Warmblood Import Nightmare

[Denali6298]

@kkgeorgio

Allow me to share a few quotes from this thread:
“That’s really interesting but all due respect to everyone, it’s a little outrageous that there exists a government agency that will assist the affluent in importing their upper 5 figure large livestock luxury pet–especially one that failed a health quarantine. This is clearly not a farmer with his/her livelihood on the line.”

Accusing the family of being wealthy here.

“Why in the WORLD would the President be interested in an expensive imported horse and the USDA testing methods?”

To be frank, the officials that the President has in place, who represent him via administrative policy SHOULD be interested in the fact that the government is attempting to force owners to euthanize their healthy livestock because of a faulty test. This is absolutely something that should not be happening. When and if this info gets to the correct people, guarantee the policy will be looked into.

“Ok that is… delusional. No wonder the USDA and Jetpets doesn’t want to work with these people anymore. This is obviously devastating but they need someone on their team to be rational and guide them through the decision making during this mess because mom and trainer are really not helping.”

Long shot? Yes. Delusional? No.And seriously, so rude! In case you aren’t aware people do see things on twitter. You never know when the right person, who cares enough about an innocent animal will see a tweet and get involved. Wilder things have happened.

“This sentence in the FB post is pretty telling, “Please send an email to the USDA,
[list of organizations/people], and any group that thinks killing our horse for a disease that has been eradicated for years is wrong!” I’m genuinely curious if this trainer reads what she is writing. Of course it’s not “wrong” to kill a horse that may have a disease that has been eradicated for years.”

It is absolutely wrong to kill a horse that may have a disease (also may not. HELLO). If not for moral reasons, absolutely for financial reasons. It is shocking that you think this family should be out tens of thousands of dollars because their horse has tested suspect, via a test that is known to have false positives. And oh by the way has tested negative 8? times on another test used by other countries.

For someone on the hill you have thin skin and have minimal knowledge how the government works. No the government doesn’t care about this one family. The government is not going to care until it’s a high percentage of horses that this is happening too. Kathy Hobstetter (spelling?) made it clear that the USDA wasn’t demanding euthanasia, and she also pointed out the family should have made plans to send the horse back. She was the voice of reason.

And I’m never going to agree that the family of a service member should get special consideration or more sympathy. The trainer and other pros involved failed this family. It’s horrible. And yes the email was not remotely professional. Especially after they asked for no contact from the trainer. Would you send an email like that in your line of work? I know I wouldn’t.

As Coanteen stated, this family should know what red tape is like. That’s the job. Sometimes it takes heaven and earth to do something simple.

[Seagram]

@Coanteen

Over 4 million cattle were culled over BSE, and then governments paid hundreds of millions in compensation to the farmers. There were still millions lost due to countries closing their borders to exports from affected countries.

That’s what the rules are supposed to prevent, and that’s why changing them is onerous. While this horse, while it may have something going on, is probably not infected with the disease of interest, and while it would be ideal if the better more specific test were allowed by regulation, a single private importer losing the value of one animal doesn’t even register in the grand scheme of things.

Ah, the grand shoot, shovel and shut up escapade!

[endlessclimb]

Fingers crossed for today, for a resolution in either direction.

[bingbingbing]

Holding my breath and sending jingles for Hireno.

[trubandloki]

Jingling away!

[kmwines]

@Coanteen

Over 4 million cattle were culled over BSE, and then governments paid hundreds of millions in compensation to the farmers. There were still millions lost due to countries closing their borders to exports from affected countries.

That’s what the rules are supposed to prevent, and that’s why changing them is onerous. While this horse, while it may have something going on, is probably not infected with the disease of interest, and while it would be ideal if the better more specific test were allowed by regulation, a single private importer losing the value of one animal doesn’t even register in the grand scheme of things.

Avian influenza and Newcastle have had similar instances in the states. In California the government paid people for the destruction of their cock fighting roosters. Despite them being illegal, they knew that if they demanded those people turn over birds they wouldn’t get control of the epidemic. So they paid them their value.

These disease are serious. Hoof and mouth wrecked Britain’s economy. And it’s not a zoonotic concern and doesnt kill the infected animals.

Think of all the precautions and concerns when there had been glanders at the Rio Olympics grounds months before. Can you imagine if that happened at a California show facility or God forbid WEF?

[AppaloosaDressage]

These comments about the USDA just being cautious are killing me. Negative on ELISA, negative on WB EIGHT times, positive on the test that’s known to throw false positives when in contact with other bacteria. This isn’t caution, it’s archaic protocols with no alternative tests set in place like you find in other countries.

USDA admits they don’t think the horse had Glanders, comments from USDA workers were made saying they disagree with what’s happening, and there was also commentary from molecular biologists sharing similar information.

This happens more than you think. A CFT has about a 97% accuracy rate, so out of 1000 horses, 30 will come back with false positives? What if yours is one of those 30? There are much more reliable tests available that other countries are already utilizing because they know this. The USDA knows too, but apparently just doesn’t care.

When our horse was stuck Nov/Dec last year, another woman contacted us who was in the same situation, as well as one who had euthanized her horse in NY two weeks prior because of a false positive. This is not an isolated event.
The USDA is failing the equine community. Again, Attorney Chapman Hopkins has never seen or heard of a true case of Glanders when accompanied by a negative WB. Other countries KNOW this and have back up testing protocols in place to clear horses in this scenario. Even though this has been happening for years, we haven’t taken any strides in that direction. To me, it’s absolutely ludicrous.

[WildLittleWren]

Jingling that he’s negative today and all of this can be put to bed, and the horse can come home (if healthy). Crossing fingers!

[Pennywell_Bay]

@kmwines

Think of all the precautions and concerns when there had been glanders at the Rio Olympics grounds months before. Can you imagine if that happened at a California show facility or God forbid WEF?

1. 2016- race horse Torreen, quarantined at Jet Pets/LAX for almost the exact circumstances as the OP. Multiple positive tests. Owned by deep pockets.They were also told to send the horse back to Europe or euthanize her.

2. 2017- Sagacious HF was quarantined in Miami for almost the exact circumstance as the OP. The difference- he represented the Nations Cup at Hickstead and Falsterbo, and was owned by a farm with deep pockets. They were also told to send the horse back to Europe or euthanize him.

This horse had 2 positive CFTs, upon negative on WB was released.

Many, many cases of false positives and the USDA has acknowledge it needs to review.

False negatives by CFT (and WB): 0

https://www.skofirm.com/wp-content/u…0/download.pdf

The BSE culling of animals was due to the contagious nature and the fact that humans consume beef and dairy, as it should. The US has only had 6 confirmed cases of BSE from 1997 (?) to 2014.

[Pokerface]

Jingles for this poor horse and family. I dearly hope that he does not need to be euthanized, but I can’t lie… I’d be terrified of him coming to my barn even if he tested clean. It’s just such a scary ordeal.

[joiedevie99]

@Pennywell Bay

1. 2016- race horse Torreen, quarantined at Jet Pets/LAX for almost the exact circumstances as the OP. Multiple positive tests. Owned by deep pockets.They were also told to send the horse back to Europe or euthanize her.

2. 2017- Sagacious HF was quarantined in Miami for almost the exact circumstance as the OP. The difference- he represented the Nations Cup at Hickstead and Falsterbo, and was owned by a farm with deep pockets. They were also told to send the horse back to Europe or euthanize him.

This horse had 2 positive CFTs, upon negative on WB was released.

Many, many cases of false positives and the USDA has acknowledge it needs to review.

False negatives by CFT (and WB): 0

https://www.skofirm.com/wp-content/u…0/download.pdf

The BSE culling of animals was due to the contagious nature and the fact that humans consume beef and dairy, as it should. The US has only had 6 confirmed cases of BSE from 1997 (?) to 2014.

I believe someone mentioned early on that the family had spoken to the lawyer that handled Sagacious’ case. If there was some set of facts/circumstances that allowed them to get Sagacious out, I sincerely hope it was explored here.

[Denali6298]

@joiedevie99

I believe someone mentioned early on that the family had spoken to the lawyer that handled Sagacious’ case. If there was some set of facts/circumstances that allowed them to get Sagacious out, I sincerely hope it was explored here.

The lawyer said send the horse back, euthanize or keep testing per the trainer.

Hoping for a positive outcome.

[kmwines]

@Pennywell Bay

1. 2016- race horse Torreen, quarantined at Jet Pets/LAX for almost the exact circumstances as the OP. Multiple positive tests. Owned by deep pockets.They were also told to send the horse back to Europe or euthanize her.

2. 2017- Sagacious HF was quarantined in Miami for almost the exact circumstance as the OP. The difference- he represented the Nations Cup at Hickstead and Falsterbo, and was owned by a farm with deep pockets. They were also told to send the horse back to Europe or euthanize him.

This horse had 2 positive CFTs, upon negative on WB was released.

Many, many cases of false positives and the USDA has acknowledge it needs to review.

False negatives by CFT (and WB): 0

https://www.skofirm.com/wp-content/u…0/download.pdf

The BSE culling of animals was due to the contagious nature and the fact that humans consume beef and dairy, as it should. The US has only had 6 confirmed cases of BSE from 1997 (?) to 2014.

I completely agree they need to review. It’s a very crappy situation (to put it mildly) for all involved. I was more upset about the initial disparagement of the USDA vets like they wanted to euthanize the horse for the sheer f* you to the family. That’s not how it works.

And in some studies I read, the cft actually had better positive predictive values than negative predictive values. And the USDA test had the crappiest sensitivity of the 3 cft availability. I just dont think the relatively few false positives is enough to cause them to prioritize the rewrite of regulations.

[findeight]

Would you want this horse to join your horse in your boarding situation if he pops a positive again? How much of Jet Pets is devoted to this horse? How much if the facility is not able to accept imports while this horse is there?

[WildLittleWren]

@findeight

Would you want this horse to join your horse in your boarding situation if he pops a positive again? How much of Jet Pets is devoted to this horse? How much if the facility is not able to accept imports while this horse is there?

I think this is the reason for the jacked up daily rates. No horses can come in and out. Jet Pets has to be losing a pretty large amount of money having their quarantine facility tied up this long.

[fordtraktor]

@WildLittleWren

I think this is the reason for the jacked up daily rates. No horses can come in and out. Jet Pets has to be losing a pretty large amount of money having their quarantine facility tied up this long.

If you look at the list of what is required of another facility, like special clothes, decontamination area, full netting, etc., they are spending way more to care for this poor horse than the owners are paying. It sucks for everyone.

[WildLittleWren]

@fordtraktor

If you look at the list of what is required of another facility, like special clothes, decontamination area, full netting, etc., they are spending way more to care for this poor horse than the owners are paying. It sucks for everyone.

I agree.

[Rnichols]

@WildLittleWren

I think this is the reason for the jacked up daily rates. No horses can come in and out. Jet Pets has to be losing a pretty large amount of money having their quarantine facility tied up this long.

Yes, but isn’t that a risk you take for your business…you know, as a QUARANTINE facility…you might have to have a horse stay longer than you predicted. IMO this is a risk you take as part of the business. Factor it into your costs, don’t triple the price on the owner overnight.

[Temecula_Jumper]

@Rnichols

Yes, but isn’t that a risk you take for your business…you know, as a QUARANTINE facility…you might have to have a horse stay longer than you predicted. IMO this is a risk you take as part of the business. Factor it into your costs, don’t triple the price on the owner overnight.

Exactly.

[WildLittleWren]

Oh I don’t agree with tripling or even increasing the fee. I’m just trying to figure out how/why Jet Pets was able to increase their fees. Don’t they have to have signed paperwork stating their fees? Or the possibility of an increased fee in certain situations?