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Posted on 01/02/2007 9:57:39 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
This is a horse chat thread where we share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the previous threads we have had a great time talking through lessons, training, horse lamenesses, illnesses and pregnancies... and always sharing pictures and stories.
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So... like the previous threads, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.
Previous threads:
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - thread ONE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread THREE!
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FOUR
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread FIVE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SIX
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread SEVEN
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread EIGHT
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread NINE
The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread! - Thread TEN
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So the fact that he didn't understand about pain made it alright to put him thru months of pain, when the chances of a recovery were soooooooooo slim???
I understand that research has to be done to find ways to fix things. But in this case the odds were so against a good out come, and there are other cases where the odds are better then can be used for research, that I still don't think it was right to try this one.
Becky
I agree. I was quite peeved myself with all the unrelated issues people kept trying to insert. Spent quite a bit of time posting to them.
I was not confident of Barbaro survival and when his hind hoof had to be resectioned and then the abscess in right hind and then soreness in the front. The owner had no choice at all but to put him down. It is a shame, he made a valiant effort. However the knowledge will be used on other horses and these surgeries may become more sucessful in the future.
REally, why? I have good parties. I enjoy doing them, and looking forward to it. I'm just not playing bawdy games:)
Jenny's come up with one about how well you know the bride. Questions will be asked like "What's her favorite color, TV show, etc. who ever gets the most right wins....
Becky
Gawd dangit, we've got snow coming down...errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...I'm sick of this.
Becky
That's not really what I'm saying, I'm saying that they don't dwell on whether it's worth it, we do. They just deal with it, and as long as he still comes to the gate with curiosity when people come in, as long as he still eats and tries to look at the horse in the next stall and seemed to enjoy the walks they took him on even if he was limping, then it's not too much. You can't give up if one day is painful, it's too long a process for that and they had too much invested in it. But I think you give up when the horse seems not just hindered by it, but consumed by it. I'll likely have to decide that on Bay, unless something catastrophic happens or he dies in his sleep. I'm very sensitive to his moods... I'm counting on being able to know when he's no longer happy, just enduring.
Maybe it's just me that finds the games excruciating :~) And large groups of just women :~) Have fun... I'm sure if I had to go to another one, I'd probably enjoy your shower more than some I've been to.
I agree with your entire post. But, I believe the odds of recovery need to be weighed in also.
Becky
Becky,
I put down my mare of 28 years in December due to arthritis in the knees. Tried treatment and had her working with limitations in the spring. But in the summer it got worse. My mare was in pain but would walk and enjoyed life. I don't think a pain free life can be expected as they grow old. It just how much and whether they still can enjoy life. I went through founder last year but kept her outside as much as possible and that never redeveloped.
Finally as winter came on it was the economic decision and that we were fighting a losing battle decided me. Funny thing that week, she was feeling musch more spry and was pulling on the shank and would try to trot and canter in the field. I think my mare wanted to live as long as possible, she was not unhappy and had adapted as much as possible, but winter is usually the hardest time with joint problems and constant pain.
So having lived through it I don'd agree horses should be put down to avoid all pain.
Barbaro's case was if he could survive they were going to give him that chance.
I have read about another case of a breeding stallion that had broken his leg and he alomost did not make with pneumonia and it took a full year, but it did finally recover fully and lived another many more years as a breeding TB stallion.
The more effort may finally do the breakthough to manage founder and save more horses. But if we never try , we will never learn.
Winter wonderland! (ducking) I'm ready for more snow - one more, then spring :~)
No it's not just you, I find the games horrible too, but they are expected, so is all I can do is make them as bearable as possible for all us old fuddy duddies:).
I'm looking forward to this shower, because I'm hoping to lighten up the bride a bit. She has a lot on her plate with this wedding, some family issues that might come up at the wedding itself...Jenny and I are going to do our best to see that at least she has a nice time at this and will run interference if any of the family issues arise.
Becky
Agreed. That's when we have to look at whether it's ever going to get better. As long as they can say it might, then they can try.
They do have to try some of the cases that have really long odds in order to learn more about it, they were in the right place to do that.
I agree, but I also think there are cases that can be used for research were the out come has better odds of a good ending. I realize horses can live thru pain and come out on the other end in good shape. It's not the pain itself, it's if the pain is going to be worth it. The odds need to be weighed, and IMO, the odds were against Barbaro, so that makes his case not a good one to use for research.
JMO:)
Becky
I have to disagree with this comment. Might isn't good enough for me. I want odds. 50/50, 60/40, IMO, Barbaros, was maybe 99/1. That is not right to take that big of a risk with an animal. Becky
Who knows... maybe he had cracked it just a little the night before kicking a stall... maybe his bones were just not as strong as they needed to be, maybe he was just a baby... maybe when a horse is really pushing with their all it really is a matter of just stepping wrong and something breaks. They're stronger than their own bodies. I have wondered myself whether he was really an appropriate stud or not...
It's not suppose to be much of a snow, 1-3 inches....but that's about 1-3 inches too much for me:)
Have I mentioned I hate winter:)
Becky
Very good point.
Becky
99:1 means one will recover. If you add temperment, health and medical care you may have upped it to 50:50. The odds were against him but at one time he was beating them. Who knew if he would be the one to make it.
Really? I haven't heard that mentioned before! ;~)
Once again tho each situation is different. The break needs to be accessed. I've heard of several horses who have recovered from broken legs, but the breaks were not as severe as this case. So just to say I have heard of horses recovering from broken legs does not really tell the whole story.
Becky
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