Dear Editor,
I'm writing a letter I hope you'll publish in your next issue. It's a thank you letter to some really nice people we met in Chilliwack, B.C. earlier this year.
In May of this year we set off to a show in Monroe, WA. the Conti family (Thom, Denise, Ashlea) from Hayton Creek Ranch in Oyama, B.C. and myself plus 4 horses. After an exceedingly onerous trip up the Coquihalla Highway (a very long pull) the truck decided it had had enough! We limped into Chilliwack and luckily made it to the Ford Dealership. There we were, jammed into their parking lot which was not intended to accommodate really large rigs like the one we were in! Thom's skillful driving got us turned around and there we sat. The good news was they could fix the truck but not until the next day, so there went our first day of showing...and what were we going to do with the horses overnight?! Throughout the 6 hours we were there we must've talked to every horse person we could think of that was within a reasonable distance. Most were at the show we were headed to! The people at the dealership were really helpful, complete strangers offering to phone someone they knew with horse accommodations. However the problem we now faced was finding a truck big enough to haul the trailer! It was getting late, the dealership had closed for the evening and still we sat. Then out of the clear blue, a fellow named John Gardner (from Rosedale) pulled up and said he'd heard we needed help. How he heard about us is a mystery! Even in the age of high tech the grapevine is still very reliable!
So John hooked up his truck and hauled the whole works out to his farm in Rosedale where we were met by his gracious wife Maude and of course their four legged family members. They opened their barn and their home to us for the night and even offered to have us back if we needed a place to stay on the way home! The barn was a welcome site to all of us, especially the horses (who were by now really in need of a rest). Not only a place to stay but the use of their vehicles to boot! I can't say enough about the Gardner's and their generosity to complete strangers! There are some really wonderful horse people out there!
John and Maude are avid trail riders and travel great distances to do what they love. When thanked John merely said "'aw, any member of the Back Country Horsemen would've done the same..." a humble response from a truly good man. Well, John and Maude, happy trails to you both and thanks again for everything!
Sincerely,
Lynette Schmidt (Kelowna BC), Thom, Denise and Ashlea Conti (Hayton Creek Ranch, Oyama BC)
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RE: Safety and Efficacy of the West Nile-Innovator Vaccine
Dear Editor:
Over the course of the past few weeks, news articles and Internet rumors have surfaced regarding the West Nile-Innovator vaccine, the USDA-approved vaccine for protecting horses against West Nile virus. The rumors and misinformation pertain specifically to abortions and deformed foals following vaccination for West Nile virus. An article published in the Denver Post on May 30, 2003 has served to intensify the spread of inaccurate and misleading information on this critically important matter. As a result, Fort Dodge Animal Health, manufacturer of the West Nile-Innovator vaccine, would like to set the record straight regarding the safety and efficacy of this vaccine.
· The USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics is not considering any market intervention against the West Nile-Innovator vaccine, contrary to the implication in the Denver Post article. Many comments by the USDA official in the article were taken out of context, and are inconsistent with the Department’s official position on the vaccine.
· While the USDA is aware of a few reports of abortions following use of the vaccine in pregnant mares, the Department’s official recommendation for prevention of West Nile virus still includes vaccination, as outlined on their website, at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/ada/_ahwnv.html.
· Millions of doses of the vaccine have been used since it was approved in 2001. The vaccine is field tested and proven with an excellent safety profile.
· The Denver Post reported that during the safety trial for the vaccine “at least five mares lost pregnancies or had stillborn fetuses.” This is untrue. One 22-year-old mare was diagnosed to be pregnant by an ultrasound examination and after two doses of the vaccine was found to be “open”. The veterinarian in charge of the mare declared in his official report that this early embryonic death was “unrelated to the vaccination.” There were no other problems with pregnant mares receiving the vaccine in the study.
· The Denver Post article lacks credible evidence to support its conclusion. The circumstances of the reported abortions are unclear and lack veterinary involvement and/or confirmation.
· More than 15,000 horses have contracted West Nile virus since it was first documented in this country. About one-third of those animals died. The West Nile-Innovator vaccine is a safe and proven way to prevent this deadly disease.
Thank you for your attention on this very important matter.
Sincerely,
Stephen A. Connell, DVM
Vice President
Professional and Technical Services
Copyright © 2008 The NW Horse Source, LLC
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