Kerry Mack and Mayfield Limelight.

© Amy-Sue Alston

Travel doubts shadow Australian based World Cup dressage horses

Concerns have been raised over vaccination schedules for Australian based dressage horses considering a start at the FEI World Cup Final in Omaha, Nebraska next month.

The FEI World Cup Pacific League Final, held at Willinga Park’s Dressage by the Sea (23-26 February), was won by 21-year-old Charlotte Phillips riding Jane Bruce’s CP Dresden. As Pacific League Final winners, Charlotte and Dresden are therefore invited to compete at the FEI World Cup Final in Omaha (4-8 April).

Kerry Mack and Mayfield Limelight were the runners-up at Willinga Park and also achieved the required qualifying scores, meaning they are the reserve combination for Omaha should Charlotte choose not to attend. The trip to Omaha does need to be self-funded.

In recent days, it has come to light that the vaccination schedule required by the FEI combined with the requirements to enter the USA presents significant issues for Australia’s World Cup Final hopes.

“Neither of us can attend, as our horses would have needed to have their first Equine Influenza (EI) vaccination before Willinga Park, in order to have the second dose two weeks before the event, to comply with USA regulations,” explains Kerry.

FEI events require horses to be vaccinated for EI. An initial Primary Course of two vaccinations must be given; the second vaccination must be administered within 21-92 days of the first. Horses may compete seven days after receiving the second vaccination of the primary course. 

However, USA importation regulations require that “the horse has not been vaccinated with a live, attenuated or inactivated vaccine during the 14 days immediately preceding exportation.”

In short, for Australian horses now looking to attend the event (4-8 April), the numbers simply don’t add up to receive the second dose within the timeframes surrounding travel and competition.

Willinga Park agreed to host the FEI World Cup Pacific League Final, sponsored by 4CYTE, to ensure Australian based combinations had the opportunity to qualify and gain an invitation to the prestigious international event.

Equestrian Australia (EA) is arguably responsible for assisting athletes representing the country at events such as the World Cup Finals, and now it seems an administration oversight means that Australia could be left without an athlete in Omaha.

“Riders who are passionate about the sport have been denied the opportunity to compete at the World Cup Final, which for me is once in a lifetime,” says Kerry, explaining that there had been no communication from EA to the World Cup Pacific League Final competitors regarding these travel requirements and the timelines involved.

Late vaccinations were one of the reasons that almost thwarted the Australian Para Dressage team’s FEI World Championship campaign last year.

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