any idea's before i call the vet .....update

[kek05]

just a quick update on my previous post......after calling the vet out to jade just 3 days ago she began to get worse quite rapidly going from depression to staggering, then losing most of her sight and just fading away before my eyes from this fit strong horse to probably the saddest and distressing thing i've ever had to see . blood tests showed accute liver failure possibly caused by ragwort poisoning(we always had an ongoing battle with the deadly stuff) from which there was no cure and we had her put to sleep this morning.

I know that this is a depressing tale but I'm using it as a warning to all horse owners out there, please be extra vigillant with this weed and don't let your horse suffer the same fate as mine.

I will forever have to live with the guilt that horse the i've had since she was a foal died because i was a fool enough to think i had this stuff under control.

By Jade, miss you already..

kek

[Sondra]

I am so very, very sorry. I will research this weed and keep watch over my field. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

[Travis's Mum]

Sorry to hear of your very sad loss :( I cant imagine what it must be like.

[ElvisFan]

Sorry sorry to hear about Jade,my heart goes out to you.

[shandy84]

Having delt with Ragwort myself I can only sympathise, it is a horribleweed and near on impossible to get rid of, I moved my horses because it was impossible to cntrol, I am really sorry that you lost your horse to it

[chapsi]

I'm so sorry about your loss.
Don't blame yourself for it. As Shandy said, this weed is almost impossible to control.

My horse was diagnosed by the yard's vet from having tick fever. I suspected the diagnosis and he was blood tested by my own vet and tests came negative. I was always convinced it was ragwort.

[~Perdita.M~]

I am so, so sorry :( I spent all of yesterday in the blazing sun digging it up and moaning about it, you have just brought it home again, exactly why we have to work so hard to get rid of it. I will be back out there today with a vengence.

[Dina]

I'm so sorry:(
Ragwort is a very nasty weed,I too have spent hours pulling it up and trying to get rid of it.

[Jessey]

I totally sympathise with you, unfortunatly a horse I had on livery a few years ago suffered the same fate, the vet susspected that mild poisoning had taken place 10 + years earlier which had caused a progressive degeneration of the liver.

It was the most horrible experiance, we spent nights up with him in the hope we could help him but it was too far gone.

Your a very stong person to have put this post here and try to help others even at this horrible time.

Best wishes

J xxx

[Alicat]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Alison xx

[kek05]

Thanks everyone, It just feels good to share these feelings with other "horsey" people who understand what these fantastic creatures mean to us.
kek

[momofsix]

I am so sorry! Thanks for the warning. I will check immediately if this stuff grows in my area.

[janette carter]

So very sorry to hear what has happened.

We have a field with it in at my yard and looking at the rosettes in the pasture I had already formed the opinion that my mare was not being grazed out ther again on rotation without it being treated.

I've been getting ready for an almighty row about it on my yard but fortunately the YO has now started attacking it. I think all the BHS etc publicity has helped in recent years but it is very very difficult to keep under control.

Again I am so sorry - thinking of you....

[nutkin]

so sorry to hear of your loss. Liver failure is an awful way for a horse to die and certainly brings home the importance of getting rid of the dreaded weed.