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. Barbaros 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. Barbaros 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 ...
Thanks for this post.
Shep on Fox just reported two places are being considered for Barbaro's burial, the Jackson farm and Churchill Downs. There's an area at Churchill where some Derby winners are buried and officials at Churchill said they would be honored to have Barbaro.
Sorry wtc911. I did not think I called you Russ. Your comment was the value of children versus a horse. Agreed.
My objection was the comment many liberals have about how a person should spend his money. I applaud The Jacksons' decision to try and save Barbero if only for the many other not so famous horses this operation and experience will save in the future.
Yeah but, most pro football players are really well paid gladiators and live lives a great deal more pleasurable than most Americans. Race horses got nothing but a few extra oats when they won.
Really? I did not know that!
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/youthviolence/chapter1/sec1.html
When you decide what is best what other people should spend their own money that is an application of tryanny. I did not tell you that you could not say what you did. I took objection to what you said. Learn the difference.
As I said on another thread,
He's Glue.
Boo Hoo.
nuff said.
Like I said emotion sells. Goes from one horse like Hillary to another named Barbaro, no difference. And I will never stop mocking MSM coverage even if the overblown emotional orgasms of emotional coverage changes subjects. It's all crap.
Read the editorial and see if you still think that - it addresses the very issues you raise.
I read your post on another thread. And you included it was a joke and I did not take offense. But I doubt he would be rendered for food and glue. Even my mare I put down last month was buried due to the love I had for her and the service over 28 years she provided to me.
Grive aborted babies.
PLEASE!!!
Some people have the capacity to "grive" both babies and horses.
TomKAin'tOne.
This was a good public interest story. If they went on for weeks and month as about Natalie in Aruba then it would be overkill.
I have not even seen the TV coverage yet. Just heard on the radio and the internet.
That's an opinion and likely not true. It's your business how the owners spend their money?
...wonderful and noble animals."
You are so right. Just the look in their big, soft brown eyes melts my heart. And to watch them run! I can't see replays of Secretariat in the Belmont winning by 32 lengths within getting a big lump in my throat. What magnificent creatures!
Well three days before Thanksgiving, Maxx, the mutt, passed away at 16 years old.
Since my wife passed in 2000 he has basically been my best friend and companion.
I admit I cried, a few times, quite a bit.
But he was an animal that was BY MY SIDE. Not some animal that the closest I ever got to was a ten second video clip on the nightly news or a couple pics in Sports Illustrated.
And I didn't start multiple threads about him, as if he were the reincarnation of Alexander the Great or something.
It just seemed as though there were a few Freepers who were suicidal over it or something, really carrying it way over the line.
No doubt the animal could have been a champion. No doubt his time was unfairly cut short.
Happens to horses. Happens to humans. My wife was 41 years old.
Life goes on.
You assume we don't.
You couldn't be more wrong, Tom. Compassion is not a zero sum game.
Agreed. I lost my cat at 14 years in October and my horse of 28 years in December. Shed a few tears but they had good long lives. I had to put down my mare which was hard. She could have lived a few more years but in steady pain due to arthritis. Decided it was best to end while she was not suffering as much. Generally horses are not sent to the knackers if drugs were being used. Also since my mare had been with me longer that my husband or children I did not wish her to be rendered. It was bad enough putting her down and watch her eyes go dull.
But your joke may have been in bad taste. So many on the thread wanted to interject their own pet peeves and this was about a grand horse who always put forth his best effort.
Well said. Not much into horse racing, but I was pulling for this horse to make it. Sad to see this happen
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