Critics of proposed new rules designed to protect horses from catching the flu during shows at the Crawford County Fairgrounds claim the restrictions may endanger the nearly $750,000 annual impact the shows have on the community.
About a dozen horse exhibitors were on hand at the commissioners’ work session Tuesday, saying tighter regulations may cut down the number of horse shows at the fairgrounds during the summer as exhibitors won’t be able to afford the cost of vaccinations.
An outbreak of equine influenza during the 2008 Crawford County Fair caused about 70 of 500 horses to become ill, though none died from the flu.
The fair board voted in February to require horse exhibitors at the 2009 Crawford County Fair to have their animals vaccinated against equine influenza plus a rabies shot or the animals won’t be allowed to be shown.
County commissioners are considering tightening regulations for use of the fairgrounds by all horse groups after last year’s outbreak. The county owns the fairgrounds.
There are nine horse shows a year at the fairgrounds plus 4-H horse shows.
Shauna M. Bogardus, vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Riding and Driving Club, said horse owners understand when there are required state regulations such as for the Crawford County Fair. However, owners disagree with more stringent requirements for the other events at the fairgrounds.
“It’s being dictated to us how to take care of our animals,” Bogardus said.
She said a two-day horse show is different than the eight-day fair exhibition.
“If a horse is sick and can’t perform, people won’t bring them to a show,” she said
Alyce Gatts, a horse owner from Atlantic, said even if the new rules are enacted, “all these requirements will not guarantee healthy horses.”
Plus, some of the vaccines such as rabies can cause an adverse reaction in a horse, said Kate Gatts of Atlantic.
“There’s no sense giving a shot that will do more damage than the disease,” said Kate, who is Alyce’s mother-in-law.
There’s also a financial impact, Bogardus said.
Potentially, requiring a 30-day vaccination for each show will cost horse exhibitors and 4-H members in horse clubs too much money, she said.
“You’re going to eviscerate the horse industry in the area,” Bogardus said.
A lack of shows also could have a financial impact on the area, she said.
“You stand to lose a lot of income,” Bogardus said.
The county earned $14,551.31 in rent from the nine horse shows in 2008 and $13,374 in rent from the nine shows in 2007. The county doesn’t charge rent for the 4-H horse shows.
The nine shows at the fairgrounds have an estimated annual impact of $747,000 on the local economy.
That’s based on an average of a two-day show for the nine shows with approximately 500 people attending per day. The Crawford County Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates money spent by visitors recycles up to seven times among area businesses. That’s because local businesses buy supplies from other local firms and also pay wages to their employees, who in turn spend locally. Tourist spending in Pennsylvania has been estimated at about $83 per person per day for meals, lodging entertainment and other expenses.
Commissioner Chairman Morris Waid said the reason the county is studying the vaccination issue is potential liability.
“When people sue they go after the deepest pockets,” he said. “It would be a big issue if the county got sued.”
Commissioners took no action on the matter Tuesday, but took the comments from the horse exhibitors under advisement.
Local News
Critics blast horse vaccination plan
- Local News
-
-
Conneaut Lake Park roars into 120th season
Conneaut Lake Park’s 120th season is officially under way with its in-keeping-with-tradition, four-day Memorial Day weekend opening, and the “crowds are coming in,” Jack Moyers said Saturday.
-
Area communities ready to celebrate Memorial Day
Editor’s note: The following Memorial Day events have been reported for publication in The Tribune. All events are Monday, except those in Edinboro and Shermansville, which are planned for Sunday. -
Remembering Civil War Bucktails
A glimpse into daily life of the Civil War era is easy to see in Crawford County.
-
Area Memorial Day events
The following Memorial Day events have been reported for publication in The Tribune. All events are on Monday, except the one at Edinboro that is planned for Sunday.
-
Civil War soldiers highlight Meadville Memorial Day events
A courageous Meadville man — wounded three times but remaining on a Civil War battlefield until he was too weak to continue — is being remembered this Memorial Day as the Meadville Area Memorial Day Committee continues its mission of observing the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States.
-
Police: Locals admit to killing Ohio woman
Two Cochranton women were arrested and jailed on homicide charges early Thursday after allegedly admitting they killed an Ohio woman and buried her body in a shallow grave near their residence recently.
-
Reader 'Faces' are coming in
Mom's car dash, Meadville, PA
Lucy Kedzierski, 12, looks at the face every morning waiting for school bus!
She took this with a cell phone. -
North Street Project sure to be 'very disruptive'
With the preliminary traffic control plan for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s North Street Project complete, Meadville City Manager Joe Chriest summed up the anticipated impact of the project, which is expected to span the entire 2013 construction season. “This is going to be very, very disruptive,” he said Wednesday.
-
Boat business booming in warm weather
It’s been a booming business in boats this spring, according to some area boat dealers.
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
During the past five years, Moody’s Investors Service has assigned three different ratings — all within the range of “upper medium grade” to the City of Meadville’s bonds. In 2007, the city was given a rating of A3, the lowest of the trio. In 2010, the city’s bond rating was raised to A1, the highest ranking in the “upper medium” category. Monday, Moody’s gave the city’s $10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2012, which went on the market Monday, the middle rating of A2.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
