I’m betting the USDA lab in Iowa just opened a new box of supplies before he tested negative.
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WAFFLES!!! HOORAY HOORAY HOORAY!!!
So happy for the family! I hope they can get the costs reduced, as everyone was acting in good faith (with the exception of JetPets, who seemed interested in a little bit of extortion/pushing the issue), and it was just a weird circumstance. Even though they’re not entitled to it, it would be great to see the family cut a break after this ordeal.
And - Waffles needs to go for lots of walk trail rides, have tons of turnout, and LOTS of groom/love sessions for a month! I wonder if he will recognize a person not in a hazmat suit! :lol: Cheers to Waffles, with sun on his face!!
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That was the best update ever. So glad my morning started with this amazing news.
I hope they continue to update as they figure out what was causing all the positive test results.
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Really?!? Everyone is on here claiming the USDA needs to redo their protocols and fix the system and now they are actually trying to take steps to do those things and you’re implying the family should make that difficult for them?
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Great news!
I do hope they can perhaps treat the horse now with some antibiotics and ensure he is over what ever he had that was making him test suspicious.
Now for some long deserved turnout and a good nap in the sun.
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Very happy to hear the good news. Would be nice if this case could spur better science and generate some answers.
BUT if I owned the horse, I would not want any more blood tests anytime soon.
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What happens if the horse tests positive again in the future while the USDA is doing this continued investigation into what happened?
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Let’s hope we never find out.
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First of all, so, so happy to hear this news. I thought for sure it was not possible after so long. Kudos to the family for keeping the faith and seeing it through.
But I would be leery of doing further testing for the reason above. What does happen if the horse again tests positive? And how would the other owners feel about having him there after that?
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Maybe get it in writing first from the USDA that any further tests are for research purposes only, with a guarantee of no follow up action.
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I’ve got to wonder as well the wisdom of letting them continue to test. If this had happened to me - I’d be torn between wanting this to never happen to another horse and worried sick that he’d come back suspect again and have USDA attempt to seize him.
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Glanders is a reportable disease so I’m not sure how they could really agree to that. I would be a little leery of more testing if I were the owner, even though maybe it could help prevent this mess in the future for someone else.
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There is no way that would happen.
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Even though I understand the gut reaction of “no, he got out free you can’t have him”, the socially responsible thing to do would be to be more than willing to give him back for the greater good.
I don’t know how I would respond, personally. Hard choice.
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Been following a long…So glad he’s sprung…now it’s time to wrap him in bubble wrap because…well…horses being horses and this family has been through quite enough.
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This is such an educational thread. I would never have considered the obvious risk of testing for the disease more, or investigating the weird results, or trying to work cooperatively with the USDA…
But everyone who has pointed out the risks… yup. Lots of things to think about.
It seems like the family should consult an attorney BEFORE agreeing to any of that. Yeah… an attorney will cost money. But I would get one on retainer at this point and demand all records related to my horse from EVERYONE if I were in their shoes.
Also … I hope they update at a future point with confirmation they got him out, and a report on his condition. It’s worrisome. He was in quarantine a LONG time. Hopefully he’s a happy resilient horse though, who comes through it all fine.
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BEST NEWS EVER!!! 
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when he gets back they should just let him enjoy a few weeks of turn-out, grooming/bonding with his young owner, and bring him back gradually to work.
People have to keep in mind that the USDA didn’t keep the horse just to be mean or to pilfer money from the family - they were following the protocols available to them - and apparently it sounds like they are interested in seeing what caused the results. IMO the family should agree to an investigation 1) to hopefully alleviate this sort of thing from happening again, and for such a lengthy time, and 2) it would help safeguard the equestrian community everywhere.
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Agreed, I wouldn’t allow the USDA anywhere near Waffles again. He passed the tests. The owners shouldn’t be under any obligation to have him retested.
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