Oh my gawd, a fuckin' horse broke it's leg.

[life_long_dem]

Now that's IMPORTANT news. How about reporting about an illegal war, wiretapping or voting problems, just to name a few things....

[tuvor]

1. Go for it!

What's stopping you?

[life_long_dem]

14. MSM companies wouldn't hire me because of my views.

[Redstone]

18. Your views, or your atrocious manners?

Redstone

[life_long_dem]

31. Talk about atrocious manners, I didn't smack anyone here.

That's all you did to me.

Don't you ever make typo's?

Chill out, o.k.?

[tuvor]

23. Thank God you have DU, then!

Post about a subject you think is important.

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness, and all that.

[TomInTib]

30. Ever spent much time with quality thoroughbreds? I didn't think so.

Gosh, wouldn't it be just fucking great if MSM only broadcast exactly what we wanted them to show?

I will bet good money that if a thoro ran within 3 feet of you at speed, you would wet your pants.

An animal such as Barbaro is much better than most of us. And a hell of a lot more tolerant.

[life_long_dem]

35. We just had one of our horses put to sleep last week, it was 33 years

old, and it could no longer get up. It was terribly sad.

[Redstone]

Ah, so we should care about YOUR horse, but not another one.

Redstone

[life_long_dem]

53. I apologize for upsetting everyone here. Fair enough? n/t

[Redstone]

60. That's fair. Apologies work. We've all said things we shouldn't have,

and apologizing for them is the right thing to do.

Redstone

[ROakes1019]

52. horses

Having spent many years with horses, some thoroughbreds, I'd say the real cruelty is putting a three-year old through the brutal regime of racing training. It's hell on their yet-immature legs. Horses don't love to run, anymore than they love to carry people around for the person's pleasure and pulling carts or whatever else.

[hlthe2b]

2. Misplaced anger...

Totally...

[Skip Intro]

9. agree -

totally

[babylonsister]

3. Hey! Earlier, it was "ALL" about a kid swimming from Alcatraz to

SF! Nothing going on in this ole country. :eyes:
I long for the days of not only journalists, but ones that can speak unmitigated truth vs. the constant bullshit that they (have to?)spew.

[Mutley]

4. That's what this

little button is for:

[Bluebear]

5. That happens here too.

On the other hand, I feel bad for said fuckin' horse. :(

[trumad]

6. I find the story compelling---

If I thought about illegal war, wiretapping or voting problems 24x7---I'd go nuts...

[Cocoa]

7. I broke into tears when I saw Barbaro break his leg

just kidding.

[cigsandcoffee]

8. I don't see why people are so mean-spirited about this

The horse is a beautiful and spirited animal, and his struggle gives us all a little common ground for a while.

The NSA story isn't going anywhere. I needn't attach myself to an agenda with such a religious fervor that I can't take a moment or two out to sympathize and discuss the undeniably sad story about the end of an amazing athlete's career.

[Bluebear]

10. He is experiencing pain for human's amusement.

I am rooting for him. :)

[cigsandcoffee]

16. Throughbreds love to race and compete

...and the majority of their human caretakers practically worship them. This just isn't a serious animal rights issue.

[Bluebear]

19. Don't misread me...

I probably did not say it well enough, they may very well love to race. I just meant that he is hurting as a result of a human event, the OP should cut him some slack :)

[cigsandcoffee]

40. Fair enough

And I agree that a little slack for the stricken horse - and those touched by the story - is definitely in order. Talking about it doesn't mean I'm any less offended by political current events or not motivated to stand up for our rights. Religious fervor like that belongs more in a fundamentalist church than a friendly chatboard for diverse but like-minded people. If we can't bond with a little compassion for a (clearly) non-partisan horse tragically breaking his leg while at the pinnacle his career, then what can we really unite over in any meaningful way?

[Redstone]

22. Well, welcome to DU...and thanks for a great post.

You happen to be 100% correct, but some people always want to find an evil root in everything that happens. As you can see.

Redstone

[Bluebear]

28. I hope you read my answer.

[Redstone]

44. Oh, I was NOT talking about you. I did read your answer. Please don't

think I included you in the "some people" group.

Redstone

[Bluebear]

45. Cheers, redstone

:toast:

[cigsandcoffee]

33. Thanks.

This story really socked the wind out of me on a few different levels, and is a real tragedy. Yes, it's not as individually tragic as a child being hit by an SUV or as nationally important as the NSA scandal, but it is a rare something with highs and lows that we can all share in a way that brings us together. There's not a goddam thing wrong with having compassion for this horse and wanting to speak about it with friends and neighbors.

Sorry for ranting, but the OP just really got under my skin.

[Redstone]

47. Rant away, C & C. By the way, that's my favorite breakfast as well.

Redstone

[Dangerously Amused]

57. How do you know that they "love" to race?

Serious question. I see this argument all the time and really don't understand it. Please assist.

[crispini]

58. Do you have cats or dogs? Don't you know what they like?

I don't have horses, but I know what my critters like and what they don't (where to scratch, kinds of food, where they like to sit, favorite toys) and I can imagine the same is true of a horse owner.

[Dangerously Amused]

72. I understand your point.

Yes, I can tell what my pets like and if I do something they don't like - tickle the wrong spot or whatever - they let me know it and are free to run away and I'll take note of it and respect that boundary next time. I'm not saying that horse owners are any different, in fact I trust they are the same. But I am wondering about animals who are bred for a specific money-making purpose. Like if a racehorse had the perfect body and all the know-how and skills to win a ton of money, but just didn't want to be a racehorse... how would we know? I mean if he had all that going for him, would his owners really give him any other option but to be a racehorse and run when and how they told him to?

I think in that case it would be easy to say he "loves" running based on the fact that he is so good at it, but even in people there are things that we may be good at doing that we don't particularly like doing, and if we were forced to do only the things that we were good at doing despite whether we liked doing them or not... well, that wouldn't mean we "loved" doing them. For example, I may be really good at scrubbing the toilet clean, but that doesn't mean I love doing it. And if somebody made me do it all the time simply because I was so good at it, that wouldn't make me love it any more.

I also agree that racehorses are treated well and their owners care for them a great deal. I have no quarrel with that. I just don't understand what objective standard exists upon which a person might state that a particular animal "loves" doing something when the animal really has no other options.

I'm not trying to be difficult, but I have a hard time accepting/understanding the assertion that a particular animal or group of animals "love" doing something they happen to be good at, when they have no other option and we have no objective measurement of their subjective interest in or enjoyment of the matter.

[Redstone]

61. Because, m'dear DA, that's what they do. Let a horse loose, and

the horse will run. They live to run, just like dogs do. They're made to run.

Redstone

[Dangerously Amused]

74. I agree.

And I have no quarrel with the fact that horses are designed to run and surely appear to love it when it is on their terms. But running wild and free (as nature designed) is so much different from racing on a track. I'm just not sure the two correlate well.

[alphafemale]

83. They certainly "seem to" know when they've won...and bask in it.

Same as dogs winning at dog shows. Tension during the judging, then joy at being picked.

These reactions could ALL be explained because of what they are reading off their human, I suppose.

Animals do understand "winning" on a very basic level.

But, a horse isn't going to place more importance to a celebrated track in Kentucky than a race across a common field.

[TomInTib]

20. Don't you know that the networks are only to broadcasts crap we

want to rant about?

I guarantee you one thing. As a horseman and one who has been around running stock most of my life, I would pick a great thoroughbred like Barbaro over the asshats whining about the coverage he is getting on the networks.

[Redstone]

50. Oh, yes. I'm not a horse guy like you, but I can certainly understand

what you said. Excellent post.

Redstone

[Catherine Vincent]

11. A horse is a horse of course of course...

You know the rest.

[MADem]

38. Indeed

A horse is a horse, of course, of course
If only the dunce were a horse, a horse
A talking, walking smart-ass horse
As bright as Mister Ed!

The dunce only knows to rule by force
And if he were smart as that horse of course
We'd never be in Iraq, for a source
Of oil; whoop de day!

People yakidy-yak on phones and waste the time of day
But Mister Ed stays off the phone--he knows about NSA!

...
And so on!

[Connie_Corleone]

12. I just found out today that the news was talking about the horse,

not the jockey. I thought the jockey broke his leg and I was wondering how a broken leg gave him a 50/50 chance of surviving. It wasn't until this evening that I found out it was a horse with the broken leg when I saw a picture of it on TV.

:silly: :crazy: :dunce:

[Beausoir]

36. Gotta tell ya...my son thought the same thing!

I blame myself for that. I didn't explain it thoroughly and he thought the rider was injured.

[Redstone]

13. How about some fuckin' manners? If you don't care about the horse,

let the people who do care about him talk about it.

Christ. There's one in every fuckin' crowd, isn't there?

More than one, actually, in this crowd.

Redstone

[TomInTib]

26. And not a single one of 'em would have the balls to climb up on

a horse like Barbaro.

I will guarantee you that if a horse of that caliber ran at speed within 3 feet of these whiners they would shit their pants.

[CottonBear]

43. I've ridden a 5 yr old OTT TB & been in a field of 4 Tbs running at me....

Horses are awesome animals. Without them, we would not be here now.

OTT = off the track. They are awesome animals who have no real reason to let us on their backs other than the fact that true horse people adore and respect them. Horses have served man over the millenia. Millions and milllions have died in war. Now we keep them as beloved equines who do not go to war or toil in the firlds and in the cities. I know that thtere are bad or stupid people who don't take care of their equines just like not all small animal owners are good.)

[RebelOne]

82. I have been in a field with a whole herd running at me.

I owned 2 horses and I would go out in the morning to the pasture where I boarded them at feeding time. Well, all the other horses wanted to eat also, so when I called my horses, all the rest would come running.

[hlthe2b]

51. It is painful to find so many posting this kind of crap here, isn't it?

Such callousness towards animals (and people who love them) is truly depressing...truly

[Midnight Rambler]

15. I see. We're not allowed to discuss anything else.

All other life must stop and we must spend our every waking moment thinking about and discussing how * and his cronies are destroying the country, no exceptions.

[Redstone]

25. You and I have argued before, I think, but I'm 100% with you

on this. Good post, and well-said.

Redstone

[MADem]

42. This IS General Discussion, and NOT General Discussion POLITICS

So if people wanna talk about the horse, let them. Con Brio!!!

Personally, I think the horse would have done a better job running this country than the MONKEY...and that's no slur against monkeys, generally, just the particular Monkey shitting all over the carpet in the People's House...

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BrotherBuzz]

21. He didn't break bones, he only tore ligaments...

I'm reading Seabiscuit, too. I hope this isn't a spoiler for you, but he makes a complete recovery. ;)

[MrSlayer]

24. Horse Racing is cruel and inhumane.

I feel bad for the horse more than I do some people.

[TomInTib]

41. Actually, MrSlayer, it is neither cruel or inhumane.

Those horses live to run. There is absolutely nothing they would rather be doing.

If they exhibit a tendency to slough (not run) they never see a track.

The people involved at that level of racing care more about the horses than they do for themselves.

I have seen the hardest men you can imagine break down in uncontrollable sobs when a tragedy like this occurs.

High School football is much more inhumane.

[Redstone]

54. Keep it up, would you? You're adding an authoritative and

reasonable voice to this discussion.

You're a horse guy, so you speak from experience. I do hope people will listen to you, because you're saying what every other horse person I've known (and there are many) has said.

Redstone

[Stinky The Clown]

27. Ohferjoy ... another arbiter of good manners

Who are you ... really? Letitia Baldridge?

[TechBear_Seattle]

29. Somebody alert the media!

What? Oh... never mind. The media is all over the story already and has been for days. :shrug:

[Beausoir]

32. How very unoriginal of you. And about 24 hours too late as well.

The flame war over this was started by someone MUCH more bitter than you. And by someone MUCH quicker than you.

You'll just have to wait for the next train.

[Kingshakabobo]

39. self delete

[Connie_Corleone]

34. I think the OP is talking about the media's focus on the horse injury.

I don't think the OP was referring to DU members discussing the story.

[life_long_dem]

37. I meant it to be sarcasm. Sorry to everyone for bringing it up...

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

46. Damn. I feel my entire world grinding to a halt.

Pardon me while I settle back onto my fainting couch for a few moments.

[LeftyMom]

48. A suffering being matters

Whether it's an american who needs health care, an iraqi child injured in the war or a race horse. Suffering as a result of human greed ties all three together.

[barb162]

62. yes, and I am very interested in this horse and I hope he gets well

[El Supremo]

49. I feel for a horse more than most humans.

A horse can't control it's destiny. They are reliant on us - on our dominion.

Geez, the moderator moved this while I was responding! Was that necessary?????

[951-Riverside]

55. Re: "A horse can't control it's destiny."

...If we can how come Bush is President? :D

They are reliant on us

THEY ARE???

How??

[Homer Wells]

56. Totally agree

Damn shame it happened, but seems quite trivial to me. Now, if Brittany had broken Her leg........

:sarcasm: :rofl: :popcorn:

[Left Is Write]

59. Is there some reason the horse story can't co-exist with the others?

[life_long_dem]

67. No, it can.

[petersjo02]

63. We'll check with you first next time

to see if what we choose to discuss is okay with you. None of us knew that you were in charge of deciding what was worthwhile to post about. I, along with my two horses, defer to your greater wisdom.

[life_long_dem]

65. I was referring to the media reporting the news, not what people

post on DU. Also, I apologize if you were offended.

[tuvor]

70. In retrospect your reference is clear.

At first it seemed you were taking your frustrations out on DU, but after a while what you really meant became apparent.

Sorry for any bad feelings I may have given you, lld.

[Robb]

64. It would be "its" leg.

The Apostraphe Nazis thank you for your cooperation, citizen.

[life_long_dem]

66. Thanks. Redstone already made that perfectly clear to me.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

68. You're brave...crazy and stupid, but brave.

:popcorn:

[life_long_dem]

71. I thought DU had rules about personal attacks on other members.

Attack the post not the poster.
If you read through the posts you would see that I apologized to everyone for upsetting them.

[flvegan]

69. Hmph. Why specifically might it not be important?

Again...specifically.

[life_long_dem]

73. Because Americans are dying in an illegal war,

and I don't find it important compared to that.

[flvegan]

75. So are others...non-Americans. Does that change things?

How about the situation in the Sudan? When one has to choose compassion...well, it's just easier to have compassion in all instances, I think.

I guess I'll settle for an answer to my original question.

My compassion is limitless...I feel sorry for those that can only care so much.

[life_long_dem]

76. You are missing the main point -an illegal war- that is the real news.

O.K., I feel bad for the horse, but I was slamming the media for their lack of real news. I'm sorry if you think a horse is more important than PEOPLE dying in a war. Why do you assume I don't have compassion for those in Sudan?

I was merely showing the stark contrast in what is being reported these days. I like horses, I have a horse, and we just had one die last week, but I didn't write an obituary for it or call the news media to ask them to report about it.

[flvegan]

77. I'm missing nothing.

And no, you aren't showing contrast in what's being reported these days.

Your point was that the horse didn't matter in regards to other current events. To wit, I stated, that regardless of the priority given certain stories, compassion should have no boundaries, in that one can care about the soldiers in Iraq AND care about a horse injured during a race.

Novel concept, I know.

[wildhorses]

79. did your horse just win the Derby?

Kentucky's biggest industry is important to it and the rest of the nation

[life_long_dem]

80. No, my horse doesn't race. She is free to roam on our 30 acres

of land, she gets treated like one of the family, and gets plenty of attention when she want's it.
We don't force her to race.

And, I'm not the least bit interested in the Kentucky Derby.

[wildhorses]

81. so, she has been let out to pasture...how wonderful!!!!

and what was she doing at the age of 5, 10, and even 15???


nothing prettier than horses on green acres, very pleasing to my eye.

[bridgit]

78. i'm shocked, shocked to find out there's "an illegal war, wiretapping...

"...or voting problems" going on in here :eyes: