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Hi All, SERIOUSLY need your help and info from you ASAP!

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Dixie (the Walkaloosa mare) has String Halt. My vet said that there have only been 6 cases he has ever treated in over 40 years of practice. The strange thing is how she got it. He said it is plant induced and our extension agent said it doesn't even exist in the majority of N. America and just blew us off. We sent samples of different plants to VA Tech to have them tested but have not heard back. Dixie is miserable and she has a pretty bad case of it. None of the other 4 horses show any signs of it. Right now all we can do for her is: Banamine injections (10cc) each day, Thalamine injections 1 time a day and a powder that had to be special ordered from KY and I have to wear masks, gloves, glasses when mixing it up. I did some research on the powder (can't remember the exact name of it but it starts with a p and when I looked it up online it was similar to meds given for seizures (like phyneobarbatal (Forgive spelling.... I am on some meds right now that makes me look like I have Mad Cow!). I have read so many conflicting things online such as giving vitamin E, a higher fat diet etc. I am hoping that those of you in Aussie / Europe etc. might be much more familiar with it. I know there is some type of surgery she can have on those back legs but my vets said since it is plant induced it won't help and the the neurotoxins just have to work it's way out. They said it could take two months to a year.... I have been through so much this year with my own health issues, Eddies heart surgeries and then my mom's tragic death in June etc.... I feel cursed... If any of you can offer some string halt advise it would really help me so much. She is losing so much weight as well. I have some new pics of Scout (her colt) but they are not very good. He is a TANK!!!!! I am still trying to place my foster Banner with a VERY experienced ARAB owner/trainer. Gypsy, my sabino TWH is for sale now as well. I just have gone down too much healthwise and they need to go. Banner is not halter trained/lead to walk, stand for the vet or load so he will need someone very special. He does love to be petted but only on his terms. I may sell Scout as well. If his attitude doesn't change after he is gelded he is going to get a good butt kicking! Thanks for any help that you can give. I will try to post pics soon. Love and miss you all. You can email me direct at hiddenfieldsfarm@hotmail.com if you don't want to go back and forth on the board. XOXOXO Steffie :sad: :sad: :sad: :sad: :ympray: :ympray: :ympray: :ympray: :ympray: :ympray: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

Danni Thu, 10/28/2010 - 17:39

It was fairly common where I used to live when the horses were on capeweed, it's a yellow flower, a bit dandilion looking I suppose. They would clear up pretty well once off it though. We didn't do much to be honest except move them to another paddock! If it was a riding horse they'd be bought into a stable and fed hard feed with a bit of dolomite (calcium/magnesium) to help quicker. Not sure if it did or not!

steffiegilbert Fri, 10/29/2010 - 22:38

Man. My poor girl is on 3 meds and she is just starting to show signs of feeling a little better although she goes back and forth so much it is hard to tell. We still don't have the lab samples back on the plants/weeds we pulled. It is just crazy how there are 2 cases here in VA this year. We have sprayed the pastures once (we had just re-seeded the pastures the week before...uhhhh) so we are going to treat it one more time and then re-seed based on the extension office and vet's suggestions. I swear I think I am cursed!