Sadly the great race horse Barbaro had to be euthanized today. His injuries were too much to overcome. I salute his owners who did evrything humanly possible to save this horse. Also the great work of the vets. Who even though in the end could not save Barbaro,did everything humanly possible against all odds to keep him alive after a devastating injury that would put most horses down immediatly. Hopefully some of the procedures tried and lessons learned will go a long way toward helping future equine injuries.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-30 01:22 by sweetcharmedlife.

prevention is the best medicine

he was a good horse... a champion kentucky derby days horse...

so long barbaro..so long ole friend...

May the good lord shine a light on you Barbaro

Well I had to weigh in here. Truly a champion with a big big heart. Breaks your heart.

Queenie not sure what you meant by prevention...but having raised quarter horses for cutting and reining events, where they spend a lot of time pounding their front legs and sitting back on their haunches, extremely physical sport...Age is a factor. I would say that racings biggest problem is below.

Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male Horse

Two years old..training before they are 2...economically viable for owners.
How many are ruined before they make it to their first race?

ok taking pedestal down now.

button_your_lip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well I had to weigh in here. Truly a champion with
> a big big heart. Breaks your heart.
>
> Queenie not sure what you meant by
> prevention...but having raised quarter horses for
> cutting and reining events, where they spend a lot
> of time pounding their front legs and sitting back
> on their haunches, extremely physical sport...Age
> is a factor. I would say that racings biggest
> problem is below.
>
> Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male
> Horse
>
> Two years old..training before they are
> 2...economically viable for owners.
> How many are ruined before they make it to their
> first race?
>
> ok taking pedestal down now.

You seem to speak with a lot of knowledge there BYL. You are right about horses running too early. It's a double edged sword. They are not physically ready to run that early. But there is a lot of money in 2 yo racing and because of an overall shortage of thourghbreds countrywide. Tracks increasingly use 2YO races to fill up cards late in the year.

I am so sad! Just cried as I watched a news report on his last few hours. The vet cried! I thought he'd make it based on sheer will alone! He did have many good days since his accident, the vet told the press. Small consolation. I've been to polo matches and horse races where horses fall and I just want to leave immediately. It makes me sick. Well, I won't be eating much tonight.

button_your_lip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well I had to weigh in here. Truly a champion with
> a big big heart. Breaks your heart.
>
> Queenie not sure what you meant by
> prevention...but having raised quarter horses for
> cutting and reining events, where they spend a lot
> of time pounding their front legs and sitting back
> on their haunches, extremely physical sport...Age
> is a factor. I would say that racings biggest
> problem is below.
>
> Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male
> Horse
>
> Two years old..training before they are
> 2...economically viable for owners.
> How many are ruined before they make it to their
> first race?
>
> ok taking pedestal down now.


well, stargroves and i have been discussing this offline a little bit after i posted about more concerts at churchill downs - i am surprised at how many people on the board are involved in horse racing and other competitions.

by prevention, i mean to ask why did barbaro break his leg to begin with? there are so many broken legs i hear about, i'm not surprised about barbaro.

stargroves and i did touch upon racing at a young age (was barbaro too young or was he started young?). we also discussed having too many horses racing at one time (during jump racing, specifically) and the nature of the track. it seems like maybe the physical design of the horse plays a role (and makes healing a break very difficult).

i guess the bottom line is, if people care so much about their horses, why subject them to such dangers?

talk bout breakin a leg

i had a " 2 win " bet on um dat day

I truely feel bad for all the people/vets/techs/and students who worked on getting him better for the last 7-8 months. I helped work on a peregrine falcon who had bumblefoot and after 2 months had to be euthanized. Half the people working in the small animal clinic that day were in tears. I actually spent one Christmas with him feeding him rats and he practically ate from my hand. God, how I loved that bird! Those folks at Penn are all having a drink or two tonight.
PS Quennie, they subject them to the danger for one reason, $$$$$$$$$$!!!

Debra and SCL....DrPete said it all. There is so much expense invested, from gargantuan breeding fees, that they just don't leave them out in pasture to grow up.

Debra....you never really get over watching any of them breakdown. But this is the one that bothered me above all...til now.

She was the greatest filly ever to run..and one of the greatest racehorses, period.
Not to make you cry again...but I did again.

[www.tbgreats.com]

DrPete Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I truely feel bad for all the
> people/vets/techs/and students who worked on
> getting him better for the last 7-8 months. I
> helped work on a peregrine falcon who had
> bumblefoot and after 2 months had to be
> euthanized. Half the people working in the small
> animal clinic that day were in tears. I actually
> spent one Christmas with him feeding him rats and
> he practically ate from my hand. God, how I loved
> that bird! Those folks at Penn are all having a
> drink or two tonight.
> PS Quennie, they subject them to the danger for
> one reason, $$$$$$$$$$!!!


i know it seems obvious but there are some many here who train and race horses, i thought i'd just put the question out there to see if there were other answers. if what you say is true, then money outweighs concern...what about regret? i wonder if they regret racing him?

great story and pix byl, ty.

you are most welcome beely.

button_your_lip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Debra and SCL....DrPete said it all. There is so
> much expense invested, from gargantuan breeding
> fees, that they just don't leave them out in
> pasture to grow up.

so they race them in order to pay for the breeding? they don't breed them in order to race them?

No LQ..its just the whole big picture..thats just one facet. Its not economically feasible to let them sit.

button_your_lip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Debra and SCL....DrPete said it all. There is so
> much expense invested, from gargantuan breeding
> fees, that they just don't leave them out in
> pasture to grow up.
>
> Debra....you never really get over watching any of
> them breakdown. But this is the one that bothered
> me above all...til now.
>
> She was the greatest filly ever to run..and one of
> the greatest racehorses, period.
> Not to make you cry again...but I did again.
>
> [www.tbgreats.com]

I remember that race with Ruffian,very sad. I remember seeing a couple other great horses break down on the track. A couple of my favorites Prairie Bayou,Go For Wand. But before we really crucify the racing industry. It is not just about money. I mean if you want a cliche money makes the world go 'round and can be blamed for a lot of the worlds problems. MOST poeple invovled in horse racing truly love these animals. Their was a very good horse here in the bay area by the name of Lost in the Fog. He was a champion sprinter who captured the hearts of local sports fans. Then he started having a couple bad races and they coudn't figure out why. Finally they discovered some very large tumors in his stomach. Equine cancer is very rare and almost incurable. But the owner and trainer of this horse did every thing they could and spared no expense in making his last days comfortable.
We can probably go through a thousand different industries and express outrage at the way humans are treated,let alone animals. By all expert accounts the injury to Barbaro was simply a fluke accident. Horses rarely break their back legs and are rarely injured early in a race like he was.

They race them to MAKE $$$ and if they are good at it, they breed them to make even more $$$$$$$$$ That is (sadly) the ONLY reason that Barbaro was kept around so long. ANY other horse would have been put down immediately. Yes, these owners I'm sure had some feelings for him but racehorses are commodities and NOT PETS!! Same with greyhounds (Who are the sweetist breed of dog Ive ever known)

DrPete Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They race them to MAKE $$$ and if they are good
> at it, they breed them to make even more $$$$$$$$$
> That is (sadly) the ONLY reason that Barbaro was
> kept around so long. ANY other horse would have
> been put down immediately. Yes, these owners I'm
> sure had some feelings for him but racehorses are
> commodities and NOT PETS!! Same with greyhounds
> (Who are the sweetist breed of dog Ive ever known)


That is NOT the reason Barbaro was kept alive. Even if he lived their was very little chance of him being able to be a stud horse.
I really don't want to get on a soap box here. But where is the outrage when HUMAN atheletes are severly injured and in some cases in recent years some have died. A couple football palyers and a baseball player. Do you know why they are pushed to the limit by their human owners?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Sweet..Im not gonna belabor it so this will be the last. I grew up with horses, then got back into them in my 30's and you are right most of the owners do love their horse.
And while they say his was rare and that it seldom happens early in a race
To me it says this

1)tells you how fragile they can be
2)we NEVER ever hear about the ones that break down in training, and because we never see them. How many Barbaros or Ruffians never saw a raceday?

Like I said, its been a pet peeve of mine for a long time, nothing you can do about it, love the sport, and thats the way it is.

What was planned for Barbaro once he was heeled??? Stud duty!!! Look it up.

LOL..did I start another one. As far as athletes...I think you are right.

I can only hold one major pet peeve at a time tho.

button_your_lip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sweet..Im not gonna belabor it so this will be the
> last. I grew up with horses, then got back into
> them in my 30's and you are right most of the
> owners do love their horse.
> And while they say his was rare and that it
> seldom happens early in a race
> To me it says this
>
> 1)tells you how fragile they can be
> 2)we NEVER ever hear about the ones that break
> down in training, and because we never see them.
> How many Barbaros or Ruffians never saw a
> raceday?
>
> Like I said, its been a pet peeve of mine for a
> long time, nothing you can do about it, love the
> sport, and thats the way it is


We also don't hear about the ones who live long happy lives out on the farm,after their racing days are over.

> DrPete Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > They race them to MAKE $$$ and if they are
> good
> > at it, they breed them to make even more
> $$$$$$$$$
> > That is (sadly) the ONLY reason that Barbaro
> was
> > kept around so long. ANY other horse would have
> > been put down immediately. Yes, these owners
> I'm
> > sure had some feelings for him but racehorses
> are
> > commodities and NOT PETS!! Same with greyhounds
> > (Who are the sweetist breed of dog Ive ever
> known)

yes, greyhound racing is quite horrible - but that would be a different thread


> sweetcharmedlife Wrote:
------------------------------------
> That is NOT the reason Barbaro was kept alive.
> Even if he lived their was very little chance of
> him being able to be a stud horse.
> I really don't want to get on a soap box here.
> But where is the outrage when HUMAN atheletes are
> severly injured and in some cases in recent years
> some have died. A couple football palyers and a
> baseball player. Do you know why they are pushed
> to the limit by their human
> owners?$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

adult humans CHOOSE to be athletes - for money, fame, self-gratification, etc.

the animals have no choice.


button_your_lip wrote:
-----------------------------------

>1)tells you how fragile they can be
>2)we NEVER ever hear about the ones that break down in training, and because we >never see them. How many Barbaros or Ruffians never saw a raceday?

>Like I said, its been a pet peeve of mine for a long time, nothing you can do >about it, love the sport, and thats the way it is.

i agree with your two points but don't agree there's nothing you can do about it...what about not racing them?

if maintaining a non-race life is too expensive, then don't breed them. no broken legs, no sorrow.

Really sad news. I don't know much about horses other than they're beautiful and I like riding them occasionally. Another one of God's beautiful creatures.

!!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-01-30 04:14 by Lukester.

Suggest we all listen to "Wild Horses" and "Dead Flowers" Tuesday as a tribute.

Elmo Lewis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Suggest we all listen to "Wild Horses" and "Dead
> Flowers" Tuesday as a tribute.


Just don't mix the two songs up.Or thier will really be hell to pay Elmo.LOL

sweetcharmedlife Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Elmo Lewis Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Suggest we all listen to "Wild Horses" and
> "Dead
> > Flowers" Tuesday as a tribute.
>
>
> Just don't mix the two songs up.Or thier will
> really be hell to pay Elmo.LOL

that is pretty funny.

Elmo...that was very clever!!