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Some people say this was just a horse. He wasn't just a horse any more than Michael Jordan was just a basketball player. I only watched him on TV, but he was a magnificent horse and certainly an incredible racer. You got the feeling you were watching something special - a horse that comes along once in a generation.

What's really telling is that after his injury - an injury that would've ended the life of 99.9% of other horses - this animal continued to fight. It was obvious that he was loved, but it was perhaps even more obvious that he had a nearly unstoppable will to live. In the end his body was not as strong as his soul.

I just find it inspiring that an animal could have such strength and determination - a will to live and a passion for life that so many people lack. There are lessons to be learned from this wonderful creature.

Barbaro's state-of-the-art medical care has advanced the science in a number of ways. He has saved a few horsey lives with his days of recovery.

He had the chance of being our next Triple Crown winner and was a magnificent steed, of the uppermost caliber.

I'll miss Barbaro's presence on this Earth. At least now he can eat buttercups to his heart's content, without anyone telling him "no!"

~~~~~~~
"Born in the valley
And raised in the trees
Of Western Kentucky
On wobbly knees
With mama beside you
To help you along
You'll soon be a growing up strong.

All the long, lazy mornings
In pastures of green
The sun on your withers
The wind in your mane
Could never prepare you
For what lies ahead
The run for the roses so red --

And it's run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined
In the dance
It's high time you joined
In the dance --

From sire to sire
It's born in the blood
The fire of a mare
And the strength of a stud
It's breeding and it's training
And it's something unknown
That drives you and carries
You home.

And it's run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined
In the dance
It's high time you joined
In the dance --"

~~~~Dan Fogelberg

I just find it inspiring that an animal could have such strength and determination - a will to live and a passion for life that so many people lack.

In the horse world, this is called heart, and this great animal definitely had it. Very sad that it wasn't enough, in the end, but he certainly was loved by a lot of people.