Evaluating the Potential for a Horse Industry Information Service
A report for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
by
Martin Sillence, Hunter Doughty, Irene Mills, Craig McDonald, Jan Scott and Grant Poolman
January 1999
RIRDC Publication No. 99/9 RIRDC Project No. UCS-18A
i
1999 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved.
ISBN 0 642 57847 8 ISSN 1440-6845
“Evaluating the Potential for a Horse Industry Information Service” Publication No. 99/9 Project No. UCS-18A
The views expressed and the conclusions reached in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of persons consulted. RIRDC shall not be responsible in any way whatsoever to any person who relies in whole or in part on the contents of this report.
This publication is copyright. However, RIRDC encourages wide dissemination of its research, providing the Corporation is clearly acknowledged. For any other enquiries concerning reproduction, contact the Publications Manager on phone 02 6272 3186.
Researcher Contact Details Dr Martin Sillence School of Agriculture Charles Sturt University PO Box 588 WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2678 Phone: 02 6933 2205 Fax: 02 6933 2812
RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 1, AMA House 42 Macquarie Street BARTON ACT 2600
PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604
Phone: 02 6272 4539 Fax: 02 6272 5877 email: [email protected]
Published in January 1999 Printed on environmentally friendly paper by the AFFA Copy Centre
ii
Foreword
A primary strategic goal of RIRDC is to facilitate access to ‘state-of-the-art’ information for the Australian Horse Industry. One method of achieving this aim could be through the establishment of a Horse Information Service.
Part one of this report documents the results of a survey to identify, classify and prioritise the information needs of the horse industry. It also describes the industry’s preferred process of assessing this information.
In the second part of this report, sources of equine information are assessed and a number of resources including books, journals, databases and internet web sites are evaluated.
Alternative means of collecting and managing horse information in a database are described in part three of the report. Recommendations are made regarding the most appropriate information technology system to service the needs of a horse information service.
In part four a business plan is presented which outlines the operation of such a service. This plan shows the physical and financial process needed to make the service a viable and effective unit.
This report, the latest addition to our diverse range of over 250 research publications, forms part of RIRDC’s Horse R&D program, which aims to assist in developing the Australian horse industry and enhancing its export potential.
Peter Core Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
iii
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all the survey participants for their time and co-operation. We also thank the managers of the various information services visited, including Tricia Larner (Tropical Beef Centre), Garry McKenzie (FarmLine), Rob Parker (Farm Wide), John MacDonald (Parliamentary Information Service) and Terry Boston (Environmental Resources Information Network) for their constructive advice. Finally, we acknowledge the kind assistance of Mr Tony Dunn (Charles Sturt University) in helping us to construct the survey questionnaire.
iv Contents
Foreword iii Acknowledgments iv Executive Summary vi
MAIN REPORT General Introduction 1
PART 1: Information Needs of the Horse Industry 2 Introduction 3 Objective 3 Methodology 3 Results and Discussion 5 Implications 13
PART 2: Sources of Information for the Horse Industry in Australia 14 Introduction 15 Objective 15 Methodology 16 Results and Discussion 16 Implications 42
PART 3: Technical Management of Equine Information 43 Introduction 44 Objective 44 Methodology 45 Results and Discussion 45 Implications 60 References 61
PART 4: Business Plan for a Horse Information Service 62 Objective 63 Business Plan 63 Costs 64 Summary Costs and Sources of Funds 69
RECOMMENDATIONS 71
v Executive Summary
Objective
To identify the information needs of the horse industry and to determine a method by which these needs can be met.
Background
The RIRDC Equine Industry Program 1 has the primary objective of encouraging participants in the Australian horse industry to have access to ‘state-of-the-art’ information.
At the present time government agencies such as Departments of Agriculture have not included the horse industry in their normal extension services. Therefore, horse owners and managers must individually address the scientific literature or await relevant articles in popular journals. There is no readily available method by which a lay person in the industry can initiate an enquiry or find information that is easily interpreted.
The industry needs an information service that can respond quickly to an enquiry, and provide information that is concise, accurate and easily understood.
Research
Industry Survey
To determine the information needs of the horse industry we surveyed 321 participants chosen at random from a variety of sources. The participants represented six sectors of the horse industry including administrators, trainers, breeders, animal health and nutrition professionals, service industry workers and educators. The participants were sent a questionnaire by mail, and two weeks later they were interviewed by telephone. A sub-group of 40 industry representatives was interviewed face-to-face. The questions asked were: how do you currently obtain information on horse-related matters?; what types of information interest you most?; what would be your preferred method for accessing an information service and having the information delivered?; and how do you think an equine information service should be funded? The overall response rate to the survey was 60%.
The way that participants currently obtain information was consistent across all sectors, with books, magazines and word of mouth being used most frequently. Few people surveyed currently obtain information by telephone, or through the internet. Out of 22 different categories, the most popular information topics were health, nutrition, training/exercise, alternative treatments, reproduction and lameness, in that order. These results are in broad agreement with those of an earlier survey to
vi determine equine R & D priorities. If a new information service is established, most of the participants said they would prefer to obtain information by mail or fax, indicating a preference for hard-copy. The larger industry sectors in the survey (administrators and trainers) were less keen on accessing information through the internet, but this was in contrast to three smaller sectors, one of which (breeders) gave the internet as its preferred medium. There was no clear preference for a single method of funding an information service, with many respondents favouring a mixed model incorporating user-pays, government subsidy and industry levy. Commercial sponsorship was the least common response for all sectors except health and nutrition professionals.
The survey revealed considerable enthusiasm across all industry sectors for the idea of establishing an equine information service. A clear set of priorities could be identified for the types of information the industry wants most, and the way in which that information should be delivered. The fact that a significant number of respondents indicated they would support a user-pays service suggests a genuine commitment to this idea. Overall though, the industry considers that a model of mixed funding would be most appropriate to finance an equine information service.
Evaluation of Available Equine Information
A comprehensive analysis of available information has been completed including texts and reference books, internet sites, directories, research publications, statistical sources, indexes to serial articles and journals.
Charles Sturt University library already possesses a comprehensive collection of horse journals and texts. Estimates have been made of the cost of expanding this collection to meet the needs of an information service.
This study also investigated the feasibility of cooperating with other information providers, particularly the Kondinin Group. Although this service provides information in a separate field, it is well advanced as a service provider.
The Technical Management of Equine Information
This part of the study examined data management and information retrieval systems, data management technologies and facilities technologies. It also assessed what technological advancements relevant to this project can be expected within the foreseeable future.
Based upon the information gathered, we have included cost estimates in this report to establish a base-level service and to develop this to a more advanced operation once the service becomes fully utilised.
vii The Proposal
That Charles Sturt University establishes an Equine Information Service in partnership with the horse industry.
This service would be located in a prominent position in the University Library on the Wagga Wagga campus. Charles Sturt University would relocate its current collection of books and journals to this location. The University would continue to expand its collection of horse books and journals at least at the current rate. This collection would be enhanced further by the Information Service. This service would subscribe to additional journals and publications, as well as electronically sourceable information.
The service would also provide comfortable public access areas for members of the industry to read books or journals, to access the information data base on the computer provided, or to discuss their needs with a dedicated full-time information specialist.
A full-time information technologist would manage the service and this person would catalogue all incoming journals and articles into a data base, as well as deal with public inquiries.
The activities of the service would be overseen by a board of management comprised of CSU staff and other horse industry representatives.
Costs of Information Service
The University will provide accommodation for the service and necessary infrastructure support, as well as a team of eleven academic and technical staff who will provide expert advice on horse-related matters. Students enrolled in the equine science degree may also be available to assist in operating the service from time to time. The University will also provide twenty thousand dollars each year towards the salary of the service manager and an additional ten thousand dollars per year for the purchase of serials and journals.
viii Costs to Industry Sponsor for Year One
Item Set-up Annual Librarian (level 6 step 3) 47,162 Books 4,000 Other Reports, Research Papers etc 2,000 Databases 300 Two Computers (leased) 3,000 Printer 1,000 Enquiry Tracking System software 500 Web-site software and set-up 2,000 500 Cataloguing and Full Text management software (desk top) 500 Phones and fax 2,500 Shelving (collection) 3,500 Alteration of existing space 3,000 Computer work stations (two) } Office chairs (two) } Filing cabinet } Comfortable chairs (eight) } 4,000 Low tables (two) } Tables / desks (six) } Upright chairs (twelve) } TOTAL $14,100 $59,462
After deducting the financial contribution of The University, the industry would be asked to contribute the following amounts:
Estimated cost for first year 1999 $43,562
Estimated cost for years two and three $29,462
Implications
With the introduction of the national horse-shoe levy, members of the Australian horse industry are making a visible contribution to the research efforts of Australian institutions.
This project creates the opportunity to ‘complete the circle’ ie. those who are financially contributing to research will be rewarded with the information forthcoming from that research as well as information from around the world.
ix General Introduction
This is a report to the Equine R & D Committee of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. The report has been prepared by a research team that has investigated the need for an Equine Information Service, the availability of information, methods of delivering this information, and the viability of such a service.
The report is presented in four parts:
Part 1
Horse industry participants were surveyed. This survey assessed the perceived needs for information by those actively involved in the horse industry. It further identified the different types of information required and methods of delivering this information favoured by practitioner groups within the industry.
Part 2
Horse industry information both from Australian and International sources was analysed. This part of the project shows that a comprehensive array of scientific information is available, but reveals the difficulty encountered when attempting to access lay or practical information, as this information does not originate in the journals normally included in scientific data bases.
Part 3
Information management technology was assessed in relation to a horse information service. This section of the report determines the most appropriate methods of collating information, and discusses how this information could be retrieved in response to enquiries to the service.
Part 4
A business plan for a horse information service has been prepared. This plan outlines the physical location and facilities that will be allocated to the service. It also suggests methods of promoting the service to the horse industry. A financial budget for the service during the first three years of its operation is included.
The information gathered in this four part study has led to a series of recommendations which are presented at the end of this report.
1
PART 1
INFORMATION NEEDS OF THE HORSE INDUSTRY
Hunter Doughty and Martin Sillence
2 Introduction
This survey was undertaken to gauge the level of demand for an equine information service by the horse industry, and to determine the type of service that would best suit the industry’s needs. The survey was designed to allow participants to express as many ideas and opinions as possible, but at the same time answers were sought to four specific questions. In broad terms the questions were: how do you currently obtain equine information?; what types of information do you need most?; what would be your preferred method for accessing the service and having the information delivered?; and how do you think such a service should be funded?
It was important to obtain a balanced and representative industry response within the time-frame and budget allowed. Our strategy was to approach over three hundred industry representatives from several different sectors ranging from educators to horse breeders. A combination of mail, telephone and personal interview techniques was used to obtain the responses.
Objective
To identify, classify and prioritise the information needs of the horse industry, and to discover the industry’s preferred means for access and delivery of this information.
Methodology
Survey Design
The survey questionnaire and general strategy were developed in collaboration with rural social scientist, Mr T. Dunn, Charles Sturt University. A letter was drafted to inform the participants about who was sponsoring the survey, the nature of the questions and the intended use of the results. Participants were also given an assurance that their responses would be treated in confidence.
The questionnaire was designed to extract both qualitative and quantitative information, and contained four specific questions.
1. How do you currently obtain information on horse-related matters ?
2. What types of information interest you most ?
3. What type of medium do you find most convenient (eg. mail, phone, fax, internet)?
4. How do you think an equine information service should be funded ?
Three hundred and twenty one participants were sent this information by mail, and were allowed between one and two weeks to consider the questions. The majority of participants were then contacted by telephone, with a view to collecting their response to the questions, as well as to document any other pertinent information they wished to volunteer. Participants who did not expect to be available for telephone interview were asked in the letter to return their responses by mail.
3
A sub-group of 40 participants was chosen for a series of more detailed and qualitative face-to face interviews, based on their geographical location and industry sector. These interviews were conducted in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Perth, as well as regional NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Interviewees included representatives from all six major industry sectors, as described below.
Selection of Participants
To avoid biasing the survey towards a particular sector of the horse industry, the names addresses and telephone numbers for 321 intended participants were obtained at random from several sources including the Charles Sturt University equine database, the A to Z Horse Industry Directory for Victoria and Tasmania (V. Hawkins and C. Scott, 1st edn. Australian Print Group, Maryborough, Vic.), state racing calendars, and magazine advertisements.
The list of participants was compiled and divided into six major groups according to industry sector. These groups were as follows.
Industry administrators: predominantly breed societies, but including flat-racing, harness racing, equestrian and western sports administration, and show societies.
Trainers: including those involved with publications related to training.
Horse breeders: including those involved with breeding publications.
Animal health and nutrition professionals: including veterinarians, veterinary suppliers, feed suppliers and suppliers of nutrition supplements.
Service industries: including saddlers, horse transporters, retailers and all other participants.
Educators: including universities, TAFE colleges, secondary schools, and industry training bodies.
Interview Procedure and Response Analysis
All participants were telephoned. Those who were contactable were interviewed using a standard procedure. The interviewee was reminded about the survey and the letter, and the questions were repeated as written with minimum prompting to avoid a biased response. The responses were recorded on a standard pro-forma, and then the participant was invited to add any further thoughts or opinions which were recorded separately. Questionnaires returned by mail and responses obtained through personal interview were treated in the same manner as telephone responses, except that personal interview generated considerably more discussion and insight.
Each response to a given question was scored as 1. Because participants were allowed to enter more than one response to each question, there were more responses in total than there were participants. In some cases the relative importance of a given
4 response is shown by expressing the number of like responses as a percentage of the total number of responses obtained to that question. The data were examined on a whole-industry basis, and then by sector to determine if the results were skewed in any way by sectoral bias.
Results and Discussion
The results of the survey are summarised below.
Response Rate
The number of respondents within each category is shown in table 1. Of these respondents 119 were interviewed by telephone, 32 returned their questionnaire by mail or fax. and 40 were interviewed in person.
Table 1. Response rate of survey participants by industry sector
Industry sector Number Number Percent contacted replied response Industry administrators 130 74 56.9 Trainers 65 50 76.9 Horse breeders 62 32 51.6 Animal health and nutritionists 29 12 41.4 Service industries 18 16 88.9 Educators 17 7 41.2 Total 321 191 59.5
The overall response rate of 59.5 % was a pleasing result and was taken to reflect both the survey strategy and the general level of interest in this topic within the horse industry. Some variation in response rate was seen between the different sectors, with service industries and trainers showing the highest rate.
5 Question 1: How do you currently obtain information on horse-related matters ?
Number of responses from whole industry 0100200 Books/magazines
Word of mouth
Internet
Telephone
Percent response within each industry sector
050 050 050 Books/magazines Word of mouth Internet Telephone Admin Trainers Breeders
050 050 050 Books/magazines Word of mouth Internet Telephone Health/Nutr. Service Education
Figure 1. Total number responses obtained for question 1 across the whole survey and by industry sector
There was remarkable uniformity in the way that the different industry sectors responded to this question, and this is illustrated by the consistent pattern shown in the graphs.
The most common means by which the horse industry accesses information at present, is through books, magazines and word of mouth, with these categories being used more than twice as much as the telephone or internet.
6 Question 2: What types of information interest you most ?
The responses have been consolidated into 22 topics and divided into four categories according to popularity, as shown in table 2.
Table 2. Relative demand for information on different topics across the horse industry.
Most popular Popular Less popular Least popular (>10 % per (4 % to 10 %) (2 % to 4 %) (< 2 % of item) responses) % % % % Health 16.1 Alternative 9.1 Travel/transport 3.9 Behavioural 1.5 treatments problems Nutrition 14.3 Reproduction 8.4 Business/ 3.6 Horse 1.5 employment welfare Training/ 13.2 Lameness 5.2 Drugs 3.4 Pasture 1.4 exercise Pedigrees 2.9 management Industry statistics 2.4 Farriery 1.4 Directory of 2.4 Facility 1.3 goods & service design suppliers General 2.4 Dentistry 1.3 information Product 2.1 Industry 1.1 information politics Common 1.1 myths
Across the industry as a whole there is a clear preference for certain topics such as health and nutrition, with each topic in the highest-scoring category being requested more frequently than all topics in the lowest category put together. This information will be valuable in setting priorities for an information service, such as the production of fact sheets, the purchase of books, or subscription to journals.
The results may be compared with those of an earlier mail survey which examined research and development (R & D) priorities for the horse industry (Five year R & D plan for the equine industry program, RIRDC, 1996). In general, there is close agreement between the two survey results, with health, nutrition and training/exercise being in the top categories, and transport, dentistry and facility design being in the lower categories. A notable difference was that ‘alternative treatments’ and reproduction were considered to be popular topics for information seekers in the present survey, but were considered less important as potential R & D areas in the earlier study.
7 To identify any potential bias in the responses, we compared the responses of each industry sector with the overall response.
For industry administrators: the response profile was consistent with the industry response overall, except for a slightly greater interest in horse transport/travel (6 % versus 3.9 %) and less interest in industry statistics (1.5 % versus 2.4 %).
Trainers: had a slightly greater interest in information on pedigrees (4.6 % versus 2.9 %) and drugs (4.6 % versus 3.4 %), than the other groups surveyed.
Horse breeders: had less interest in lameness (2.7 % versus 5.2 %) and much less interest in training/exercise (2.3 % versus 13.2 %) than the other sectors, but a far greater interest in reproduction (26.6 % versus 8.4 %) as would be expected.
Animal health and nutritionists: had relatively more interest in drug information than other sectors (5.6 % versus 3.4 %), but surprisingly, no interest in reproduction (0 % versus 8.4 %).
Service industry participants: did not show quite as strong an interest in nutrition (9.1 % versus 14.3 %) or in training/exercise (8.6 % versus 13.2 %) as the other sectors.
Educators: showed no deviation from the overall industry preferences.
Overall there appeared to be a considerable level of commonality in regard to the priority information needs of different sectors of the horse industry. An information service that recognises these priorities should be able to cater effectively for the needs of most users.
8 Question 3: What type of medium would you find most convenient (to access information)?
Number of responses from whole industry 0 100 200 Mail
Fax.
Phone
Internet
Newsletter
Percent response within each industry sector
050 050 050 Mail Fax. Phone Internet Newsletter Admin Trainers Breeders 050 050 050 Mail Fax. Phone Internet Newsletter Health/Nutr. Service Education
Figure 2. Industry and sector responses obtained for question 3
9
The response to this question showed less uniformity between different sectors than the response to question 1. Overall, the industry showed a preference for accessing information through the mail or by fax, with the internet, newsletter and telephone being less attractive options. This probably reflects a desire to have a hard-copy of the information, rather than having to rely on verbal advice. Health and nutrition professionals favoured telephone information the least, with this option accounting for only 4% of their responses, compared with an industry average of 19 %.
The low score for the internet as a preferred medium was accounted for by the response of the two largest groups surveyed, the industry administrators and horse trainers, both of whom gave a response of 15 %. This reflects either a limited degree of internet access by these groups, or a general preference for hard-copy over the electronic medium. Other sectors showed a stronger desire for internet information, particularly service industries, health/nutrition, and breeders, who gave response rates of 21 %, 24 % and 26 % respectively. The internet as a preferred medium was the most common response obtained from the last group. Newsletters were the least favourite option, probably reflecting a desire for a user-driven rather than provider- driven service. A deviation from this trend was found in the service industries, however, who were keener on newsletters in comparison with the other sectors (21 % versus 15 %). Educators showed no strong preference for any given medium.
10 Question 4: How do you think an equine information service should be funded ?
Number of responses from whole industry 0 100 200 Subsidy Gov/Bus
User-pay
Industry levy
Commercial
Percent response within each industry sector
050 050 050 Subsidy Gov/Bus User-pay Industry levy Commercial
Admin Trainers Breeders
050 050 050 Subsidy Gov/Bus User-pay Industry levy Commercial
Health/Nutr. Service Education
Figure 3. Total number responses obtained for question 4 across the whole survey and by industry sector
11 When considered across the industry as a whole, there was no clear preference for a given system of funding the proposed equine information service, and in fact many respondents favoured a mixed-funding model. Systems of user-pays, government subsidy and industry levy were equally popular (26 % to 28 %), whereas the option of commercial sponsorship was chosen less frequently (18 %).
On a sector basis, the response of industry administrators and educators was consistent with the overall response pattern, as can be seen in figure 3. Government subsidy was markedly less popular with health and nutrition professionals (11 %) than with other industry sectors (28 %), with this group giving a markedly higher response rate in favour of commercial sponsorship, than the industry average (33 % versus 18 %). A similar trend was evident in the response of the breeding sector. The system of user-pays was less attractive to trainers (19 %) and slightly more attractive to service industry professionals (33 %), when compared with the average industry response (27 %). Horse trainers were those most in favour of using an industry levy to fund the information service (35 %).
Other Comments Received
The following is a representative selection of comments made by the interviewees. A small minority (3 to 5 people) was not in favour of an information service, and without exception these were thoroughbred trainers in the top 1 % of their profession. The following comment typifies the response of this group.
“I don’t think there should be a public service available to every trainer. I can get all the information I need. You wouldn’t know how the other trainers would use the information. I get my information from contacts in America mostly, but also England and France” - (Leading Sydney Metropolitan trainer).
The majority of trainers were strongly in favour of an information service, however.
“Somewhere we can get information about new training methods or products would be great! We don’t seem to hear about the things the big trainers in town have until they have found something better or newer, and nobody in this game wants to give away any secrets” - (Country trainer).
Breed societies and state or national offices for various societies had this to say:
“We need good basic information for members. A lot of our members have little experience with horses. We get a lot of inquiries about where to find things out from: from people who can hot-shoe horses to the side- effects of drugs...... ”
“This office gets a lot of questions about individual horse problems, and questions regarding housing and care of horses, where people get things for horses, or just where they can go to get information”
“Our members ask us all sorts of stuff, but lately a lot about drought feeding....”
12
Horse breeders often had specific needs such as:
“There seems to be a lot of new information available on breeding research that comes out of America and Europe that is really hard to get here...... ”
Finally, many positive comments came from individual horse owners.
“....there are always things I would like to know, especially when things go wrong.”
“...Yes please! We are really isolated and find it hard to get any information.”
Implications
A good response rate was received to this survey of horse industry information needs. The industry is consistent in the way that information is currently obtained, which is largely through books, magazines and word of mouth. The industry also identified consistently the following topics as being of greatest importance: health, nutrition, training/exercise, alternative treatments, reproduction and lameness. The industry needs a service to supply this information, which it would prefer to receive in the form of a hard-copy. A mixed funding model would be most appropriate to fund an equine information service, incorporating a combination of industry levy, user-pays and government subsidy.
13
PART 2
SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR THE HORSE INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA
Irene Mills
14 Introduction
The horse industry is one of Australia’s biggest industries and is worth more than $15 billion per year. It includes racing, equestrian sports, a breeding industry, and recreational use of horses. This very diversity held development of the industry back for a long time.
It was not until 1992 that a workshop was held to identify the common needs of the industry. From this has followed the strengthening of representation of the horse industry by the formation of the Australian Horse Industry Council in April 1997 from the existing Australian Horse Council. The structure of the new body allows for representation from each area of the industry and will be a single voice in matters relating to education, animal health and welfare (including quarantine), and research and development. Another outcome of the 1992 workshop was the formation of an Equine R & D Advisory Committee of the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation. The following extract from the RIRDC Horses Internet page explains the structure of funding used for research
In 1995, RIRDC appointed an Equine R&D Advisory Committee to oversee a R&D program, following agreement by the Australian Conference of Principal Racing Clubs to provide significant financial support for an equine R&D program. The Committee oversees the investment of government and industry funds in equine R&D projects. Since the commencement of the program, additional financial support has been received from the Australian Harness Racing Council, the Equestrian Federation of Australia, the Australian Stock Horse Society, the Australian Quarter Horse Association, the Australian Equine Veterinary Association and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia. The Committee has worked closely with the Australian Horse Council in promoting and integrating the R&D program.
Much of the science-based research relating to the horse undertaken in Australia is carried out in University Departments where there are schools of veterinary science. In the past, the results of this research have generally been published in overseas journals. One important aim of RIRDC is to publish the results of research to which they contribute funding within Australia. To make the results of this research available to practitioners within the horse industry is one of the goals of the Equine R & D Committee, and to this end they have been producing their quarterly RIRDC Equine Research News.
This report on existing sources of information available to the horse industry has been partly-funded by the Committee to fulfil its goal “to identify what information is currently available in Australia and overseas.” The report outlines the major sources of equine information and the costs involved in obtaining this information. It also suggests avenues that may be followed in setting up a horse information service.
Objective
To identify important Australian and overseas information resources for the horse industry.
15 Methodology
Research for this report included visiting libraries whose collections deal with both veterinary and horse management areas. Librarians and academics were interviewed concerning their understanding of available information resources.
Results and Discussion
Information resources relating to the horse industry are characterised by their multidisciplinary nature, reflecting the range of professions and industries comprising it. While much information needed by the industry is health (and so veterinary) related, almost as much is covered by the agricultural (animal management) and sporting/equestrian resources. This section discusses in general terms the most valuable resources identified. A detailed reference list follows in the next section.
General Resources
General texts
There is a wide range of titles that give a comprehensive introduction to the horse. Horse sense: The Australian Guide to Horse Husbandry is one of these which is noteworthy for its illustrated section on plants poisonous to horses. It also provides more information on facilities (stables, yards) than most books of this nature, and is a useful text in areas of training. Another general Australian title is The Complete Book of Horse Care, by Howcroft. Two comprehensive international texts are The Horse by Evans et al., which includes a history of the horse, and Horses and Horsemanship (6th ed) by Ensminger. For the beginning pony club member two useful titles are Horses: Basics for Beginners and Mum’s and Dad’s Horse Book. There is a series of guides published by Kenilworth in the U.K. and distributed in Australia called Threshold Picture Guides which are easily obtained and useful.
Several other titles are worth mentioning here. Pilkington’s Australian Horses as a Primary Industry is a survey of the horse industry in Australia; while The Horse and the Law by Pannam gives an authoritative survey of the law relating to horses and horse ownership.
Preventing land degradation by horses is a concern of everyone involved. This has been addressed by the South Australian Department of Primary Industries by the publication of Hoofprints: A Manual of Horse Property Management by Foyel; and in a publication by the Western Australia Department of Agriculture titled Green Horse which supplements the magazine Hoofbeats to subscribers and through W.A. stores (copies sold in other states do not include the supplement).
16 Internet resources
There are several Internet sites which give a comprehensive way-in to information available on horses. Major Australian sites include HorseNET, Australian Horse Resources, and Cyberhorse. Haynet, NetVet, and Martindale’s Health Science Guide are major sites giving access to many hundreds of international horse related sites.
Many organisations have sites with very useful information and links, for example the Australian Veterinary Association page, and the American Veterinary Medical Association page. Major universities with equine research branches are useful: for example, The University of Kentucky and The University of Nebraska. Special interest groups give easy access to particular areas of information such as The Farrier & Hoofcare Resource Center and the Australian Jockey Club’s Stud Book.
Access to horse related listservers and discussion groups can be made through links from sites such as HorseNET and Haynet.
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
There are several reference books that give definitions of technical terms and describe activities relating to the horse. Robert Kerrigan’s Equine Illustrated Encyclopedia is a useful tool, especially impressive for its detailed drawings of a very wide range of tack. While this is an Australian publication, it deals with the horse at its broadest level. It is also due to be released on CD-Rom towards the end of 1998. Other highly regarded ready reference tools are: Edwards’ The Encyclopedia of the Horse; The Horse Dictionary: English-language terms used in equine care, feeding, treatment, racing and show, by Eby; and Summerhays’ Encyclopaedia for Horsemen, 6th edition.
Directories/Yearbooks
Vanessa Hawkins’ A-Z Horse Industry Directory for Victoria and Tasmania: (03 region) 1997/1998 is the third directory produced by this author, and the first to be a comprehensive guide to services and resources for the horse industry in Victoria and Tasmania. This guide includes the national bodies of most organisations listed, and directories for other regions of Australia are planned with a view to covering the entire Asia/Pacific region. These directories will be a valuable source of information for all horse enthusiasts.
Directories providing access to overseas horse industries include: The American Horse Council’s Horse Industry Directory; the British Equestrian Directory incorporating British Horse World; and L’Année Hippique: The International Equestrian Yearbook, which is the official annual of the Federation Equestre Internationale.
Research
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) is a major provider of research funds to the horse industry. A list of current projects can be found on their web page at http://www.dpie.gov.au/rirdc/programs/hor.html
Australian Tertiary Institutions
17
The Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, Queensland, and Murdoch University (W.A.) have veterinary schools, and horse research is being undertaken at all of these. Other institutions where research in areas of equine studies and horse management are run are notably Glenormiston, Werribee and Dookie in Victoria, and Charles Sturt University, Wagga, Orange Agriculture College and UWS-Hawkesbury in NSW. At all of these institutions researchers could be considered experts in their subject area. Blood typing and genetic research is conducted by the Australian Equine Blood Typing Laboratory at the University of Queensland.
Overseas Tertiary Institutions
Two notable centres for research which may easily be contacted electronically are the Equine Research Centre at Guelph, Ontario and the Gluck Center at the University of Kentucky at Lexington. Kentucky also has a commercial research body, Kentucky Equine Research Inc. (http://www.ker.com), which does work for feed companies and others.
Universities overseas which teach veterinary science most often have research in progress relating to horses. Access to more information relating to other institutions can be obtained through Internet sites such as Haynet or Netvet’s links to horse related university sites.
Statistical Sources
The Australian Bureau of Statistics can provide statistics in relation to areas as small as their collection districts. Statistics are available from the Bureau on request detailing the number of horses (stud and non-stud); racing facilities and horse breeding and stud farm operations in a given locality. This last category is broken down into type of business and number of employees. Up to six pieces of statistical data can be provided at no cost, after that they are provided on a user-pays basis.
Statistics obtained through the Internet need to be assessed for reliability by looking at several criteria. The most important point is the reliability of the source. The Racing Services Bureau is an example of a web page which provides access to Australian Thoroughbred Racing Industry Statistics. Statistics available in October 1997 are for the 1996-7 racing season and include: number of races (by State); prize money; number of horses starting; top 50 races ($); top 100 earners; age and age-sex distribution of horses; and a summary of the horses racing that were bred overseas. Annual reports of horse industry bodies are another source of statistics, and Pilkington’s Australian Horses as a Primary Industry gives a range of statistics about the industry.
18 Indexes to Journal Articles
There are many databases produced in print or electronically which index a large number of journal titles by subject. These services usually also include conference proceedings and often other forms of literature as well (reports, books) and are an important source of reference to where information may be found in the literature. Increasing numbers of these services also provide access to the article itself on request and for a payment. Generally access to these indexes is available only from libraries, and the more specialised ones will only be found in university or TAFE libraries. These libraries need to be approached individually to see if access is available. Public libraries will generally have access to several Australian databases and indexes and should also be able to provide access to a search service from their state libraries. Public libraries can also be approached to obtain copies of journal articles from other libraries through the cooperative Inter Library Loans scheme which operates in Australia.
Australian Indexes
The most important Australian database relevant to this report is ABOA (the Australian Bibliography of Agriculture) which includes publications from various departments of agriculture, including extension literature, reports and pamphlets as well as a wide range of Australian agricultural and animal science journal articles, and is available on AUSTROM CD-Rom. Much of the horse-related material on ABOA is veterinary, although it is a worthwhile source for horse management material. AUSTROM also includes the databases APAIS (Australian Public Affairs Information Service) and AUSPORT (produced by the Sport Information Service). These are useful for finding references to business, biographical, legal, and general sports newspaper and journal articles. AUSPORT also contributes its references to the international database Sportsearch (available on CD-Rom as SPORTS DISCUS). Most public libraries would provide access to AUSTROM. The Australian Business Index (ABIX), as its name suggests, may also be used as a source of information on the business aspects of the horse industry.
International Databases
Major international indexes which give access to journal articles and other publications relating to horses, include the databases produced by the Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau (CAB), and the U.S. National Agriculture Library (Agricola). These are available on-line and on CD-Rom. As mentioned above, the Sportsearch database incorporates the Australian AUSPORT, and is the major indexing source of non-veterinary horse journals. Other indexes that are useful are Biological Abstracts (BIOSIS in its electronic form) and Medline (called Index Medicus in print form). The H.W.Wilson publication Biological & Agricultural Index is another international (although predominantly US) agricultural index. A US company called First Move, produces a database called Veterinary Librarian, which has an equine subsection. This is available on CD-Rom and indexes about 60 veterinary journals for a reasonable price.
19 Table 1. Subject coverage by major databases:
Database Veterinar Biographical Horsmanship Horse Business y Management ABOA * * APAIS * * * AUSPORT * * * CAB * AGRICOLA * MEDLINE * VET LIBRN * SPORT * * * *
While these databases are mainly available through libraries which have a contract with a commercial provider (eg. Dialog or STN), Medline can be accessed through an Internet connection via the National Library of Medicine in the United States, and there is a service called Carl Uncover that will allow anyone to search by subject keywords or by author. A citation to an article can be obtained for no cost, or, for a charge that covers copyright plus US$10, a copy of the journal article will be sent (a fax surcharge applies outside the US). The Uncover organisation also offers a service to alert users to new material being published on the subject they nominate. The most impressive aspect of the Uncover service is the huge range of journal titles it will search.
Serials
Major veterinary associations publish journals which provide a good source of information about veterinary developments and research. Imperative acquisitions would be journals from the Australian, American and British veterinary associations. There are also more specifically relevant associations, usually connected with the national veterinary associations. The British Equine Veterinary Association publishes the Equine Veterinary Journal and the Australian Equine Veterinary Association has a quarterly journal, the Australian Equine Veterinarian. There is an international association, the International Association of Equine Practitioners (http://www.iaep.com), whose Journal of Equine Veterinary Science is published monthly. Other veterinary journals covering specialised areas such as breeding and hoof care might need to be considered. An example is the Journal of Reproduction and Fertility which is useful in the study of horse breeding. Other overseas publications which should be considered are: The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health (was titled Horse Breeding and Management); Hoofcare and Lameness Magazine; and a representation of quality riding journals
Library Resources
All public libraries have some material relevant to the horse industry or those with an interest in horses. The strength of these collections will generally depend on the extent of the horse industry in the region served by the library. For collections with more depth some tertiary institutions are recommended.
20 Charles Sturt University-Riverina, UWS - Hawkesbury, University of Melbourne’s Glenormiston College, Orange campus of the University of Sydney and the Gatton campus of the University of Queensland have libraries with collections relevant to the horse industry, as these institutions support horse management courses. Several TAFE Colleges have courses for the horse industry (farriery, horse management) - these collections also have strengths in horse related material.
The University of Queensland Biological Sciences Library, University of Melbourne (Werribee), University of Sydney (Sydney and Camden), and Murdoch University (W.A.) all have collections to support veterinary courses. All these tertiary institutions would be sources of veterinary journals and resources that could be used to locate journal articles (see INDEXES above).
Specialist collections may be found elsewhere. The collection at the Victorian Racing Club is an example.
Any library other than a public library may be expected to have some conditions or restrictions relating to the use of their collections. It is recommended that the Service should approach each library individually to see what level of assistance can be obtained.
Bookshops
All general bookshops carry some stock relating to horses, and good bookshops will order in any title available on request. There are several Australian specialist equestrian bookshops, and some publish a catalogue of items available, and may be used through a mail order service. Many saddlery stores also carry a good range of books.
Specific Areas
The following sections are arranged alphabetically by subject. Information within them is not necessarily exclusive to that section: for example, parasites will be relevant to both veterinary and management areas.
Breeds
The International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds (Hendricks, 1995) is a comprehensive, authoritative guide to horse breeds from around the world. It is published by Oklahoma State University whose Breeds of Livestock - Horses web page is available at www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses. The Australian stock horse’s story has been told by Yarwood, and information about the breed is in The Horse That Calls Australia Home, by Starr. Most horse breeds are represented in Australia and many have associations to support the interest of owners.
21 Facilities and Tack
State and territory agricultural department pamphlets are a good source of information about constructed yards and facilities for horses; more Australian information can be found in general books on keeping horses.
Farriery
Within Australia the Master Farriers Association and the Australian Farriers & Blacksmiths Association are currently working towards an acceptance of national standards and registration. The Rural Training Council of Australia has National Competency Standards available and a Recognised Prior Learning Package is available from Torrens Valley Institute of TAFE. Training is by apprenticeship, and continuing education is available from clinics and competitions organised by the state branches of the AFBA. The national body organises a cultural exchange of farriers with the American Farriers Association every two years.
At present there is little being published in Australia in the way of books relating to farriery, although a collection of historical pamphlets by the Department of Agriculture in 1912, Blacksmithing, Horse-shoeing and Horse-breaking, and reprinted by Dene Bindery, in 1990, gives a historical view. A short book from University of Queensland Press, Elements of Horseshoeing, gives a brief coverage of the subject and Laurel Enterprises publishes AustralAsian Farrier News, quarterly, and this carries personal interest items and a technical article.
A survey of horseshoeing from Roman times has been published in On the Horse’s Foot, Shoes and Shoeing: The Bibliographic Record, and A Brief Timeline History of Horseshoeing, by Henry Heymering. A classic work reprinted from its 11th edition (1913) which gives the basic foundations of horseshoeing is A Textbook of Horseshoeing for Horseshoers and Veterinarians and the revised and expanded The Principles of Horseshoeing II: An Illustrated Textbook of Farrier Science and Craftsmanship by Butler is recommended and widely available within Australia. Hickman’s Farriery: An Illustrated Guide is a book recommended for its clear illustrations of the hoof and the process of horseshoeing.
Some excellent reference texts are available on the hoof: Color Atlas of the Horse’s Foot, by C.C. Pollitt (a professor at University of Queensland’s School of Veterinary Medicine) is one. There is a companion videotape available to this which explains the circulation and weightbearing function of the foot. Two excellent texts on the closely related area of lameness are Equine Lameness by King and Mansmann and Horseowner’s Guide to Lameness by Ted Stashak which unofficially updates the standard Adams’ Lameness in Horses. The Equestrian Federation of Australia recommends Brega’s The Horse: the Foot, Shoeing and Lameness as a useful text. Journal articles on the hoof, shoeing, laminitis, etc. are a good source of information also. These may be accessed through the databases discussed earlier.
Farriery is a field where there is worthwhile information accessible through the Internet. A highly recommended site is Farriery and Hoofcare Resources Center Page (http://horseshoes.com). This gives access to the Dictionary of Farrier Terms at http://horseshoes.com/glossary/glossary.htm and the historical literature review On the Horse’s Foot, by Henry Heymering, mentioned above, is available in a searchable format
22 at http://horseshoes.com/learning/edcandrf.htm. A web page that complements the quarterly journal Hoofcare and Lameness is available at http://www.hoofcare.com; and the International Association of Equine Practitioners’ homepage gives access to a page dealing with farrier science and horseshoeing, Farriers Corner, at http://www.iaep.com/farrier/farrierscorner.html. The Anvil Magazine also has an Internet presence at http://www.anvil.mag.com.
The printed material available on this topic is well complemented by videotapes available from the major horse-oriented bookshops.
Horse Health and Veterinary Medicine
Horse health covers a large number of issues. Parasites and parasite control, dentistry, nutrition, breeding and growth are all important aspects of the horse’s well- being. Resources for information in these areas are from both the veterinary and horse management areas.
Definitions of veterinary terms and brief information about them can be found in Black’s Veterinary Dictionary as well as the more specifically equine dictionaries mentioned earlier. To bridge the gap between the technical knowledge of the professional veterinarian and the horse owner there is The illustrated Veterinary Encyclopedia for Horsemen, and Veterinary Treatments and Medications for Horsemen. A classic book, Hayes’ Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners, provides comprehensive information about the veterinary treatment of horses and is recommended by the Equestrian Federation of Australia. Worth mentioning also is Horsefeathers: Facts Versus Myths About Your Horse’s Health, which identifies those “remedies” which are based on myth and have no basis in medical science. It gives a clear explanation of why many treatments do work and the dangers of others. The author of this, Ramey, has written a series of books on specific areas of horse health in the series Concise Guide to… for Howell Book House. The title Concise Guide to Medications and Supplements for the Horse provides a dictionary-style guide to the use and application of many medications and more common preparations likely to be given to horses. More advanced veterinary materials have been published by the Post Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science of the University of Sydney. These are available direct from the University.
Sports medicine and the physiology of training the horse are the subject of The Athletic Horse: Principles and Practice of Equine Sports Medicine by Hodgson and Rose (from The University of Sydney). Blood Analysis of Performance Horses and the Role of Vitamins and Minerals is a closer look at the purpose of blood analysis of the horse and what to expect from it. The problem of the spread of diseases between nations through the movement of horses was the topic of a 1995 workshop at Randwick, the papers from which have been published in Quarantine Processes and the Management of Horse Disease Emergencies: Workshop Report and Background Papers.
Indexing services to cover veterinary journals are listed in the General Resources Section under International Databases. This area is well covered by the major indexing services. The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Care is a journal dealing with the health of the horse written for the non-veterinarian. It is also represented by
23 a Web page at http://www.thehorse.com, where it does provide some useful information.
Journals of Veterinary Associations contribute significantly to published veterinary information. In Australia, the Australian Veterinary Association (http://www.ava.com.au) publishes the Australian Veterinary Journal. A special interest group of the AVA, the Australian Equine Veterinary Association, also publishes a quarterly newsletter: Australian Equine Veterinarian. These are both indexed in ABOA and CAB. The AEVA distributes proceedings of conferences it has been involved in and also a number of brief booklets relating to horse health.
Some major feed supplement and equine veterinary products companies, such as Vet Search, produce useful information sheets on health related matters.
Internet resources are numerous, and while many have little in-depth information, some are useful and many provide useful points of contact with organisations or individuals involved in an area of interest. Some good links to information are found on NetVet at http://netvet.wustl.edu/horses.htm, and the International Association of Equine Practitioners page (http://www.iaep.com) allows for two levels of membership: veterinary practitioners and general members and has some good subject pages. The Virtual Veterinary Clinic from the Science Library at the University of California, Irvine, has links to a wide range of electronic veterinary resources at http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/Vet.html.
Dentistry
The Australian Equine Dental Association has a membership of equine dentists who have achieved a required level of knowledge about the subject of horse dentistry. Glenormiston College (part of Melbourne University) has a two year training course for people wishing to study in this area and completion of this course is now required for eligibility for membership of the National Association.
Book publication on this topic is rare, most information being in journal articles which are identifiable by using indexes to journals as discussed above. The AEVA has published a booklet entitled Some Aspects of Equine Dentistry which is available for purchase, and there is a 1996 publication Horse Dentistry: The Theory and Practice of Equine Dental Maintenance by Jeffrey, who has written other titles on equine dentistry. Apart from this, this subject is covered within broader books on the horse or more general veterinary dentistry books.
Nutrition, Feed and Pasture
The agricultural indexes are a useful access point to articles on nutrition, pasture and feeds; ABOA, the Australian agricultural index, will give access to local information. ABOA also indexes Department of Agriculture publications, and most State Departments produce some pamphlets about feeding the horse. A recent Australian text on green feed is Avery’s Pastures for Horses: A Winning Resource, and the proceedings of the annual scientific meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia have relevant material reflecting current research areas. RIRDC is currently funding a research project on horse nutrition which will result in the production of a database on horse feed ingredients. Commercial companies such as Mitavite Feed Company and
24 Vetsearch also produce a range of pamphlets giving information on the nutritional requirements and feeding of horses.
Two Australian texts on horse nutrition are those by Kohnke and Kerrigan. Kohnke’s Feeding and Nutrition of Horses gives charts of nutritional requirements and guides to feeding for special needs (eg. lactating mares, to improve coat condition, etc.), while Kerrigan is also putting out a new title Natural Healthy Horse Care in March 1998 and will release this on CD-Rom later in the year.
Internationally, Kentucky Equine Research Inc. (http://www.ker.com) does a lot of work on horse nutrition and feeding; the International Association of Equine Practitioners has a Feeding and nutrition page on the Internet at http://www.iaep.com/pages/nutritionmenu.html. Many of the Internet links in this subject area are commercial, for example many of Haynet’s (http://www.haynet.com), and may provide useful contacts rather than in-depth information.
Parasites
This is another area that is covered by all books discussing the health of the horse, as parasites are a major cause of problems for horses. Parasitic Diseases of the Horse by Arundel is one Australian title still available despite its age. This, and the Colour Atlas of Equine Parasites from the United Kingdom, both give clear descriptions of horse parasites and their effects.
Breeding
Many titles have been published on the area of horse reproduction. Although many of these are useful, only major titles and Australian publications will be discussed here. McKinnon (from the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital) and Voss have edited a comprehensive book on horse reproduction. Equine Reproduction covers the anatomy, physiology, management of stallions and mares, fertilisation, artificial insemination, pregnancy, birth and post natal care of the foal at an advanced level. Less detailed is Kerrigan’s Practical Horse Breeding, and the very accessible Foaling: Mare & Foal Management by Maver is recommended for the horse breeder
Racing: General
Racing is the focus of a large part of the horse industry in Australia. In 1990 it provided employment for over 30,000 people and each year accounts for a large part of the turnover attributed to the horse industry. Records of races, performance of horses, records of horses standing at stud, and details of lineage are the main types of information required in this area. Different types of racing are generally quite separate from each other.
The Australian Equine Blood Typing Laboratory located in the University of Queensland, performs blood typing and parent verification of all thoroughbred foals for entry to the Australian Stud Book, and is also used for other equine registers. A range of Internet links are available from Cyberhorse’s Virtual Form Guide at http://www.cyberhorse.net au.
Harness Racing
25
The national body, the Australian Harness Racing Council, produces the Australian Trotting Yearbook and it plans to make access to much of the Council’s information available through an Internet web page in 1998. The web page address is http://www.harness.org.au and provides access to all state bodies. Another source of trotting statistics and records is the Australian Trotting Stud Book.
Thoroughbred Racing
The key body in this sport is the Australian Jockey Club and a recent history of the Club is The Principal Club: History of the Australian Jockey Club by Painter & Waterhouse. Another major history of racing is The History of Australian Thoroughbred Racing in 3 volumes by Freedman and Lemon. A new title giving a comprehensive introduction to this topic is Craven’s Gallopers and Gamblers: a Guide to Thoroughbred Racing in Australia. This title covers breeding; the ownership, training and riding of racehorses; racetracks; conduct of meetings; betting; and the management and role of clubs.
Bloodline information is available from the Australian Stud Book produced by the Australian Jockey Club and the Victorian Racing Club. This is also available online at http://www.studbook.com.au. As mentioned in General Resources - Statistics the Racing Services Bureau web page provides access to Australian Thoroughbred Racing Industry Statistics. Statistics available in October 1997 are for the 1996-7 racing season and include number of races (by State); prize money; number of horses starting; top 50 races ($); top 100 earners; age and age-sex distribution of horses; and a summary of horses racing that were bred overseas. Again, Cyberhorse is the place to go for World Wide Web links: http://www.cyberhorse.net.au/tvf/links.htm.
Richard Ulbrich has produced Thoroughbred Family Trees (1996) and Peerage of Racehorses (1994) which also provide bloodline information, while The Australian Thoroughbred Statistical Record and Thoroughbred Encyclopedia for Australia and New Zealand give performance and breeding statistics. Class Racehorses of Australia and New Zealand is an invaluable source for the thoroughbred breeder, listing sires. The title The Racehorse: An Introduction to Thoroughbred Breeding gives an introduction to lineage, and how thoroughbred horses are bred to obtain the best offspring.
26 Training
In recent years the philosophy of training horses has changed and most schools of thought now include a consideration of the psychology of the horse so that training can be a positive experience rather the concept of conquest which has been involved in horse-‘breaking’. The training of the horse and rider is an area which does not require Australian material and there are many titles of value available in Australia from overseas. This area also lends itself very well to the use of videos and a range of these are available from good equine bookshops. As with equestrian sports, the Australian magazines that are relevant here are Hoofbeats, The Horse Magazine (http://www.horsemagazine.com/CLINIC/horsemanshipdir.htm gives the page on Horsemanship with Andrew MacLean) Parelli’s Natural horse.man.ship is a now a widely accepted style of training and the videos of his training methods, and those by Neil Davies, are a useful guide to a sympathetic style of training. Lyons on Horses is a comprehensive book on training the horse by understanding its communication, and there are many other titles explaining the psychology of the horse and relating this to training. For initial training methods Imprint Training the Young Foal by Miller is a recommended title. A title used by the Equestrian Federation of Australia for the early training of a horse to be used for riding, especially dressage and eventing, is Klimke’s Basic Training of the Young Horse. A highly regarded Australian text is Tom Roberts’ Horse Control: The Young Horse.
Roberts also has a title on training the rider (Horse Control: The Rider) and the German National Equestrian Federation and the British Horse Society are both producers of important works in this area . Fitness for Horse and Rider by Jane Holderness-Roddam and Getting Horses Fit by Pillner are recommended works for preparation for equestrian training.
Some general books about the horse are good starting points for information about training. Training for both racing and equestrian activities are covered in Rose and Hodgson’s The Athletic Horse, while Care and Training of the Trotter has a good coverage of training the standardbred for racing. Ivers book The Fit Racehorse II is a recommended text, and the author is a frequent contributor to the horsesci list. Some titles on training for equestrian events are included within the section on equestrian sports.
Equestrian Sport
Some equestrian sports in Australia are administered and organised by the Equestrian Federation, and each area of the sport (dressage, eventing, saddle horse, showjumping, vaulting) is controlled by a National Committee. The Equestrian Federation of Australia publishes official rules for each discipline (these are listed in the references for this section) and provides coach training courses. Equestrian sports not covered by the EFA are endurance riding and driving, and polo.
The starting point for the equestrian rider has generally been a Pony Club, and books useful at this point include Horses, Basics for Beginners and Mum’s and Dad’s Horse Book. Other general books on the horse are also important at this stage. The Australian Pony Club Council and state branches of Pony Club have information for members and produce videos suitable for them. The New Zealand Pony Club’s Manual of Instruction at various levels is used in Australia, and some of the horse
27 magazine publishers compile books such as Express Publications’ Australian Equestrian Pony Club Handbook, and Federal Publishing Company’s Equestrian series which are available from newsagents. Journals for the rider in Australia include Hoofbeats, Australian Equestrian, and The Horse Magazine (also at http://www.horsemagazine.com), whereas Hoof & Horns from the U.K is also a popular title. The books and videos on training mentioned above are all generally applicable to the equestrian sports. The British Horse Society’s Manual of Equitation and Manual of Horsemanship are recommended, as are the German National Equestrian Federation books.
There are increasingly useful sites relating to equestrian sports on the Internet. Some of these are mentioned below under particular disciplines, but again the general pages giving a range of links (Haynet, Cyberhorse, and others mentioned earlier), will give access to most good sites. A general access point to many useful equestrian sites is BCM Equestrian Internet Services (http://www.bcm.nl), which along with the Fédération Equestre Internationale, produces world breeding rankings and dressage and jumping rankings.
Showing a horse The Event Groom’s Handbook, Kane & Waltman; and Showing the Ridden Pony, C. Akrill (J.A.Allen) are titles available on this subject.
Dressage is an EFA discipline. The Australian Dressage page on the World Wide Web is at http://www.mbc.qld.edu.au/teachers/wfo/wf_index.html, and gives useful information concerning the organisation of this sport in Australia. A World Wide Dressage Register page is at http://www.javastorm.com/dressage. Two titles from Equine Educational in Australia are Dressage Arenas, and Dressage Terms Defined, a short dictionary whose illustrations clarify a lot of the terms included. Fitness for Horse and Rider and Dressage Tips and Training Solutions are recommended titles for this area, while Huntington and Cleland’s Horse Sense is useful also.
Showjumping also has a book of terminology from Australia: Showjumping Terms Defined by Creighton & Russell, while Training Showjumpers by Paalman and Houghton Brown’s Teaching Jumping are both recommended by the Equine Federation of Australia. The Equine Federation of Australia has published an addendum to the Fédération Equestre Internationale’s Rules for Jumping for the regulation of this sport in Australia. There are many useful videos available on showjumping.
Endurance riders have a national association, the Australian Endurance Riders Association (http://www.connect.usq.edu.au/students/q9522214/aera.html), which publishes a handbook that includes the rules and guidelines of the Association. These are also available from the home page. Level 1 Endurance Riding, and its sequel, Level 2 Endurance Riding edited by Froebal, are titles relevant to Australian conditions, and riders joining the Association are given a booklet with information on the sport. There are many titles published overseas, but these have limited use within Australia.
Vaulting is a discipline of the Equestrian Federation of Australia and a new edition of the Australian Vaulting Rules was published this year. A highly recommended text for this sport is Weimers’ Equestrian Vaulting.
28 Polo in Australia is governed by rules published by the Australian Polo Council and a history of Polo in Australia, Geebung: The Story of Australian Polo, has been written by Ashton. Texts about the game are published in the United Kingdom and several are readily available at equestrian bookshops.
Driving in Australia is guided by the Australian Driving Society’s Handbook, and the Society’s quarterly journal. The rules governing this sport at a competitive level are based on the Fédération Equestre Internationale’s rules. Books on the sport are mainly from Britain, and those based on the German Achenbach system are highly regarded within the sport. The German National Equestrian Federation’s Driving is one such title.
Polocrosse has an excellent Web presence at http://gatekeeper.ausport.gov.au/polox, which gives the structure, history and rules of the game. A book, Polocrosse: Australian Made, Internationally Played gives a comprehensive look at the sport.
29 List of Resources
General Texts
Ensminger, M. E. (1990) Horses and horsemanship. 6th ed. Interstate Publishers: Dunville, Il.
Evans, J. W., Borton, A., Hintz, H.F., & Van Vleck, L.D. (1990) The horse. 2nd ed. W.H. Freeman: New York, NY.
Foyel, J. (1994) Hoofprints: A Manual for Horse Property Development. Primary Industries, South Australia: Adelaide, SA.
Howcroft, T. (1983) The Complete Book of Horse Care. Lansdowne Press: Sydney, NSW.
Huntington, P. & Cleland, F. (1992) Horse Sense: The Australian Guide to Horse Husbandry. Agmedia: East Melbourne, Vic.
Kerrigan, R. H. & France, S. L. (1993) Horses, Basics for Beginners. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Kerrigan, R. H. & Stewart, J. H. (1993) Mum’s and Dad’s Horse Book. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Pannam, C. L. (1986) The Horse and the Law. 2nd ed. Law Book Co.: Sydney.
Pilkington, M. & Wilson, G. (1993) Australian Horses as a Primary Industry: Numbers, Organisation and Research Needs. Bureau of Resource Sciences: Barton, ACT.
Internet Resources
American Veterinary Medical Association http://www.avma.org Australian Horse Resources http://www.knfpub.com/ahr/resource.html Australian Jockey Club’s Stud Book http://www.studbook.aust.com Australian Veterinary Association http://www.ava.com.au Cyberhorse http://www.cyberhorse.net.au Haynet http://www.haynet.net Farrier and Hoofcare Resource Center http://www.horseshoes.com Horsenet : Australian Horse Information Services http://www.horsenet.com.au Martindale’s Health Science Guide http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/Vet.html# NetVet http://netvet.wustl.edu/welctext.htm University of Kentucky, Equine Research Foundation http://www.uky.edu/agcollege/vetscience/ukerf1.htm University of Nebraska, Dept of Animal Science -Horse http://ianrwww.unl.edu/ianr/anisci/horse
Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
30
Eby, V. (1995) The Horse Dictionary: English-Language Terms used in Equine Care, Feeding, Training, Treatment, Racing and Show. McFarland & Co.: Jefferson, NC.
Edwards (1994) The Encyclopedia of the Horse. Dorling Kindersley: London.
Kerrigan, R. (1989) Equine Illustrated Encyclopedia. R. Kerrigan: Lochinvar, NSW.
Summerhays, R. S. (1975) Encyclopaedia for Horsemen. 6th ed. F. Warne: London, UK.
Directories/Yearbooks
American Horse Council (annual) Horse Industry Directory. American Horse Council: Washington, D.C. - US$20.00 from American Horse Council 1700 K St, NW, #300, Washington D.C. 20006.
British Equestrian Directory. (annual) - available from A-Z Directories ph: 03 5442 8047.
Fédération Equestre Internationale (annual) L’Annee Hippique: The International Equestrian Yearbook. BCM: Best, Netherlands. - Available from the Equestrian Federation of Australia, ph: 08 83318411; fax: 08 83644080.
Hawkins, V. (ed.) (1997) A-Z Horse Industry Directory: for Victoria and Tasmania (03 region) 1997/98. National A-Z Directories (Horse Industry): Bendigo, Vic.
Statistical Sources
Australian Bureau of Statistics : email: [email protected], or phone the ABS office in your state. The ACT enquiries number is ph: 02 6252 6627.
Pilkington, M. & Wilson, G. (1993) Australian Horses as a Primary Industry: Numbers, Organisation and Research Needs. Bureau of Resource Sciences: Barton, ACT.
Racing Services Bureau : http://www.ozracing.net.au/rsbframe.htm
Indexes to Journal Articles
ABIX: The Australian Business Index . ABOA: Australian Bibliography of Agriculture (AUSTROM CD-ROM). APAIS: Australian Public Affairs Information Service (AUSTROM CD-ROM). AUSPORT: produced by the Sport Information Service (AUSTROM CD-ROM). Agricola (Silver Platter CD-Rom & Dialog on-line). Biological Abstracts (on CD-Rom and on-line as BIOSIS). Biological & Agricultural Index (Silver Platter CD-Rom & Dialog on-line). CAB Index: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau Index (Silver Platter CD-Rom & Dialog on-line). Carl Uncover: http://uncweb.carl.org.
31 Medline: http://www.nlm.gov/database/freemed.html (also CD-ROM through Silver Platter and on-line through Dialog). Sports Discus CD-ROM (available in print and on-line as SPORT through Dialog). Veterinary Librarian Equine Database (available from First Move, Littleton, CO.).
Serials
Australian Equine Veterinarian Australian Veterinary Journal Equine Veterinary Journal Hoofcare and Lameness The Horse: Your Guide to Equine Health Journal of Equine Veterinary Science Journal of Reproduction and Fertility Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association The Veterinary Record
Specific Areas
Breeds
Hendricks, B. L. (1995) International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press: Norman, OK.
Breeds of Livestock - Horses: http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses
Starr, J. (1996) The Horse that calls Australia Home: The Australian Stock Horse Breed and Australian Stock Horse Society. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Farriery
Anvil magazine (monthly), The International Equine Research Centre: Georgetown, California, USA http://www.anvil.mag.com
Australasian Farriery News. Laurel Enterprises: Dee Why, NSW. (quarterly; $65.00 for 12 issues).
Butler, D. (1986) The principles of horseshoeing II: An Illustrated Textbook of Farrier Science and Craftsmanship. D. Butler: Alpine, TX. (US69.95).
Dictionary of Farrier Terms : http://horseshoes.com/glossary/glossary.htm
Farriers Corner: http://www.iaep.com/farrier/farrierscorner.html
Farriery and Hoofcare Resources Center Page: http://horseshoes.com
Heymering, H. (1990) On the Horse’s Foot, Shoes and Shoeing: The Bibliographic Record and a Brief Timeline History of Horseshoeing. St Ely Publishing: Cascade, MD. Also at http://horseshoes.com/learning/edcandrf.htm
32 Hickman, J. & Humphrey, M. (1995) Hickman’s Farriery: A Complete Illustrated Guide. J.A. Allen: London, UK.
Hoofcare and Lameness (quarterly, US$70) Also http://www.hoofcare.com.
King, C. & Mansmann, R. (1997) Equine Lameness. Equine Research: Grand Prairie, TX.
Lungwitz, A. & Adams, J. (1913) A Textbook of Horseshoeing for Horseshoers and Veterinarians. M.A. Donohue and CO: Chicago, Il.
NSW Dept of Agriculture (1912) Blacksmithing, Horse-shoeing and Horse-breaking. Thorpe: Melbourne, Vic.
Pollitt, C. C. (1995) Color Atlas of the Horse’s Foot. Mosby Wolfe: London, UK.
Pollitt, C. C. (1995) Horse Foot Studies. [videotape].
Springhall, J. A. (1995) Elements of Horseshoeing. 3rd ed. University of Queensland Press: St Lucia, Qld.
Stashak, T. S.& Hill, C. (1996) Horseowner’s Guide to Lameness. Williams & Wilkins: Baltimore, MD.
Health Management
Hayes, M. H. (1987) Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners. Rev. edition. Revised by P. D. Rossdale. Stanley Paul: London, UK.
Hodgson, D. R. & Rose, R. J. (1994) The Athletic Horse:Principles and Practice of Equine Sports Medicine. W.B. Saunders: Philadelphia, PA.
The Horse Interactive: http://www.thehorse.com
Equine Research Pubs. (1975) The Illustrated Veterinary Encyclopedia for Horsemen. Equine Research: Grand Prairie, TX.
Ramey, D. (1996) Concise Guide to Colic in the Horse. Howell Book House: New York, NY.
Ramey, D. (1996) Concise Guide to Medications & Supplements for the Horse. Howell Book House: New York, NY.
Ramey, D. (1996) Concise Guide to Navicular Syndrome in the Horse. Howell Book House: New York, NY.
Ramey, D. (1996) Concise Guide to Tendon and Ligament Injuries. Howell Book House: New York, NY.
Ramey, D. (1995) Horsefeathers: Facts Versus Myths About Your Horse’s Health. Howell Book House: New York, NY.
33
Shannon, H. D. (1994) Blood Analysis of Performance Horses and the Role of Vitamins and Minerals. Max A. Harrell: Richmond, Vic.
Wagoner, D. (ed.) (1977) Veterinary Treatments & Medications for Horsemen. Equine Research: Grand Prairie, TX.
“Virtual” Veterinary Center: http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/Vet.html
West, G. (ed.) (1995) Black’s Veterinary Dictionary. 18th edn. A. & C. Black: London, UK.
Wilson, G. R. (ed.) (1995) Quarantine Processes and the Management of Horse Disease Emergencies: Workshop Report and Background Papers. ACIL Economics & Policy: Canberra, ACT.
Dentistry
Jeffrey, D. (1996) Horse Dentistry: The Theory and Practice of Equine Dental Maintenance. World Wide Equine Dental Supply: Waverley, NE.
Nutrition
Avery, A. (1996) Pastures for Horses: A Winning Resource. Victorian Dept of Natural Resources & RIRDC: Rutherglen, Vic.
International Association of Equine Practitioners Feeding and nutrition : http://www.iaep.com/pages/nutritionmenu.html
Kentucky Equine Research Inc.: http://www.ker.com
Kerrigan, R. (1998) Natural Healthy Horse Care. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Kerrigan, R. (1994) Practical Horse Nutrition. 3rd ed. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Kohnke, J. (1998) Feeding and Nutrition of Horses. 3rd ed. Vetsearch: N. Parramatta, NSW.
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia.(Annual). Nutrition Society of Australia: Various States.
Parasites
Arundel, J. H. (1985) Parasitic Diseases of the Horse. University of Sydney. Post- Graduate Foundation in Veterinary Science: Sydney, NSW. (Veterinary Review; no.28)
Jacobs, D.E. (1986) Colour Atlas of Equine Parasites. Balliere Tindall: London, UK.
34 Reproduction
Kerrigan, R. H. (1990) Practical Horse Breeding. R. H. Kerrigan: Lochinvar, NSW.
Maver, S. (1995) Foaling: Mare & Foal Management. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
McKinnon, A. O. & Voss, J. L. (eds.) (1992) Equine Reproduction. Lea & Febiger: Philadelphia, PA.
Racing
Australian Harness Racing Club : http://www.harness.org.au
The Australian Standardbred: incorporating Harness Racing Tasmania. (monthly) Fortitude Valley, Qld.
Australian Thoroughbred Statistical Record (1978-) Racing Services Bureau & Bloodhorse Breeders Association: Melbourne, Vic. (annual).
Australian Stud Book: Containing Pedigrees of Racehorses, etc. (1878-) Australian Jockey Club & Victorian Racing Club. (annual) Sydney, NSW. Also at http://www.studbook.com.au
Australian Trotting Stud Book (1955-) InterDominian Trotting Conference: Melbourne, Vic. (annual).
Australian Trotting Yearbook (1966-) Australian Harness Racing Council: Melbourne, Vic. (annual).
Class Racehorses of Australia and New Zealand (1984-) AAP: Sydney, NSW. (annual).
Craven, P. (1997) Gallopers and Gamblers: A Guide to Thoroughbred Racing in Australia. HalBooks: Avalon, NSW.
Cyberhorse : http://www.cyberhorse.net.au
Freedman, H. & Lemon, A. (1989-1991) The History of Australian Thoroughbred Racing. Southbank Communications: Melbourne, Vic. (3 volumes).
Hoof Beats: Journal of the United States Trotting Association. US Trotting Association: Colombus, OH.
Painter, M. & Waterhouse, R. (1992) The Principal Club: History of the Australian Jockey Club. Allen & Unwin: Sydney, NSW.
Racing Services Bureau : http://www.ozracing.net.au/rsbframe.htm
Ulbrich, R. (1994) Peerage of Racehorses. R. Ulbrich: Spring Hill, Qld.
35 Ulbrich, R. (1996) Thoroughbred Family Trees. R. Ulbrich: Spring Hill, Qld.
Harrison, J.C. & Ralph, N. (1968) Care and Training of the Trotter and Pacer. The United States Trotting Association: Columbus, OH.
Wicks, B. M. (1990) The Racehorse: An Introduction to Thoroughbred Breeding. Libra: Hobart, Tas.
Training
Brigden, J. & Davies, N. (1986) Breakthrough for Breaking-in [video] Neil Davies: Thirlmere, NSW.
Ivers, T. (1994) The Fit Racehorse II. Equine Research Inc.: Grand Prairie, TX.
Miller, R. M. (1991) Imprint Training the Newborn Foal. Western Horseman: Colorado Springs, CO.
Miller, R. M. (1985) Imprint Training the Foal. [video] Palomino Productions: U.S.
Parelli, P. (1993) Natural Horse.Man.Ship. Western Horseman: Colorado Springs, CO.
Parelli, P. (1991) Natural Horse.Man.Ship video course. [videos] Creative Services: Dee Why, NSW.
Pillner, S. (1993) Getting Horses Fit. 2nd ed. Blackwell Scientific: London, UK.
Roberts, T. (1987) Horse Control: The Rider. 3rd ed. T. Roberts: Richmond, Vic.
Roberts, T. (1992) Horse Control: The Young Horse. 6th ed. T. Roberts: Richmond, Vic.
Equestrian Sports
Ashton, C. (1993) Geebung: The Story of Australian Polo. Hamilton Publishing: Balmain, NSW.
Australian Polo Council (1992) Australian Rules of Polo. The Council: Glebe, NSW.
Australian Driving Society (1995) Handbook. The Society: Braidwood, NSW.
Boillotat, S.B. (1990) Polocrosse: Australian Made, Internationally Played. Belcris Books: Kings Cross, NSW.
Creighton, G., Russell, E. & Pearson-Adams, S. (1996) Show Jumping Terms Defined. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Equestrian Federation of Australia (1995) Addendum to FEI Rules for Jumping. EFA: Rose Park, SA.
36 Equestrian Federation of Australia (1998) Australian Vaulting Rules. EFA: Rose Park, SA.
Fédération Equestre Internationale (1995) Rules for Jumping Events. 19th ed. FEI: Switzerland.
German National Equestrian Federation (1988) Driving: The Official Handbook of The German National Equestrian Federation. Kenilworth Press: Addington, Bucks, UK.
Huntington, P. & Cleland, F. (1992) Horse Sense: The Australian Guide to Horse Husbandry. Agmedia: East Melbourne, Vic.
Kerrigan, R. H. & France, S. L. (1993) Horses, Basics for Beginners. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Kerrigan, R. H. & Stewart, J. H. (1993) Mum’s and Dad’s Horse Book. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Knox-Thompson, E. & Dickens, S. (1996) Pony Club Manual, no.1. Rev. ed. Ray Richards: Auckland, NZ.
Knox-Thompson, E. & Dickens, S. (1992) Pony Club Manual, no.2. Rev. ed. Ray Richards: Auckland, NZ.
Knox-Thompson, E. & Dickens, S. (1993) Pony Club Manual, no.3: For Instructors. Ray Richards: Auckland, NZ.
Pearson-Adams, S. (1996) Dressage Arenas. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Russell, E. (1995) Dressage Terms Defined. Equine Educational: Lochinvar, NSW.
Weimers, J. (1994) Equestrian Vaulting: A Handbook for Vaulters and Trainers. J. A. Allen: London, UK.
37 Opportunities for Co-operation
Background
The diversity of the horse industry is both a strength and a weakness. It is made up of groups of people with varied financial means; disparate interests in the horse (for example, trade, sport, gambling, recreation); and differing attitudes towards the value of cooperation, organisation and education. Diversity is an advantage when considering accessing different skills and knowledge from within the industry, but a disadvantage when seeking support from the group as a whole. Cooperation with a wide range of people, organisations and institutions is essential for any service designed to be industry-wide.
Libraries
The Wagga Campus Library of Charles Sturt University already has a collection of material relating to the equine science courses run through the School of Agriculture. This includes books, journals, and most importantly databases, as well as professional librarians with the skills to exploit these resources. Any information service would be strongly advised to build on this base and maintain close cooperation with the Wagga Campus Library.
The University of Queensland’s Biological Sciences Library can be relied upon as a source of veterinary articles. Its librarian, Heather Todd, has expressed an interest in cooperating with an equine information service in the way that library already provides information to members of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). They have been responsible for providing a library service for the AVA since its library closed - this mainly entails the provision of journal articles and conference papers to members.
Ms Todd has also offered to make available training sessions on how to use the Internet for members of the horse industry, if required. There is a strong tradition of cooperation between libraries and in this research, contact with other libraries was found to be very worthwhile.
The Librarian at Glenormiston College (part of University of Melbourne) is a useful contact. Their collection is good and the College is strong in horse-related courses and has considerable expertise amongst its academic staff members. The librarian provided lists of serials and new books, and was a willing listener and advisor.
Orange Agricultural College Library is in a similar situation to Glenormiston in that supporting the horse-related courses is a large part of their business and they are a small part of a very large institution (the University of Sydney). Their collection is rather more sport focussed than CSU’s, and it was worthwhile to have visited Orange and speak to library staff and academics there.
The Librarian at Farmline (the information service run by the Kondinin Group) has been a helpful contact, very willing to share information and keen to cooperate further should the opportunity arise.
Databases/Information systems
38
Possibility of incorporating existing systems into an information service:
Vanessa Hawkins
Vanessa Hawkins, (author of the A-Z directory) has a large database which she had hoped to receive funding to expand. She is prepared to donate this database to the Horse Council if they can obtain funds to make it available. It could be valuable as part of a Horse Information Service. Further discussion with Ms Hawkins regarding this would be important. She is keen to see it made available and may be open to some cooperative arrangement.
Farmline
The Kondinin Group takes full advantage of the technology available and has a strong base of publishing and publicity which is used well in the promotion of the Farmline information service.
South West Horse Industry Study
The Centre for Regional Development, Deakin University, in conjunction with Greg F. Walsh & Associates Pty Ltd have prepared a report titled South West Horse Industry Study: Development of a Strategy for Growth, which considers the horse industry in South West Victoria. This region is important to the horse industry and includes the Werribee Equine Research Centre and Glenormiston College. Important to this report is the fact that there is a comprehensive database of the region which gives the names of people and organisations involved in every aspect of the horse industry.
R. Kerrigan
Mr Kerrigan publishes horse books with the imprint ‘Equine Educational’ and is the author of several titles. He has a good knowledge of the industry. He is part of a group planning to launch a worldwide information service (as far as I can gather it is to be Internet based) and he feels we should consider this project very carefully as he has the view that the horse industry is very different to work with compared to other parts of the agricultural sector.
Researchers/Other Bodies
CSU Academic Staff
The expertise of staff at Charles Sturt University would be vital to the success of this venture.
39 Researchers
A function of an information service would be to provide access to information on research being conducted; publications resulting from this research; and access to experts in various fields. To this end an information service would have to network all research organisations and ensure that contact was maintained.
The Australian Horse Council is a vital body made up of a range of representatives of the industry. No formal contact has been made with this body as yet, but it would be important to have a good and supportive relationship with the Council.
RIRDC has funded this study, and every effort would be made to keep open channels of communication with the RIRDC Equine Committee.
Dr Ross McKenzie from the Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, is curator of the Department’s Poisonous Plants Database and has expressed his willingness to share information with any future service.
Other bodies which would be useful include a relevant officer in the Department of Agriculture in each state; overseas research bodies, etc. Continued contact with the Equine Research Centre at Guelph would be advisable.
Other Points for Consideration
Australian Serials
The Equine Research Centre’s information service at Guelph, Ontario and Farmline both rely heavily on publications coming out of the industry for much of their information. There are many serials published in Australia relating to the horse industry, both commercial publications and also substantial journals and newsletters of associations. At present very few horse-related journals are indexed in databases, except for veterinary journals in ABOA and overseas databases, and Hoofbeat which is indexed by the Sport Information Service in Canberra. A horse information service could attempt to acquire all relevant Australian publications and index these.
Copyright Issues
A Document Delivery Licence through the Copyright Agency Limited (CAL), such as Farmline uses, would be necessary if the information service was to be involved in any way in providing packaged information prepared in multiple copies. There could be a need for dual licences to be negotiated (Document Delivery and Educational) on some CSU Library resources because of the different requirements in serving users who pay for a service and those who do not.
40 Cooperation
Cooperation with existing organisations to a greater or lesser extent is essential for libraries and a similar need exists for an information service.
Access to information incurs real costs, and by taking advantage of the existing collection at the Wagga Campus Library of CSU, considerable savings can be made. If an information service was within the Library, clear agreement would need to be made regarding appropriate separation and conditions of use of material belonging to the service and to the Library.
There is a real possibility of linking in some way to the Farmline operation discussed earlier and this should be fully explored. Experience with Farmline shows their professionalism and indicates that they have the systems to support first class publicity and publication. Information regarding the technology used by Farmline is presented later is this report.
Books
A core collection of reference books would be needed for an information service. Included in this would be dictionaries, directories and in-depth texts of lasting value. An information service linked to the Wagga Campus of the University would find access to almost all of these already available within the Library’s collection.
Journals
An attempt should be made to obtain all serial publications from within Australia relating to the horse industry. This should include all conference and seminar proceedings, and association and society newsletters and journals, as well as more widely available material apart from that aimed particularly at children. While not all of this information would be useful in the long-term, it is important that it is all assessed and considered in the light of the information service’s role as a clearinghouse for the industry.
There is a need to compile a comprehensive index of serial publications relating to the horse industry, apart from the veterinary journals which are already well covered. This role should be considered by the information service with the aim of making such an index available.
On the basis of its indexing and clearinghouse functions, the information service could ask to be placed on the mailing list of organisations, and hopefully receive many publications for little or no charge.
Electronic Access
Reliable access to the Internet and electronic mail is essential. The University is able to provide this, and access to a range of relevant databases through the University Library, depending on licence agreements.
Copyright
41
A Document Delivery Licence permits multiple copies of legally allowed portions of works published by bodies registered with CAL to be made for a per page charge. This is the only way that multiple copies may be made legally without direct contact with each individual copyright holder. There will be some works whose copyright holder is not registered with CAL, and these will need to be handled on an individual basis.
Implications
This report demonstrates that there are vast resources of information relating to the horse industry. However, gaining access to these resources can be difficult and beyond the resources of the individual. There is a demonstrated need to gather these resources together in an accessible form that could be accessed by industry personnel who may not possess specific information retrieval skills.
42
PART 3
TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT OF EQUINE INFORMATION
Craig McDonald, Jan Scott
43 Introduction
Information systems are collections of technologies, data, processes and procedures that meet a user’s information need. Different types of systems have been evolved to meet information and user needs. These systems can be classified as document, data and knowledge management systems.
Document management is the most common form of information storage. While users are after the information in the document, the technological task is to capture, store and retrieve the documents in response to a user’s query. Document management is a core function for an equine information service.
Data management involves the use of databases to store specific data rather than documents. An equine database could include data about people, their contact details and their roles in the industry as well as organisations, horses, events, products and services. An equine information service could not attempt to maintain all equine data, instead it would seek to collaborate with other organisations and share information.
Knowledge based information systems are used to advise users based on the specific situation faced by the user. At the present time this form of system is limited to providing information on specific topic areas rather than broad industry related topics. EqWise, for example, is a system that offers diagnostic advice on the causes of coughing in horses.
In preparing technology scenarios for an equine information service, interviews were conducted with other information services to discover what information technologies were in use and what experiences have been gained by these organisations. These other services include: The Tropical Beef Information Service; Farmline; The Australian Legal Information Institute; The Parliamentary Information Service and The Environmental Resources Information Network.
The Equine industry has its own particular characteristics and information needs as well as sharing some more general concerns with the rest of the community. For this reason, and given the rapid change endemic to information technology, this report starts with a broader view of the subject rather than just focusing on existing technologies suitable to the Equine industry. This broader view allows the consideration of technology related issues and opportunities.
The body of the report discusses technologies appropriate to the management of information in the Equine industry and presents some scenarios for the technology needed in an Equine Information Service (EIS).
Objective To review the nature and uses of information and the technologies that are being, and will be, used in the Equine industry to manage that information.
44 Methodology
This report was written from a range of sources about information services and information technology. An examination of six existing information services has been conducted to determine how they operate and what they have achieved with their users so that lessons for an Equine Information Service can be learned. Interviews have also been conducted with information researchers to determine their views on the issues confronting information technology in rural Australia, and with equine information users to identify their underlying information and knowledge needs .
Results and Discussion
The Nature and Uses of Equine Information
People in the Equine industry gain pleasure and profit from their activities with horses. These activities, whether dressage, racing, endurance, trail rides or just friendship with a horse are mediated by the knowledge people have in their minds. This knowledge is built up in all of us by our direct experiences and by information we take an interest in.
One way of thinking about information is to consider the 'three worlds' idea where the physical world of bridles, stables, viruses, shows, foals and so on make up the first world; human minds that have concepts and knowledge about these physical things and events are the second world; and information is the third world.
World of the Mind Information World
text, language, ideas images
things & events
Physical World
Fig 1 The Three Worlds Model
We perceive the physical world directly, we act in it and we learn from these experiences. When we talk and write about horses we are contributing to the equine information world and when we read or listen we are learning about a physical world that is not directly available to us. Information, then, is created by people who have something to say (scientists, administrators, mentors, vets, friends) and used by people to inform their actions and thoughts.
The discipline of Information Science studies the creation, representation, communication, organisation, storage, retrieval, and uses of information in general. A piece of information is of no intrinsic value, it is only when it informs a person's
45 mind and allows them to act more effectively or understand the world more fully that it has real value.
The Information Technology discipline applies these information science ideas to a particular domain of knowledge, in our case the equine information world, in order to improve the understanding and performance of industry participants. Information Technologies have developed to deal with particular kinds of information and particular uses of that information. Equine information can specifically help people in:
1. Problem solving: problems with horse health are a constant concern and information can support a person's detection of a problem, its diagnosis, the identification of remedial actions and evaluation of the effectiveness of action taken. The type of information needed is 'industry best practice', that is, techniques and procedures often created and tested by researchers that have been extended to industry. DaRin and Groves (1996) call this 'technical information'. People need to learn how to use this information.
2. Planning: finding out the details needed to plan any action. Even simple plans like getting a few horses to auction in good condition needs information about where to go, when to be there, weather, market prices, things that could go wrong and so on. When plans go wrong it is often because information that would have been useful was unavailable. (Moverly & Dale, 1990). The type of information needed here is ephemeral, and needs to be widely communicated.
3. Record keeping: the filing of stud records, health histories, financial records etc is necessary for review and reflection as well as for giving background to some current problem or plan. This type of information is personal and private but needs to be effectively stored and retrieved.
4. Community participation: the equine community, like all others, has interlinking 'grapevines' where matters of community interest are informally raised and discussed, but information about what is going on is important to people, particularly as the equine community is so widespread. People need to be able to contribute as well as be informed.
5. Learning: all the above uses require the user to have knowledge that allows information to be put to work. While much of this knowledge is learned informally, there is a constant need for more formal learning, usually from courses (Roling, 1988; Van den Ban & Hawkins, 1996).
This brief summary of information types and uses gives some in-principle ideas about the nature and use of information in the Equine industry.
An Equine Information Service (EIS) accepts the challenge to match information with the people who can use it (Prinsley, 1995). We now consider information technologies that might be appropriate in support of the equine industry.
Current and Future Information Systems and Technologies
46
Information Technology can be bewildering; its jargon and its rate of change is extraordinary. This section looks at the technologies in terms of usefulness to the Equine industry by presenting the different kinds of information systems then considering the future changes in the information technology infrastructure.
Information Systems are collections of technologies, data, processes and procedures that meet a user's information need. Different types of systems have evolved to meet different kinds of information and different user needs, and these can be usefully classified into document management systems, data management systems and knowledge management systems.
Document Management & Information Retrieval Technologies
The document is the most common form of information storage. While users are after the information in the document, the technological task is to capture, store and retrieve the documents that meet a users query. Managing documents, particularly scientific and technical documents presents great problems because it is:
Dispersed: It is scattered across different kinds of literature; books, periodical, research papers, technical reports, proceedings, videos, etc. located all over the globe. It is possible that research is unwittingly being duplicated because original documents were not found in the literature review.
Dated: Some knowledge created long ago has been superseded by more recent work, but still remains in the literature with a potential to mislead.
Under utilised: Studies indicate that no more than 20 percent of the knowledge available in research institutes is really being used (Muhlemann, 1995). Therefore the full weight of current human knowledge is not brought to bear on problem solving.
Expanding rapidly: The quantity of knowledge is increasing at an exponential rate.
Variable in quality: The reliability of the information is a great difficulty, for example Rauscher (1993) argues that "Textbook Science" is more reliable than "research papers" as it has been processed and selected more rigorously by the scientific community. Furthermore, knowledge that is reliable in one context may not be so reliable in another.
Inconsistent: Considerable contradictions have been found within the published literature and between the published literature and current expert opinion (McDonald & Ellison, 1994).
Incomplete: There are considerable gaps between the published knowledge and industry best practice.
Slow to be published and applied: Publication in scientific journals can take 12 to 17 months after acceptance, which may have taken a year itself. This will lead to a delay factor in decision making. The path from applied science research to decision making in the field can be long and inefficient.
47 Nonetheless document management is a core information system for the Equine Information Service. There are two main types of system, cataloguing systems and full text systems.
Cataloguing systems identify documents with a code (for example a library book number) and use key words to describe the document's content. Access to the document is achieved by searching in the document descriptions for subjects of interest and obtaining references to the documents that satisfy the query. The documents are then found (getting the library book off the shelf, for example) and read to get the desired information. In full text systems, a set of documents is held electronically and the location of particular terms can be found wherever they occur in any document.
Cataloguing systems rely on the indexing of documents using lists of approved subject headings, thesauri and other organisational tools to govern the description of documents. All physical collections of books and other documents have a cataloguing system to help manage them. Access to the catalogue of other collections is increasingly possible as libraries and information services make more use of communication technologies (the Internet). An example of cataloguing software is ProCite.
Full text systems rely on documents being in electronic form. An example of full text software is TriMagic's DB/TextWorks, or the Australian product ISYS. Access to full text systems can also be achieved over the Internet.
At one extreme, an Equine information service might attempt to collect all documents relating to horses and manage them 'in-house'. At the other extreme, it might collect nothing, but source information from other collections on demand In between these extremes there is a middle course where a core body of information is collected to address a large majority of queries, and directories of experts are maintained to solve the unusual queries.
Information Management requires organising tools pertinent to the Equine industry, particularly thesauri, and these tools need to be constructed within the EIS.
Data Management Technologies
Databases store specific data rather than documents, for example, a trainer's name and address, the maximum daily temperature, the height of a particular horse. Data has to accurately reflect the real-world, so the maintenance of the data is important, and databases are usually located in organisations which have a strong interest in maintaining them.
Electronic sensors are increasingly used to capture data about the physical world (eg. weather) and to identify things (eg. barcodes on products, electronic tags used by the diary industry to monitor herds) but most data relates to the world as seen and reported by people.
Access to databases is by searching for a particular data item such as the name of the winner in the 5th at Caulfield. Microsoft Access is an example of database software.
48 Cataloguing systems mentioned above actually use database software because they record specific data items like title, author, subject, etc.
Databases in the Equine industry would include data about people, their contact details and their roles in the industry, organisations, horses, events, products and services. An Equine information service might attempt to either maintain all equine data, select certain data sets and collaborate with other organisations to maintain others, or maintain nothing and source all data from other suppliers.
Knowledge Management Technologies
In the 3 world idea discussed earlier, knowledge is what is in every human's mind which allows us to understand our perceptions of the world and the information we get from others. When we don't know what we need to, we can seek the knowledge of others.
Knowledge based systems, or expert systems, are used to give advice to users based on the specific situation faced by the user. EqWise, for example is a system that diagnoses equine coughing, a complex but critical condition. It has embedded in it the knowledge of a number of expert veterinary scientists and engages a horse owner in a dialogue to analyse the situation and suggest courses of action. This type of information system is difficult and expensive to construct, but has been making steady progress in some industries (eg. in viticulture, the AusVit decision support system). An equine information service may in the future have such systems to give advice to users
Facilitating Technologies
The systems described above are all 'designed' systems, that is, they hold specific kinds of documents, data and knowledge. Information technology has another role, however, and that is in facilitating unstructured communication between people, just as the telephone did at the turn of the century.
An equine information service can be a focal point, not just for finding people one might need to contact (an expert in nutrition, for example) but to make the contact. It can also supply innovative ways for people to communicate and share information and can host emerging technologies such as chat and discussion groups.
49 Future Technologies
The capacity of computer based information technology is developing exponentially. Conservative estimates are that processor speeds, storage capacity and transmission rates have increased one-hundred-fold in the last decade (Denning 1997).
The networking of computer systems and the integration of their functioning, particularly using the World Wide Web, is changing the face of our economy and society. Recent figures of Internet use estimate that the volume of traffic is doubling every 100 days, and the value of electronic commerce is over US$8 billion. While some parts of rural Australia still don't have a decent telephone service (Cavill et al., 1997) the trend to electronic communication as an adjunct to human communication seems irresistible. As happened with the fax machine, the use of the Internet in the equine community will reach a critical mass, after which people with no Internet access will be 'information-poor'.
The take-up of new information technologies in the farming community is rising rapidly. This is in part due to the ongoing work of Governments, Communications Service Providers such as Telstra and Optus, and organisations such as FarmWide Pty Ltd, but the use of new information technologies in schools and the demands that school students make for similar computing facilities at home is a major force.
Two areas of technological change that will have particular impact are voice and data communications. The current concern about the phasing out of the analogue mobile 'phone service and the poor coverage of the digital mobile 'phone service will be irrelevant when Low Earth Orbit communication systems are put in place. With these systems the satellites are moving quickly and the ground stations are relatively still so similar technology to earth-based mobile 'phones can be used. The costs of these systems will initially be high, but in the longer term should be cheaper than the current surface systems. Another aspect of voice technology is the development of continuous speech recognition systems. When you can talk to your computer, keyboard skills will be largely unnecessary.
In the short-term, data communications providers might give Internet access through WebTV (trademark of Microsoft). This uses high-speed download through existing cable and satellite Pay-TV services with a back channel through the Public Switched Telephone Network. The prospect of cheap widespread communication will have profound effects on all types of activities. Perhaps if a horse is having some sort of physical problems a vet can be in contact and receive video images, and if available, from sensors or other biological indicators. It is likely that cheap communication might lead people to form groups based on interest independent of geographic location. While such groups have formed on the Internet, systems that are much easier to use such as voice-based systems, should increase their popularity.
Technology for an Equine Information Service
In preparing technology scenarios for an EIS, interviews were conducted with 6 information services to discover what information technologies were in use and what experiences have been gained by these organisations.
50 The Tropical Beef Information Service is similar to the proposed EIS, although, of course, addressing a different industry sector. It has strong links with researchers, being located in a CSIRO/University/Department of Agriculture, Primary Industries centre in Rockhampton.
FarmLine offers a service to many, mainly broadacre, industries and has developed by capitalising on and generalising the queries presented to it.
The Australasian Legal Information Institute is interesting as it has developed its own "conceptual information retrieval" software to enhance the retrieval of full text information.
The Parliamentary Information Service looks after information relating to legislation, including publications relating to legislation (eg. digests) and maintains profiles of users so that any new information relevant to their interests can be forwarded to them automatically.
The Environmental Resources Information Network (ERIN) is renowned for its ability to get information from a wide variety of sources electronically. These experiences help to give direction to effective technologies that an EIS might pursue.
What is Needed?
These interviews suggest that there are three kinds of technologies necessary for the EIS to succeed:
Technologies for Effective Communication with Clients
A means of communication can include telephone, fax, letter, e-mail, Internet/online or face-to-face. For communication to be effective, both parties must be able to participate. By far the most effective and available method of communicating over large distances with many people on a one to one basis is by telephone. As FarmLine has testified, regardless of how an enquiry is received, some form of telephone contact is usually essential in determining the exact requirements of the client. Following the telephone is written communications. Whilst not as effective as telephone, it does include nearly 100% of the population and would be an essential method for the distribution of information back to clients.
Fax facilities, e-mail and the Internet all have a secondary role in communications with clients, but the Service must be ready to respond to increasing demands for these types of services. The success of chat and discussion groups as a means of sharing information by FarmWide needs to be monitored closely. The Internet provides access to a whole host of world-wide information, but caution needs to be exercised to avoid information overload. An emphasis needs to be placed on quality and relevance. A faxback system, where information fact sheets (held on computer) are automatically faxed back to an enquirer who leaves a fax number, could be considered. Software is readily available to handle this sort of information distribution, however it can be expensive to operate as all charges are carried by the service.
51 Editorial and presentation software is needed in preparing newsletters, fact sheets and replies to queries.
Technologies for Internal Management
Some information technology is needed to operate the service. This includes the usual suite of desktop software (word processor, spreadsheet, etc), communications packages (Web browser, etc), publishing and graphics packages. Staff need to be well trained in dealing with the technology as well as the clients.
Recording enquiry details is essential to monitoring the service. From the information recorded, reports can be generated and used to determine the content and future direction of information provision. This technology also supports evaluation and review processes. There are a number of off-the-shelf software packages available (eg EMS, Tracker) that can do the task.
Technologies to Access Information Resources.
The largest technological component in an EIS is that needed to store and access information sources. For paper-based information held in-house, cataloguing and searching databases are needed and text bases are needed for electronic documents. Technological resources needed to meet these requirements depend on the size of the service - given that needs will grow and evolve rapidly, the technology selected should be amenable to easy upgrading.
Accessing resources external to the EIS involves links to other suppliers and to authors who might address a query (experts, scientists, etc). This requires the establishment of databases of people and projects as well as publications, and of appropriate lines of communication with these people.
Technology Related Opportunities and Issues
An Equine information service has a very significant role to play in the mosaic of science and adoption (Arnon, 1989). One of the objectives of the service would be to contribute to the health of the Equine industry by ensuring that high-quality data, information and knowledge was readily available to it. The service would need to be pro-active, seeking out knowledge and knowledge sources and highlighting them as part of the Equine extension process, and not just react to queries as they are presented. An information service is not a library whose main task is the passive collection of material, it is a service whose main task is to actively improve the industry. Being an effective communication link between scientists, academics and professionals on the one hand and clients on the other is a critical success factor for the service. Establishing effective relationships with Equine researchers and extension people is an important ingredient in that success.
Another success factor is that the service should pursue is a role in promoting life- long education for participants in the industry. While answering queries is useful in itself, equipping the enquirer to seek out deeper knowledge is likely to be of much more long term benefit. Recalling the 3 worlds model, information can change the way people act in the physical world. Strong relationships with Equine educational institutions is very important in this matter.
52
Increasingly, new information technology is affecting the way science is funded, conducted and reported. An EIS has a potential supporting role for RIRDC and other research funding bodies in the assessment of equine research proposals and the extension of equine research.
An EIS has a dual role in information technology research. First, it should supply an information technology assessment service to the industry. The ubiquitous, mass nature of information technology means that many people in the Equine industry have a need to know more about it. An EIS should be a place where systems being offered to the Equine industry can be assessed and evaluated. Secondly, the EIS should be involved in the creation and adoption of new information technologies. Systems like Group Decision Support, Knowledge Management, and Electronic Commerce are changing the shape of our economy and society - the EIS should be the force which ensures that the Equine industry is not left out in the technological cold.
Low levels of information technology literacy is an issue for most industries that are based in physical activity. In sectors like banking and finance, and increasingly in education, for a person to be unskilled in information technology is to be out of work. The Equine industry is not in this category, but IT is playing an increasing part in it. The children of those currently in the Equine industry are learning computing at school and increasingly being connected to the Internet. In a generation, twenty years, there will be a high level of technology literacy, but in the mean time the EIS can be effective in improving the current levels.
A key success factor for an EIS is service quality. Evaluation criteria for the performance of the EIS will have to be established, based in the question - How do better information services improve the Equine industry? Preliminary criteria include: access to the service (by individuals, groups or mass (Seevers, et al., 1997), the value of information to the client (its pay-back) and the responsiveness of the service. Information quality is another key factor and can be assessed by factors like its ease of use, timeliness and freshness amongst others.
The final issue concerns information scope. There is an almost infinite amount of information relating to any area of human interest, and horses are currently of interest to hundreds of thousands of people in Australia. An EIS should not be an elite service dealing just with scientific and best practice information, but should try to broaden its scope to include those who are not usually considered to be potential clients of information services. Small improvements in the knowledge and information of the bulk of the industry can have large effects on its health. The Equine industry is rich in history and culture; to be effective an EIS needs to have a strong awareness of these. At the same time, an EIS must be objective and realise that it is a part of the future of the Equine industry, not its museum or archive.
53 Examination of Some Significant Information Services
An examination of several information services was conducted to determine how they operate and what they have achieved with their users so that lessons for an Equine Information Service can be learned.
FarmLine
FarmLine online, is a large scale operation that provides information on a wide range of topics to a wide range of people in the farming industry. People access the information primarily by telephone, with information being supplied by fax or letter. They have access to an extensive range of reference material and maintain a wide range of good contacts within the industry
Contact Details:
Gary McKenzie Kondinin Group PO Box 913 CLOVERDALE WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6105 Phone: 1800 677761 Fax: 1800 657509 URL: http://www.kondinin.com.au/
Operation: The FarmLine Information Service was launched in April 1995 with the support of the Grain Research and Development Corporation, International Wool Secretariat, Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and the AIBA Group. FarmLine was developed as a direct response to the many requests the Kondinin Group were receiving from farmers for information to assist in making decisions.
The aim of FarmLine is to provide quality information in a personal and practical way to farmers who enquire. FarmLine places an emphasis on the personal approach to providing information and has developed and maintained good contacts within the industry. This has been important to its success, along with the ability of its staff to clearly establish what it is the enquirer wants and to deliver it promptly and efficiently. A further emphasis is placed on the accuracy of information, with information overload being avoided at all costs.
FarmLine has developed its own software for both recording enquiry details (EMS) and for Publications Management (PMS). Both systems have highly developed searching and reporting facilities. Upon receiving an enquiry, the details are logged into the EMS and a search is conducted based on previous enquiries, internal data (publications), or for new subject matter, an external search is initiated. FarmLine is continually adding to its vast library of knowledge through its requests for information, and is active in gathering information in areas where a perceived gap of information exists. It sees it important not to duplicate the work being done elsewhere and to foster and develop information sharing.
54 FarmLine produces information packages on topics determined by the level of enquiries made. These packages are usually one of two types: A document or booklet specifically produced and published; or a collection of pre-published material accompanied by an in-house introduction. In the past 1½ years, the value of packages sold has been in the order of $40,000-$50,000. FarmLine is currently operated with 2 full-time and one half time operators, one part-time clerical assistant and one full- time and one half-time librarian. FarmLine operates with an annual budget in the order of $120,000. A target of cost recovery within 3 years of commencement has been achieved. A reproduction of a report on FarmLine written by Ruth McIntrye is recommended reading.
Technology in Use: FarmLine places an emphasis on personal contact with its clients and therefore places a heavy reliance on the `phone. Between 90% and 95% of contact is made via the phone with the remainder by fax, letter and e-mail services. At the time of preparing this report it was not known what level of enquiries are made to FarmLine and what numbers of phone lines and faxes are used. The web server is a standard Pentium PC with Windows NT operating system. Essential to the success of the Information Service are two software packages, one for the recording of enquiry details (known as the Enquiry Management System) and the other for managing publications and reference material (known as the Publications Management System). Both systems have been developed internally using Microsoft Access. Extensive and flexible reporting ability and indexing enables information to be found quickly and enables decisions to be made on topics to be considered for inclusion in associated magazines and the preparation of information packages.
FarmLine provides information to the public on a user-pays basis. Charges are double for non members except for fax and postage. The average cost of a search is $30. FarmLine’s policy is to always give a contact name with a response and to always ask if user's name can be quoted. The invoice screen on the computer filled out when the enquiry is dealt with, and this data can be searched later for type and number of inquiries and has formed the basis for future publications and frequently asked questions. Each request response has a feedback sheet.
Future Direction: Kondinin is continually looking at ways of improving its service through FarmLine, and conducts an annual survey of farmers to get their input and help steer the direction of research and the services provided. With an increasing number of clients now having a modem (20%-25%), Kondinin is looking to have FarmLine go on-line within the next 12 months. FarmLine has recently begun an association with Landcare groups in Australia with a view to establishing a Landcare Information Service to make information available between Landcare groups. FarmLine is also looking to extend its association with specialists, consultants and agronomists to provide a more comprehensive service to its members. It is also willing to work with other groups in establishing an Information Service and could be of benefit in setting up an Equine Information Service. FarmLine has recognised some limitations with its in-house developed Publications Management System and is planning to replace it, most likely with a product from Trimagic called DBText.
FarmWide
55 FarmWide's main focus is on accelerating the uptake of online services in rural and regional Australia and fostering the exchange of information through electronic means. FarmWide uses the Internet and e-mail as its principle form of communications.
Contact Details
Rob Parker FarmWide PO Box E10 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 62736384 Fax: 02 62736413 URL: http://www.farmwide.com.au/
Operation: FarmWide Pty Ltd is a company owned by the State farming organisations of the National Farmer’s Federation. FarmWide is based in Canberra and provides FarmWide online as a pilot to 1000 people throughout rural and regional Australia. The pilot aims to facilitate and accelerate the uptake of online services, and to determine the specific information and communication needs of rural and regional Australia. The pilot also aims to create substantial electronic communities for the exchange of information and commerce within rural and regional Australia and with other Australian and International online users. Online services are provided to the participants chosen to take part in the pilot for the cost of a local call plus $5.00 per hour online service charge. Online service includes e-mail and full Internet access. A project update (obtained from the FarmWide web site) details the progress of the project to date along with some of its findings.
FarmWide offers a number of different services to its participants other than e-mail and Internet access, and these include online discussion forums and chat groups. The discussion groups provide an opportunity for members to ask and answer questions and discuss issues affecting them and their industries. Chat groups are hosted each week on specific topics and often involve special guests. Chats are recorded and available for access at a later date. The success of the chat and discussion groups fluctuates, and requires fresh content to avoid participants loosing interest. FarmWide currently operate with 2 staff. Information is gained internally or contracted out. FarmWide has extensive web-based links to weather, markets and commodity prices.
Technology in Use: The focus of FarmWide online is the Internet (said to be 17,000 hits per week). Little use is made of `phone and fax except for support. FarmWide online was set-up with assistance and backing from Telstra and Microsoft, who provided valuable resources in setting up and hosting the web site. The use of chat and discussion groups places more demands on hardware, software and support, but is an innovative means of communicating and sharing information.
Future Direction: The initial project had a budget of $1million that lasted for 2 years. Over the next 2½ years a further $5million will be spent from funds made available from the Government under the “Networking the Nation” program. This funding will be spent primarily on furthering the content of the services provided, and addressing
56 line drop-out issues, thus removing barriers to the uptake of online services by rural people. It is also thought that the services currently being provided by Telstra may gradually be moved in-house under the control of FarmWide. New projects involving 15 'points of presence', possibly in NSW and Queensland west of the Newell Highway, will focus on providing training in the set-up and use of the Internet and national and local content (business, social and health information)
Tropical Beef Information Service
The Tropical Beef Information Service caters for the information needs of the Tropical Beef industry, mainly through print media distributed by fax or at field days. It maintains an extensive reference library and a small web site.
Contact Details:
Tricia Larner CSIRO – Tropical Beef Centre PO Box 5545 ROCKHAMPTON MAIL CENTRE QUEENSLAND 4702 Phone: 07 49238118 Fax: 07 49238117 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.tbc.csiro.au/
Operation: The Information Service has been in operation since early 1994 and is primarily run by one person (Tricia), who handles all enquiries to the service. The client base consists mainly of farmers in the north of Queensland, The Northern Territory and Western Australia (80%), with an equal number based in the capital cities of Australia (10%) and overseas (10%). Information is communicated by various media including print, electronic and individual and group learning methods. An extensive reference library of books, videos and fact sheets is maintained and catalogued. Videos are made available for loan and are popular with clients. Books can be purchased (but not from the reference set), and the fact sheets produced are distributed mostly by mail and at field days.
The Information Service also maintains a web site at URL http://www.tbc.csiro.au/. This site makes available research information from the Centre and contains links to other sites on the Internet. The service has found that an increasing number of clients now have access to a fax machine. In addition, many clients also have a requirement for a modem and computer, as Herd Management software is rapidly becoming an essential Farm Management Tool. Essential to the success of the Information Service is its use of two software packages, one for the recording of enquiry details and the other for the cataloguing of reference material. The operation is currently run on an annual budget of $10,000 (excludes salaries and journal subscriptions). Just over half of this budget is spent on the production and distribution of an annual calendar. The remainder is spent on materials and running costs including phone, postage and web- site maintenance.
Technology in Use: An emphasis has been placed on the use of current proven technologies. There are two `phone lines used, one of which has a fax machine
57 connected. An answering machine is used to receive calls outside of normal working hours. The fax machine operates on a 1800 number. The service averages 2-3 calls per day, and one e-mail per day. The web server is a standard Pentium PC with a Windows `95 operating system connected to the web through the resources of the CSIRO. With the exception of some minor alterations to web pages, all maintenance of the web server and web pages is outsourced to a local business. The web site is seen as an excellent way of promoting the research work of the Centre. The web pages are designed for both text only and graphics viewing in recognition that some users are restricted by slow access and poor `phone lines.
Essential to the success of the Information Service are two software packages, one for the recording of enquiry details (known as the Enquiry Management System) and the other for the cataloguing of reference material (known as the Library Reference System). The Enquiry Management System (EMS) software was purchased from Tyme Management and Marketing in South Australia. The function of the EMS is to record the details of all enquiries made and from the information gathered, initiate a response. The software from Tyme Management and Marketing is fairly flexible in its application, allowing the user to customise key entry fields to suit individual requirements. For example, 2 levels of topics/subtopics can be established. For the Tropical Beef Centre, one of the most useful features of the EMS software is the ability to produce detailed reports about the enquiries recorded. These reports are used by the Service to determine such things as: the source of enquiries; common topics or topics of high interest; and the level of use of the service. One minor shortcoming of the software is that it has limited editing facilities when it comes to cutting and pasting information from one record to another. The Library Reference System (LRS) software was purchased from TriMagic in Sydney. The function of the LRS is to catalogue all reference material and provide keyword access to the material when dealing with enquiries. The software also has some modest publishing abilities which may prove useful, but are not used at the Centre.
Future Directions: The Information Service has been successful in providing information and furthering skills within the industry and outcomes are being achieved. The Information Service will soon be undergoing a review and it is hoped that additional funding will allow for the creation of an electronic photographic collection.
58 Parliamentary Information Service
The ‘Parlinfo’ system manages information about the business of the Australian Parliament to meet the needs of members of parliament and their staff, news organisations and the public service.
Contact Details:
John MacDonald Parliamentary Projects Coordination Secretariat West Block Canberra ACT Phone: 0262778945 http:// library.aph.gov.au
Operation: The system is large, storing 210,000 large items in full text, and processing 10,000-12,000 queries per month. It has over 3000 users, with approximately 500 profiles of particular users for the selective dissemination of information (SDI). The system also supports user training. There is a strong emphasis on 'classed' data to facilitate retrieval (eg. recognising the relevance of particular countries say, Malaysia, when groupings like ASEAN are used in a query).
Technology in Use: The software used includes Fulcrum data/information management database software (SQL) with Visual Basic interfaces on an NT client- server network.
Future Directions: These include the enhancement of the underlying information structure using structured generalised markup language (SGML) to identify particular parts of documents, particular people and types of event as they occur in the document. Multimedia facilities are being considered to capture video and other image data and make them available over the network.
Environment Resources Information Network (ERIN)
ERIN (http:// www.erin.gov.au) is an online government information system that provides information to officers within the Department of the Environment and to the public. A front page and a newsletter are available. Within the Department an intranet provides access to additional information and services. Internally, access is via the Internet. For the public, access can be by e-mail as well as the more conventional post and fax.
Contact details:
Tony Boston ERIN Scientific Computing 3rd Floor 15 Moore St Tobruk House Canberra ACT Phone: 02 6274 1134
59 Operation: ERIN provides the infrastructure for the system such as web database interfaces for Searching, What’s New and Navigation. The users (Environment Australia) are responsible for content. A web committee is responsible for maintaining quality control. The system is fairly large, and contains about 20,000 documents. There are two servers (Sparc 10's), one is used for development and the other for access and storage of the production information. There are five officers that are involved with the Web and twenty-five professionals who are involved with GIS (Developing techniques with GIS maps and overlays with maps) and data analysis. In addition there are twenty part time content providers within Environment Australia who are often web coordinators. The ERIN Unit is part of Environment Australia, which along with the Bureau of Meteorology, Australian Antarctic Division and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, make up the Commonwealth Department of the Environment.
Technology in Use: A Unix platform is used, with oracle database(s) and perl scripting to interact with pages/images. Users can search analog information. The systems uses Arcinfo (GIS package), a special database engine (Oracle SDE version 3) and CGI (perl calls to API), and ArcView desktop GIS (with high end PC). Many of the earlier delivery problems have now been overcome with the web. Spatial operations require a great deal of programming and handling of point/line/polygon data. The Green Pages is a data directory which allows users to find data easily. It uses the Oracle database and conforms to a metadata standard for NZ and Australia. (MetaData Guidelines Australia and New Zealand Land Information Council - (www.anzlic.org.au)). They can download data to users after details of who the users are and what they want are obtained. A licence is created for the user. The legality of this is being checked. E-mails include use of metadata, licence, and data. The searching of 'free text' is not good for a large site, as it is difficult for the user to find their document of interest. ERIN uses the Dublin Core metadata standard to describe its documents. A hierarchical thesaurus of environment keywords are used to index documents. This allows the user to search for key documents by category, as well as title and abstract.
Future plans: To increase in web delivery and access. They see the need for SINS (Special Interest Networks). Planning to increase search results beyond html documents. Likely communication changes auger well for improved information management and services.
Implications
A survey of existing information services has shown the viability and value of these forms of enterprise. This investigation has also shown that the technology needed to support an equine information service is readily available. The level of technology and the cost of acquiring this technology is dependent upon the level of service to be provided, and the quantity of information which is to be identified for storage and retrieval.
60 References
Arnon, I. (1989) Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer. Elsevier: London, UK.
Cavill, M. et al., (1997) The Rural Guide to Telecommunications. RIRDC: Canberra, ACT.
Da Rin, J. & Groves, J. (1996) What's on the Web now for Australian farmers? RIRDC: Canberra, ACT.
Denning P. J. and Metcalfe, R. M. (1997) "Beyond Calculation the next fifty years of computing". Copernicus: New York, NY.
McDonald, C. & Ellison, P. (1994) Knowledge Aquisition from Domain Literature. In AI and Natural Resource Management: A Workshop in Conjunction with AI94, University of New England, 22 November 1994: Armidale, NSW.
Moverly, J. & Dale, L. (1990) Computers in Agriculture. BSP Professional Books: Melbourne,Vic.
Muhlemann, S. (1995) Das verschuttete Kapital. Spezial/Wissensmanagement, BILANZ, 1, pp 76-80.
Prinsley, R. (ed.) (1995) Information Exchange in Rural Industries - The role of electronic information systems. RIRDC Occasional Paper 95/1: Canberra, ACT.
Rauscher, H.M., & Dale, W.J. (1993) Managing the Global Climate Change Knowledge Base. A1 Applications, 7, No. 4.
Roling, N. (1988) Extension Science, Information Systems in Agricultural Development. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.
Seevers, B. et al (1997) Education Through Cooperative Extension. Delmar Publishing: Albany, NY.
Van den Ban, A.W. & Hawkins, H. (1996) Agricultural Extension 2nd.ed. Blackwell Science: London, UK.
61
PART 4
BUSINESS PLAN FOR A HORSE INFORMATION SERVICE
Grant Poolman
62 Objective
To provide a valuable resource which meets the information needs of the Australian horse industry.
Business Plan
Purpose of the Business Plan
The industry survey conducted as Part 1 of this project demonstrated the demand for a horse industry information service. This plan sets out to show that Charles Sturt University has the resources to provide such a service. It will also show that with the adoption of sound business principals such a service can be a viable business enterprise.
Products and Services
Initially the information service will respond to user/member enquiries. It will use the communication technologies described in Part 3 to catalogue information, then in response to enquiries the information will be retrieved and forwarded to subscribers. In the initial period of establishment this information would be transmitted by ‘phone, fax and post. However, it is anticipated that in the future more users will employ the internet for direct access and information retrieval.
A further activity of the service will be to prepare information files. These files would provide up to date information on popular topics. The files would be printed at the service and loaded onto a computer. An enquirer could then receive the file through fax or post or by downloading it to a home computer.
It is part of the longer term plan for this service that problem solving data bases relating to high interest areas will be established in the future. Members would have direct internet access to these data bases and would search for information of their choice, referring to the information service staff for added assistance if required.
The Business Structure
The service will be managed by a board with representatives nominated by Charles Sturt University and the horse industry.
Initially the service will follow the budget structure and provide the services outlined in this document. However, after an establishment period suggested to be three years, the board will assume full responsibility for determining the policy directions and financial structure of the service.
The service will be established as a not-for-profit self-funding enterprise. Charles Sturt University will continue to support the service by providing a suitable location, resources such as books and journals, the services of university staff members, plus whatever additional resources the University believes provide a mutual benefit. Apart from this University assistance, it will be the duty of the board to assume full financial responsibility for the enterprise after a period of three years.
63 Business Location
The service would be located within the library of the Wagga Wagga campus of Charles Sturt University. A prominent location adjacent to the main entrance to the library has been selected. This location will give the service a high level of public recognition as well as being readily accessible.
The proposed site is generous enough in its dimensions to allow for the display of an extensive reference collection, as well as providing for public reading areas and meeting facilities.
Staff Requirements
The service will require full-time management by an experienced librarian or information technologist. This manager will receive part-time assistance from the students enrolled in the equine science degree, as well as advice and assistance from the eleven academic and support staff who specialise in the equine discipline.
Expansion of this staffing level, when needed, will be supported by the income from the service.
Marketing
This service will be marketed to members of the horse industry via existing organisations which will help to promote the service. Most horse industry organisations have some form of regular contact with their members in the form of a magazine or newsletter. In return for the industry organisation promoting the use of the service to its membership, the information service would, for the first year of its operation, offer free access to all members of that industry organisation. Individuals would access the information service by identifying their organisation and member number.
Following this free trial, the information service would negotiate an annual subscription from those industry organisations whose membership made use of the service.
It is seen as preferable that industry organisations join the service, thereby gaining access for their total membership, than the information service having many small individual clients.
Costs
In assessing the cost of an information service, major outlays would include: a professional staff member; a database management system; communication costs; publicity; housing and office space. The extent to which separate resources of this type were made available would dictate the level of service provided.
Costs of document delivery would be passed on to the client, and so these have not been included in the estimates below.
64 Existing licencing agreements for some commercial databases (such as indexes on CD-Rom) do not allow for use by an agency that receives payment for the service. Thus, some costs may be incurred in obtaining appropriate new licencing agreements, although it has been the experience of other services that this is not a heavily used method of finding information.
Because the exact nature of the information to be requested is only an informed prediction, any costing is based on an estimate of the resources required.
It is important to note that the acquisition of new resources requires a commitment to bear the costs of processing and housing these items.
The estimated cost of a high-level and a low-level service are given here based on 1997 prices, and it must be emphasised that costings are subject to inflation and substantial currency fluctuation. This document does not consider the costs of promoting an information service, as a cost-free promotion strategy is part of the business plan.
High-level Service
A high-level service would require dedicated equipment, resources, and personnel. Access to both the expertise of academic staff and the resources of the Library, and a recognition of the costs of communication with a widespread clientele would be necessary. A program of purchasing would need to be maintained, and considerable effort would be needed to ensure the acquisition of all relevant materials from research bodies, meetings, seminars and conferences, as well as the multiplicity of associations and societies relevant to the horse industry. Access to overseas material would be essential. A high level of networking and cooperation with other bodies would need to be maintained. Comprehensive in-house indexing of material received would be made and stored within the data management system, and a regular assessment of the usefulness of the collection would be carried out, to maintain its currency. Enquiries more readily handled by other bodies, e.g. racing associations, would be referred to these bodies.
Printed resources
Books A core collection of key reference texts is estimated to cost $8,000 (based on a collection of dictionaries, directories, key texts in anatomy, health, breeding, farriery, etc.). Access to the current CSU Library collection would reduce this cost to about $1,000.
Serial publications Subscriptions to Australian Horse Journals are estimated to cost up to $2,000; general veterinary journals would add considerably to this cost, however the major veterinary journals are already held in the CSU Library. Some other useful journals are also held by CSU (for example, The Horse, Equus). Other subscriptions would be necessary, and the collection of conference proceedings is especially important. This cost is difficult to estimate, but at least $4,000 should be allowed for this. Serial publications require a continuing, usually increasing commitment of funds (not less than 15% per year).
65 Other materials Reports, research papers, and unpublished materials will be important resources in an information service (particularly one which attempts to act as a clearinghouse for Australian material), and for many of these items the cost incurred in obtaining them will be greater than the actual cost of the item. In fact, many such items will be available for no charge. An amount of $2,000 should be allowed here.
Electronic resources
Databases Access to databases on CD-Rom has reduced the cost of these to the user considerably. The CSU Library has useful databases, and these could be supplemented by on-line searching where necessary. On-line searching would be conducted on a cost recovery basis. For the first year of operation $300 is considered to be a reasonable cost estimate for database access.
Internet Internet access through Charles Sturt University’s proxy server (if this is possible with changes to telecommunications law) would keep costs reasonable. As little as $35 per month would cover this amount. Electronic access to some serial titles would be expected, and the cost of this has been included into the serial publications estimate.
E-mail Again, CSU would provide an e-mail service. At present there is no cost for this service, however, there is a possibility that changes to telecommunications law will require a provider other than CSU to become involved in the future.
At a high level of service the outlay in the first year on resources is estimated to be $9,720 (this is with the CSU Library link). Added to this is staffing, equipment, a database system, and housing for the service (see below for a breakdown of these costs). A cost that must be allowed for, but which is very difficult to estimate, is the cost of copyright. Much of this would be passed on to the client, but some allowance for these charges need to be budgeted for.
Staff, Equipment and Housing
Furnishing the work space with a desk, tables, chairs and filing cabinets is estimated to cost $4,000; $3,500 should be allowed for shelving; and $3,000 is an appropriate amount to allow for setting-up costs (such as alterations to existing space). A computer ($3,000) and a good laser printer ($600) are essential. This amount of $14,100 is a one-off cost and would apply to a both a high-level or a low-level service.
Recurring costs include the salary of a professional staff member at $47,162 to $49,321 (Level 6, step 3 to Level 7, step 1, including salary on-costs, March 1999 figures). A sum of $2,000 should be allowed for recruitment. The lease of a photocopier, fax and scanner has been estimated at $208 per month ($2,500 per year). Another cost of $3,000 is for communication (phones, fax, postage) and stationery. Again, these costs ($54,721 plus $2,000 for recruitment) would be more or less equally applicable to any service, high-level or low-level.
Low-Level Service
66 A low-level service would rely heavily on materials already available, donation, and expert advice available locally. The handling of requests for information by students in the horse management area is also a possibility, although responsibility for the service would need to be with an appointed person. Indexing would be limited to items perceived to be immediately useful to the service and maintained on a purely in- house use basis.
Resources
Donation would be the source of much print material at this level of service, supplemented by resources in the CSU Library by agreement with them. The Internet and the expertise of specialists would be a large source of information.
At this level the outlay on the service in the first year could be estimated at $3,500 plus staff, equipment, a database system, and housing.
Conclusion
The gap between the provision of a high-level and a low-level service leaves room for some alternative model. In each case much of the cost is recurrent and by far the largest ongoing cost will be staffing the service with a suitable person. The value of access to the vital resources of electronic information, results of research, and people, as well as more traditional materials, cannot be overemphasised in providing a service to a clientele with diverse needs, such as that which makes up the horse industry. This requires the appointment of someone with skills in communication, and energy.
Alternative Computer Systems
There are several ways in which computer technologies can be assembled into an Equine Information Service. At one extreme, the 'full in-house' system architecture, the EIS would collect and catalogue a very wide range of information from different sources. This would require relatively large computing facilities and staffing, especially if extensive historical information sources were acquired. The efficiency of such systems (measured by the rate of use of the collection) is low. At the other extreme is the 'clearing house' system architecture. Very little would be collected, but registers of external sources would be developed and used to redirect client queries to other providers. Such a system requires only desk-top technology. While this approach is cheap, it is problematic because of the paucity of information sources for the Equine industry. Between these extremes is an architecture that would maintain a significant collection of material which addresses the majority of queries, and, would also provide registers of external sources for exceptional problems.
The costs of different architectures are presented below. These costs are for technology only and do not include staffing or the purchase of data or information sets. The estimates assume that the service will be located at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga and that it will make use of the networking facilities of the University. If commercial transactions are to be undertaken by the service, then a commercial internet service provider must be used rather than the University's facilities. Systems entail start-up costs and on-going costs. Computers can be either purchased or leased. The latter option is preferred for cash flow reasons and to better position the service for technological change, whereas the former option is preferred where the
67 use of the computer will be unchanged for at least 3 years. As an EIS will be an evolving service, the lease of equipment seems more appropriate. The printer is only available for purchase, however.
The current rates for telephones include a connection fee ($150) and handset ($80). Some wiring may be necessary depending on the physical location of the ‘phone. The current rate for connecting a computer to the network is $100, plus 20 cents per megabyte of data traffic. Computer software usually entails a purchase price and annual maintenance fee.
All systems architectures have these common components
Installation Annual Computer, and office software to run EIS management systems 1,200 Laser printer 600 Enquiry Tracking System software 500 100 Web-site software and set-up using existing host computing facilities (mostly labour) 2,000 500 Two Phones 230 2,500 Fax 500 3,830 4,300
In addition to this base, the different alternative architectures have other requirements:
Scenario 1 Full In-House System
Installation Annual Computer to act as major information server Unix or NT Server 8,000 Cataloguing and FullText management software (network) 6,000 500 Computer workstations for 2 cataloguers 4,000 Computer and printer for public use 1,500
Scenario 2 Clearing-House Approach
No additional technology required
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Scenario 3 Intermediate system
Installation Annual Upgrade Office computer (more storage) 500 Cataloguing and FullText management software (ISYS single user system) 500 Computer for public use 720
The recommended architecture is Scenario 3 which is estimated to cost $4,330 to install and $5,520 per year to operate.
Summary of Costs and Sources of Funds
This proposal suggests that a horse industry sponsor assists with in the initial costs to set up the service, and that for the following three years sponsorship continues at this same level of support. It is proposed that for the first three years the service itself or Charles Sturt University will pay for any expansion of the service. After the initial three years the service and Charles Sturt University will assume responsibility for all cost associated with the service.
The University will provide accommodation for the service and necessary infrastructure support. As well, the University will provide $20,000 each year towards the salary of the service manager. It will also provide an additional $10,000 per year for subscriptions towards horse related journals, scientific proceeding and similar publications.
Total Costs for Year One
Item Set-up Annual Librarian (level 6 step 3) 47,162 Books 4,000 Other Reports, Research Papers etc 2,000 Databases 300 Two Computers (leased) 3,000 Printer 1,000 Enquiry Tracking System software 500 Web-site software and set-up 2,000 500 Cataloguing and Full Text management software (desk top) 500 Phones and fax 2,500 Shelving (collection) 3,500 Alteration of existing space 3,000 Computer work stations (two) } Office chairs (two) } Filing cabinet } Comfortable chairs (eight) } 4,000 Low tables (two) } Tables / desks (six) } Upright chairs (twelve) }
69 TOTAL $14,100 $59,462
The annual cost can be reduced by $30,000 due to the commitment by Charles Sturt University.
Cost to Sponsor
Estimated cost for year 1999 $43,562
Estimated cost for year 2000 $29,462
70 RECOMMENDATIONS
That Charles Sturt University and others jointly establish a Horse Industry Information Service.
This service would be located in a prominent position in the University Library on the Wagga Wagga campus. Charles Sturt University would relocate its current collection of books and journals to this location. The University would continue to expand its collection of horse books and journals at least at the current rate. This collection would be enhanced further by the Information Service. This service would subscribe to additional journals and publications, as well as electronically sourceable information.
The service would also provide comfortable public access areas for members of the industry to read books or journals, to access the information data base on the computer provided, or to discuss their needs with a dedicated full-time information specialist.
A full time information technologist would manage the service and this person would catalogue all incoming journals and articles into a data base, as well as deal with public inquiries.
The activities of the service would be overseen by a board of management comprised of CSU and other horse industry representatives.
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