I agree, Miss Marple. Here's the best way I can explain it to you, Dog Gone:
"There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse." -- President Ronald Reagan
Posted on 07/10/2006 2:13:53 PM PDT by Dog
I am no horse person either, but from what I understand, horses are rather fragile, and if they can't stand up, they have medical problems.
Oh no! he was doing so good and to take a turn for the worse is hearbreaking.
" == And I absolutely refuse to bond with a chicken. Not gonna do it. == "
But if you incubate the egg yourself, the resulting chicken will be perfectly happy to bond with you....
That's exactly what I'm scared of.
Stud fees?
>Is that true?? How unbelievable! For one thing those mounts
were probably trained at great expense to be reliable in
the face of traffic, distractions, hurled missiles...
Tells me all I needed to know about the mayor.<
The "final exam" is typically a revolver fired just above the ears. If they can handle that, they are ready for duty. Mounted police are a wonderful asset for an urban police department; a mounted officer can go places a foot patrol or car cannot, and quickly; you can see more on horseback, but miss little detail; and people are more likely to talk to a patrolman on horseback. The horse makes all the difference.
>I thought they shot horses with broken legs.<
This is so predictable.
Keep scrolling down. We got to that.
>It's not about the horse. It's about what it is worth. Someone is taking a financial bath here.<
Incorrect.
The horse was insured.
>It's not about the horse. It's about what it is worth. Someone is taking a financial bath here.<
Incorrect.
1-The horse was insured.
2-If these people were interested exclusively in the money, they would have sold partial interest in the horse for well up into the tens of millions. There were many offers. They passed on this possibility, saying they would do nothing until after the Belmont Stakes.
In so doing, they risked the horse running lackluster races in the Preakness and Belmont, and the value of the animal shrinking dramatically.
3-Barbaro is a homebred. He was not purchased at auction, so he had more than paid back whatever stud fee had been paid, probably early in his 2-y-o season.
4-Racehorses are "investments" only in the dreamiest of minds.
5-Barbaro has full brothers. If money was the only object, the Jacksons would have unloaded them by now. They have not.
>>This is so predictable.<<
Is that just an old wives tale? I must admit I have never worked with horses so I am quoting only what I have "heard".
>>The horse was insured.<<
Then what's the big deal. I mean, a LOT of PEOPLE have been KILLED in senseless accidents in the last six weeks. What's up with this horse?
>>I probably (unwisely) entered this thread with the same kind of a question that a North Korean would have about why I've spent hundred of dollars in vet bills for my dog.<<
Yeah, me too. I was just seriously wondering about the old "shoot horses with broken legs" thing. I also have a lot in common with North Koreans when it comes to dogs. Never ate one though, although I would try it if I had the chance.
Like most other things - especially when life is involved, it's an emotional connection that either you make, or you don't. I am not necessarily a horse person, but if you have ever stood beside the gates when 10, 15 or even 20 horses break for the race, the power will take your breath away. They are truly magnificent.
To this day, I have only eaten lamb once, and that was by accident.
>Then what's the big deal. I mean, a LOT of PEOPLE have been KILLED in senseless accidents in the last six weeks. What's up with this horse?<
Well, the people who care are obviously fools who have responded to the beauty and grace of the Thoroughbred, or any flat racing breed. Those of us who have been on their backs know they will run for us flat out over broken glass, if we only ask. Those of us who have actually handled them know the enormous trust these powerful animals invest in humans, and we know that trust is sacred, and not to be betrayed. [Treat an animal well, and that is what you will get back--treat a human well, and you will get back only God knows what.]
So, we're fools. Possibly anyone who cares about anything is a fool. But I would never presume to tell anyone else that they are fools for caring about their dogs or loser adult children or boring team sports, so try to return the courtesy.
Dogs are okay, although I have two I will give you if promise not to eat them. They actually do have their good moments.
I do have the coolest cat in the country, though. You can't have her.
I agree, Miss Marple. Here's the best way I can explain it to you, Dog Gone:
"There is nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse." -- President Ronald Reagan
Thanks for the ping, Peach. So sad. While I hope with all my heart that they can save him, a part of me also wonders when will too much suffering be enough to inflict on that beautiful colt. If he was mine, as much as it would break my heart, I'd be seriously considering putting him down at this point.
>>So, we're fools.<<
Me thinks thou doth protest too much. Where did I say anything about fools? Nope. Didn't happen.
I've ridden horses. Never really enjoyed it though. I suppose if it was all I had to get around, other than my own two feet, I'd feel differently about it though.
You can become more attached to a horse than a car or bicycle though. Heck, I've seen people become attached to goldfish. It does not mean the person was a fool.
Human beings are less predictable than most animals because we have a free will and are self aware. Ranchers call animals "dumb animals" for a reason. They don't mean "dumb" the way a schoolyard bully means "dumb".
I really didn't mean to touch a nerve here. I really was just wondering about the "shooting horses with broken legs" thing. That was the reason for my initial post. I am ignorant on the issue and was hoping to get educated. Instead I got insults and hyper-sensitivity.
Never mind. I'll google it.
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