My family is asking for assistance with the veterinary bills, long term supportive care, preventative care, and securing equipment.

We have lived through a horse owners nightmare, it started on a Sunday, when my gelding of 14 years (20 years old) was found laying in his paddock. We had two vets assess him and we didnt know what was killing Dexter. Then the following morning, my mother's broodmare went down. Right after finding Maggie, all around us horses started dropping. Everyone became paralyzed in the tongue and hindlegs. They could kick but that was about it.

It was with Maggie we learned that this was Botulism, later when we rushed the two colts to Abraham's Equine Hospital, it was confirmed by a team of vets. They were at the hospital for days, Gunner recovered but Whiz (Maggie's weanling) did not.

Not long after they were at the hospital our next three horses went down. My 2-yr old Sable, my mom's mounted shooting mare Star, and my broodmare Leia. Leia was put down first, her lung had collapsed. Star passed away after three harrowing days. Talley, my mom's 2-yr old had gone down by this point. We called every single vet in the Midwest, UNI/UNM/UNW all wanted $10,000 before they would even look at our horses, even with that; they stated that since they were down already; they most likely would die. We made the heart wrenching decision to put both 2-yr olds down, neither could still sit up and Sable's breathing had worsened.

We spent every day, from Monday to the following week, absolutely devoted to saving our family members. Every 2 hours, flipping them over or changing out a saline bag. Every 2 hours sitting with them so they knew they were loved and we were trying.

None of it was enough for so many.

But thats not where it ends. This last Saturday (7th), my mother's last riding horse and roping horse, Money developed symptoms. We rushed him to Abraham's where they treated him for three days, he is making a recovery. My mother's gelding that her grandkids are supposed to ride when he's done with training, Rhett, showed symptoms. He is also making a recovery as of the 11th.

We found nobody except the hospitals could assist us in lifting our horses, nobody had Slings or anything to help us. So we are asking for assistance in purchasing a sling so that we may provide a service to our community. We dont want anybody to feel as helpless as we did.

Our efforts are on-going, we are advocating against this disease and spreading awareness. Our fight is not over, but we will fight so others dont need to.