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 ...
Sorry for this knee jerk reaction--wish the NYT would write such a moving tribute about each of our fallen servicemembers. Or ANY of them. But I guess writing about human heroes is beneath them.
pong
IT'S A HORSE!!!!
Grive aborted babies.
PLEASE!!!
Good thing his mother did not exercise her right to choose.
Maybe you could put that in another thread. Some of us have Horses and Children and love both but I guess your a little too one dimensional...
True enough. But unlike Barbaro most racehorses don't have the potential to make big bucks at the stud farm.
Thought you might want to see this. Can't join in on the other threads. Too angry over some of the posters who are unreasonable in their tunnel vision.
I lost my best equine friend 4 years ago after surgery that removed 25 ft of small intestine. It nearly broke the bank and he fought a hard fight but it wasn't to be. He was my best friend and some of my happiest times were spent in his stall hanging out the back door watching the sun set.
These are wonderful and noble animals.
ODD, I don't see any articles about the MANY horses killed after they're of no more use after being used for hormones.....(premarin, PREgnant MARe urINe)
Saudis are deep into horse racing, I don't give a rat's ass.
Last evening on the local news I heard the sportscaster talking about the death of this horse. Immediately following he said, "we also lost so and so today"...(I can't remember his name)
He was talking about a human!
Hmm.
Yes, they are. May he rest in peace.
Carolyn
Why can't you grieve both?
A caller just on Rush said that he caught ABC News' coverage last night and the reporter ended his story by saying, "and the horse's last meal was GRASS."
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 its run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moments at hand
Its the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And its high time you joined
In the dance
Its high time you joined
In the dance --
From sire to sire
Its born in the blood
The fire of a mare
And the strength of a stud
Its breeding and its training
And its something unknown
That drives you and carries
You home.
And its run for the roses
As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered
Your moments at hand
Its the chance of a lifetime
In a lifetime of chance
And its high time you joined
In the dance
Its high time you joined
In the dance --
We'll always have Smarty Jones.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
"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's not conscience that equates what a horse gives and what is due from an owner. It's the animal rights perspective. It's a good thing that most horse owners don't do this, horses would soon be extinct.
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