Horse Saved By Unusual Alternative

A horse which has starred alongside Hollywood star Richard Gere was saved from being shot dead with just 24 hours to go when experts suggested a course of homeopathic therapy to fight off agonising ragwort poisoning.

An offer of treatment came just one day before Flyer was due to be shot.

Owner Sue Ferber said if it hadn't been for the stables in Buckinghamshire,her 16-year-old horse would now be dead.

Mrs Ferber said "I'm amazed and absolutely indebted to the staff at the stable.

"They literally nursed him back to health.Everyone is astounded and the vet said he was very lucky to have lived.

"I just couldn't see him suffer any more and was ready to have him put down."

David Clarke,owner of the stables,said "It is very rare to save a horse from ragwort poisoning.

"Flyer had 55 per cent liver damage and was in a very bad way when he came to us.He was booked in to be shot on the Wednesday and came to us on the Tuesday.

"What we had to do first was cold turkey where the horse is de-toxed for a day with special pills.

"Then he was administered with ragwort,the principal of homeopathy being to treat like with like."

After an extensive course of pills and potions Flyer,a Welsh Cob,is now back to full health.

The normal enzyme level for a horse is between zero and 87.Flyer's level was 260 at the height of his illness,but a blood test this week show it to be a healthy 68.

Mr Clarke said "We are delighted.We don't know if it was a fluke or not but we have heard of some successes with homeopathy and horses in the area."

Flyer,who starred along with Mrs Ferber in the Richard Gere film First Knight,was initially diagnosed with arthritis.

It wasn't until a friend of Mrs Ferber saw him and suggested it might be liver damage that the poisoning was discovered.

Mrs Ferber said "I immediately had blood tests done and it showed up as ragwort poisoning.I had just about given up when the stables offered to take him and try out this homeopathic treatment.

"He is back on form and I'm delighted.I would encourage other horse owners to consider homeopathy."