Spruce on alert
Jumping venue faces hoof-and-mouth hurdle
By NADIA MOHARIB -- Calgary Sun
The biggest hurdle facing some competitors at Spruce Meadows events this year could be hoof-and-mouth disease.
With the disease leaving thousands of cattle slaughtered in the UK, it's now threatening to diminish the European presence at Spruce Meadows.
At the very least it will mean horses from affected areas will have to jump through a few extra hoops at the airport before even making it to the equestrian showdown in Calgary.
"It could be a bit different for us," Ian Allison, vice-president of TV and media at Spruce Meadows, said yesterday.
"You have to put it into perspective. In the grand scheme of things, the agricultural industry of the world has to take priority over the sport.
"You have to look at how it impacts your own business and make plans, but appreciate a lot is out of your control."
Canadian border officials have not allowed horses from the UK into Canada -- for fear they may be contaminated with the easily-spread virus -- since January.
In Britain, more than 480,000 animals have been slaughtered or condemned in a quest to end the hoof-and-mouth epidemic.
"We have great sympathy for what's happening in Europe and want to make sure it doesn't happen here," Allison said.
"We're not going to cry wolf right now. We're going to monitor it."
The first case of the disease in Ireland was confirmed Thursday. Borders there were closed on a precautionary basis.
The Nation's Cup in England, set for May 13, was cancelled yesterday.
Dr. John Chrumka, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Calgary district veterinarian, said time will tell if would-be competitors from Europe will clear the border in order to compete at Spruce Meadows this summer and fall.
If the European situation remains as is, he anticipates stringent rules at the airport requiring horses to be disinfected, and maybe quarantined.
"If it continues to get out of control in Europe as it has in the UK (then it will be) just too hot of a place to be importing horses from," Chrumka said.
"But we'll have to wait and see what develops there. It's too early to say if we will or won't let them."
Would-be European competitors face as much potential difficulty crossing borders in their homelands as they do getting past borders here, Allison said.
Speculation on the extent of impact here has already attracted competitors from places like Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, he said.
"The fact some Europeans may not be able to get to Spruce Meadows this year may open the door for (other) athletes. We have had numerous approaches in that regard," Allison said.
European competitors make up about 100 horses out of some 1,000 from other nations, such as the U.S. and Canada.
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