Another horse
has died in a feed contamination tragedy thought to be responsible for wiping
out the equine population at a farm in Florida, USA, the Sun Sentinel reports.
On Monday
morning, an 8-year-old quarter horse named Foxy was euthanized by injection
after her owners decided her suffering was too great.
She was the
fourth horse to die since October at Masterpiece Equestrian Center, a Davie
boarding farm and riding school. The suspected reason: tainted feed. More horses
are expected to be euthanised as early as this week.
"She was
the sweetest little pony, everyone loved her," said Debra Buis, a private
boarder who owns two of the horses at the center.
The Lakeland
company that sold the feed has since recalled the product, stopped production
and acknowledged that the feed contained an ingredient harmful to horses.
"We are
committed to working with the Masterpiece Equestrian family to bring
restoration in the midst of their tragic losses," said Jonathan Lang,
general manager of Lakeland Animal Nutrition.
"Although
we can never replace their horses or take away the pain of this tragedy, we are
working with their representatives to expedite a resolution.”
Buis said three
horses at the farm developed sudden paralysis and collapsed in October. All
three died within a week.
Days later,
testing of the feed, conducted at the horse owners' request, came back positive
for monensin, a powerful medication used in poultry and cattle feeds. Monensin
is too strong for horses, and there is no antidote.
The rest of the
horses became terribly ill. Owners were told by veterinarians to provide
"comfort care.”
But officials
at the farm said it's been horrible watching the animals deteriorate.
Over the
weekend, Foxy, the quarter horse used by children in walk-trot and jumping
shows, bit someone — behavior not typical of the normally gentle animal.
Read more HERE.
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