Instone

How To Make Your Horse Qualify For Export To Hong Kong!

1. Veterinary Procedures and Requirements

a) All veterinary examinations must be carried out within 30 days prior to entering pre-export quarantine and must comply with the 6 points covered in section 6, "Veterinary Criteria for Permanent Importation of Racehorses into Hong Kong" listed below - there will be no exceptions. This pre-export veterinary examination should be carried out in accordance with the Hong Kong Jockey Club's (HKJC) protocol by either:

i. A qualified veterinarian who should not be connected with the horse,
or
ii. The Club's appointed Veterinarian (see list below).

b) The horse must be examined under saddle to complete the thorough 5 stage clinical examination - there will be no exceptions. You must observe and listen to the horses performing half pace or greater, work under saddle.

c) Please request from the agent/owner/trainer any relevant history - this information should be included in your report along with your considered observation on the horse's height, condition, temperament and conformation. The extent of your physical and ophthalmic examination should be in accordance with the AEVA or EBNZVA guidelines for pre-purchase examination.

d) The rhinolaryngoscopic examination must be performed at least once, preferably after the exercise under saddle, and all relevant observations be reported. The examination should include the trachea to the level of the bifurcation.

e) Radiological examination - as a profession we have to improve the quality, positioning and labelling of our x-rays. This radiographic protocol is important to the HKJC for monitoring and following of these cases. Only suitable x-rays should be included with your report ensuring that the minimum 42 x-rays are provided.

Labelling Requirements - radiographs must be:

• Labeled at the time of exposure or developing
• Include Veterinarian's name, horse's name and date
• Have markers placed on the lateral aspect of the limb, or cranial if there is no lateral aspect
• Make sure the label does not overlap the limb
• Front and hind fetlocks must be identified on label
• One view per film is recommended if feasible

Please note you will be asked to repeat radiographs if not up to the required quality, ie. the lateral stifle shot must show not only the patella, but also medial and lateral trochlear ridges and the femoro-tibial joint. Agents/trainers should be made aware that this examination may require the horse to be taken to a clinic for this complete and thorough radiographic procedure. The Australian Veterinary Board regulations insist that the attending veterinarian retain their medical records including x-rays, for a minimum of 2 years. The HKJC require not only your written radiographic report, but also a copy of your x-rays.

f) A thorough report on your clinical findings on palpation and ultrasonographic examination of the tendons and suspensory ligament including the back of the pastern must be recorded in your written report. Although a copy of your printout is encouraged, it is not essential, provided we have a detailed written report.

g) The blood sample must be collected on the day of the 5 stage clinical examination and forwarded to one of the laboratories mentioned below in section 5 that has been indicated by Instone. Samples must be collected in the containers provided and the instructions for collection must be strictly adhered too. Instone will forward these collection packs to you as the New South Wales Laboratory & the Victoria Laboratory have different testing kits.

This result must be included with your written report or forwarded, when received, to the HKJC nominated veterinarian. If any horse returns a positive phenylbutazone assay (or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory), the horse will not be allowed to travel to Hong Kong unless a further full 5 stage clinical examination is completed, together with a further blood sample negative for NSAID's taken on the day of lameness examination after exercise. No exceptions will be allowed.

h) Once you have completed your clinical examination, including ancillary tests if indicated (ie. ECG), a full written report must be provided, together with the radiographs, blood results and ultrasound print-out, and forwarded directly to the HKJC appointed veterinarian in your area for their review. Instone will nominate the veterinarian they would like these reports to be forwarded too. The list of HKJC appointed veterinarian can be viewed in section 4 listed below.

i) The final paragraph of your report must place the horse into one of three categories:

1. Within the limits of this examination, I believe this horse meets the requirements of the HKJC for importation into Hong Kong.
2. Within the limits of this examination, I believe this horse clinically meets the requirements of the HKJC but some reservations have been found (ie. Clinically normal but slight arthritis pastern joint, epiglottic entrapment).
3. Within the limits of this examination, I believe this horse does not meet the requirements of the HKJC (ie. Chronic tendon, roarer, severe carpitis, persistent lameness).

j) The nominated HKJC veterinarian will review your report and x-rays, and hopefully confirm your opinion. Any horse, which falls into the second category, will have the reports referred immediately to Hong Kong for assessment by HKJC veterinarians. It is still possible for these horses to be imported with certain provisos, after discussion between the Hong Kong owner/trainer and the HKJC representatives in Hong Kong.

k) All veterinary reports, radiographs, blood results and ultrasound print-outs cleared by the Club's appointed veterinarians are then forwarded to Instone who will then in turn forward these to the HKJC's Veterinary Department to be kept on record.

This whole process is about transparency and integrity. The Hong Kong Jockey Cub wishes to be better informed of pre-existing abnormalities than they have in the past, and they also wish to have the opportunity to discuss any issues which may arise during the examination, with the Hong Kong owner/trainer prior to importation.

If you have any question regarding the requirements or procedures forming the above pre-export examination, you should call one of the nominated HKJC veterinarians and/or Instone Air Services before commencing the examination.

This importation criterion is the Club's official requirements for the use of the HKJC only.

2. Agent Procedures and Requirements

a) A Booking Form must be completed either online or by fax and submitted to our office to guarantee a space on the shipment. The horses value, insurance option and owner details must be completed in order for your booking to be valid.

Please note that no horses will be accepted for pre-export quarantine if the Owner's details and eligibility to import a horse into Hong Kong are not confirmed by the HKJC. Therefore, these details will need to be provided on the Booking Form otherwise sufficient time will be needed to confirm these details with the Club.

b) Please note that it is now a requirement that Instone receives all horses Foal Identification Cards at the time of making a booking. In instances where we have not received a Foal Identification Card then the horses will remain on the reserve list, until such time as it is received by this office. Therefore can you please send all Foal Identification Cards via Express Post to our office at your earliest convenience.

Instone Air Services
PO Box 887
Mittagong NSW 2575

c) All Hong Kong Owners must have a valid permit for the racing season.

d) Without approval from the Club's appointed vet, and Instone no horse should start the pre-export quarantine.

3. Accounts

a) All expenses incurred for the pre-export veterinary examination and the fees charged by the Club's appointed vet should all be for the Hong Kong Owner's account or the Agents account.

b) Should a horse fail the veterinary examination then Instone Air Services will accept no responsibility for any veterinary charges that you may have incurred.

4. Hong Kong Jockey Club Appointed Veterinarians for Australia

5. Australian Laboratories for NSAIDs Tests

6. Veterinary Criteria For Permanent Importation Of Racehorses Into Hong Kong

(This protocol must be completed within 30 days of entering pre-export quarantine)

1. History (eg. previous surgery, bleeding, drug treatment, etc)

Should identify the person providing the history and their position - ie. Trainer/owner/groom.

2. 5-Stage Veterinary Examination

Satisfactory / Not Satisfactory

• Preliminary examination (at rest) - physical examination.
• Trot-up (in-hand) - complete lameness examination.
• Strenuous exercise (ridden) - half pace or faster.
• Rest period - physical examination 10-20 minutes post exercise.
• Second trot-up and examination - repeat flexion tests.

Comments:

Detailed description of any abnormal findings required.

Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong Kong
a. Blind in one eye
b. Cryptorchid ("rig")
c. Wobbler syndrome/neurological problem, eg. EPM
d. Persistent lameness
e. Previous history of epistaxis
f. Previous history of heart irregularity
g. Previous history of any neurectomy ("denerving")

Conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong Kong
a. Vices - crib biting, weavers, box walker, wind sucker, etc.
b. Hoof quarter crack, chronic hoot distortion and poor foot confirmation.

3. Endoscopic Examination of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Satisfactory / Not Satisfactory

Comments:

To be performed preferably after exercise. If sedation is used, it should be noted. Examination should include observation of at least 3 swallows, nasal occlusion and examination to the level of the bifurcation of the trachea.

Examples of conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong Kong (not necessarily complete)
a. Laryngeal paralysis ("roarer"); pronounced incomplete (Grade4/5) abduction associated with noise during exercise.
b. Ethmoid haematoma.
c. Persistent dorsal displacement of soft palate.
d. Pharyngeal/laryngeal developmental anomalies (eg. rostral displacement palato-pharyngeal arch, severe hypoplastic epiglottis, etc.)
e. Epistaxis (EIPH) - Grade 3>.
f. Severe chondritis
g. Marked narrowing of nasal passages (choncal enlargement, septal deviation, etc.)

Examples of conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong Kong

a. Entrapped epiglottis.
b. Subepiglottic cyst
c. Easily induced, difficult to replace, intermittent dirsal displacement of the soft palate.

4. Radiographic Examination

As per Hong Kong protocol (attached).
Minimum of 42 x-rays.

Satisfactory/Not Satisfactory

Comments:

Views:
Front feet: AP - upright pedal exposed to evaluate solar margin of P3

Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong Kong
a. Sesamoid fractures
b. Articular bone fragment(s) causing lameness
c. Laminitis - acute, P3 rotation or distal displacement
d. Advanced degenerative joint disease
e. Bone cyst depending on location and severity
f. Severe active sesamoiditis

Examples of conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong Kong

a. OCD lesion depending on location and severity
b. Fractures depending on location and severity
c. Ringbone

5. Ultrasonographic Examination of Both Fore Tendons and Suspensory Ligament Including Its Branches

Satisfactory / Not Satisfactory

Comments:

Recognised standards for examination should be used - including clipping or shaving, sequential evaluation of flexor tendons, and suspensory ligament (origin, body and branches) using zone classification or measured intervals from the accessory carpal bone. Cross-sectional and longitudinal evaluation should be performed. Measurements of any areas considered abnormal should be recorded.

Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong Kong

a. Pre-existing tendon or suspensory injury with core lesion or fibre disruption or enlargement.

6. A Blood Sample has been taken for testing for NSAID's

a. Racing in Hong Kong is free of prohibited substances.
b. No NSAID's have been administered prior to the veterinary examination.

Blood samples must be taken on the day of the 5-stage examination.

7. Recommendation For Export To Hong Kong

Within the limits of the examination:
a. I believe this horse meets the requirements of the Hong Kong Jockey Club for importation into Hong Kong.
b. I believe this horse clinically meets the requirements of the HKJC, but some reservations have been found (ie. clinically normal but slight arthritis pastern joint, epiglottic entrapment).
c. I believe this horse does not meet the requirements of the HKJC (ie. persistent lameness, chronic tendon, roarer, severe carpitis).
(Delete the inappropriate)

Comments:

Veterinary Surgeon:
Name:------------------------- Signature:----------------------------
Date:------------------------

7. Radiographic Views Required and X-Ray Film Label

Radiographs of diagnostic quality with proper labelling of the following joints (minimum no. of required views = 42):

Other anatomical parts which are clinically indicated

Label for X-ray film envelope

Hong Kong Permanent Import of Racehorses Shipping Agent: _________________ Country: _______________________ Veterinarian: _____________________________________________________ Sire: ____________________________________________________________ Dam: ___________________________________________________________ Date of Films: ___________________ Total No. of Films: ________________   (Minimum Number Accepted is 42) Required Views: _______Carpus: 5 views: AP, Lat/Med Ob (30° - 40°), Med/Lat Ob (20° - 30°), Flexed     Lateral, Flexed DPr-DdiOb view of the Distal Carpal Bones _______Fetlock: 4 views: Front-AP, Med Ob, Lat Ob, Flexed Lateral   4 views: Rear-AP, Med Ob, Lat Ob, Lateral _______Hock: 4 views: AP, Med/Lat Ob ( or 15° PALMO), 10° Lateral of AP, Lateral _______Stifle: 2 views: Lateral, Caudo-cranial _______Foot: 2 views: Front only- Upright Pedal, Lateral Other Views: ________ ________________________________________________________ ________ ________________________________________________________

8. Veterinary Examination

Hong Kong protocol for Re-Examination of Imported Horses between days 30 - 60 following initial Examination.

1) Full 5 stage clinical examination undertaken

Date:
Clinical Examination at rest:
Flexion Tests:
Observation at exercise:
Examination on cooling down:

2) Blood collected for NSAID's and Local Anaesthetic
3) Further procedures indicated from Clinical examination:
4) In my opinion, there is no clinical indication (other than those described in paragraph 3 ) for further radiographic, ultrasound scans, or endoscopic examinations to confirm the suitability of the above described horse for importation into Hong Kong for racing purposes.

Signed:

9. Carer / Managers Report

Hong Kong Protocol for Re-examination of Imported horses between days 30 - 60 following initial Veterinary examination.

Date

1) Has the above described horse raced or had an official trial since the initial Veterinary examination?

2) This is to state, that to the best of my knowledge there has been no change in the above described horses soundness and health status since the initial Veterinary examination, and that there is no history of any significant incident which may have had the potential to impact on this horses soundness/health status ( unless described below).

Signed:

Position: