Black Walnut

[Teddy Lancaster <Teddy@runningbear.com>]

I know I have told this story before, but here it
is again:

Back in 1993 (I think), I leased a mare that was
turning out to be great 100 mile material.  She
was THE boss, with me or other horses.  Not mean,
but just "in charge". So, when she was NOT the
first one to the barn one day, I worried.  I took
her temp and pulse since she did not "look
right".  Her temp was fine, but her pulse,
RESTING, was 66.

I called the vet.  The vet (newly out of vet
school) said, "Oh my, this horse probably has a
bad heart!!! You need to get and EKG on her."
Yeah, right.  This mare had already done 2-3 100's
and plenty of 50's. NEVER a problem. metabolically
just great.

Well, it took me about 12 hours to think about
"what was new".  My wood shavings!!!  I looked
closely and I saw about 1 shaving in 1000 that was
dark.  I called the company (makes pallets).  They
said they HAD milled black walnut.

I was LUCKY...I IMMEDIATELY took her OFF the
shavings and put her on Banamine.  She also had on
full pads.  I think they saved her life.  Less
than 7 days later she did a fast 50 and finished
third with NO ill-effects.

My farrier had lost his stallion who stood on
shavings with walnut.  It took him a mere 20
minutes to die.

This stuff if LETHAL, as is cherry.  GREEN walnut
and cherry (leaves, etc.) are not toxic.  It is
when they dry that they kill.  So if you have
walnut and cherry trees in your pasture, BEWARE.
When they die, if the horses chew on them or eat
the leaves, you will most likely deal with a long
slow death unless you opt to put them down.

BTW, when I could not GIVE away the shavings, I
had the pallet company pick them up and replace
them with all pine.  They were not happy, but when
I explained the circumstances, I think they were
relieved she did not die.

--
Teddy Lancaster

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May 7, 2001 my companion, Ed Paige took a fall
from
a horse. broke his back and is told he will never
walk again.
We need your help.

Ed is going to have surgery and treatment to
enable
him to walk again, but it must be done in Ecuador
at the cost of $30,000. Insurance will NOT cover
this.
We are asking for donations.
The surgery is scheduled for August 14, 2001.

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If they are shooting at you, you must be doing
something right--

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Does this mean I cannot tell the Emperor he has
no clothes unless I have a Kingdom?
--
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Running Bear Farm, Inc.
1348 Township Road 256
Kitts Hill, Ohio, 45645 USA  -
http://runningbear.com/
1-800-533-2327, FAX: 740-533-0337

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