When the Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, the equestrian games had to be held in Stockhol, Sweden; Australia’s quarantine laws made it unfeasible to bring animals into the country. Now, in 2000 in Sydney, this doesn’t seem to be the case. What gives? Did Australia’s government change the law?
No, there’s still a quarantine, though I don’t know if it’s as restrictive as it used to be. During the coverage of the recent equestrian event, the commentator mentioned that one of the horses was injured, and had to be treated, including surgery, in unsanitary conditions because the quarantine requirements meant the animal couldn’t be removed from the stable. (I looked for but could not find a news link.) My WAG on this is that, for this event, they planned far ahead and brought the horses to Australian well in advance of the Olympics, so they could be out of quarantine by the time the events rolled around.
Huh. Good question. Were they flying horses back in '56? I can understand how the trip from almost anywhere to Australia on a boat could open the door to a wide variety of equine illness. Or something to do with better innoculations? I’m just pulling this out of my ass, but then again, it isn’t in GQ, so I can do that.
Cite? BAH.
Apparently the laws have changed slightly since '56 though there still is a quarantine period. I also heard a rumour that some time constraints were relaxed frot eh Olympics but have been unable to confirm.
This year for the Olympics horses were quarantined for two weeks in their home countries before flying in, then quarantined for two weeks after arrival.
Something quite similar is done when Asian and European horses are flown into the US as they carry an equine disease (sorry, forget the name) no established here. During the Atlanta games European horses were also stabled seperately from the American horses.
Kinda off topic but…When did you see the equestrian events? I tried to find out when they were so I could watch them but I didnt find anything.
I saw the jumping last Friday night. It was pretty.
The quarantine laws were very restrictive in the 50s and 60s. My grandfather considered moving there and took an exploration trip with a fellow Montana cattle rancher. American style roping saddles were not available in Oz so they brought their own. They had to buy brand new saddles as used ones might harbor bugs and organisms in leather and padding. I think my mom stil has a clipping of a Perth newspaper photo of a couple of yank cowboys stepping off the plane with saddles over a shoulder. Quigley Down Under without the rifle.