Posted on 07/10/2006 2:13:53 PM PDT by Dog
For nearly 6 weeks after the catastrophic injuries Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro suffered in the May 20 Preakness, the colt's recovery from the May 21 surgery on his right hind leg had gone better than even the most optimistic had hoped. From the start, Dr. Dean Richardson, who performed the surgery, warned everyone that it could turn the other way at any time.
In the last week, almost nothing has gone right for Barbaro. Last night, Richardson said the colt has developed "potentially serious'' complications, including an infection in the leg. When asked how he thought this might play out, Richardson said he simply could not be certain.
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
They are majestic animals. Can't deny that.
And I did enjoy quite a few days playing hooky during law school at Santa Anita park losing money on them.
I never had the chance to become emotionally attached to one. Although that one gray mare named "Judge something or other" that won for me in the 9th race of the day, just about made up for that broken arm... ;-)
>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<
O the Victimhood. Where is the emoticon playing the violin when it is needed?
People with any experience with animals know that they are given an overdose of barbiturates.
If my wife dies before me, I will probably get an animal for some sort of companionship. I find I can suspend disbelief and actually enjoy their companionship. My achilles heal though is that I don't tolerate them costing me money. I got my teenaged daughter an Alaskan Malemute and after a few months it chewed a hole in the carpet. Dog was gone in less than 24 hours. That was four years ago - no pets since.
I like other peoples dogs and cats and the darned things seem to naturally gravitate to me. Don't ask me why. If fascinates my wife since she knows how I feel about animals.
>.O the Victimhood. Where is the emoticon playing the violin when it is needed? <<
WOW! I DID touch a nerve. Sorry. No harm intended.
Ah, that explains it. ;-)
>>People with any experience with animals know that they are given an overdose of barbiturates.<<
That kinda takes the charm out of it, doesn't it?
I'm a sucker for cats. There are good ones and lousy ones, but a good cat is the perfect pet. Low maintenance, high affection, and you can lock them in the house for the weekend while you go on a trip without incurring 200 bucks in kennel costs.
The downside is you can't place bets on them at the racetrack. They're not good racers.
I love all animals, and have rescued many in my time. I rescued five 3-week-old kittens at the end of May. Three had been thrown in the trash at work, and two had been left on top of a tall hedge. They may have all been from the same litter. All now have good homes. I'm keeping two. I never raised baby kittens before. It's been a joy.
If this horse was a $5,000 claimer, he'd be on someone's dinner table in France.
He won the Kentucky Derby. That makes him worth mucho millions. His sire, Dynaformer stands for $100,000 a live foal. He didn't win the Derby. Let's assume Barbaro survives and stands for $100,000 a pop. Covers 200 mares a year for 20 years. You do the math.
http://www.stallionregister.com/sr_sire_page.asp?refno=1049059&origin=singlesearch
I agree, Wolfstar. Unless there is information we don't know, the suffering seems too much at this point. Such a shame with such a loved and beautiful horse.
>>>People with any experience with animals know that they are given an overdose of barbiturates.<<
That kinda takes the charm out of it, doesn't it?<
Does the thought of firing a gun into the forehead of a racehorse going into shock appeal to you?
>My achilles heal though is that I don't tolerate them costing me money.<
"Heel" is the word. Yes, indeed.
Ping
Yes, unless there's info we in the public don't know. Saving him was always a long shot, and even if they can, there's some question what his quality of life will be like.
For those who asked about why they don't amputate the leg and try a prosthesis, I don't know. But it has been done before, and with some success. Here's an article that discusses the case of the Thoroughbred stallion Boitron.
"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"."
Absolutely not an old wives tale, a bullet into the forehead has always been an acceptable form of euthanasia. It's quick and done correctly, relatively painless. I've seen horses put to sleep and it was horrifying. Some may drift peacefully off to sleep but the ones I've witnessed fought death and it was heartbreaking.
Saddle club ping?
YOU hit the nail on the head. No way the insurance money on this horse comes anywhere near what he could make in stud fees.
"If this horse was a $5,000 claimer, he'd be on someone's dinner table in France."
I gotta admit, that was funny.
I could never shoot a horse tuffy. I was present when my friend's horse was put down with drugs. I'm glad I was, because it went as easy as any sedative.
I could personally never do it, either. But the horses I've seen put to sleep were so bad that I'm thinking nothing could be much worse. POW, it's all over. I had an old sick cow put to sleep once and the vet couldn't get the jugular so he had to do a cut down. A bullet in the brain would have been a million times easier.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.