SOUTH AFRICAN EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION REGULATIONS ON PASSPORTS, EQUINE INFLUENZA & AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS.

HORSES’ ELIGIBILITY TO COMPETE – SAEF VETERINARY REGULATIONS Article 1001 – Equine Identification

Horses or Ponies that do not have FEI Passports must have a SAEF Group IX Passport to compete in South Africa.

1. Person Responsible (PRs) must comply with the requirements for national and SAEF Passports, Recognition Cards and registration for Events as described in the General Regulations.

Summary of SAEF VETERINARY REGULATIONS - AHS and EQUINE FLU REGULATIONS

EQUINE INFLUENZA
All horses & Ponies competing at SAEF Events must have an Equine Influenza Vaccine within 6 months and 21 days of competition.

All horses must have had a PRIMARY Course of Equine Influenza (Only Exception are horses that have been vaccinated every year without a primary course since 2005)

VACCINE 1 (V1)                                       First Vaccine of the Primary Course. Horse is Not eligible to compete.

VACCINE 2 (V2)                                       First Booster. Administered between 21 – 92 days after V1.

                                                                   (From 2024 it will be 21     days – 60 days)

                                                                   Horse will be eligible to compete after 7 days.

VACCINE 3 (V3)                                       Second Booster of the PRIMARY Course administered 6 months 21 days after V2.

Thereafter, if the horse is not competing booster vaccines may be given every 12 months, BUT if the year is exceeded, a Primary course must be repeated.

For competition purposes the horse must have an Equine Influenza vaccine with 6 months and 21 days of competition. EG your horse has had V1 – V3. You do not compete, but 10 months later you decide to enter a competition. Ensure that an Equine Influenza vaccine is administered, and your horse will be eligible to compete after 7 days. It is not necessary to repeat the Primary Course if you have not exceeded a year.

NB:  NO HORSE MAY COMPETE FOR 7 DAYS FOLLOWING ANY VACCINATION

AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS (AHS)
African Horse Sickness is a controlled disease in South Africa, and as such the State Veterinary Department must be notified of any positive cases. According to the Government “Animal Diseases Act 35 of 1984” all Equidae must be vaccinated against AHS annually, (except in the controlled AHS Zones of the Western Cape)

The only vaccine currently registered in terms of Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act 1947 (Act no 36 of 47) for AHS and therefore the only efficient/effective remedy “as described above is the live virus vaccine produced by Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP).

For Competition purposes the following apply:

1.  Horses Must be vaccinated against AHS 1 & AHS2 once in a calendar year. (Exception is the Free & Surveillance zones of the AHS controlled area, who require written permission for vaccination from State Vet Boland
2. The only accepted registered vaccine for competition purposes is the OBP vaccine, in terms of the “Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies & Stock Remedies Act 1947 (Act 36 of 47).
3. AHS vaccines must be administered by a veterinarian, who is required to sign and stamp the passport.
4. Vaccines must be administered with a minimum of 3 weeks (21 days) apart. Vaccines given less than 3 weeks will invalidate both vaccines. (It has come to the notice of SAEF the growing number of horses that are receiving the second AHS vaccine within 15 to 20 days of the first. Not only is the horse ineligible to compete, but the welfare of the horse becomes compromised.)
5. For competition purposes horses residing in the Free & Surveillance Zones of the Western Cape do not require AHS vaccine. However, should they leave the Free U Surveillance zones they will be required to have AHS vaccine, both for competition purposes and for movement back into the controlled area.
6. Vaccination is only allowed in the Controlled Zones, between 1^st June and 31^st October each year. Whilst it is strongly recommended that horses are not vaccinated during high midge prevalence, vaccination times are not legislated in the Infected zone.
7. Due to the shortage of AHS vaccine during 2022, the SAEF issued a dispensation for all competition horses.

“For competition purposes horses must receive one AHS1 and one AHS 2 vaccine since 1^st June 2022  Check SAEF for any updates as they are closely monitoring the situation.

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COMPETITION CLASSES

All classes will be run under the applicable FEI Rule unless otherwise stated in the SASJ Annexures.

HORSE VACCINATIONS

It is the Athlete/Owners responsibility to ensure that they comply with the control measures of AHS and EQUINE FLU as per SAEF Regulations and are in the horses’ passports which must always accompany the horse/pony

MICROCHIP NO’s

Microchip numbers must be in the horse’s passport and SASJ Online System

LIABILTY

The FEI, SASJ, SAEF, The OC/SHB, Venue, Officials and sponsors shall in no way be held responsible for any damage, loss, theft, or injury sustained by owners, riders, competitors, horses, members or the public or any other person or their property whatsoever.  E&OE

CHANGES TO CLASSES

The organising committee in consultation with the SASJ Representative reserve the right to combine, handicap, divide or cancel classes should this be necessary, always provided such amendments are not in conflict with the rules. Where necessary, classes may be restricted to qualifications. 80% of entry fees will be refunded should the class/s be cancelled due to inclement weather conditions or unforeseen circumstance. The organising committee reserves the right to cancel, combine, limit, or divide classes or change arenas. Lower grade/provincial entries may be restricted, or classes cancelled, depending on number of entries. Recommended rounds per day will be in consultation with the President of the Ground Jury and SASJ Rep.

Any classes that are combined will be on a handicap basis.  Changes made at/during the show will be at the SHB’s discretion in consultation with the Ground Jury.  This also applies to adverse weather conditions.  Entry Fees will not be refunded to any competitor in the event of any competition being changed to a different time, day, or different arena.

The onus is on the rider to ensure their contact details are correct on the SASJ Database to receive any emails, and to check the SASJ Website for any changes to the schedule/programme.  Any changes made to the programme once the final programme is published will be published on the SASJ website www.sashowjumping.co.za or sent out via newsflash.

ATHLETES

Athletes are to be registered with a Club, SAEF and SASJ as per Annexures on the SASJ Database.

HORSES/PONIES

Horses/Ponies need to be registered with SASJ as per SASJ Annexures on the SASJ Database

STALLIONS

All stallions should have a yellow disc on both sides of the bridle or have a yellow ribbon in the tail.

ADVERTISING SPONSORS – ATHLETES & HORSES

Athletes are to ensure that any sponsored Saddlecloths or Athlete Wear they compete in during the event – that the Sponsors are registered with SASJ for the current year and sizes of logos are in accordance with articles 256.3 and 257.3 of the FEI Jumping Rules

GROOMS

Riders are requested to provide sleeping accommodation for their grooms as there are no facilities for this purpose. Please note that the lighting of fires or smoking in the stable areas are strictly forbidden.  Kindly inform your grooms. Ablutions are available in the stable area for grooms.

 There are electricity outlets at the stable area.

Water is precious – please be aware of water wastage and help us to conserve water where possible