donors to understand that without the financial backing they have provided to Quest, we would have been in no position to agree to have this mare transported out of the Grantham area into specialist care, and she would still be in the very compromised circumstances in which she was in.
The fact that she was moved to the Equine Hospital has also enabled her owner to find her.
So thank you again, to all those who have contributed to this great outcome :)
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:19 |
Another big day for Quest's flood relief effort yesterday. Dream had her surgery at the UQ Equine Hospital, (news on that soon), and a truck off to Queensland. This truck is our 'Horseland Truck'! The amazing team at Horseland have sponsored the freight costs for this particular load of hay, a significant expense! All hay was purchased by Quest at a very good price on behalf of our appeal donors.
Thanks guys!
Victorian hay headed for our flood affected fellow horse owners and their horses in Queensland:
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:19 |
Just an idea for the clubs out there...maybe you could consider adopting a 'sister club' from within the flood zone? So many great clubs have lost all of their infrastructure and equipment, not to mention the destruction of their grounds. and the massive clean-up they now face. Many club members in some areas will have also lost their horse/pony.
Maybe identify a flood affected club, make contact, and propose this idea to them. Your club could then conduct fundraising for their 'sister club', collect donations for them of replacement items, and generally support them in any way that you are able.
We are MORE than happy to promote any fundraising initiatives that clubs undertake for their 'sister clubs', and would be thrilled to hear any news of any clubs who do adopt a sister club to support.
Quest uses two privately owned properties in it's work with horses it takes into care, both of them are in Victoria. One small property, owned by our President, and another large cattle/hay growing property, owned by another committee member. Generally speaking, all horses go to the small property initially, for assessment and intensive care. We use the large property, which we call our 'Sanctuary', as a home for rehabilitated horses who we have deemed not suitable for re-homing, (usually for behavioural /safety reasons), and we also often take horses there for a while if they need some 'time out' after their rehabilitation... time to just 'be a horse' and clear their heads.
The Sanctuary truly is a lovely place to be, and for some reason, all horses just blossom there, a real horsey heaven. Many of our now re-homed horses and ponies have enjoyed good time out there prior to being re-homed...these include Buttons, Merlin, Pepper, Pearl, Roycene, Sammy, Bella, Dawn, and Betty. Currently Lilly, Bonny, Tipsy Blue, and Miracle are living there.
This is the Sanctuary as we know and love it:
and this is the Sanctuary now...under that lake on the outskirts of the town you see in the middle :(
Our committee member Tony has been out there isolated at the Sanctuary for five days now, trying to keep the horses and his cattle safe. The last call we had from him (2 days ago), he said that he had put the horses and cattle on the highway, as 500 of the 600 acres was waist deep in water and rising. We know he will stay safe, but are very worried about the animals. The SES have tried to reach him to check on him and the animals, but have found it impossible. Apparently the waters in Kerang are now receding, so we are hoping to hear from him very soon.
Victoria's flooding has been of a different nature to Queensands, but it sure is causing vast devastation in and around so many rural towns, and so much farmland.
We now know names for mum and bub, 'Dream' and 'Puzzle'.
News from Dream and Puzzle's owner, who visited them at the Equine Hospital today:
"Have just come from Dream and Puzzle, and things are oh so much worse. She has actually broken 2 bones in her wither. The infection is so bad from these conditions that they have make an incision over a foot long to clean it and remove the excess tissue and puss. I watched the scan on her neck yesterday. The swelling and redness in Puzzle's legs are subsiding lovely, due to being out of the water. A little worse for wear but doing good. A lot of baldy spots though. After the scan yesterday she did take a turn, so they have sedated her today to make her more comfortable. The operation is for first thing in the morning. I am advised not to go to her tomorrow as she will look pretty bad. I will never be able to express my gratitude enough for what you all are doing. We have lost so much throughout this. The things we lost can eventually be replaced but she can't. Will keep in touch.
Thank you again"
Here are some photos sent to us by Dream and Puzzle's owner, of her property during the flooding:
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:16 |
Have been sitting here struggling with how to present this update of the mare and foal who we have had moved to the Equine Hospital, and whose treatment and surgery we have taken responsibility for. The initial information we gave re mum and bub can be found here.
We received photos this evening of the mare and foal at their home yesterday, prior to them being transported to the equine hospital.
(You can click on images to enlarge).
Photos receoved today from the Vet Hospital.
We thank god, and our donors, that we were in a position to remove this mare and foal from their circumstances for care.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:16 |
Where ever possible, PLEASE provide fresh uncontaminated water for equines who are currently contained in areas where they have access to flood waters. There is a MAJOR infection threat from bacteria carried in the contaminated flood waters. The major issue is fecal contamination of flood water from sewage or farm land ... it has all the normal bugs that sit in sewage - E.coli and salmonella. Salmonella bacteria are extremely common, widespread and long-lasting. Laboratory samples of salmonella in dried feces have survived as long as six years.
Sources of Salmonella Infection:
Excretions from either sick or infected, but apparently clinically healthy people and animals.
Polluted surface water and standing water.
A major contributor to infection is stress. A non-stressed horse can ingest the bacteria but suffer no ill effects, (other than becoming a shedder to other animals), while horses who have undergone the recent flood event are typically suffering various ailments /conditions. and their health is already compromised, contributing to stress levels.
Salmonella Symptoms:
Symptoms include diarrhea, elevated temperature, loss of appetite, colic and depression. A horse may not have all symptoms but a combination of them. Colic with elevated temperature is not typical colic but a possible salmonella infection. Have your vet send several manure samples for a culture as one sample alone may not reveal the infection.
Salmonella Treatment:
It is important to treat salmonella right away with veterinary assistance, as the toxins from the bacteria can cause far worse problems, such as laminitis and septicemia (overall infection of the body that can be fatal). If caught early, mild cases of salmonella should be fairly easy to treat. Isolation in a regularly disinfected stall, rest, relief from stress, and plenty of water and loose minerals are typical treatments. Severe cases of diarrhea require more monitoring, such as replacement of fluids through IV and medication.
Infection usually lasts 7-10 days, but will shed in the infected animal's manure for months afterward. Repeated feces testing will let you know when the animal is no longer shedding. Strenuous disinfecting and complete isolation will be necessary to prevent the spread of the bacteria to other healthy animals, including yourself. Rubber gloves, separate feed/water tubs, separate manure forks, and other strict hygiene methods will need to be observed. After disinfecting, realise that any porous surface (such as wood or concrete) can still harbor these resistant bacteria, so sealant or new coats of paint are a good idea.
Note- While many disinfect with a 10% bleach solution, bleach is not effective on organic surfaces.
Salmonella Prevention:
Unfortunately, there is no vaccination for salmonella. Guarding against infection is the only alternative.
Here are some tips for preventing salmonella under normal conditions:
Keep feed bins securely covered.
Use fresh, potable drinking water.
Regularly clean feeding bins & stall areas.
Regularly clean overhead beams, fans & lights.
Do not place water or feed tubs under areas where birds roost.
Remove manure frequently, at least daily.
Have a manure control plan that does not include spreading it on pasture.
Isolate any new animals on a non-dirt floor (dirt cannot be disinfected) and monitor their temperature for two weeks.
Wash hands and change shoes & clothes after visiting other areas.
Salmonella infections are 'zoonotic' which means that they can be transmitted by humans to animals and vice versa.
Large amounts of pooled water has also prompted a surge in mosquito numbers, and so the transmission of mosquito-borne disease, particularly Ross River virus.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:15 |
Quick note re current donations:
All donations that have, and are being made since the launch of our Equine Flood Assistance Appeal are being allocated to that appeal.
If you are making/would like to make a donation into Quest's general funds, please do note this in the 'Comments' area provided during the PayPal transaction.
The only exception to this arrangement is 'Horse Sponsorship' payments, which have been intended by sponsors to be allocated towards the care of their sponsored horse.
Our sincere thanks to all who have partnered with us in this effort by contributing to the Appeal. Please tell your friends!
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:13 |
This mare and foal come from a property which had the wall of water travel through it, and was severely impacted. As with many flood affected properties in Sth. East Queensland, it remains water-logged due to the storms which are repeatedly travelling through.
This mare suffered a ruptured bursae from a fall during the December floods. This injury was being treated, however the January floods had prevented the attending Veterinarian to continue to review her progress, as access to the property has been impossible.
Yesterday the Vet, along with her Vet Nurse, waded through thigh deep water for 1 km in order to check on the mare. What she found was a dramatic deterioration in the mare's condition. The Vet informs us that the mare had lost 50% of her body weight and that she had a chronic fistula on her withers that was in need of emergency treatment that could not be performed on-site. Quest was contacted, and of course we agreed to facilitate the care that she and her foal desperately need.
Thanks to Quest Rep. in the area Bek, and a volunteer, a float was arranged. The Vet walked the mare and foal through the water, they were loaded, and straight off to the Equine Hospital. Thank you to Warren for his kind offer of transport!
Upon arrival at the Clinic, the mare was given IV fluids to address severe dehydration, and an x-ray was performed. The x-ray revealed that one wing of a vertebrae in her wither is necrosed, and surgery was scheduled for today.
Short-hand report from the Vet yesterday:
12 yo Thoroughbred mare with 1 month old Paint foal at foot.
Mare has fistula on wither – had been treated but has not been reviewed since property suffered severe and extensive flood damage/access problems.
Reviewed today and mare has halved her body weight.
Requires urgent surgical intervention.
Prognosis very good – thinks that mare will be fine post-op.
Foal:
Foal still nursing but in bad shape.
Legs "red raw and swollen".
Sunburned over nose.
Lethargic
Worst case scenario = 1 month at Equine Hosp.
Property had been flood affected in December and now has severe damage with no vehicle access at all for 1km. 3 meter drop in parts. Vet had to wade through water to get to mare and foal. Nil fencing/nil mains power/woman running on generator power/4 children.
Sincere thanks and gratitude from all at Quest to Vet Louise Cosgrove, who truly does go above and beyond.
Louise is happy to take the mare and foal back to her property and continue their care/treatment as soon as it is safe for them to leave the Equine Hospital. She has offered to do this free of charge as she has medications and supplies that have been donated.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:12 |
A poor little one month old bubba here , who tonight is safe and sound at the Equine Hospital, along with his seriously ill mum. Quest's capacity to assist this pair made entirely possible by the generous donations made to our appeal. Thank you so much to our donors!
We're sure that many of you were as anxious as we were to hear news of Tilly's progress. We were thrilled to received these photos from the good people at the Equine Hospital today. The special girl is looking a LOT more comfortable :) The original post re Tilly and her circumstances can be found here.
(You can click on the images to enlarge)
News soon of another mare, (who also has a foal at foot), who Quest has arranged to have taken to the Equine Hospital for emergency care.
Equine owners in flood affected regions are urged to seek prompt veterinary attention for the assessment of ANY wounds or injuries sustained by horses, ponies or donkeys in the recent flood disaster. The risk of your horse developing a wound infection is very high, even in wounds that appear quite superficial. Your Vet will be able to recommend treatment that will help prevent wound infections. If left untreated, wound infection can quickly lead to sepsis and death of the animal.
The nature of the injuries sustained by many horses during the floods also places them at risk of developing the deadly but preventable infection Tetanus. Even if your horse has no apparent wounds, they remain at risk of developing Tetanus. Please discuss Tetanus prevention with your veterinarian, who will be able to advise you regarding vaccination and prevention of this lethal disease.
Please consult your veterinarian for information and advice regarding ANY concerns you have relating to the health of your horse, pony or donkey.
While you have your Vet out, why not have your horse/s micro-chipped. There are a huge number of lost/found/deceased horses throughout the flood regions. A micro-chipped horse can be reunited with an owner, claims of ownership can be verified, and owners can receive some closure if deceased animals can be identified and traced back to their owners. Micro-chipping is a cheap, simple, pain-free procedure that could one day mean that you can recover a much loved friend.
Wanted to share how proud we are of our wonderful people, and this is prompted by the great photos of Cooper below.
The most valuable, and only! asset that Quest has, is an amazing mix of people. All of whom come from different backgrounds and life circumstances, but all absolutely resolute in their commitment to equine welfare, and boy can this tight knit group put in when it counts!
I have already mentioned some of the people who are working on this relief effort on the update page here, and I realised this evening that amongst us all, we cover nearly every state of Australia.... Beth, our Secretary is in NSW, Jane Di Guiseppe in WA, Jenelle Gills and Bek Thompson in Qld., Nicole Frank in SA, and I'm in Vic.
Below is Nicole's nephew Cooper, who was put to work in the collection tin production line today. For all of us involved with Quest, it tends to become a family affair, even if that just means poor long-suffering partners. Thanks to Tim, Phil, and Gerry on that count!
Keep going Cooper, half way there!
Unable to focus on doing updates tonight as one of our Committee, Tony Di Grande, is currently at his property in Kerang with some of our horses and his cattle. He chose to stay on his property with the animals, and the last contact I had with him was 24 hrs ago, when he told me that 500 of his 600 acres was waist deep in water, including all of his hay sheds. According to the news reports, the flood level has continued to rise over the subsequent 24 hrs, and we are very worried about him and the animals. I have been unable to reach him on the phone all day. The aerial footage on the news shows that there is now no dry land whatsoever in the farm-land surrounding the Kerang township, only rooves and tree tops. He did say that he would put the horses and cattle out on the highway, (which is marginally higher than the property), if the water enveloped the entire farm, but the news footage shows that the highway too is underwater. I notified the SES this evening, and hoping that tomorrow brings good news.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:12 |
Another VERY busy day, and hard to find time to update, but we'd like to share a little good news story with you from today. More news later :)
Introducing Tilly, who for the time being, now has a family with Quest. Tilly was found wandering in the aftermath of the floods, and has had no one claim her to date. Tilly owes her rescue to our tireless Secretary Beth Parker (NSW), who worked her way through a loooong list of all Vets within the widespread areas of the Queensland flood zones, contacting by phone, and following up with our information. Thank you to our wonderful Jane Di Guiseppe (WA) for compiling the long list!
Our intention behind doing this was to 1. Gain some 'local knowledge', 2. Offer support to the Veterinarians who needed it, and 3. To ensure that the Vets were aware that we available to help with any situations which, without our support/intervention, would lead to the suffering of any horses.
Upon receiving our information, we were contacted by a very compassionate Vet who was aware of an injured and unclaimed horse. The Vet had been providing basic care to Tilly, but was very limited in what he could do for her due to a lack of facilities and time. With the help of this wonderful Vet, and upon his recommendation, today Tilly was transported to the Equine Hospital at our request, and Quest donors are now supporting Tilly's care and treatment. We are now Tilly's 'next of kin' and the lovely girl will receive all treatment and care deemed necessary by the attending Veterinarians at the hospital.
Report this afternoon from the attending Vet is:
Two extensive wounds which are granulating.
Treatment: Sedated and wounds cleaned and debrided/dressed.
Receiving oral antibiotics.
Left eye- chronic and pre-existing problem/nil vision in eye.
Large amount of adhesions present
Uveitis and conjunctivitis present
Treatment: Triple eye ointment treatment
Will require enucleation (removal) at approx. cost $1000
Wounds to be reviewed tomorrow.
Settled at present.
Initially we had assumed that Tilly had received a blow to her left eye during the flood crisis. Very disappointing (infuriating) to learn that the poor girl has a chronic pre-existing condition, which has not been treated by her owner, and which has become so serious as to lead to loss of sight in that eye. It will be interesting to see who owns up to this blatant neglect and failure to provide Veterinary care.
Anyhow, I can tell you, we are all feeling a lot better knowing that Tilly is now at the Equine Hospital in a dry clean stable, with a fully belly, pain relief, and appropriate care for her injuries. The horror of what she has undergone, only she will know, and the pain and discomfort that she has suffered for some period of time prior to the floods, is inexcusable. However, she will now want for nothing.
We will pass on updates of Tilly's progress and her up-coming surgery, and of course welcome any contributions that people would like to make towards what is going to be an impressive Vet bill.
Welcome to the Quest family Tilly! We are VERY glad that we found you, and are very happy to care for you.
Below is a clip from of the town from which Tilly has come. Watching this clip, you will get some idea as to the degree to which the humans and animals of this area were, and are impacted.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:10 |
Is Quest helping flood affected horses in other States?
Absolutely, since the eventuality of record breaking flooding now also in the southern States, Quest has altered the name of the Equine Assistance Appeal by replacing the word 'Queensland', with the word 'Australian', and we are sure that donors would expect us to do so. Quest is ALWAYS here to provide assistance to horses/ponies/dokeys in need, whatever their location.
Why is hay only going to certain areas?
Quest is doing its utmost to ascertain the needs of all areas. This has involved many hours on the phone for our wonderful Secretary, Beth Parker. As you can imagine however, there is much disruption in these areas, and it is a real challenge to track down 'that' person you need. We will not send trucks to areas where we cannot ensure reliable and responsible supervision for distribution. It's a sad fact of life that there are always people out there looking to take advantage.
There are also other organisations coordinating deliveries of hay, including RSPCA Qld., and the Queensland Horse Council. We try to stay abreast of these deliveries to ensure that we aren't 'doubling-up'.
The fact of the matter, from Quest's perspective, is that we are over 2000 kms from the Queensland flood zones. We have shopped around and got a relatively good price for transport of our hay, but even so, a hay-run for us costs $3000 per load in transport alone. We are hoping that, in time, our balance of donated appeal funds will increase to the extent where we can eventually get all of our hay to where it needs to be. We have also been sourcing available hay within regions local to the Queensland floods zones, and are beginning to purchase these stocks for the purposes of donating them to those in need. We are a small organisation, and are only empowered to achieve what donated funds allow.
The situation actually fits in quite well with our long term objective as far as the flood affected horses of Queensland goes. Quest's intention is to help to support these horses and their care for as long as we can/or as long as is needed. The bank of hay we have committed to will, we think, be a life-saver over coming months. The hay growing regions of the Lockyer Valley have been devastated, no more hay will be baled this season, and we are headed into winter. We hope to be able to be delivering this hay when the initial rush of assistance has subsided and it is desperately needed. We will continue to send hay as we can afford to, but also hope to be able to be there as a support throughout winter if possible.
We are very happy to answer any questions and/or take on board any suggestions. Please feel free to
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anytime.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:08 |
This letter was passed on to Jenelle, our Quest Rep. in the more northern region of the flood affected areas. Very humbling indeed...
The fact that this woman, who has very recently suffered the kind of loss that is the stuff of nightmares, has sat down and written this lovely thank you, for a few bales of hay... just brings me undone...
This lady lost all of her fencing, feed sheds, hay sheds, tack room, stables.. and everything in them.
You can read this 'thank you' if you click on the image to enlarge it.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:08 |
Thank you to our Quest Rep. Jenelle for taking a minute to get some photos of her goings on to share with donors. Jenelle has been doing an amazing job up there...relentlessly seeking people and their horses out, delivering supplies, and providing us with reliable information. Sincere thanks to Jenelle, from all of the Quest team, for picking this up and running with it. It really is invaluable to have people on the ground in these areas when most of the team is based so far away.
Comment from Jenelle re the Herbal Horse packages:
"I am so impressed with the attention to detail that this company has shown. They have taken on board the specific needs of these wounded and flood affected horses of all ages, and have supplied a very comprehensive package to cater, everything was covered."
Thanks also to Quest Rep. Bek, who is located further south than Jenelle. She too has been absolutely flat out in her area and surrounds. She has been visiting some of the flood affected horses and their owners, sourcing items they need, and delivering feed. Considering that Bek and her family were flooded out themselves, that she has three small children, and that she has numerous horses of her own who are suffering the effects of the floods, her effort really is quite super-human.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:06 |
We are currently taking care of the needs of the horses of The McIntyre Centre, whose buildings and paddocks were entirely submerged during the flooding. The centre has 35 horses to care for under these trying circumstances.
One of their requirements at this time is bottles of 'Musca-Ban', which is an insecticide and insect repellent for flies and mosquitoes.
The best price we can find so far on this product is here. Why not buy a bottle online, and have it posted directly to the horses?
The postal address for the The McIntyre Centre is: P.O. Box 8, Kenmore, Qld. 4069
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:05 |
Please, do not let lacerations go untreated. If you have a friend or neighbour who is struggling, and their horses are being overlooked, please DO step in and offer to help. So many people have just way too much on their plate, and understandably, when someone is homeless/injured/traumatised...the welfare of their horses can necessarily not be their first priority.
All too common.
(Please note: These horses are being well cared for).
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:04 |
Once again, we have our friends at Horseland to thank for stepping up immediately in the interests of the care and treatment of horses in need.
As we are all probably aware by now, physically speaking, horses in these areas are not just suffering hoof, skin, and respiratory conditions related to standing in water and rain for long periods of time, but many have sustained very serious lacerations caused by fencing and debris in the flood waters. Protecting these wounds from the flies is critical, as is protecting the animals from the incredible mosquito population that has developed in most areas where water is lying around.
Here are just two of the young horses who, with the assistance of Horseland, we have equipped with light protective rugs to address the above issues.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:03 |
Where to start!
As each day goes by we are gaining a better and better feel for what's taking place over this widespread flood affected area, and the list of people to thank is already very long.
The accounts of personal experiences of this catastrophic event are shocking and so saddening. It is very important that we include the human aspect within our support, after all, it is the humans who need to care for the animals. We have found that at times like these, people's bond with their horse/s is often stronger than ever, particularly if they have lost everything else. When all around them is devastation and loss, it makes a huge difference to people to feel reassured that they have the capacity to care for their horse/s well.
At this point in the relief and recovery effort, many people are only just now finding the strength to search out assistance. We are doing all we can to seek out these people and encourage requests for help. Many people are reluctant to ask for help in these circumstances, but they need to understand that the community desperately WANTS to help them, and that we all know that they would offer us the same assistance if our situations were reversed. We have implemented a plan today which we think will go a long way towards finding these people and their horses.
THANK YOU to the many who have entrusted Quest with their donations to date. This evening we will post a bit of a tally so far of donations received and chq.s written. Having funds in the Appeal account enables us to say 'yes', and also allows us to plan for the long term future of this relief by securing bulk feed stocks, and we have been doing both. Where possible, we are prevailing upon our long term partners to supply many of the immediate needs, and as always, they do not hesitate to step up. Having this support is so important, as it allows us to achieve much, without always necessarily spending donated funds to do so. We would be very grateful to hear from other business' and suppliers who think they have something to offer the flood affected horses and owners who are doing it so tough right now.
Anyhow, just a note to check in, and this evening we will endeavour to put together some more extensive news for you on this page.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:01 |
Obviously, the vast majority of flood affected horse owners do not have access to the internet at this time. Can we invite feedback from anyone who is aware of an equine related situation or need, in the flood affected areas, to
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and share.
This was requested from relevant authorities over a week ago, but we assume that everyone is just too snowed under to provide us with their local knowledge and their insight into the situation, and quite understandably.
Quest is based 2000 km's from Queensland's flood affected regions, and we are relying upon information from these areas to try to best meet needs.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:01 |
Congratulations again to you fabulous donors for enabling the provision of support to a very special herd of horses in the Western Suburbs of Brisbane! The McIntyre Centre, located in Pinjarra Hills in the Western Suburbs of Brisbane, has 35 horses, all of whom have an important job in providing lessons for over 200 disabled riders a week from the greater Brisbane area.
"We were lucky that we were able to evacuate our horses to private homes on Tuesday, after which, the entire centre went underwater up to the roofs of the office buildings, which are located on the highest patch of land. Some saddlery and assorted other items from the offices were saved as well but we lost our entire shed full of hay which was a donation from a farmer in the Lockyer Valley who is, obviously, no longer in a position to donate hay.
Our land consists of over 40 acres of, normally, well-grassed paddocks, grazed in rotation to maximize feed production. All this land is still under water today and, obviously, flattened and covered in mud as they will be, will not be able to provide the usual amount of feed over summer. This has made our need for hay over summer desperate. Further, all our horses are billeted with local, private horse owners who, with the current unavailability of feed, will not be able to spare feed for horses other than their own.
Our 35 horses will be needing 40 bales of hay per week until the paddocks recover. With every single fence on the property needing to be replaced, we will not be in a position to recover the horses for at least 10 days from the time the water recedes. We anticipate that we will need at least 200 bales of hay to be sure that we can feed our horses and recommence lessons in 2011. If you could provide any assistance towards achieving this, it would be much appreciated.
It must be said that we, at the McIntyre Centre are obviously aware of how very lucky we are that there was no loss of life, either human or equine; and that there are people who have suffered terrible loss in this disaster. Obviously, all claims for assistance must be assessed on a basis of relative need, however our horses have a special job to do in the lives of children who sometimes do not have much else to look forward to in their day ,and for their sakes, we need to have our horses back at the Centre and lessons recommencing as soon as possible."
We are sure that Quest donors will be happy to hear that they are funding the purchase of the initial 200 bales of hay required. Great work team! We are currently working on supplying the many other needs of the horses and ponies of this very important organisation, and will keep you updated on that.
Let's get these special horses fed, accomodated, healthy, and the children back in the saddle.... and around the horses who mean so much to them.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:00 |
This is just an example of the contacts we are receiving, for those of you who are overseas, and trying to get a grip on this situation.
We have confirmed with this person that they don't mind us sharing this below email and image, in the interests of sharing with those who are supporting our efforts.
Please know that this family and their horses are now being taken care of to the best of our ability.
"We lost everything in the stables, feed room, hay shed and tack room. We have had the vets out and 3 horses required stitching (pic of one attached), those and 4 others are on penicillen and the whole 15 were given tetanus boosters (really dont want to see that vet bill). A friend brought some hay up for us yesterday (we lost 150 bales), and Dad has been given some horse feed from someone else. My own horses will just have to live on hay until I can afford to replace the feed we lost (I had only just saved up and purchased a tonne of feed) :-(
My concern at the moment is infection, and the health of my weanlings. They have been given tetanus shots, however are starting to show signs of a flu/virus - I guess standing in water to your chest for hours does that. I have been given the use of a grass paddock for them and they are currently in better conditions than our stables are (all our new sawdust was washed away and replaced with mud). If anyone could get some more substantial feed for them, I would not say no. They have lost weight since tuesday and I have bromotrimidine powder to give them, so I hope they start picking up again, or the vet will make some more money.
Don't get me wrong, there are alot of people out there that are worse off than me and I totally understand why the Oakey people have been forgotten. I have been watching ebay all week trying to pick up some combos for them to stop the mozzies eating them.
My other concern is Cowboy. His stable was flooded and he has now been put out in a yard. His feet are starting to get really soft, and he also has a cut on his neck, which is being treated with penicillen as a precautionary measure. You would not believe the amount of needles and syringes I am going through here.
I do also have mares and foals in the paddock, of a friends who lost everything (house still standing but in a bad way) in the flood. She is currently living here with me. They have gone from twice daily feeds to a grass paddock, so she would be grateful for any type of feed.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 January 2011 00:00 |
Well THAT was one frustrating day...we had no internet all day, due I expect to the flooding around us.
Quest is very keen to assist in those 'out of the way' places which are often over-looked in these scenarios. We have adopted our first little area who suffered major flooding and are doing it tough. Many horses and ponies in and around the area of Oakey lost their lives, and many of the horse owners of the district lost all they had. One of our Quest ladies is located not far from this area, and has been doing an excellent job of finding these people, assessing needs, and being of practical assistance in any way she can.
Quest is really pleased to be able to purchase, on behalf of our wonderful donors, an initial 200 bales of emergency feed relief for immediate collection of, and delivery to those who need it. We have sourced 1000 bales of good horse hay, in small bales, located close to this area. We hope to be in a position to purchase the entire stock for distribution, and will do some number crunching tonight to see how we're going. We do have a few irons in the fire, and need to prioritise as to needs and available funds.
We have also intiated a great project amongst our forum members, where many of them are putting together 'care packages', all including desperately needed halters and leads, but other bits and pieces too. These will all be posted Mon./Tues. this week to our contact in the area, who will make sure they go to those horse owners in and around Oakey who need 1. the halters and leads, and 2. to know that many are thinking of them and their horses/ponies.
Much more news to come tonight, but must go feed some hungry horses!
Thank you to our friends at Herbal Horse. This business is committed to support equine welfare efforts, and has been a valued partner in Quest's work for some time now.
Yet another great team who are currently beavering away, preparing some quality products to help treat the various injuries and conditions that the flood affected horses are commonly suffering. At this stage we are expecting to be able to distribute Herbal Horse products for uses such as cleansing and treating wounds, rain scald, healing/skin repair, and Queensland Itch. Herbal Horse will also provide us with their excellent Aloe Shampoo.
As time allows, Quest will be recording the details of all expenditure of all donations kindly made towards our equine flood relief appeal. If you are interested in seeing how we utilise your contributions, please feel free to check in on this page from time to time. It's your money, you have a right to know how it is put to use, and are no doubt interested.
Quest takes its role as custodian of these heart-felt given donations VERY seriously, and feels very responsible for utilising them wisely and to best effect.
Our sincerest appreciation to those who have given to date.
Donations so far have enabled us to confidently secure a bulk amount of much sought after small bales good for horses. Perfect for the purpose, which is primarily as a filler and a source of good roughage. Rye, with a smattering of lucerne through it. CONGRATULATIONS to those who have been a part of making this possible, an important hurdle overcome! Small bales of horse hay that haven't been rain damaged are very difficult to come by down here iin Victoria this season. We have also sourced good transport, (you don't want to know how much that is going to cost!), and are just waiting for the flood waters here to subside and the roads to re-open before sending the first semi-load off.
Our capability to deliver this hay to Queensland to those who so desperately need it will depend entirely upon the appeal bank balance. As mentioned, we have been very lucky in securing access to 4000 small bales at a good price. We will pay for it load by load, and really hope that we can ultimately spread the entire stock of this hay over the areas that need it most.
Queensland mining giant Clive Palmer was forced to use his private helicopter to pluck up to 60 people from treacherous floodwaters in and around his horse stud in south-east Queensland. Read more...
"The Qld. Horse Council have a truck of hay arriving at Ipswich Showground Mon 17th if the roads are clear. There will be more hay trucks coming; the next one is being sent to the Gatton area when roads clear.
Please contact Debbie Dekker on 5464 6785 or 0420 926 281, or
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If you have a need in your area, pls contact Debbie and she will see what can be arranged."
The Qld. Horse Council will be handling the lost horse register, contact point for lost horses, found horses and found dead horses. Until Monday 17/1/2011, possibly Tuesday, calls direct to Debbie Dekker 07 54646785 mob 0420926281 or Fiona Thompson 0434182721 or email
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From Tuesday Biosecurity Qld will also be taking info and forwarding it to us – that number is 132523. As many identifying features are required even on dead animals – we want to be able to bring some closure to owners who have lost horses and also have accurate figures of lost horses at the end of this.
Thank you to our friends at Horseland for their prompt response!!
Horseland has provided immediate supplies to the value of approximately $4,500 for the horses at the Ipswich Showgrounds, through the Horseland Ipswich store. These supplies include: head collars, leads, medicated shampoo/lotions, cohesive bandages, vet supplies, hay bags, curry combs, sponges and canvas rugs, (for horses that have lost some condition and are cold at night). Great work!
Thursday, 13 January 2011 11:40 | Last Updated on Sunday, 16 January 2011 15:04 |
We have a secure and supervised venue organised for hay deliveries at Walloon, which is approx. 10km's from Ipswich. Hay is going to be an on-going issue for horse owners in the area, as the prime hay growing districts from which the area source's its hay have been flood affected. This hay will be free for flood affected horse owners.
We realise that a wide area of the state will be requiring such assistance, and will continue to work on establishing contacts in the relevant areas in order to gain some insight as to what is most needed where.
We have our first semi load of hay booked and are currently arranging transport.
We have established a great contact on the ground in the gentleman who has the task of caring for the animals who are currently being kept at the Showgrounds in Ipswich. This morning, (the morning after the flood peak), they are currently caring for 40 horses, but are rescuing others as we speak. We are liaising in order to provide the immediate needs of these horses.
We have temporary free agistment available for 10 flood affected horses on a horse-safe property. Location is Walloon, approximately 10km's from Ipswich. Please call Rebecca for details on 0411 864374.
Floods '11 - Equine Assist
Rebecca will make herself available between 9-10 am, and 4-6 pm each day for collections.
Thank you to our friends at 
