Rare Caspian Horses Threatened by Australian Floods
ICS Officers
RARE CASPIAN HORSES THREATENED
BY AUSTRALIAN FLOODS
A Caspian stallion at the Jasenna Stud in drier times, south of
Brisbane, Queensland
There is much anxiety about the humans whose lives have been
devastated by the violent floods in Australia, but the plight of their
animals can be heartbreaking too. The Caspian Horse Society (UK) has
expressed extreme concern over the possible fate of several rare
Caspian Horses and their breeders, in the floods now devastating
Queensland and Victoria. Information received directly from
Australian breeders tells stories of floodwater raging 4’ above the
top of paddock fencing at Sebastopol in Victoria, and inundating
paddocks, barns and lapping within inches of homes near Brisbane in
Queensland, bringing the terrible realisation that years of careful
breeding could be wiped out in moments.
Rosemary Mecca, Sebastopol - “The flash floods rose very fast and
trapped the main herd between high ground and very fast flowing flood
waters. I was not sure we could save the Shetlands, but the little
creatures valiantly swam through the current and onto dry land. I got
swept away but was saved…. Taze (Caspian stallion) was separated from
the main herd by the floods and was galloping through the flood waters
calling out to them – he is so strong to have been galloping through
the waters, which were about mid girth at that stage.
Since this flood I have been saying a very silent thankful prayer that
I had not moved the mares and foals onto the flood prone paddocks… I
have been very tempted to let the mares graze on them, but if that had
happened, the foals would have been lost. “
Emergency evacuation is difficult, if not impossible, owing to many
main exit roads being closed by flooding. Horses and farm animals not
actually swept away in the floods have been miserably affected with
laminitis, hoof abscesses and mud fever due to the wet, warmth and
humidity.
Even after the floods have subsided, it is certain that fodder for
surviving horses and farm animals will be difficult and expensive to
obtain in future months. The Lockyer Valley in Queensland, a prime
vegetable and fodder growing region, is a severe casualty of the
floodwaters and extensive food growing areas throughout Queensland and
Victoria have been turned into muddy wastelands.
Caspian Breeder, Jenne Timbs, south of Brisbane, reports that 3’ of
raging waters entirely covered her parent’s 8oo acre grain growing
property at nearby Dalby, badly damaging sheds and barns So far she
has managed to keep her own Caspians safe by moving them to higher
ground.
Caspian Horses, average height 117 cms, but with the elegant
appearance of well-bred horses, are an ancient breed thought to have
been extinct until rediscovered in northern Iran in the mid-1960s.
Those in Australia are descendants of Caspians either bred in the UK
or in their homeland, Iran, flown out via the UK in the 1970’s. Small
studs of Australian-bred Caspians are also found in South Australia,
New South Wales, and in West Australia.
The Caspian Horse Society UK is keeping a close eye on its Australian
members and hopes to raise a contribution towards survival rations for
the Caspians in Queensland and Victoria via the donation website <www.
justgiving.com>’
-Ends-
vtollman
and having helped with the animal relief effort of the 50,000 dogs and cats
and 5,000 horses affected, my heart and prayers for safe resolve goes out to
all who are trying to copy with this disaster.
Victoria
Victoria Tollman
BroughHill Fell Ponies
Tachara Caspians
www.EndangeredEquines.com
(336) 352-5520
----- Original Message -----
From: "ICS Officers" <icssec...@gmail.com>
To: "Caspian Horse Forum" <ICS_Casp...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2011 12:55 PM
Subject: (Caspian Horse Forum:234) Rare Caspian Horses Threatened by
Australian Floods
PRESS INFORMATION
RARE CASPIAN HORSES THREATENED
BY AUSTRALIAN FLOODS
A Caspian stallion at the Jasenna Stud in drier times, south of
Brisbane, Queensland
There is much anxiety about the humans whose lives have been
devastated by the violent floods in Australia, but the plight of their
animals can be heartbreaking too. The Caspian Horse Society (UK) has
expressed extreme concern over the possible fate of several rare
Caspian Horses and their breeders, in the floods now devastating
Queensland and Victoria. Information received directly from
Australian breeders tells stories of floodwater raging 4� above the
top of paddock fencing at Sebastopol in Victoria, and inundating
paddocks, barns and lapping within inches of homes near Brisbane in
Queensland, bringing the terrible realisation that years of careful
breeding could be wiped out in moments.
Rosemary Mecca, Sebastopol - �The flash floods rose very fast and
trapped the main herd between high ground and very fast flowing flood
waters. I was not sure we could save the Shetlands, but the little
creatures valiantly swam through the current and onto dry land. I got
swept away but was saved�. Taze (Caspian stallion) was separated from
the main herd by the floods and was galloping through the flood waters
calling out to them � he is so strong to have been galloping through
the waters, which were about mid girth at that stage.
Since this flood I have been saying a very silent thankful prayer that
I had not moved the mares and foals onto the flood prone paddocks� I
have been very tempted to let the mares graze on them, but if that had
happened, the foals would have been lost. �
Emergency evacuation is difficult, if not impossible, owing to many
main exit roads being closed by flooding. Horses and farm animals not
actually swept away in the floods have been miserably affected with
laminitis, hoof abscesses and mud fever due to the wet, warmth and
humidity.
Even after the floods have subsided, it is certain that fodder for
surviving horses and farm animals will be difficult and expensive to
obtain in future months. The Lockyer Valley in Queensland, a prime
vegetable and fodder growing region, is a severe casualty of the
floodwaters and extensive food growing areas throughout Queensland and
Victoria have been turned into muddy wastelands.
Caspian Breeder, Jenne Timbs, south of Brisbane, reports that 3� of
raging waters entirely covered her parent�s 8oo acre grain growing
property at nearby Dalby, badly damaging sheds and barns So far she
has managed to keep her own Caspians safe by moving them to higher
ground.
Caspian Horses, average height 117 cms, but with the elegant
appearance of well-bred horses, are an ancient breed thought to have
been extinct until rediscovered in northern Iran in the mid-1960s.
Those in Australia are descendants of Caspians either bred in the UK
or in their homeland, Iran, flown out via the UK in the 1970�s. Small
studs of Australian-bred Caspians are also found in South Australia,
New South Wales, and in West Australia.
The Caspian Horse Society UK is keeping a close eye on its Australian
members and hopes to raise a contribution towards survival rations for
the Caspians in Queensland and Victoria via the donation website <www.
justgiving.com>�
-Ends-
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