Flu toll hard to swallow

Help came too late for the Lloyd family and their horses.

Last week two horses born and raised on the Lloyd family-owned Otford Farm died from Equine Influenza (EI).

Every one of the horses at Otford Farm began showing symptoms of EI last month, just days after their first round of vaccinations.

The Otford property’s owner, Tim Lloyd, said he’d been saddened by the loss of the horses and remains worried about the long-term effects on his business.

“We’ve been through floods and droughts and fires - they’re a disaster in the same sense but once they’re over they’re over,” said Mr Lloyd, who now has to tread the line between looking after his horses and running a successful business - with a date set for re-opening in mid January.

“(With horse flu) you’re not sure how it’s going to end.

“You’re not sure whether the eradication program is going to be a success.”

The Lloyd Family accommodate about 50 horses at their farm, which they use to run trail rides and horse riding lessons.

Summer is usually a busy time, but EI has seen the business out of operation since October, with the property strictly quarantined as an essential measure to keep the deadly flu at bay.

But even these drastic measures weren’t enough to prevent casualties.

Mr Lloyd said horse-lovers in the area are suffering too.

Before the flu hit about 100 people were visiting the property every week.

Mr Lloyd said government assistance for affected businesses is just enough to keep going.

“It’s a bit like Centrelink for horses,” he said.

“You survive but you don’t get ahead.”

Trish and JW, the two horses that died, were both of advanced age.

Mr Lloyd said autopsy reports on both horses showed they had died of EI symptoms.

He added that he was still worried about the health of his other older horses, who are most susceptible to the disease.