Barbaro Enjoying Quiet Holiday Weekend

yahoo.com ^ | 5/28/06 | unknown

[beyond the sea]

Annie: "I've heard you help people with horse problems." Tom Booker: "Truth is, I help horses with people problems."

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Great ........ and so true!

And I know what you mean about the beginning of the movie.

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You know ........ some people put Robert Redford down for this or that........ let me tell you...... he's a good and intelligent man. Most of what he takes part in is fine work. And this beautiful movie was an example.

Be well ............

[AnAmericanMother]

True of horses . . . true of dogs.

My dog trainer always says that she's really training the people -- the dogs know what to do.

[beyond the sea]

Interesting that the racetrack officials think they see contact between Barbaro and Brother Derek.

It did happen......... the legs connected/bumped. I guess that happens.

I'm a little odd I suppose, but I'd just like to see these horses and live with these beautiful creatures................. no racing........ especially when they are so relatively young (three years old).

But ....... I'm just a little nuts.

;-)

[WestCoastGal]

I meant to also thank you for keeping us posted on Barbaro's recovery. A great horse with a big heart!!

[AnAmericanMother]

No, there's a lot to be said for not starting them at two. I would love to see the colts and fillies held until they are three, but with the massive investments necessary to buy and train them, the owners and trainers don't want to wait an extra year to try to get their money back.

It's kind of a catch-22, because a lot of these horses would never have been conceived or born without the impetus of racing itself - but the racing spoils so many of them, or at least weakens their legs for later in life. Sort of like the college or pro football player whose injuries start catching up with him in his 30s and 40s . . .

Man O' War didn't run in the Kentucky Derby because his owner, Sam Riddle, didn't believe in allowing three year olds to run that distance so early in the season. But he was fabulously wealthy and could afford to do exactly what he wanted with his horses.

Those of us who buy hunter/jumper prospects from the track or the racing farm are most concerned about the state of the horses' legs, particularly if they've seen a lot of racing. It's usually better to buy one that washed out in training - less likely to break down.

[beyond the sea]

"My dog trainer always says that she's really training the people -- the dogs know what to do." ----

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LOL!

[AnAmericanMother]

It is SO true!

The dog and I have gotten beyond basic obedience training into agility and hunting retriever tests . . . but when we were in basic obedience it was plain to see that most of the problems were not with the dogs, but with the owners.

And I would say that 85-90 % of the problem was owners who weren't willing to take charge and be firm and consistent with their dogs. If you aren't alpha dog, your dog will take that job on, because in his view SOMEbody has to be alpha.

Thank heavens I was able to apply what I learned in 45 years of horse work to the dog . . . she's 5 years old now and my first dog, she's really turned out o.k. despite my inexperience.

[beyond the sea]

The dog and I have gotten beyond basic obedience training into agility and hunting retriever tests . . . but when we were in basic obedience it was plain to see that most of the problems were not with the dogs, but with the owners. And I would say that 85-90 % of the problem was owners who weren't willing to take charge and be firm and consistent with their dogs. If you aren't alpha dog, your dog will take that job on, because in his view SOMEbody has to be alpha. Thank heavens I was able to apply what I learned in 45 years of horse work to the dog . . . she's 5 years old now and my first dog, she's really turned out o.k. despite my inexperience.

LOL ....... all you say is so true.

My wife and I have however "owned/been owned by" about 18 cats over the 35 years of our marriage.

Cats are another thing .................. and I know you know. ;-)

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http://www.bamboo-delight.com/Wu_Files/Train_Cat.txt

Training Your Cat in Two Easy Lessons

By Dr. Wu Tao-Wei

No matter how dumb a cat is, it will usually outsmart most people. It's so cute when it meows! You just want to give it a pat or a hug or a belly rub! This costs nothing except for your freedom from feline wiles. Because of their Zen-like awareness and sensitivity to the smallest sounds and sights in their immediate vicinity, they have a certain mystique of appearing to be intelligent.

Oh, a cat can sit for hours with ears alert and eyes keen awaiting his opportunity at a mouse hole, but to wait even two seconds for you to explain why it should behave, is not something that is interesting to a cat. They will squirm away like children or run away like juvenile delinquents and hide. Anyone who has ever tried to teach anything to a cat, knows that even the smartest cat is obstinate. That is, the cat will insist on having things its own way, whether you like it or not.

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BEAUTIFUL!!!!

[AnAmericanMother]

LOL!

Cats are quite trainable, just not like dogs.

I bred and showed Siamese cats for about 15 years back in the 70s and early 80s, Before Dog . . . still have three crazy Siamese. You just have to figure out how to make it worth their while to do whatever it is you want them to do.

In my cats' case, this usually involves tidbits of expensive imported ham, or in the case of one cat, anchovies.

[STARWISE]

Do you just adore The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan, like I do? I bet I watch his show 5 times a week ... he's a marvel and simply amazing.

[beyond the sea]

Just a little more from this ............ this is so correct:

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To become a master of your cat rather than being your cat's servant, is not a great feat if you know a few simple tactics. But not to know these tricks is to be absolutely meowed to death.

And so, you really only have two choices if you are a cat owner. I say that you only have two choices IF you want to be a cat owner rather than a cat servant. Most people who keep cats are really not owners but are merely servants. When the cat meows, they feed it, or let it out or in, or scratch it behind the ears or give it a belly rub. This is because the cat has learned that whenever it meows demanding attention, its very own human is there to feed and pleasure it. So, by meowing, the cat teaches the human how to behave for its feline satisfaction.

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LOL (meow) ........ I really love cats!

[AnAmericanMother]

You may have seen my cats as the Hanuman Division of the Viking Kitties, sitting in their handy Radio Shack Cat Laser Charger getting ready for a ZOT . . .

[AnAmericanMother]

You know, I only watched that show once, briefly -- the client was a pathetic over-made-up woman who lived alone and dressed her little yap dog in matching clothing . . . little dresses and sweaters and hats . . . OMG! And she was worried because the dog would spin in circles on the floor for hours. Well, duh, lady, you never walk the poor thing and you dress it up like a doll, what do you expect?

It looked like Jerry Springer for dogs.

I hope you will tell me that was just an unusually weird client . . . and that usually it's stuff like barking at the mailman or jumping up on guests, or chewing on the sofa . . .

[beyond the sea]

expensive imported ham

Works for me too!

Take care ......... gotta get out of here and out into the nursery.............. the plants await.

:-)

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Oh, ..... and by the way, most of our (all outdoor) cats have lived to 20 years or more. I think the mushed up cantaloupe they are fed each day may make them healthy. Just thought I'd pass that along to you.

:-)

[beyond the sea]

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT PICTURE.

[onyx]

Thanks for the ping to the photo gallery.

[STARWISE]

The program is all based on case studies .. that's what's so fabulous: to see the positive changes. He's taken on dogs that were set to be put down because they're so vicious.

The magic is Cesar and his intuitive knowledge ... he "reads" dogs SO well, it's like he's psychic. He hones right into the dog's negative behavior and corrects it SO quickly .. provided the owner follows his philosophy that works so incredibly .. that is, the owner MUST be the pack leader. The dog MUST be brought to calm, submissive state and NOT rewarded with attention, affection, etc. for the negative behavior and obviously be consistent. You *have* to watch it... he's just awesome, and it's so fascinating to watch him work.

He was also wonderful with some rescue dogs from Katrina.

As he says .. he "rehabilitates dogs and trains people."

From his visit on Oprah .. I think he's on a replay show this week .. you may want to check her schedule later today .. I couldn't see it, but it may on Friday's show.

[STARWISE]

Very welcome .. Prado was so great to drive 3 hrs. out there to see him. He's really heartbroken over this.

[onyx]

Yes, he is. We are too, but it's sure looking better now.

[STARWISE]

Much better than could've ever have been hoped for on that Saturday ... I think where he is now is miraculous. Praying for the same good prognosis going forward. 27 screws in that skinny little ankle .. can you imagine? Surgical artistry. Watching Potus?