Barbaro in 3rd Hour of Leg Surgery (Hope he pulls through!)

[Roland99]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060521/ap_on_sp_ot/rac_barbaro_surgery_3

Dr. Dean Richardson was operating at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center for Large Animals and said the procedure could take several hours. There was no update after two hours of surgery.

...

Barbaro sustained "life-threatening injuries" after breaking bones above and below his right rear ankle at the start of the Preakness Stakes.

"You do not see this severe injury frequently because the fact is most horses that suffer this typically are put down on the race track," said Richardson, the chief of surgery for the center. "This is rare."

...

Richardson outlined Barbaro's medical problems: a broken cannon bone above the ankle, a broken sesamoid bone behind the ankle and a broken long pastern bone below the ankle. The fetlock joint — the ankle — was dislocated.

:( :(

[BrklynLiberal]

1. They are actually so fragile. I hope he pulls thru. Thanks for posting.

This article discusses what happened to Ruffian, and the incrreasing fragility of thoroughbred racehorses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffian_(horse)

[acmavm]

2. Not meaning to sound cruel and heartless by why are they operating

on this animal? I mean, I always thought is was a barbaric practice to kill them just because they broke a leg, but that's just what was always done. Why are they trying to save this horse? Does he have an owner who is more human than most owners of racing horses or what?

I'm really glad they're doing this.

[Waya]

3. Studfees......

.......they can charge enormous studfees....if he lives.....

[acmavm]

6. So, this might not be the act of generousity and compassion that I

originally thought it was? Of course, what's wrong with me, it all comes down to the almighty dollar.

[radwriter0555]

48. It's interesting that they can't harvest his sperm instead of putting him

through this torture.

I went through a year of just a little dog with a broken leg, thousands of dollars and her pain and discomfort was awful. I can't imagine putting a horse through this, they HAVE to stand. At least my dog could lay, sit, be picked up, carried.

Maybe it is being done out of love for the animal, but most likely, it's just for profits.

Too bad they can't just harvest his goods for the stud fees.

[aikoaiko]

227. they could, but if they keep him alive there would be much much more.

There would only be so much in the horse, but he'll make more everyday he lives.

[kestrel91316]

89. $$$$$$$$$$$$

[Roland99]

4. To be blunt, I bet it's about the ability of Barbaro to earn $$$ as a stud

A KY Derby winner can make an owner a boatload of money in stud fees.

Could also be about the owner wanting to save the horse for the sake of keeping it alive (in the vein of, say, Dreamer)

[Johnyawl]

10. stud fees, yes, but also about the bloodline...

[benburch]

8. Actually, it is a mercy to the horse to kill it when it breaks a leg.

Most times, they do not recover from setting a leg. You have to suspend the whole animal in a sling, essentially immobile, for a couple of months. Often they struggle and fight and re-injure themselves. Perhaps things have advanced since I was a horse owner, many years ago, but that was the state of things then.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. I remember this happening to another great horse RUFFIAN and

it was his struggling to stand up after surgery that finally caused such bad injuries that he had to be put down.
One can hope that surgical and veterinary advances have increased the chances of survival in cases such as this.
The articles said they want to stablize the leg so he will eventually be able to stand and walk. That is the best they are hoping for.
Surgery had been going on for two hours, adn they said it would take over three hours.

It was Ruffian. The greatest female racehorse in history.

It was a "battle of the sexes", a match race between Ruffian and that year's Kentucky Derby winner, Foolish Pleasure
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffian_(horse)

The first quarter-mile (402 m) was run in a blazingly fast 22 1/5 seconds, Ruffian ahead by a nose. Little more than a furlong (201 m) later, Ruffian was in front by half a length when both sesamoid bones in her right foreleg snapped. Her jockey, Jacinto Vasquez, tried to pull her up, but she ran on for another 50 yards (46 m), apparently unwilling to give up the race.

She was immediately attended to by a team of four veterinarians and an orthopedic surgeon, and underwent an emergency operation lasting 12 hours. Tragically, when the anesthesia wore off after the surgery, she thrashed about wildly on the floor of a padded recovery stall despite the efforts of numerous attendants, breaking the cast and causing even more catastrophic damage to her injured leg. The medical team, realizing that further surgery was useless, euthanized her shortly afterwards.

[KittyWampus]

23. can't they give Barbaro sedatives for a while? Til the bones have a chance

to set?

[benburch]

26. Being sedated for that long?

I can't imagine that wouldn't harm the animal. I just hope this animal has a calm enough nature not to struggle.

[hlthe2b]

43. Horses have to stand most of the time--can only lie for short periods...

Otherwise they will colic (intestines will twist) or founder (loss of blood flow to the hooves, causing the hoof to slough off). Both are deadly outcomes. Thus, they have to enable the horse to stand, even given a healing leg bone. Many horses will fight whatever one uses to effect his (slings to keep the horse suspended, casts or inflatable supports for the leg, etc). It is a major problem that outweighs even the risk of surgery. Advances have been made, but it still comes down to the temperament of the horse and how much they will tolerate while healing.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

45. From the New Bolton Center website.

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/nbc/equine/


Penn has a history of innovating specialized recovery systems so that horses with severe, catastrophic injuries can be saved. It was here that the pool-recovery system was developed-a swimming-pool system in which a horse can recover from surgery without hurting itself.

[KittyWampus]

19. the owners loved that horse and treated it very, very well. He isn't just

an investment as some racehorses are.

[benburch]

24. Well, love makes people do things they ought not.

I hope it works out in this case, though.

[djg21]

127. I disagree.

Anyone who races horses does it for the money -- especially 2-year olds.

[Southsideirish]

222. You better believe it - its all about the $$$$ at that age. Not in the

U.S. with their crummy dirt tracks which make horses break down.

[femrap]

233. Using such words as.....everyone, always, never.....

really doesn't make for a good argument.

Many of the people who own and race horses love them very, very much. Sure there are some that care only about the $....but I feel they are a small minority.

Horseracing, remember, is the sport of kings.....only the very wealthy can afford this sport. I don't think losing a particular race is going to affect the king's overall wealth at all.

Trainers, the jockeys...they get very attached to the horses....who all have different personalities. They are magnificient animals... beautiful creations.

I know people who much prefer the company of horses to people....and as the days pass and I encounter more and more nastiness and know-it-all-ness at DU, I am beginning to agree.

To be honest, it seems to me that you don't know that much about horse people.

[djg21]

264. Reality check!

$50,000,000.

That was Barabro's projected worth as a Derby winner . . . even BEFORE the Preakness! If he won the Triple Crown, that number would have increased exponentially! Otherwise, he would never have been raced again after winning the Derby! It is all about money.

[djg21]

265. PS . .

I actually do know something about horses and racing.

I've actually got to work a bit in the business!

But thanks!

[swhisper1]

54. He can recover

If they fuse the pastern and secure the cannon bone, he can live in retirement. He has to be quiet for 3 to 5 months to allow calcium to fuse the joint. Sesamoids commonly break and are not a problem. He can sire foals and eat lots of grass if the cannon is only fractured, not cleanly broken.
Michael is more human. He is an Olympic equestrian and if he decides to put him down, then it is too pulverized to plate.

[idgiehkt]

92. front leg injuries are worse on a horse than back leg

plus like people say, he's got the dream team swimming around in his nethers.

This kills me because it was probably a stress fracture in the making for a while and they just doped him to keep going hoping they could force him through these races.

[Dorian Gray]

165. Because the owners are willing to pay the costs

of the operations.

I know it seems cruel to kill a horse when it breaks a limb, and I would never be able to do it. But... if it can't walk, it will have a miserable life. The extent to which they are going to make this horse comfortable is beyond the means of most horse owners.

[davepc]

195. Living a life full of pain because of a lame leg is more barbaric

then putting the animal down.

That horse is only 3 years old. They can live into their 40's.

[InaneAnanity]

5. It seems incredibly stupid to care about a fucking horse...

...when thousands of Americans are dead in Iraq, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are dead, all because of PNAC and neocon bloodthirst.

Heck, I just killed a spider. Pray for it, lol.

[LeftyMom]

9. The idea that some lives aren't valuble

is what allows shit like the invasion of Iraq to happen. Once you start excluding living beings from your circle of compassion it's easy to find a reason why a few more don't deserve love and consideration.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. Well said, Lefty Mom. We are all creatures of this planet.

From wha tI saw of the videos, those people, the Jockey, the trainer, and
the owners were visibly shaken and were NOT thinking of money. The jockey was crying.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

22. Thank you Lefty Mom. My thoughts exactly. eom

[Branjor]

37. Absolutely, Lefty Mom...

The carnage in Iraq is not unrelated to our disregard for nonhuman life.

[jarab]

13. Beg your pardon; It's not a "fucking horse" ...

the owners are (may be) trying to assure that, however, by saving it's life, if possible.
Derby winners are worth money. There are other things happening in the world besides shrub's war. Some things are "unimportant", but they still exist.
I find no humor - and derive no enlightenment - in don't-give-a-damn attitudes.

...O...

[Roland99]

15. Good thing most people aren't uncaring souls such as yourself.

Never had a sick or injured pet, eh?

[Auntie Bush]

229. People like that shouldn't be allowed to have pets and they

probably wouldn't even want one. Not enough love to spare!

[Redstone]

16. How fucking nice. I'd have expected to see this on FR, but not here.

When your dog dies and you're unhappy, I'll be sure to send you a card.

Redstone

[Carla in Ca]

162. That is what I was going to say

How such coldness mixes with purported progressiveness, I fail to understand. We have to care, for all and for always, or we have nothing.

I owned a quarter horse in the late 70's. We bought it in a claiming race at Bay Meadows and ran it at Los Alamitos. I lived and breathed horse racing. I saw first-hand what is done to get horses to win. It is disgusting and I'm getting upset just thinking about it. Needless to say, I retired the horse to a good farm, divorced the husband and never looked back.

[petersjo02]

18. And your statement is incredibly stupid

Caring about one such life DOES NOT negate the amount of caring about the other lives. Such caring about living beings is NOT mutually exclusive, but for some reason, ignorant people such as yourself seem to think that we humans are to care about only one single thing and that you are the sole arbiter of which single thing we are allowed to care about. I and many others care for and about all living things. Go soak your head (in lieu of my saying something less civil).

[Booster]

32. Of course, if it was your horse you would just shoot it in the head

and move on. What a guy.

[InaneAnanity]

38. No

If it was my horse, I would care.

But he's not my horse, so I don't.

[kestrel91316]

91. "I, of course, am the center of the known universe. I care about no one

other than MYSELF."

You sure you're at the right website?????

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

108. Deleted message

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

[femrap]

235. Karma is gonna bite you in the dick one of these days.....

you got one nasty selfish attitude that is gonna find you.....well.....dickless, I guess.

shoo and ignored.

[InaneAnanity]

243. No such thing as karma

I don't see any reason to believe in that bullshit.

[acmavm]

21. I sure as hell hope you don't have a 'fucking dog' or 'fucking cat' or

even a 'fucking gerbil'. Yes sir, I seriously hope that there is no animal on this earth who is dependent on your goodness and kindness for its survival.

[KatieW]

130. Thank you acmava, I couldn't have said it better.

[femrap]

236. Let's hope he doesn't breed either....imagine

him teaching a child about how to treat others????

[InaneAnanity]

244. Come one, come all

bring the personal attacks!!!

[hlthe2b]

25. You can't truly have compassion for humans, if

you have such disregard for the lives of animals (and I'm not referring to the spider). Such callous statements belie your protestations on the "sanctity of life."


Fortunately, domestic animals (and even some wild animals) don't share such disdain for OUR lives--given the numerous stories of these animals stepping in, to save US. Given your statement, it does open to question WHICH SPECIES is the DUMB or INFERIOR one!

[xultar]

29. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

[InaneAnanity]

33. Wow, is this the website of PETA???

First off, you wouldn't have read this on FR. They disregard the human lives lost in Iraq. They believe in an afterlife that makes death palatable.

Yes, Barbaro is just a fucking horse. I don't care whether he lives or dies, just like I feel about the steak I'm going to eat for dinner. I care about humans; my care for animals only extends as far as they help humans.

[hlthe2b]

34. No, this is the website for compassionate progressive human beings

Callous shitheads post at Free Republic.

[InaneAnanity]

36. Where do I fit

I'm a callous shithead progressive.

[hlthe2b]

39. well, that is the question, now, isn't it? eom

Given your stated beliefs, I'd suggest you not take a poll...:eyes:

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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

[InaneAnanity]

50. Not at all

I enjoy what is called "perspective". When hundreds of thousands of people are dead or dying in places like Darfur and Iraq, I can't give a shit about the life of a fucking racehorse.

[petersjo02]

62. That isn't perspective

That is tunnel vision. You may to prefer to pick and choose who is allowed the benefit of your version of compassion. The rest of us are not bound by your narrow vision. You have no standing to criticize, demean, or denigrate those of us who have a wider world view than you do. The rest of us have free choice to care about all living things and our lives are richer for it. You may call what you feel perspective. I call it shallow and self-centered and you are welcome to it.

[InaneAnanity]

70. My worldview is plenty wide

Wide enough that I understand the relative value of a horse's life and don't get worked up by it.

[Redstone]

104. But you'll spend plenty of time pissing off people who DO care,

won't you? What's your purpose in doing so? Just to be a jerkoff?

Redstone

[Dorian Gray]

170. Well, this topic is rife with people who care about

"a fucking horse." We can feel sympathy for an animal outside of the Iraq quagmire. It's not like we have to eat, sleep, breathe, and concentrate on the horror that is Iraq for 24 hrs. a day. We can feel concern for an animal. I'm not telling you not to post your opinion, but your opinion stinks.

[Derailer]

177. Actually look around you for the people who don't give a shit

They say they care about this horse.

But do they reflect that in any way other than words? FUCK NO

If they did would they not at least verbally oppose horse racing in general? Its extremely easy to undercover all the bullshit they pull to run these horses. Stuff that is in almost every case detrimental to the well-being of the horse

But what horse do they end up caring about? The one that got major national exposure at a bullshit horse face.

But of course you are the uncaring asshole and they are the superior, high-minded schmucks come to tell you off

[InaneAnanity]

181. That too

We agree.

[Redstone]

190. Well, now he has a friend! Probably the first one ever. And one who

doesn't know jack shit about horses. Of course, that makes sense.

Redstone

[Derailer]

193. I don't know about horses

but I do know enough to tell you that unless the horse pulled up fucking lame that race was going to start on time for TV regardless of any linegering suspicion the jockey, trainers, staff etc may have had regarding Barbaro's fitness to run it it.

And, I'm pretty sure that scenario has played out a million times over, if not on national television. Hell, it happens in football. Guys get a painshot and go back in. That's how it works

They killed the fucking horse or, if they didn't, they came damn close

[Redstone]

208. Oh, it's "they." How convenient.

Redstone

[Derailer]

212. Hey I'm going to let this thread go

but I don't understand what this response is referring to...?

I'm not talking about any covert boogie-man particularly although there are enough real-life instances of those I guess

EDIT: Oh I take your point. If you actually believe that there wasn't a very pronounced case of willful ignorance as to the horse's injury prior to the race I imagine you also believe a Lone Gunman assassinated Pres Kennedy and Ronald Regan really didn't recall any of the goings-on relating to Iran Contra...

[Redstone]

216. Good, let it go. Support a pointless disruptor in another thread.

Have fun.

Redstone

[Coventina]

111. "callous shithead progressive" is an oxymoran

:puke:

[Left Is Write]

126. Check out how compassionate and progressive we are...

when attacking Britney Spears.

[Redstone]

136. LIW, come on. You feeling OK tonight? It's not like you to side with

such a moron. Where's the LIW we all know and love?

Redstone

[Left Is Write]

137. I'm okay...

I just hate to see people rushing to judgments like "unfit mother" - I think a lot of us who were young mothers could have been judged the same way based on cherry-picking incidents. I'm not a fan of Britney Spears, but I hate to see all those judgments also. She's made some mistakes. Pretty common ones. I don't think that makes her an unfit mother. None of us knows enough about her to say such a thing.

[Redstone]

139. But few people go into a thread, if there was one sympathetic to her

for example, and just post and post and post again solely for the purpose of annoying the other people in that thread.

That's just being an asshole for the enjoyment of it, and it's pretty juvenile. Yes?

(You make a good point, though.)

Redstone

[Left Is Write]

141. Oh, yeah. I'm not defending this thread's resident asshole at all.

Not at all.

Just found it interesting that we are a compassionate, progressive people, but we can't extend that compassion to a young mother who is clearly being targeted by the paparazzi waiting for her to make another mistake.

[Redstone]

145. As I said, good point.

Redstone

[Dorian Gray]

172. I do think that's a good point.

I've stayed out of all Brittany judgemental threads because the Lord knows that I'll probably make tons of mistakes when I have children. Heck, when I was babysitting, I was playing with the child, who I was throwing up and she hit her head against the fan. Thank God she wasn't horribly hurt, and thank God I didn't have the notoriety to have paparazzi stalking my ass all the time to capture that moment. The guilt and horror and fear I felt were real, and Brittany has to compound that by worrying about what the world thinks of her.

But, that's another topic and another time.

I don't think that I know any person in my real life that has no compassion for animals, nor do I think that I would want to.

[Left Is Write]

175. And it takes a special kind of mean to come into a thread like this...

just to piss all over people who ARE concerned about an animal. If he's not interested in the welfare of the horse, he should have moved on past.

[Derailer]

179. I think some of his response have been

exaggerated because you people have goaded him on.

The orginal point stands. Its ONE fucking horse and we all have much, much bigger things to worry about.

[Batgirl]

187. His very first statement referred to how it is

"incredibly stupid to care about a fucking horse..."

Followed by "Heck, I just killed a spider. Pray for it, lol."

So much for your theory that he was "goaded" into his remarks.

How thoughtful of you to assure Inane that the real people with a compassion deficit are the ones who feel bad about the injured horse:

"Actually look around you for the people who don't give a shit."

Then you referred to everyone else in the thread as "superior, high-minded schmucks".

So your plea for unity -- "we all have much much bigger things to wrorry about" -- just rings so true.

[InaneAnanity]

We all argue for free speech

Until someone says something that pisses us off.

This is a good case study.

[Derailer]

192. That wasn't a plea for unity

It was an observation that I can think of 800,000,000,000,000,000 things more important than this, none of which will ever be discussed, let alone generate the enormous outpouring of responses as, face it, a stupid fucking racehorse

As for the goaded, some of his later comments struck me as a bit forced/contrived but I agree he wasn't particularly diplomatic to begin with ;)

[Batgirl]

194. Well then

why aren't you devoting your energy to some of those 800,000,000,000,000,000 more important things?

Or are you, like Inane, just on a mission to point out how stupid we are for giving a shit about the "wrong" subject matter?

[Derailer]

200. I clicked on a link

I could care less if you feel for this horse or not. But don't make it out to be something greater than it is please. You are acting as though its some kind of barometer for measuring the value of a person or not

And, big picture, its worth responding to on the grounds that this is indicitive of where things have gone so wrong. I understand no one wants to be all business all the time but...take a look around please

[Batgirl]

206. You clicked, you stayed, you smote

Think of how many of the 800,000,000,000,000,000,000 much worthier topics you could have been addressing while you were here smiting people.

[Redstone]

197. And your agenda is?

Can you tell us, specifically, why it is that you are here to defend someone whose only purpose seems to be annoying other people? Is it just that you enjoy engaging in juvenile behavior?

If you don't care about the horse, whcy don't you leave the people who DO care about the horse alone?

What's your real motivation in posting this? I tried to ask your pal about HIS motivation, but for some reason he doesn't want to answer that question.

Redstone

[Derailer]

205. I don't have an agenda really

I just stopped on by to express my disappointment and also to the test the waters in the sense of whether there was any reasoning with you or tempering your rather uncalled-for hostility.

Guess I took a bath on that one

bye

[Redstone]

209. Yes, you did. Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas, and all that.

Redstone

[Batgirl]

210. so you came here to see if there was any "reasoning"

was possible. It guess it was like a scientific experiment.

No wonder you started out with a constellation of f-bombs and referring to other posters as "people who don't give a shit" and "superior, high-minded schmucks." I suppose it's all part of the scientific methodology.

Sorry you were disappointed with the results of your experiment. But think how much more time you now have to devote to the 800-to-the-power-of-infinity more serious problems you're all the time trying to do something about while we schmucks waste our time on trivial pursuits.

[Derailer]

217. Somewhere in here

I said "rhetoric aside, he does have a point" and you responded "no he doesn't hes just an asshole"

Really beyond that there's nothing to discuss constructively, right?

:)

[Batgirl]

221. since you're now misattributing quotes

there is nothing to discuss constructively.

[Derailer]

224. Call it the Cliff Notes version

but that was what I took from our exchage.

What I'm not quite understanding is why you are bothering to respond to me? Its obvious I'm just a freeper troll here to waste your time and serve as a minor irritant...

[Batgirl]

228. Now you're just being lazy

Nothing I've said remotely resembles what you attributed to me. You in fact have been exchanging barbs with several different people and have no idea who said what. You don't care to go back and reread the thread so resort to excusing your gaffe by referring to it as "the Cliff Notes version".

What I'm not understanding is why you bothered to respond to anything in this entire thread, since your position is that the topic is beneath you.

It was so beneath you that you settled in here to espress your wrath for what, a couple hours now?

In the meantime I ate some cereal, fed the cats, worked on a project, and installed a fresh roll of toilet paper. I think my evening has been more productive than yours, since that leaves only 795,000,000,000,000,000,000 other more important things to attend to.

Nighty-night.

[aaronbees]

203. You have a pretty limited view of life...

if you think the concern over "one fucking horse" can, let's say, derail people from caring about other issues. Are you really that exclusive in your interests? Do you think DU-ers are?

Barbaro's story is the story of many horses who break down and are injured, yes, but perhaps his survival, if he does survive, can help us understand how to care for race horses or any horse if they suffer similar injuries. At the very least, the fact he's made it this far is real inspiration for horse owners who could face similar circumstances. As well, casting a light on the sport could bring some introspection on the part of the industry as to changes that should be made to better the sport. (Changes that are happening, such as Polytrack racing surfaces, that give horses "softer" ground to run on.) Barbaro and his connections are also public figures, and that puts the news in the spotlight, especially when millions of people saw what happened yesterday and understandably have an emotional reaction.

[Derailer]

207. I don't think one particular case

or the feelings on one particular person make a difference either way. I do think when you magnify it onto a whole population that's not reality, it a sort of subliminal mind-control.

Further, lets not forget the sub-theme that we're actually promoting a level of "caring" here that amounts to "Oh the poor horsise. Hey, is American Idol on yet?" Which is certainly reflected in the direction our country is going isn't it?

[aaronbees]

219. But it's like any kind of response

to a media-fueled event: it's worth as much as what people do with it. In this case, I have no doubt that those who follow horses and horse racing can take this and reflect on it; I already see it happening. I don't see following the event as mind control; I think it's a gut-level compassion that, at least with the posters here, people feel pretty strongly. And sure, some may switch channels and be emo about "American Idol" or some such (not that I really care either way on that), but perhaps this is also an opportunity to learn about the Exceller Fund or Old Friends, both of which seek to care for retired horses. I guess I see the glass half-full with this interest.

[Derailer]

220. I'm not demeaning that at all

my point is more along the lines that most of the stuff people get emotionally involved in (especially TV content) is more trivial by half than this story and serves as little more than filler pap to keep them satiatied

[aaronbees]

226. Fair point...

but I guess that's relatively obvious to me. I find it less apparent here, though, in DU-land, than anyplace else. In some ways that's just the condition of a 24-hour news cycle.

[femrap]

237. Youngsters sobbing for one....

glad that children have a bit of empathy for an animal's pain. I did write NBC Sports a scathing letter....I had trouble getting to sleep last night....kept seeing the poor animal's leg. I really don't think the cameraman shold have televised that....very disturbing.

If NBC won't show the brutality of war then they have no reason to show a horse in pain....hypocrites. I thought it sadistic and cruel to televise Barbaro standing at the rail.

As the magnet on the fridge says (and I am reminded of it as we deal with these 'two fucking posters'): The more I know about people, the more I love my pet.

[greyl]

223. Or the over-coverage of Natalie Holloway... nt

[Waya]

41. Damn...you always this compassionate?

[InaneAnanity]

42. Some days more than others

Do you guys get this worked up every time a chicken is plucked??

[Waya]

44. Well, I hate to see you on your 'less compassionate' days.....

....yea, it's a horse....doesn't mean one can't care about it....

[InaneAnanity]

47. I never said you couldn't

I just don't see why everyone is so worked up over it. Seems incredibly callous and stupid in the grander scheme of things.

[uppityperson]

57. I would rather the money, time, energy spent for a human in need.

Yes, animals are important, but when I have to chose between getting an abcessed tooth fixed or getting toxically sick because I need to eat instead, or when a child has to go without the medicine/operation they need because they don't have insurance or the money or the publicity to save this 1 child, spending this sort of time, energy and money on a stud horse seems criminal.

[Waya]

58. We're not 'worked up'.....

....we simply express concern and compassion for another living being....animal or human...doesn't matter.
No, it's not nearly as important as the dead Soldiers or the dead Iraqis or the Crisis in Darfur or the Genocide and Atrocities going on ..well, pick a place....but....we cannot fix these things right away...in a manner of hours or days, or maybe even years.....so...we care about the horse for a few hours until the surgery is done if he lives - we're glad and forget about it by tomorrow. If he dies - we're sad and forget about it by the day after tomorrow......doesn't mean we forget about the other issues....we just try to keep from going nuts.....

[InaneAnanity]

64. Well, I submit to you

That the only reason any of you care about Barbaro is because he was on TV.

Every day, hundreds (if not thousands) of horses are put down because of leg injuries. Every day, thousands of chickens, cows, pigs, and fish are murdered and chopped up and sold.

Out of sight, out of mind apparently. Because if you guys worried about all animals the way you worry about Barbaro, you'd be whimpering depressed, soaked in your own tears all day, every day.

Perspective is in order.

[Philosoraptor]

66. Humans exploiting horses for mega-bucks & degenerate gamblers

Is another way to look at it. It does seem like a misdirected concern when you mention it, what with all the other awful things going on. I understand compassion for the horse I guess, but it is afterall, just one horse.

[Peggy Day]

156. There is something great about a horse race. IMO

At least it is not bullfighting or such.

[femrap]

239. And if you have a dear pet that dies, we will all just come

up and to you and say....well, it's just one pet. Can you be more unfeeling? More robotic?

With people like you, no wonder we all love animals....shit.

[InaneAnanity]

242. Do you know Barbaro personally??

Your analogy is a bad one.

[flvegan]

71. Intriguing perspective.

I do worry about all animals, Barbaro included. I'm not whimpering, depressed nor soaked in my own tears. My compassion just doesn't have a limit.

That's perspective.

[InaneAnanity]

74. Well, mine does

When I care, I really care, and if I focused on animals as well as humans, I'd probably put a gun to my head and pull the trigger to escape the pain.

[flvegan]

94. As sad as that is

I do respect your honesty.

[wildhorses]

129. feel free to borrow mine

it is loaded and ready

[Coventina]

132. ZING!!!!

:thumbsup:

[Redstone]

138. And, my friend FLV, you kow that those horses LOVE to run. They live

for it. It's their greatest pleasure in life. It's what they do.

Just like dogs live to run. Give a dog the choice, and he'll run half the day and sleep the other half.

I believe that animals should live the life they like and be happy (even the ones I eat). You know that.

Redstone

[kestrel91316]

95. Ah, I detect a bit of PETA-style sarcasm going on here....................

If we don't care that FOOD animals are used FOR FOOD (dying in the process), then it's wrong for us to have compassion for a (gasp) COMPANION animal like a horse............

You expect us to care equally for ALL animals? Well guess what - there's a hierarchy. I personally care less for maggots and mosquitoes than horses and humans, and chickens and fish fall somewhere between.

Guess that makes me evil, huh?

[Coventina]

113. Not true. I believe in animal rights, I am a vegetarian.

Barbaro was exploited just as the animals that are used as food.

I oppose ALL forms of animal cruelty. And I do spend every day thinking about it, acting when I have the time & money to do so.

My compassion and concern for Barbaro is just part of the overall fabric of my life.

My perspective is just fine.

You might want to check yours.

[flvegan]

148. Oh, SNAP!

Good post.

[Coventina]

150. Aw shucks, thanks flvegan!

I came late to this particular party, just trying to do my part....whatever that is....

[LeftyMom]

152. You're absolutely right

All animal suffering bothers me as well. I could choose to cope with that by denying that suffering exists or that animals matter, but acting on that knowledge and doing something to prevent it does a lot more for both my peace of mind and for suffering animals.

[Derailer]

196. thanks

I think you should reference people to this post rather than continue responding because they are merely throwing out inflammatory comments in an attempt to draw your ire which they can then use as a convenient diversion to miss your point entirely and label you a heartless pissant

[InaneAnanity]

231. I agree

I laid the invective on a little hard this time, but I do have a point, and I think its a good one.

[Derailer]

180. OK, thats an honest response

but I don't really see how its any different than saying "I have alot more important things to worry about" given that you just admitted the obvious that no one will care past tomorrow

[kestrel91316]

93. So any animal that doesn't personally serve you is valueless???

I guess ecosystems probably don't matter to you, or the web of life........

I'm quite sure you are at the wrong website.

[InaneAnanity]

101. Nope

ecosystems do matter to me, because their success has a direct impact on humanity.

Barbaro isn't part of any ecosystem.

[kestrel91316]

109. And neither are you, in that case.

[InaneAnanity]

114. But I am me

And so I have precedence over a racehorse.

[Coventina]

121. Not in my opinion

Just so you know......

[InaneAnanity]

122. at least you are honest

You value a racehorse more than a human.

[Coventina]

128. A good horse is more valuable than a bad human

Yes, indeed.

[Derailer]

182. Because this guy makes a statement you and many others disagree with

you get to refer to him like hes a bag of shit and no one bats an eye

Brilliant display by all the fucking progressives on this thread

[Batgirl]

204. The "statement" that he made

was to announce how stupid people are for feeling anything but indifference.

Then you jump in to defend his status as a poor victim.

Talk about your brilliant displays.

[InaneAnanity]

232. Now who is misrepresenting?

I said it was stupid in light of everything going on in the world.

[Coventina]

256. Hey, he admitted he was a "callous shithead"....all bets are OFF!

He was the one who used the scatalogical term, not I.

So, voice your indignation to someone who cares.

[mortlefaucheur]

230. lol!...

<>

[Redstone]

102. Aren't you wonderful. We should all be like you. What a wonderful place

the world would be then!

Redstone

[Derailer]

183. Do you have anything to offer

other than pretentious, self-righteous sound-bites?

[Redstone]

184. Yes, I do. Read on.

Redstone

[radwriter0555]

49. The horse has a chance to be fixed. You have no hope of saving the US from

the bush regime.

[InaneAnanity]

51. I have no hope of saving the horse either

I have more control over U.S. policy with my one vote (assuming it is counted) than I do over Barbaro.

That's a pointless argument though.

[Batgirl]

61. since you have such limited reserves of emotional energy and compassion

why on earth did you even click on a thread about "a fucking horse?"

It seems like you are wasting valuable time in which you could be carefully allotting today's ration of give-a-shit to the causes you deem worthy of attention.

[InaneAnanity]

67. I enjoy sports as a diversion

So, in that regard, I'm moderately interested in the outcome. Not because I give a shit; because I'm interested in what may or may not happen to horse racing as a result.

[Philosoraptor]

69. I don't see horse racing as a sport, but gambling.

What sport? A guy makes a horse run as fast as it can not giving a damn if it lives or dies.

[InaneAnanity]

73. I tend to agree

I'm not a huge fan of horseracing, even though I do watch the triple crown races. It is exploitation, of the horses, but moreso of gambling addicts. It also creates an unhealthy lifestyle for jockeys who have to starve themselves to help their careers.

PETA will come down hard on them, and I'm interested to see what happens.

[Batgirl]

78. So you rebuke those who care about the outcome because of empathy

for an injured horse -- on the grounds that it's more important to focus such feelings on the suffering Iraqis...

However, it's legitimate for you to care about the outcome to the extent that it may or may not have an effect on the sport of horse racing.

I'm sure the suffering Iraqis will understand.

[InaneAnanity]

80. I can guarantee you

The Iraqis don't give a shit about Barbaro either.

[Batgirl]

85. But perhaps, like you,

they give a shit to the extent of the effect the horse's injury will have on the sport of horse racing?

It's so much more legitimate of a concern.

[InaneAnanity]

103. No

They don't give a shit about that either.

I don't really care about that myself, I am curious about it however.

[Batgirl]

106. So according to your standards

if posters in this thread had confined their remarks to speculation and mild curiosity about the possible effects of the horse's injury on the sport of horse racing (as opposed to expressions of empathy for the horse) then you wouldn't have been forced to scold them for their misplaced concern. Gotcha.

[InaneAnanity]

116. I didn't scold anyone

I said it seems stupid to care about a racehorse given all the other more important things to care about.

[Batgirl]

131. Here's a quote:

"It seems incredibly stupid to care about a fucking horse... ...when thousands of Americans are dead in Iraq, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis are dead, all because of PNAC and neocon bloodthirst.

Heck, I just killed a spider. Pray for it, lol."

I see now, it's all just a big misunderstanding. True, you did refer to those who "care about a fucking horse" as "incredibly stupid" and inferred that not only are we stupid, but we are shortchanging the suffering Iraqis. But you didn't scold anyone.

[InaneAnanity]

155. semantics, but

I said it was stupid to care about the fucker, not that those who cared about the fucker were stupid.

[radwriter0555]

79. Diebold.

That's all I'm saying.

It really sucks.

[skygazer]

118. Why are you in this thread?

If you have nothing to offer to it except ridicule of those who feel saddened by the suffering of this animal, why bother to click into it? And upon clicking into it and seeing that it's about something you have nothing but contempt and ridicule for, why post? If you can't offer something of substance (and you haven't, simply offered the opinion that YOU don't care), why not go find another thread to post in?

Or are you just trying to piss people off? Sounds like a progressive to me. :sarcasm:

[LWolf]

75. I guess stupid is in the perception and vision of the thinker.

It seems incredibly stupid to some that so many people can't connect the dots between empathy and the bloodthirsty travesties that happen it is lacking.

There are no artificial boundaries for empathy; an empathetic person is not species-centric.

Death is a natural part of life, and we all deal with it, in some form or other, every day. The same empathy that allows me to care about the suffering of people at the hands of other people allows me to care about an animal in pain, to respect other life forms, to remove rather than squash spiders, and to feel hope for a horse.

[femrap]

238. Well said.

Maybe we can shoo this bully off the playground so we can get back to a good conversation.

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

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

[Dorian Gray]

176. Thank you, Redstone...

that's been bugging me throughout this entire thread.

[Redstone]

186. You're welcome. Always glad to do my part for the cause of literacy.

And I see that you're literate, since it bothered you. Funny how illiterate stuff bugs the hell out of those of us who know better, isn't it?

Redstone

[Derailer]

189. I thought it was a shot at Kofi Anan personally

or some mish-mash of Inanity and Insantiy. Insaneananity maybe :D?

[Redstone]

198. Or something else even more stupid.

I asked this before: Why are you here? You don't seem to be contributing anything except more trouble and ridiculous statements.

Redstone

[Derailer]

201. Says the guy who made fun of somebody's username

[Redstone]

211. Yes, says that guy. I don't like illiteracy.

Or rudeness. Your pal doesn't care about the horse, he doesn't need to bother people who DO care about the horse.

Simple manners. Again, what's YOUR agenda? What's your interest in defending someone who posts in a thread only to disrupt it?

Redstone

[Derailer]

214. Someone called be petty in this thread but...

...besides, doesn't the capitalized "A" indicate his username is something other than a typo. I don't pretend to get what it means either but thats true of lotsa people's usernames...

[Redstone]

218. Getting a bit desperate, are we? Gibberish is NOT an argument.

Come back tomorrow when you can make some sense, OK?

Redstone

[greyl]

225. How many personal attacks are you trying to fit into this thread? nt

[Rufus T. Firefly]

119. So, no use caring if someone tortures a kitten.

After all, worse things are happening.

Worse things are ALWAYS happening. Would you be upset if a loved one died? After all, more people died in Iraq. See how lousy a comparison that is?

[InaneAnanity]

124. No

Torturing a helpless animal is cruel and unnecessary. But fretting over the life of a racehorse is stupid.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

161. So the torture is bad, but just the death is no big deal.

Thanks for the clarification.

[InaneAnanity]

168. Not to me

Torture isn't a big deal either, it is just cruel and completely unnecessary.

Death is unfortunate, but because he's just a fucking horse I don't give a shit.

[Name removed]

146. Deleted message

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

[Faygo Kid]

188. Well put.

I am with you on this one, that's for sure.

[SunDrop23]

149. Why can't we do both?

[bklyncowgirl]

153. Aw give it a rest. Animals bring out the best in us.

About a month ago all New York went apeshit about a cat stuck behind a wall despite the fact that humans are suffering the world over and even that as every resource was used to rescue that cat other cats were being killed because on one wanted them.

Barbaro is a champion race horse who suffered a devestating injury while doing what he clearly was incredibly eager to do and maybe earn a piece of glory (although the horse of course didn't care about the glory or the money--he just wanted to run) If you can't see the tragedy here take a look at the pictures of the faces of the jockey and the trainer and the owners for whom this animal was the gift of a lifetime and at the faces of ordinary people who never met him but who loved him nonethe less.

Yeah it's not logical. Yeah maybe we should all focus on alleviating human suffering. Maybe we all need to be more politically correct.

We'll we're human and there's something about an animal in need that brings out the best in us.

[femrap]

240. Remember Lassie?

Damn, every Sunday night as a kid I would watch her. Cry when she got into trouble. At the close of the show when she would raise her paw....geez...just hit me in the heart. I don't know what it is but an animal in pain....it just rattles me.

Maybe it's because they can't communicate to us what they need. They are dependent on us for help. I don't know....but I love animals. And the more I learn about people, the more I love animals.

[Crunchy Frog]

Is this you?

[Dorian Gray]

169. Lovely. n/p

[Derailer]

171. Well I imagine you knew going in you were going to get slammed

but that doesn't change the fact that you are exactly right.

Shit like this is why intelligent, liberally-minded progressives get beat time and again by a bunch of slack-jawed backwards hicks who are so fucking prudish they put their Puritan ancestors to shame.

Lame sob-story human interest bullshit stories are a tried and true way of manipulating the mindset of massive amounts of people, toying with their emotions. Nothing more.

We laugh at the pig fuckers who get sucked in by Fox News. How is this any different? Its ONE horse. Lots of horses are euthanized, every fucking day. And we care about how many of them? This is not that far removed from the Pro-Life's stance of "have the baby and then you can go die as far as we care. Whore."

[Name removed]

185. Deleted message

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

[femrap]

234. Well aren't you the little boy who needs a spanking....? nt.

[Greylyn58]

245. Why come on here and ridicule

those of us that can feel compassion for the suffering of another creature? If this is indeed your true feelings about the stated subject, why did you feel the need to post a comment you knew would cause others to become upset?

Or do you just enjoy being disruptive?

"True benevolence, or compassion, extends itself through the whole of existence and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation."

Joseph Addison.

[Name removed]

251. Deleted message

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

[theboss]

258. I hate the "The only issue worth discussing is my issue" crowd

It's pointless to discuss Iraq when you consider, I don't know, the world-wide AIDS pandemic. And it's stupid to discuss that when you consider that we are all going to die eventually anyway.

In the meantime, I'm intrigued by the horse.

[Peggy Day]

7. I saw that. Here is a video of that sad event.. I love youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkg_gTtYNms&search=preakness

[leftchick]

30. ah shit!

that is heartbreaking. :cry:

[thatsrightimirish]

11. In my opinion

Letting a horse live with a broken leg is immoral

[benburch]

20. I concur.

Unless this has advanced beyond my knowledge of it.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

40. Yes, horses do live now days after having broken their legs. It depends on

the extent of their injuries. The surgeon is still working on him after about 5 hours. One must realize too that this is supposedly a first class medical facility that seems to specialize in equine injuries.

[kestrel91316]

99. Penn has a fabulous veterinary teaching hospital, and they are

well-known for their equine surgery department.

This is WAAAYYYYYY out of the league of a private practice equine hospital. This is university-level practice.

[LWolf]

90. It depends on the injury.

A family member of mine took responsibility for a 2yo who broke a (front) cannon bone on the track when I was a kid. They were going to put him down, and this family member convinced them to hand the horse over to him instead. He brought him home and cared for him, and he lived another 25 years. He healed to the point of being able to use the leg a little; enough to get around, including frolicking in the pasture. He enjoyed people, grooming, and attention, and sired a few nice horses, although they seldom used him at stud. One of his get is a sound, healthy, 17yo mare out in my pasture right now.

That same family member took another 4yo money winning stallion off the track when he broke a sesamoid bone; he recovered well enough for light riding and a breeding career. He's 22 and still healthy and active this spring, a few miles from here.

Barbaro's injuries include both of the above, plus a 3rd break, on the same leg. Even with much more modern technology, he may not make it.

Another friend down the road has her horse, a pet as well as a mount trained for several disciplines, recovered well enough for very light riding after stepping in a gopher hole and shattering a shoulder. He's quite happy, and if you didn't know what to watch for, you couldn't see any limitation in his movement. She rides him a couple of times a week to keep him fit, although his primary "job" is just to be her friend.

It all depends on the injury, and the reason people have the horse to begin with.

[kestrel91316]

96. Broken legs can be fixed in MANY species of animals. We are no

longer in the dark ages.

They'll do bone grafting and plating, and immobilize with a cast, and he may recover to have a happy life free of pain. Veterinary surgeons are amazing. You'd be surprised at the magic they can do.

[wordpix2]

17. let's hope Barbaro pulls through & has a happy long life as a stud

[BrklynLiberal]

27. I'm with you on that.

[Dorian Gray]

178. There are definitely worse ways

for a horse to live the rest of his days! :)

Let's hope that he will be a true Stud Muffin if he makes it.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

28. Thank you for the update Roland. I saw it happen yesterday and it was

horrible. I was in tears then and have been in tears on and off when thinking about it. It didn't look good at all. I just finished work so didn't have time to get an update on his condition over at Yahoo.

My best thoughts have been with him.

[xultar]

31. I will never be able to watch the video and I hope the horse is o.k.

Makes me hate horse racing even more.

[radwriter0555]

56. Back in 90 we had a horse go down in the Breeder's Cup...

Mr. Nickerson was his name, owned by some family friends. The horse had a heart attack just out of the gate and dropped dead on the track.

"The following year at Belmont Park was perhaps the most disastrous day in the history of racing considering the combined worth of the three animals that were killed during the day’s races. The carnage began, as in 1989, during the running of the very first race, the Breeders Cup Sprint. As the horses approached the far turn, Mr. Nickerson, one of the fastest sprinters of the 1990 season, suffered a heart attack, pitched his rider, and fell dead on the track. A trailing horse, Shaker Knit, could not avoid the fallen horse and also fell and was killed. The rider of Mr. Nickerson

It was the third race of the competition, the Breeders Cup Distaff that resulted in what was probably the most horrific accident in racing history and it happened directly in front of the grandstand, in full view of more than 51,000 spectators. Additionally the scene was witnessed close up by millions of television viewers. Bayakoa, a six-year-old mare and Go For Wand, a 3-year-old filly, two of the best racehorses of their era, were engaged in a nose to nose struggle for supremacy for the entire length of Belmont’s almost quarter mile homestretch. Go For Wand raced along the inside, close to the rail with Bayakoa just to her outside. As they reached the sixteenth pole, Go For Wand’s right ankle snapped and the horse fell forward, landed on her head, turned a complete somersault, with her hind legs striking the rail, and threw her jockey to the ground. She rose to her feet in a panic and those who saw her will never forget the sight of the filly trying to run away on three legs with her right front hoof and ankle dangling and swaying in the air. She was euthanized on the track."


It was that day that turned me off of horseracing forever. I've never watched or cheered another race since, and I grew up on the track.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

72. I have been watching horse racing since I was a child, and I think after

yesterday, I just won't have the heart to watch ever again. One too many times witnessing this......

[radwriter0555]

77. I understand completely. That's why I just stopped... totally stopped

watching or even being interested in horseracing.

It's just too brutal and inhumane.

I love horses. I was raised with them, lived with them, love them... and racing is just too horrific and cruel.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

87. I have always loved horses, wished I could have been raised with them,

wished I could live with them and just could never realize those dreams. My grandfather and parents loved horse racing and I grew up loving the beauty and speed of race horses. I had a scrapbook that I filled with pictures of my favorite ones and even wrote letters to them! I still have it. One of the rare vestiges of my childhood.

When I met my ex-husband I discovered he loved horse racing too. So it has been part of my life. What's odd is, that yesterday as I was watching the post parade I told my ex (we were watching the race together), that all of the horses were so damned beautiful and it didn't matter to me who won. I just loved to see them. And after the tragedy I thought that without horse racing, there would be very little need for thoroghbreds.. they are so too damn fragile..... Sorry for the rant. I'm very emotional over this.

[femrap]

241. Same here....we had harness horses when I was a child.

I've lived in Lexington, KY. I think yesterday did it for me.....I don't think I will watch or go to another race again.

Think I'll just watch those great animals hang out in the pasture.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

35. I just found an update on his condition. He's still in surgery

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060521/ap_on_sp_ot/rac_barbaro_surgery_8

snip.....
Corinne Sweeney, a veterinarian and the executive hospital director, said the horse was still in surgery about five hours after it began but that the procedure was near completion. She didn't give any other details on the horse's condition.

snip.........
"The aspects of the surgery will be dictated slightly by what we find," Richardson said. "But the bottom line is we will attempt to perform a fusion of that joint and to stabilize it and make it comfortable enough for him to walk on."

[aaronbees]

52. I think it's a good sign...

that they're still continuing with surgery, even if it's taking so long. One of the worries was blood flow to the bottom of Barbaro's leg and I imagine there is some since they pressed on with the surgery. Hopefully, that is a good sign for him; I think he has the right disposition to be a good patient and heal (judging by his behavior on the track and as noted int he article), though the recuperation will take weeks and months. Even if he survives surgery, he's got a long, tenuous road ahead of him. Think good thoughts for him.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

55. I posted above about the facility that he's in, and it seems world class

to me. It seems if anyone can help him, they can. Here's a link to the site

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/nbc/equine/

[aaronbees]

68. Yes, seems like the best...

I'm glad he's there. Here's a pretty good breakdown of some of the challenges horses face when they suffer breakdowns, for anyone who wishes to learn about it: http://horseracing.about.com/library/weekly/aa040698.htm.

Nureyev is actually an example of a champion racehorse and superstud that survived a major injury.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

76. Thanks for the site. When I read down towards the end and the little girl

and the palomino, it reminded me of an old Mickey Rooney movie where there was a horse with a broken leg, and they created a sling for the horse so it didn't have to place pressure on its legs...It seems that the facility uses water to do the same thing.

I remember Nureyev. :)

[bklyncowgirl]

53. The fact that he's been in surgery for so long is a good sign

If they weren't making progress they would have pulled the plug.

Here's a little insider gossip from the Chronicle of the Horse Forum. Apparently Barbaro did well last night. He is a very laid back horse for a thoroughbred at the height of fitness and that has given his people hope.

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=46198

[Kingofalldems]

63. That's good to know

From his prerace behavior he looked a little high-strung, not a good thing for a horse who has to be in a cast or sling for months. Hope he pulls through.

[bklyncowgirl]

81. Apparently he's a tiger on the racetrack and a kitten in the barn

Well, a 1000+ kitten with steel shod hooves and teeth that could crush a man's arm if he wanted to.

At any rate, he seems to trust the humans around him and that's essential. I remember when my horse got his head stuck in the paddock gate. He tried to pull free and started to struggle. If he'd gone into total panic mode he'd have broken his neck. Fortunately, when I got to his side he settled down immediately. My daughter got behind him and pushed him forward. He realized immediately that forward was the way to go and freed himself. He took off and ran for a few strides, then came back to me and pressed his head against my chest as if to say "I need a hug." I thought of that when I saw Barbaro with his head pressed against the assistant trainer's chest. He's a smart horse who's been around good humans his entire life.

Hopefully the humans around him won't betray that trust and force him to undergo this agony for a life spent in pain for the money he'll bring as a stallion. They can do amazing things with equine surgery these days and hopefully we'll see him out in a field some day with the sun on his back, rolling and galloping and doing the sort of things horses love to do.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

65. Yes, it seems hopeful that they are working on him so hard!

Thank you bklyncowgirl for letting me know about Barbaro. He seemed to have so much heart. Even though his hoof was dangling he still was trying to run.

I used to go riding in Brooklyn years ago near Jamaica Bay.

[bklyncowgirl]

97. Hey I know Jamaica Bay

I used to ride in Staten Island myself, at the old Clove Lake Stables. I mucked stalls, led trail rides and taught riding lessons to feed my horse addiction.

I always envied Jamaica Bay for its beach trails.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

246. The beach trails were lovely to see, but the "aroma" from the garbage dump

not so lovely! When I moved to another area in Queens I rode in Forest Park and in the Bronx.

[Coastie for Truth]

59. As long as we are talking about compassion for animals

Humane Society of the US
Save Pets From the Next Disaster

<>

Help prevent what happened after Katrina from ever happening again. The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act), S. 2548 and H.R. 3858, requires state and local authorities to consider the needs of individuals with pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster. You could help save thousands of people and pets from anguish -- even loss of life -- during the next major disaster, just by asking your U.S. Senators and Representative to support this legislation.

Take Action
Please call your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and urge them to co-sponsor the PETS Act (S. 2548 and H.R. 3858) if he or she has not already done so. You can reach your federal legislators by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or click here to find your Senators' and Representative's office phone numbers.

After you make your phone calls, fill out the form on the right to automatically send an e-mail to your Senators and Representative urging them to support the PETS Act. Remember to personalize the e-mail message by expressing your opinion in your own words.

This is no Bull. I am working with several Katrina Refugee families - all still suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have spoken with the Chief of Staff of the United States Coast Guard's "Pacific Command" and my neighborhod Fire Batallion Chief. I am a Red Cross Disaster Assistance Team Captain and Shelter Manager, a Radio Amateur Civil Emergency HAM Radio Operator, and a veteran of the United States Coast Guard (with a tour in New Orleans; my wife was a teacher in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward) - Over half of the people who did not "timely evacuate" - and had to be expensively evacuated by Coast Guard helicopter - stayed behind because "Shelters Do Not Accept Pets" - so they elected to stay with their pets.

This is "for real." Pets are family - and they require disaster shelter.

"Coastie",
American Red Cross
Lieutenant, United States Coast Guard

[uppityperson]

60. As long as we talking about compassion, check out this link too please

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1252230

[riderinthestorm]

82. New Bolton is the best in the biz but what's the point?

Thoroughbred stallions MUST cover their mares the old fashioned way - that means Barbaro will have to stand on those hind legs (one of which is severely damaged) to breed successfully.

The logistics of having to perform the breeding are pretty stressful.

The pain alone will probably mean he won't do it, even if his hormones are surging.

I'm not sure why they are doing this surgery.

My heart breaks for those owners and the sport. TB racing desperately needs another hero to revive a sagging sport - I really thought Barbaro would be it. What a magnificent racehorse.

Ah that poor horse!

Alas. :cry:

[bklyncowgirl]

86. He may end up as the world's most expensive lawn ornament

I think it's part the owner's love for the horse and part a hope that he can be bred. My guess is that if it's too dangerous to breed him he may end up being gelded and living on the owner's farm--or at some place like the Kentucky Horse Park where they keep Cigar and John Henry. It's a nice place.

[kestrel91316]

105. Well, this funny thing called HEALING happens with broken bones

(I witnessed this amazing occurrence personally when I broke my own leg at age 11), and down the road when they want to use him for stud, he won't actually HAVE a broken leg anymore. He will have a healed fracture.

Wonders never cease.........

He's HOT going to be suffering terrible chronic debilitating pain if the fracture heals properly. Nobody uses three-legged lame studs. It's bad for PR.

[Arazi]

199. You could stay off your leg to allow it to heal properly

That's the funny thing with horses - they can never let it heal properly since they can't fully stay off the leg. Even if they put him in a sling for 3 months, he WILL have to put 1200 lbs on that leg sooner or later.

And it WILL be painful during breeding. A horse's lower leg anatomy is so different than a human's there isn't any comparison.

And YES, if there is any chance in hell that he can be used at stud, pain or not, with the MILLIONS of dollars involved, he will be made to stand up and breed.

[kestrel91316]

260. Your statement shows how LITTLE you know about bone physiology

and healing. If I had stayed OFF my leg, it would NEVER have healed. Weightbearing is VITAL for proper bone healing. As it was, I tried not to put weight on it (I did NOT follow Dr's orders) and instead of taking 8 weeks to heal, it took 16.

The osteoblasts are stimulated to do their bone-building job by the piezoelectric effect generated in the calcium crystals in bone by weight-bearing.

Oh, wait. The scientists who determined this MUST be wrong, and YOU must be right...........

If they kept his weight off the leg until it fully healed, it would never fully heal.

Where on earth did you come up with this fantasy? TV???? Maybe on "ER"????

[Stinky The Clown]

83. May Riffian's angel be by Barbaro's side

I cried then and I cried now. These animals are so magnificent and so courtly. The very derivative of the word 'thoroughbred'.

[Philosoraptor]

84. Might I suggest Cockaroach racing?

The result would be the same, gambling on the winner, but if a cockaroach is injured during the race, no one really cares much.

[kestrel91316]

88. Jeezus-jumped-up-Christ in a sidecar!!!!!! That leg is a MESS.

Cannon, sesamoid, pastern, AND a luxation????????

Those surgeons have their work cut out for them. I am concerned that fixing all that might take so long he gets into complications associated with being DOWN so long. I just hope things have progressed a lot in the past 24 years, because when I was in vet school this would have been a non-starter, regardless of the horse's value.

Very sad situation, and I am not optimistic about recovery in the immediate postop period or the first few days.

[sleepyhead]

213. Dr. Richardson is an egomaniac

As most surgeons are (esp. equine surgeons) - but he is the best at what he does. He was in charge of my LA surgery rotation and worked a miracle or three while I was there. I actually grew to be quite fond of him. If anyone can pull this one out, he can.

[kestrel91316]

259. We had a GREAT equine surgeon at CSU when I was there.

Simon Turner. He's an Aussie, and was a personable, brilliant guy. Unfortunately he was in a car-bicycle accident about 15 years ago, and was in a coma a long time and had brain damage, and was never able to resume surgery. I understand he teaches the laboratory animal elective now (he was tenured very young, IIRC). A tragic loss for our profession and the horse world........

[Name removed]

107. Deleted message

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

[Batgirl]

110. Interesting choice of reentry

to pounce on a thread and declare the other posters to be "incredibly stupid" ...

[Redstone]

112. You know, if I didn't care about the horse, I just woldn't post. I'd leave

the thread to the people who DID care, and let them talk among themselves.

Of course, that's just me. Maybe I was raised with beter manners than some other people.

Redstone

[Batgirl]

115. I know

it's not that he doesn't care -- that's his business. It's that he made it a priority to tell everyone what dumbasses they are for caring.

[InaneAnanity]

117. I try to help when I can

Hopefully I pulled some of you back into reality.

[Batgirl]

120. I'm sure it's all in a day's work

for a compassionate individual such as yourself. All you can do is try to shine the light of Truth in the hopes that we poor deluded souls will at least get a glimpse of reality.

[InaneAnanity]

125. Think of it as the batsignal eom

[Batgirl]

134. If you're incensed that people would care about a horse

Imagine your disgust at learning that some people even put up bat houses in their yards.

Can you imagine putting up a bat house when there are suffering humans in the world?

[InaneAnanity]

157. Sure

It might add some atmosphere.

[Redstone]

147. Yeah, you've been REAL fucking helpful. Thank you SO much for

allowing us to be the beneficiaries of your Superior Wisdom, and allowing us to see the error of our ways.

What a prince of a guy you are. We'll be your loyal acolytes forever, never forgetting the boon you have so graciously granted us, unenlightened and undeserving though we are.

So, how many of us did you indeed "pull back into reality?" My count, upon reviewing the posts in this thread is, um, zero.

Good work there, Mister Savior.

Redstone

[Dangerously Amused]

166. Really? You try to help us when you can?

You'd help us a lot more if you'd STFU.

[Redstone]

133. That strikes me as being pretty rude. And makes me wonder why someone

would spend so much time and effort purely for the purpose of being rude. Then not answer someone wo points out his rudeness.

I can't figure it out. Do you have any ideas why?

Redstone

[Batgirl]

135. It's quite mystfying n/t

[djg21]

123. Racing 2-yr olds should be a crime.

Two-year old horses are still juveniles. They aren't as fast as mature horses, they are not fully developed, and they are much more prone to injury. Running two-year olds is like forcing 6 month old puppies to repeatedly exercise to exhaustion. Racing horses this young is cruel and inhumane.

[aaronbees]

140. Update: Looks like he's in the recovery pool

This news comes from a trainer who has horses at Fair Hill, Barbaro's home base: http://www.timwoolleyracing.com/news/2006/05/barbaro_fair_hi.php

Quote: "Edit 5: Barbaro is now in the recovery pool (7:40 pm). He has a bone plate fusing his ankle and pastern and a caste has been placed over this. Dr. Richardson described the surgery as one of the toughest he has performed."


Come on Barbaro, make it :) :grouphug:

[Coventina]

142. thanks for the update

keeping fingers and toes crossed.....

[Roland99]

143. Thanks for the update! Just got back from out walking w/my daughter

and hadn't checked on an update.

[goclark]

144. Make it Barbaro,come on!

We are pulling for you.

[BrklynLiberal]

163. Thanks for the good news. Hope the recovery continues to go well.

[malaise]

173. I hope he makes it

When he bolted out of the gate before the race started, they should have withdrawn him. He gave them a sign that something was wrong. It was painful to watch him. Hope he makes it and lives out his days on a nice quiet farm.

[A Brand New World]

151. I'm so glad that he evidently has pulled through the surgery.

I don't feel that the owners & trainers are doing this surgery simply for the money (stud fees). You can tell their love & concern is genuine. I don't know a lot about horses but I do know a lot of people who have them. As far as I can tell, they feel the same way about their horses that dog people feel about their dogs. They're a part of their family. If you have the money and where-with-all to save your horse's or your dog's life, then why not? If Barbaro cannot be saved, I feel certain they will do whatever is necessary to not have him suffer unduly.

[Redstone]

154. Well-said. Well-said, indeed.

Redstone

[bklyncowgirl]

158. Just read on one of the racing forums--they've had the press conference

Barbaro is doing amazingly well. He came out of the recovery pool just fine and practically dragged everyone back to his stall. He is even eating.

I didn't see the conference but the posters on Thoroughbred Champions said that Michael Matz was grinning from ear to ear.

[xultar]

159. THANK GOD!!!! I love animals.

[Name removed]

160. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bklyncowgirl]

167. He's still a long way from recovery--but it's looking good.

Alot can happen. Nature didn't intend horses to stand still but apparently the cast allows him to put weight on the leg so he can walk. The fact that he's calm and eating is a very good thing. Hopefully they can find ways to keep him from doing anything to reinjure the leg and also to keep him entertained enough to keep him sane.

He seems to be a very intelligent level headed animal.

[Branjor]

215. Me too!

Keep on getting better, Barbaro!:bounce:

[aaronbees]

164. That's just beautiful...

He's not out of the woods yet, but this is wonderful news :) It would take me days to recover from six-hour surgery, much less have a bounce in my step. Wow.

[two gun sid]

174. Great news!

He's not out of the woods yet but, this is a positive step toward recovery. New Bolton is by far the best equine clinic I know of.

[theHandpuppet]

191. More details on the surgery...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RAC_BARBARO_SURGERY?SITE=OHCIN&SECTION=AMERICAS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Catchawave]

202. Thanks for the update !

I'm glad a found this thread :hi:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

247. For those interested, the Today Show just had a good segment available to

view later this morning. Couric interviewed Richardson who said Barbaro was doing very well, and they showed xrays of the work done. They also had other photos of the colt, including being placed in the pool.

According to Richardson it can take months to see if he'll be ok, but on a lighter note, in the barn he's in, there are several mares, and he's showing interest in them! :)

The Today Show puts the video of the first hour up at it's site. http://today.msnbc.com

[Roland99]

248. AH HA HA HA HA! What a horn dog he is. ;-)

Local radio this morning was mentioning they're already putting weight on that rear leg and he's responding well so far.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

249. Yes! I thought it kind of cute that this young fella is getting a bit

randy with fillies around! Giggling here! Thank you Roland for caring so much and have a fantastic day! :hi:

[Roland99]

250. Oh, I love horses. My aunts raised and trained Quarter Horses to compete

at the KY State Fair. They have tons and tons of ribbons. One of my aunts now does photography at various regional equestrian events.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

261. Very neat about your aunts!

I have loved horses literally forever and maybe in my next life (if I decide to return!)I'll pick a path in which working with horses will be a must! In the area of NY that I live in, it's expensive to trail ride let alone have either large enough property for a horse, or to board one out.

[mtnsnake]

252. There's only one reason they're keeping Barbaro alive

The horse is worth thousands of millions of dollars for future breeding purposes.

Otherwise these rich cold-hearted, money hungry, horse racing owners wouldn't give two shits about keeping that horse alive. It's all about the money. Compassion doesn't enter into it with these people.

[Redstone]

253. Hey, you can read their minds! Great trick! You should be on TV.

Redstone

[mtnsnake]

254. Read whose minds? What, you don't like when people stick up for horses?

:wtf:

[Roland99]

262. One horse is worth billions? I somehow don't think so.

[mtnsnake]

263. Thanks for the correction. I should've said a hundred million

Some of the top horses can be worth more than that in the long run depending on the number of mares that are bred with them. Depending on the horse, some of the breeders can charge $100,000 to $400,000 a pop. Then if you look at the number of champions that certain racehorses sire, the number goes through the roof if you figure all that in. Storm Cat gets $400,000 dollars each time he shares his DNA. Multiply that by the number of encounters and it doesn't take too long to add up. Figure in the number of champion offspring from a horse like that and the number is up in the stars what that horse might produce.

It's no small wonder that horseracing is known to be a cruel sport, considering the obscene amount of money that's at stake.

[lonestarnot]

255. Horse racing is cruel. He looked sore before the race. They ran him

anyway. Happens all the time.

[mtnsnake]

257. It sure is. Every year thousands of horses die because

of reasons out of their control. Many die because they're pushed beyond their natural capabilities and many are even killed if they don't show the potential to be a champion.

[Roland99]

266. 5/23 Update: Barbaro walking on leg, improving after surgery

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/more/05/23/bc.rac.barbaro.sfuture.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. (AP) -- There was more good news Tuesday on Barbaro's recovery from a catastrophic injury to his right hind leg.

"He's actually better today than he was even yesterday and he was pretty good yesterday," Dr. Dean Richardson said. "He's walking very well on the limb, absolutely normal vital signs. He's doing very well."

Barbaro was on his feet in his stall, even scratching his left ear with his left hind leg just two days after Richardson and a team of assistants spent more than five hours pinning together the leg bones he shattered in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

The surgery was performed at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.

cool beans!