New Veterinary Import Conditions for All Racehorses Permanently Imported into Hong Kong

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New Veterinary Import Conditions for All
Racehorses Permanently Imported into Hong Kong

• Veterinary Department
• Hong Kong Jockey Club

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Objective

• The Stewards of the Hong Kong Jockey Club have
  decided , from 1 July 2002, to enforce compulsory
  veterinary screening to attempt to identify
  actual or potential problems in horses prior to
  import into Hong Kong and therefore protect
  owners from receiving horses with pre-existing
  problems.

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Pre-export veterinary examination 1. to be
organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club's
appointed shipping agents and conducted by
veterinary surgeons in the country of export who
should be suitably qualified and not connected
with the horse in any way. 1 2. to be performed
during the month prior to the horse's entry into
Hong Kong pre-export quarantine.
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Part I - 5 stage vetting

• A standard 5-stage examination
• l Preliminary examination (at rest)
• l Trot-up (in-hand)
• l Strenuous exercise (ridden)
• l Rest period
• l Second trot-up and examination
• -The horse MUST undergo the ridden strenuous
  exercise examination for proper evaluation of its
  wind, heart and action.

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Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong
Kong

• a. Blind in one eye
• b. Cryptorchid (rig)
• c. Wobbler syndrome/ Neurological problem e.g.
  EPM
• d. Persistent lameness
• e. Previous history of epistaxis (EIPH)
• f. Previous history of heart irregularity
• g. Previous history of any neurectomy
  (denerving)

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Conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong
Kong

• a. Vices- crib biting, weavers, box walker, wind
  sucker, etc
• b. Hoof quarter crack, chronic hoof distortion
  and poor foot conformation

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Part II- Radiographic examination

• 42 X-ray images of stifles, hocks, knees,
  fetlocks and front feet.

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Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong
Kong

• Sesamoid Fractures
• Articular bone fragment(s) causing lameness
• Laminitis
• Advanced degenerative joint disease
• Bone cyst depending on location and severity

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Conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong
Kong

• OCD lesion depending on location and severity
• Fractures depending on location and severity
• Ring bone

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Part III- Endoscopic Examination
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Part III- Endoscopic examination

• Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong
  Kong
• Complete laryngeal paralysis (Roarer)
• Ethmoid haematoma
• Persistent dorsal displacement of soft palate
• Pharyngeal/ laryngeal developmental anomalies
  e.g. deformed palato-pharyngeal arch, hypoplastic
  epiglottis, etc
• Epistaxis (EIPH)
• Conditions NOT RECOMMENDED for import into Hong
  Kong
• Entrapped epiglottis

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Part IV- Ultrasonographic Examination

• Both foreleg tendons and suspensory ligament with
  branches to be examined by ultrasound scan.
• Conditions NOT ACCEPTABLE for import into Hong
  Kong
• pre-existing tendon or suspensory injury with
  core lesion or fibre disruption or enlargement

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Blood Test for Analgesic Drug

• A blood sample will be taken after the 5 stage
  vetting to test for Non- Steroidal
  Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID).
• This is to ensure that the horse has not been
  under pain relief drug during the veterinary
  examination.

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PASS/ FAIL

• Should a difference of opinion occur between the
  primary examining veterinary surgeon and the
  Club's appointed second opinion veterinary
  surgeon, then all findings MUST be forwarded to
  the Club. The findings will be evaluated by the
  Club's Veterinary Surgeons who will discuss them
  with the (intended) owner and the (intended)
  trainer, following which a decision will be made
  on whether or not to import the horse.

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Tendon Injury
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Stifle Bone Cyst
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Fractured Sesamoid
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Suspensory Ligament Injury
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Roarer