WHILE the equine industry dominated the airwaves this week, a major issue that has the devastating potential to upend the entire applecart went largely under the national radar.

It is of course the very real threat posed to the entire equine industry, here and abroad, by the current serious outbreak in Europe of the EHV-1 (Equine Herpes Virus) in mainland Europe. Make no mistake about it, this is the most serious outbreak of its kind in Europe in decades – horses are really suffering with and sadly in some cases, dying from this awful virus. The firsthand account of Thomas Ryan (pictured right) is chilling as he recounts the scenes from an affected showgrounds.