Government officials have been accused of putting the country at risk of the deadly equine disease glanders by failing to properly enforce a ban on the movement of horses.

No new cases have been reported since two horses were put down after testing positive last September and the ban was due to be lifted at the end of the month.

But sources said mismanagement of the ban by the Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry meant it could now be extended until the end of August.

They said the crisis had also had a devastating impact on horse prices, with breeds that would have previously had a BD3,000 price tag were now worth as little as BD500.

It has reportedly led to a flood of complaints to the ministry by people asking for the ban to be lifted and wanting to know what was happening.

"The ministry didn't enforce the ban from the beginning and I have received information that shows people are riding their horses like normal," said sources.

"The ministry should have been more active in publishing the events of the years and then the people would be more comfortable and patient.

"The people are fed up and they should be, the process is long and the European Union (EU) procedures take a long time and people are stuck. Some people are leaving their horse standing for months in the stable."

Evidence showing Bahrain was glanders-free had been sent to the EU more than two months ago, but source said due to the ministry's lack of enforcement stable owners had been flouting the ban by holding races.

According to the ban, owners wishing to move their animals, which includes mules, donkeys and camels, more than 500m must apply for written permission from the ministry.

Enforcement

But sources said growing frustration at the ban and the lack of enforcement meant this was now being ignored.

"If the people are not careful it will be a big problem, it will affect the whole country including the royal horses," they said.

"There are a few checkpoints on the way to the south but the checkpoints are weak.

"If there is a ban on Bahrain horses then there will be no more trading or selling, already the price of the horses have gone down to one-third of the price because no one wants a horse from here now."

Horse owners who lost stock due to the outbreak were earlier told they would be given compensation, but many said they had still not received anything.

"I have had 11 horses put down because they tested positive and I haven't received one dinar till now," said Twin Palms stable owner Anki Holmstrom.

"If I want to find out any information I have to go down to the ministry and physically barge into offices so that someone will talk to me, but it is not helpful.

"When they first started testing I thought that all my horses were going to be put down because the test showed a lot of positives, afterwards they retested using another test and most of the horses tested negative.

"Since the first test didn't work and most of the horses came out negative in the second; how sure can they really be that there are no cases in the south?

"Even the Dilmun Club stables were tested and cleared. Then a year later they had to put down a horse."

Ms Holmstrom said she had seen people riding around the area since the beginning of the ban.

"For us it hasn't been too bad because our stables are big but for some of the small stable owner their horses have to be in a small place," she said.

"But it is tough for us too, we haven't been able to trade with Saudi Arabia or Kuwait in more than two years.

"We still teach but people don't want to come.

"It is really unfair that the north gets banned and the south can go on like it is not part of the same country."

More than 70 animals have been put down since glanders was first detected in April 2010. Death can occur within weeks and surviving horses can act as carriers so euthanasia is the only option.