Posted on 01/30/2007 9:40:32 AM PST by Kitten Festival
Why should we feel so much grief at the loss of one horse? After all, this is a world in which horses are sacrificed again and again for the sport of humans. Barbaro was euthanized yesterday, eight months after he shattered his right hind leg at the start of the Preakness Stakes. After an injury like that, most racehorses would have been put down minutes later. But every race is a complex equation — a balance of economics, athleticism, equine grace and conscience. Conscience often comes in last, but not in this case. Barbaro’s owners gave that horse exactly what he had given them, which is everything. It was the very least they could do, and yet it seemed truly exceptional in a sport that is as often barbarous as it is beautiful.
Barbaro was exceptional because he won the Kentucky Derby and looked as if he might have a chance at the Triple Crown. But nearly everyone who met him also talked of the life he displayed, a vivid presence that was so much more visible to us because it happened to belong to a winner.
Humans are not especially good at noticing horses, but Barbaro was easy to notice. And if his life caused us to pay attention to the possibilities of all horses, his death should cause us to pay attention to the tragedy inherent in the end of so many horses. Barbaro’s death was tragic not because it was measured against the races he might have won or even against the effort to save his life. It was tragic because of what every horse is.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I call them "One Note Wandas".
It's like "It's WRONG for you to care about that, so I'm going to MAKE you care for what I want you to care for!"
Sound familiar??!?
I agree. I can't believe how irrational some folks get over animals. And snobbish is an apt desciption of the prevalent attitude among some the "horsey" set.
Foaled last April. Have not seen a name yet. I'm sure it will be big news if he makes it to the races.
You have tears going down my cheeks with your two posts. Great horse. He's in horsie heaven with all the mares he's never loved before.
StormEye is partially right. Don't think for a second that these owners didn't consider and take the financial risks to get the horse back on his feet in order to reap some very handsome stud fees.
Fusaichi Pegasus only needs to cover 15 mares a year to break even.
You are right. Jockey Club does not allow artificial insemination.
As far as litle Barbaros, I believe the Jacksons have a full brother to Barbaro, and his broodmare, La Ville Rouge, is in foal to Dynaformer again."
They are trying, and that is worth the chance. OTOH- John Henry was a great racehorse who got gelded very early in his life because he was a terror in the barn. Only a very few people could handle him, even as a gelding, but he was a savage stallion.
He ran races successfully until he was 9 or 10, I think.
His Sire and Dam were still alive and they were rebred to try and recreate anoth John Henry. I never did hear what the result was. His Sire was called "Old Bob Bowers", I think, and his stud fee, even after siring John Henry was still below $5000, as I recall. If anyone knows more about the attempt to get a good full brother or sister to John Henry, let me know.
We're talking about a horse, right?
Sheesh.
You have no idea what you are talking about. Thoroughbred racing does not allow artificial insemination.
Your ignorance is astounding. Racehorses are only allowed to breed via 'natural cover,' which means no artificial insemination. There will be no Barbaro foals in the future, and even if he had survived, the likelihood that he would have become a breeding stallion would have been marginal due to his injury. The owners did what they did out of love and compassion for this animal.
Perhaps you should pack up your ignorance and cynicism and move to another thread if this one is not of interest to you.
Couple years back my horse got startled and gave a dynamic stomp on my foot & crushed some bones. I still like my horse but I wear steel toed boots now.
Couple weeks ago my wife's horse kicked me in the nuts.
I don't like her horse anymore.
Well wait til Rush's cat dies.
"Couple weeks ago my wife's horse kicked me in the nuts.
I don't like her horse anymore."
LOL.
God gives us these precious animals for a time and a season, and then he takes them home. But we can be thankful that He shows us a touch of His love through these animal friends.
Then count me in. I love animals, but that compares nothing to how I feel about children. They are not the same thing. Our local news (Barbero is local for us) started out with a 7-minute coverage of Barbero (out of 30 minutes). His owner asked people to pray for him. Please. He had already gone; prayers were no longer needed. I'm very sorry for her loss, but her request for a horse prayer belittled both prayer and legitimate human life-and-death issues. I truly felt sorrow that this beautiful creature did not make it, but to report it in terms more properly suited to human beings is just wrong.
"He ran races successfully until he was 9 or 10, I think."
Sounds about right.
At the time, he was the leading money winner.
YOU are the one that sounds ridiculous! It wasn't enough to make a FALSE CLAIM that the owners kept the horse alive to get as much semen as they could from him, was it?
FWIW. Quote from the trainer last Feb.
"People can grieve deeply over the loss of what others would think is an insignificant little pet, like a canary. But maybe that canary provided more love to that person than most other people in life.
God gives us these precious animals for a time and a season, and then he takes them home. But we can be thankful that He shows us a touch of His love through these animal friends."
You are so right. I've always felt blessed to have my four legged friends in my life. We should have enough room in our hearts for both humans and animals. I don't understand why some seem to believe it's one or the other.
bingo.
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