OMG, I’m so sorry. How horrible. This is an absolute nightmare.
Jingles for Tues, whatever the odds are!
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My heart is breaking. To go from excitement, to hope, to facing the inevitable. I’m so sorry.
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What a mess. I am so sorry
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This is so sad. That last email brought tears to my eyes. I feel so sorry for that poor horse and that poor family.
I’ve been following this thread since it was first posted, but I can’t remember all of the details. Was the seller ever contacted? Are they unable to take the horse back? As a seller, if I had to choose between taking a horse I sold back or watching it get euthanized in a foreign country, I would try and take it back. However, I also realize that’s not at all feasible for many people.
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Should the names of the family, including a 15 year old minor child, be published on here? I didn’t quote the letter Im referring to as I don’t want ti quote personal information.
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Hm. I get and appreciate that the USDA is there to protect from an infectious disease in this case, but they kind of made a crap experience even more crappy. They didn’t have to do that.
I smell very faint scents of a lawsuit on the horizon.
Poor horse. Poor family.
This is a real risk with importing, and most people do not experience this, but that doesn’t make what’s happening here any less difficult for those involved. I’m still unsure about the USDA’s testing protocol, denying of vet care, and general resistance.
But then I remember: government employees.
I don’t want to take a dig at everyone that works for the US government, but there are certain “types” out there and a certain reputation that stands for a reason.
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Even if someone can foot the bill to ship the horse home, it’s not a given (although possible) that the home country will accept the horse back after it has been rejected abroad.
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I think it was said upthread that the seller would not take the horse back. I cannot imagine the heartbreak for the family. I, too, am one of the ones that has imported a horse on a shoestring budget. It’s not all millionaires and international horses. My thoughts are with this family and I hope some peace can be found.
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The family wants it made public and has asked everyone to share the letter.
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This is awful! I read the whole thread when it happened and check for updates frequently. I have a question since I am pretty much unfamiliar with this. If the horse tests negative, then he will be released to the family? Is a “1” on the scale pretty much a negative? How long does the horse have to be on antibiotics before it becomes negative? To euthanize a healthy horse in insane! I cannot believe the poor family and horse have to go through this! My prayers are with them.
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The fact that the horse had a fever is an issue.
I don’t remember reading this in the original posts.
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I just reread the this thread and the horse besides the fever also had monocytosis and a left shift which are all consistent with an active glanders infection.
This is not a healthy horse in my world.
The USDA I not the bogeyman here.
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The horse spiked a temp one time after being in quarantine for about two weeks. The family tried to get a vet out and ended up with the racetrack vet. The horse’s temp was back to normal when she finally came and wouldn’t give him antibiotics because she said he was fine. That was the only time he has ever had an elevated temp and he is checked twice daily.
If they would not allow any treatment of the horse, I disagree with you.
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I feel horrible that this is happening to Gabby. I don’t know what else to say but I hope the results come out clean. ALl the positive vibes your way.
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Both of these are non-specific markers of infection, inflammation, and even stress. Any infection or inflammation, acute, chronic, whatever.
That CFT has been shown to be cross-reactive with other infections (for eg strep).
I think the horse has/had something going on. I’m not convinced it was glanders, but if the USDA vet did think so, they should’ve treated earlier.
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The horse does not have Glanders. He’s negative on the Western Blot.
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And this is a huge problem. The fact he’s negative on Western Blot 8 times… This blows my mind. The USDA is absolutely taking a stressful situation and making it worse. Taking a test that is known for false positives, ignoring all evidence to the contrary… I am NOT a litigious person by nature, but I would be contacting a lawyer and discussing my options in this case.
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How absolutely tragic for all, but mostly for the poor horse who has had to be isolated for the duration of this mess and the poor girl who should be living her dream and now…I can’t even imagine.
OP, thanks for keeping us updated and I’m crossing my fingers that this has a good ending, but not holding my breath. Horrible.
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Sad. Very sad. Has a lawyer been contacted? (Sorry I don’t have time to read all of the posts).
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