NO. 1 - INTRODUCTION - "to share information....."
ANDREW HIGGINS, Chairman of the FEI Welfare Sub-Committee, introduces the speakers and explains the motivation behind the staging of today's Workshop - to broaden understanding of the procedures being put in place to protect the health, safety and welfare of the horses competing at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong. 
* * *
NO. 2 - SETTING THE SCENE - "every Olympic venue presents its own challenge....."
JOHN McEWEN, Chairman of the FEI Veterinary Committee, outlines the baseline topics of discussion, thanks the organisers of the 2007 "Good Luck Beijing" Test Event and the Federations who pooled relevant information in order to facilitate a consensus of 'best practice' for competing in hot and humid conditions, and acknowledges the sponsorship of today's event by Peden Bloodstok and The International League for Protection of Horses. 
* * *
NO. 3 - HONG KONG IS GETTING READY - "a general overview....."
W.K. LAM, Chief Executive of the Equestrian Events (Hong Kong) of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad Company Limited, details the logistics for the staging of the Games with reference to both venues - Sha Tin and Beas River.
Mr Lam describes layout, access, competition and training areas, stabling and back-of-house facilities along with horse transportation and freight insurance arrangements. He also explains the accreditation, transportation and accommodation plans for athletes and officials at the Olympic Village, the Olympic Family Hotel, the Media Hotel and the Grooms Village along with the services available at each location, and he outlines catering arrangements at the competition venues.
Mr Lam runs through the cultural, educational and community programmes staged in Hong Kong in an effort to raise local awareness and support, he comments on the lessons learned during last summer's Test Event and mentions the Opening and Closing Ceremonies along with the tours and events that will be arranged for athletes and officials during their stay. A competition and training schedule, details of stable opening hours and the list of appointed officials are included in his presentation. 
* * *
NO. 4 - EQUINE QUARANTINE AND BIO-SECURITY MANAGEMENT - "safeguarding the health of both the local and visiting horses....."
KEITH L. WATKINS of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Equestrian Company, Hong Kong SAR, is a member of a distinguished panel that has formulated health protocols and standard operating procedures designed to address the specific challenges presented by the importation of 200 horses into Hong Kong for this summer's Olympic Games.
The panel, which also includes KENNETH K.H. LAM of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Equestrian Company, Hong Kong SAR, DAVID G. POWELL from The University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA, FRITS SLUYTER of the FEI and HENRY S. M. CHEUNG, MICHELLE L. YEUNG, THOMAS H.C. SIT and KENNY C.H. HO from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Dept. (AFCD), Hong Kong SAR, paid particular attention to the close proximity of the visiting horses to the two local equine populations at Sha Tin Racecourse and at the Riding School in Beas River during the period.
The introduction or spread of disease, especially the highly-contagious equine influenza (EI) virus, is of major concern. The potential for the spread of infection when horses are being transported, particularly by air, is emphasised and Dr Watkins points out that the smooth running of the Games, the health of the local horses and repatriation of the visiting equines are central to these safeguards being put in place.
He describes the difficulties encountered in creating a Disease Free Zone for horses in China after Beijing originally won the Olympic bid, and the subsequent decision to stage the equestrian events in Hong Kong due to its long-established equine health status and with the expertise available from within the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The large number of horses being imported, their length of stay, and the prevailing climatic conditions at the time of year have combined however to create a uniquely challenging environment. 
Other KEY POINTS explained in this presentation include:
a)             Quarantine Management Team which includes a Local and Deputy manager along with 11 overseas veterinary Specialist Sports Volunteers and Local Volunteers.
b)             Equine Health Protocols - detailed in "Standard Operating Procedures" (see below)
c)             Quarantine Requirements before Export to Hong Kong - horses must be resident in an AFCD (Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of Hong Kong) approved country for 60 days and must be under veterinary supervision during the 30 days preceding export.
d)             7-Day Pre-Export Quarantine regulations - horses must be held at AFCD approved premises and be certified free from clinical signs of infectious or contagious diseases and external parasites and must be fit to travel. They must be certified for vaccination against EI, tested for Equine Infectious Anaemia and other diseases if necessary, their movements must be certified for the previous 60 days and they must be examined by a Government Official Veterinarian of the country of export with 24 hours of leaving the Pre-Export Quarantine (PEQ) premises.
e)             All horses will spend 10 days in Post-Arrival Isolation. The ten days begin after the arrival of the last horse into the compound; training and competition are possible during PAI.
f)              Specific testing for EI may be performed on all horses prior to and/or on entering PEQ premises - this is currently under discussion.
Finally, Dr Watkins calls for DILIGENCE in compliance with protocols, VIGILANCE at all times and PRO-ACTIVE REPORTING of any signs of disease.

* * * 
NO. 5 - EQUINE QUARANTINE AND BIO-SECURITY - STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
by Dr Keith L. Watkins, Quarantine Manager and FEI Veterinary Commission Associate Member and Dr Kenneth KH Lam, Deputy Quarantine Manager.

The AIM is to ensure that all horses are healthy both when they arrive and depart, and that the good equine health status of Hong Kong is preserved.
KEY POINTS 
a)             The manpower and functions of the Quarantine management staff is outlined along with the work roster for both arrivals and departures.
b)             On arrival in Hong Kong, the Person Responsible (PR) for the horse must inform the Quarantine Officers immediately if they notice any abnormality in their charges. Suspicion of infectious disease may result in transportation of the suspect horse, and other horses which have been in contact with it, to the isolation stables at Sha Tin or Happy Valley Racecourse.
c)             At the Post-Arrival Isolation premises each horse will have its own individual HORSE HEALTH MONITORING CHART. Its temperature must be recorded on it by the PR who must immediately inform a Quarantine Officer if there is any abnormality which includes a temperature of, or greater than, 39.0 C/102.2 F. Event/Team veterinarians will take two 10ml blood samples for serum collection in the presence of a Quarantine Officer. Any treatment must be recorded on the horse's veterinary clinical record and on the Horse Monitoring Chart. Twice daily (morning and evening) rectal temperature check and examination for ticks is compulsory.
d)             Permission must be granted by the Quarantine Manager before equestrian horses enter training/exercise area.
e)             Stable and personal hygiene includes washing and disinfecting hands and wearing clean outer clothing and footwear. There will be disinfectant mats at entry/exit to all stable compounds.
f)              In case of a serious infectious disease outbreak, training, exercise and/or competition may be halted for the infected horses.
g)             There are stringent decontamination procedures for stables, vehicles, aircraft and manure in case of disease outbreak.
h)             There are contingency plans for horses arriving with Travel Sickness or other signs of infection and for unloading ill or injured horses from aircraft.
The panel points out that long-distance travel is stressful for horses and may lead to re-activation of latent diseases or other complications.

* * * 
NO. 6 - HORSE TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS - "to prepare and oversee the transport....of all equine athletes"
Martin H. ATOCK, Managing Director of Peden Bloodstock which has been appointed official carrier of all horses for the equestrian Olympic Games in Hong Kong, explains the rules and regulations relating to the movement of the equine athletes, their attendants, equipment and feed.
The company has drafted a comprehensive "Equestrian Freight Manual" which is available on the BOCOG, Equestrian Company and Peden websites. Horse health requirements before air departure include 60-day residency in a AFCD recognised country including all 27 European Union states, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. All horses must have a current vaccination against Equine Influenza and, within 14 days of export, must undergo a Coggins Test (for Equine Infectious Anaemia) along with an Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test for Piroplasmosis, a Virus Neutralisation Test for Vesicular Stomatitis and/or an ELISA Test for African Horse Sickness if these diseases have occurred in the country of export during the last two years.
Pre-Export Quarantine (PEQ) may be completed at some AFCD approved private premises. Peden Bloodstock has arranged PEQ at Aachen showgrounds in Germany for all horses based in Central Europe.
Amsterdam, London Stansted, New York, Los Angeles and Sydney are the designated hub airports. Horses will travel in enclosed 'Jet Stalls" with two horses per stall. Flight times vary between 12 and 15 hours with some aircraft stopping at Dubai en route. The temperature in the aircraft will be 17 C approximately.
Equipment travelling on horse flights must arrive five hours before departure, and approximately 320kg per horse will be accepted. Bulk items such as feed should be forwarded by sea. A Peden-appointed professional groom will accompany horse attendants on the flight, and attendants will travel through security with their charges in the 'Jet Stalls'. It is expected that horses will be in their stables within 1 hour 50 minutes of arrival in Hong Kong.
For the Eventing discipline cross-country phase horses will travel by road from Sha Tin to Beas River on Sunday 10 August and return on Monday 11 August with a strict loading schedule to minimise stress. There will be two movements of 54 horses each and a 2.5 hour gap between the two in accordance with competition drawn order. A computer software programme detailing all information relevant to horses and their attendants, and designed for National Federations in particular, is currently under development.
Finally, Mr Atock outlines two important DEADLINES
a)             1 March 2008- Questionnaire released to NFs seeking firm booking information
b)             30 April 2008 - Final date for return of Questionnaire.
Flight Timeline charts, attendant instructions and copy Customs and Immigration forms are also included.

* * *
 NO. 7 - VETERINARY FACILITIES - "a range of facilities and operational procedures...."
CHRISTOPHER M. RIGGS, Head of Veterinary Clinical Services at the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), reports on the veterinary arrangements for the forthcoming Games.
A core team of 11 international veterinarians surgeons will be augmented by others from mainland China and from the HKJC Dept of Veterinary Clinical Services for the cross-country phase of the Eventing discipline. In addition, a group of eight senior students/graduates will provide support in the Olympic Veterinary Clinic with technical back-up from HKJC staff. Ian Hughes leads the six-strong group of farriers who will provide support to team farriers.
The purpose-built Olympic Veterinary Clinic constructed at the core venue in Sha Tin is equipped with a range of diagnostic and treatment facilities including two examination rooms, two holding stables, a wash/cooling bay, a breezeway, dispensary and main office/reception area. Emergency services will be available 24 hours daily and the office will normally open between 07h00 and 19h00 while on competition days the hours will extend to 30 minutes after the last horse has finished. Event Treating Veterinarians will offer a range of services, and seven dedicated treatment stables are available to Team Veterinarians in the veterinary compound.
The facilities and staff of the HKJC's Equine Hospital will be on 24-hour standby. The Hospital, which is located approximately 3kms from the core venue, has an operating theatre, full anaesthetic equipment and is designed to cater for most major equine surgical requirements. Veterinary care will also be provided at the isolation stables located at both the core venue and Happy Valley Racecourse. The Olympic Veterinary Clinic will house a pharmacy, and the HKJC laboratory will provide pathology services at commercial rates.
A dedicated Medication Control Programme sample collection facility for horses will be located near the stables and main training areas.
At Beas River cross-country venue a temporary veterinary clinic will be located near the stable compound with facilities for emergency care. Any horse requiring further treatment will be transported back to the Olympic Veterinary Hospital or the HKJC Hospital as required.

There will be six veterinary teams located at each of the sector headquarters on the cross-county course while three roving teams will provide further support and mobile cooling units will be stationed at strategic locations with an ample supply of ice and water at hold-points on the course. A total of eight horse ambulances and four recovery trailers will be available during the cross-country competition, and horse ambulances will be on stand-by at all venues during training and competition. Cooling facilities during training and competition include the use of misting tents capable of holding several horses simultaneously which are chilled by rows of misting fans, and chilled water and ice which will be available in each tent. All stables will be air-conditioned with the temperature set at around 23 C to assist recovery after exercise.

* * * 
NO. 8 - AIR-CONDITIONED FACILITIES AND COOLING STATIONS - "acclimatisation does not fully compensate...."
DR. DAVID MARLIN of David Marlin Consulting Ltd. worked on heat and humidity research for the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996 and here he elaborates on some important steps being taken to protect horses from the worst effects of heat throughout their stay in Hong Kong.
He explains that while acclimatisation appears to be complete after 10-14 days of exercise this may prove counter-productive because horses may not rest adequately or eat and drink properly and this could affect their health and performance. Air-conditioning is therefore being provided in both the stables and the indoor training arena and a cooling regime will be operated during exercise.
The rationale for setting the stables temperature at 23 C is that 25 C is considered to be the upper limit of a horse's thermoneutral zone - above that the horse is likely to sweat or have an increased respiratory rate. Dr Marlin warns that "what feels slightly cool to a human is likely to feel comfortable for a horse". The indoor arena temperature will be 21 C, lower than the stables because horses are working. Last summer's Test Event in Hong
Kong provided a great deal of valuable information about air qualify and dust control with air-quality in the indoor and outdoor arenas remaining extremely good, even by human standards.
Dr Marlin points out that, like people, horses have varying susceptibilities to heat. Heat-related illness can occur as a result of a very high body temperature or from exposure to a moderate to high body temperature for a long period. A protocol combining acclimatisation with assisted cooling is the optimal approach.
During cold-water assisted cooling horses should be repeatedly covered from head to tail for approximately 30 seconds, then should walk in a circle for 15 seconds to promote circulation and maintain skin blood flow. It may take 10 minutes of intensive cooling to reduce the temperature by 1 C, and horses finishing cross-county may have rectal temperatures close to 42 C so it could take them 20-30 minutes to become comfortable and for their respiratory rate to return to normal.
Common mistakes in cooling horses are - 1) not using enough water, 2) failure to cover the entire body with water, 3) not allowing short periods of walk. Pre-cooling in advance of competition may also be advisable and will reduce the temperature horses reach during exercise, and Mr Marlin points out that prolonged or intense warm-up may have a negative effect.
Misting Stations should be considered additional, but not alternative, to cooling stations as they are significantly less effective in reducing body temperature. They are designed for comfort, but not for effective cooling.

* * * 
NO. 9 - PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF HORSES C