On Friday May 21st a meeting was held at the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture with main stakeholders within the Icelandic horsemanship. The main purpose of the meeting was to get a clear overview of the infectious cough that has been spreading out among the horses in the country. After a lengthy discussion and evaluation of the situation it was decided that Landsmót would be held as scheduled, but some changes suggested for set dates of the preliminary breeding shows and qualifications, the welfare of the Icelandic horse population being of top priority.
At the meeting a committee, assigned by the Chief Vetinary Officer of Iceland, gave a precise overview on the situation after having gathered extensive information on the respiratory disease. Various interests were evaluated regarding the serious situation, not the least the upcoming Landsmot - the biannual National Horse Festival - scheduled June 27th - July 4th in Skagafjörður, nothern Iceland.
By reaching a decision on whether or not Landsmot should be held the welfare of the horses was put in first place. Preliminary breeding shows and qualifications will continue as scheduled but set dates will be moved back and additional breeding shows may be organized, thereby giving previously ill horses the chance to fully recover and get back into training well before Landsmot.
The following statement was issued after the meeting in the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture on Friday May 21st:
At the meeting of stakeholders in the horsemanship held in the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture in Iceland it is approved that Landsmot should take place as scheduled. All attendees agree that the arrangements and the scheduled preliminaries of Landsmot should be rearranged to give as many horses as possible the chance to attend Landsmot.
A stakeholders meeting is scheduled again at the end of May to re-evaluate the situation on the infectious cough on the horses and their welfare.
