2ndyrgal - I’m nosy… Are you in Lexington, Georgetown or north of there?
We share the same thought patterns… 
I thought Bo was quite informed, however, I feel I know where JAck got a lot of his information - he put in a phone call to my former boss this afternoon because he mentioned him at least half a dozen times! 
:lol:
Dean Richardson is extremely well spoken on camera (no surprise, as he probably has lectured hundreds of vet classes, but it is still a surprise as I never really watched any of his news conferences he had on Barbaro).
I too, turned it off before the tree hugger got on.
I only knew that what happened to Barbaro was going to be on Larry King because of this thread. I thought Bo Derek was fine, I believe it or not thought the PETA rep was fine too. They both had valid thoughts on the subject. The guy in the middle seemed like he was taking it from the money side of things.
The PETA rep only wanted for the awareness of slaughter, and improving the tracks, and to make aware that not all people are like the Jacksons.
Actually, Bo and Jack were good…not sure why they were picked, but they were pro racing and anti slaughter. The PETA rep did make some valid points but I really didn’t take her seriously. It was a great story all and all!
Ha ha, I almost did but actually Bo and Jack did a good job but that idiot from PITA, well, she’s an idiot and certainly portrayed that tonight!!!
I think when you are around people who epitomize class like the Jackson’s - they set the tone - anyone who follows tend to emulate that, because otherwise they would come out looking rather poor.
I was surprised at how rational the PETA lady was - I thought she had valid points - better running surface, not running so young for example.
Very true. You could feel the emotion coming from Mrs Jackson and Mr Jackson was able to stay very composed. Dr R was great as always.
I was really happy Mrs J was able to get a few words in about the horse slaughter issue, as well as Bo. I don’t think Jack really “gets it” but I think he means well.
Maybe this will reach the people who aren’t exposed to the horse industry on a routine basis and who have no idea there is such a thing as horse slaughter.
Maybe this is what Barbaro has done for us. Got the attention of an otherwise unreachable audience. :yes:
PETA representative
had it half right. Racing is a cash cow for the state, but is more of an ego enhancer for the owner.
Thank goodness the PETA rep didn’t put down the Jacksons - the retribution for that … holy cow.
As usual, the Jacksons and Dr. Dean were so well spoken and respectable (maybe has something to do with education??).
I think that Jack Hanna’s point that there are people who abuse in any situation was a good point. I don’t quite understand the relevance of his presence on the program. Is CNN that hard up? There are far more equine educated celebrities … or how about a politician … like Mayor Bloomberg who obviously has a hand in horses between racing in NYC and his daughter. Or Pataki. Or a “star” like Redford, Morgan Freeman, or someone else well known who owns racehorses like Rick Pitino, Joe Torre (I think) … my mind is fading …
And as for including the “other side”, does it have to be PETA - there must be organizations that are a bit less extreme but still have concerns about racing and slaughter. An advocate for better conditions at the track, especially the lower level tracks where money isn’t quite thrown around.
Dr Richardson is pure class
you can be certain that Barbaro got the best care he could have anywhere in the world. The comment he made that “we are always learning” speaks volume about the best equine orthopedic surgeon in the world.
My vote would have been for the TRF!!! Now that would have been a huge opportunity to speak out for the Thoroughbred.
Dean Richardson is excellent. If I could do college all over again, I would be studying furiously under him.
LOL
Too many jokes YoungFilly, MUST…NOT GIVE IN…
:lol:
Ohh boy thanks for that. I too would study furiously…just maybe not under him.
~Emily
Can you imagine though going from a vet respected and loved by the local community to be on national TV taking care of a horse who was so loved -
OK I am venturing into this debate slowly and carefully…
The PETA woman was used for a reason, to show the other side of the public opinion of racing. One of the biggest parts about free speech and expression is that we must allow BOTH sides to speak publicly, without censorship, to fully enjoy all the benefits of this right.
Now this doesn’t mean you must agree with the opinions either sides professes, by all means take the time to research and experience and make your own opinions. But to adequately cover the whole story tonight a few other voices were brought in to speak on the topid of racing and how it works and the problems, and opinions of its problems therein.
Barbaro wasn’t the topic these people (Bo, Jack and Lisa) were brought in to discuss. They were brought in as a cross section of horse/animal people who are well versed in Pr, available tonight and had something to say. You may not like the PETA lady, but hey at least she was a Sr. Vp of communications, not just a hot headed intern.
Bo has been very involved with the horse world and is an ambassador for Animal protection. She is very knowledgable and anyone who dismisses her as a blonde actress air head is gonna be in for a pretty big misunderstanding. Her diplomatic handling of the whole ending suffering through euthanasia versus a mare of hers that died in the night from a horrbile bout of colic, was a big point getter for her as we watched here.
Jack has worked with tons of animals and could speak well on a horses own insticts beyond the world of humans. He could also do a great job (as he did) of deflecting stupid/tasteless questions and instead direct the conversation to a positive element of the equine/animal world.
As far as the email questions, just take a stroll over to TWR, many Barbaro lovers are just normal people. Normal people who don’t understand our world can ask what seem like “stupid” questions to us. They don’t know any better. And since a lot has been made in the news in the past couple years about cloning and Dolly the sheep and the various cloned cows, I really don’t see it as that silly of a query. We all were clueless once and it took kind and patient people to help us understand the world we’re in now and whats the norm and what is outside the norm. Give the laypeople a break.
And for the PETA rep, Lisa Lange… We stand up just as passionately for what we believe in. By rights she is allowed a chance to stand on the soapbox as well. Or at least I will respect her right to speak her mind, and I will listen and pay attention so that I can then make an informed opinion of what I feel about her. (She had some things I disagreed with, some good points that racing has been trying to work on, and she at least didn’t give in and bend. )
Overall it was an interview that once again brought attention and light to our sport. For better or worse we have the public’s attention. What they come away with is entirely of their own making. But what can push them one way or another is if we stand to firm, and refuse to bend or yield to either help them understand, or see the joys that we see.
I hope this hasn’t come off as too high handed. It wasn’t my intent.
The thing that made Barbaro different was the Barbaro Team. The Jackson’s, Michael Matz, Dr. Richardson, Alex and VirginiaBred for relaying Alex’s reports over here. I know there were others on the team but these are the ones that made a difference for me. Perhaps it was only because I was more interested this time but all of these people from my prospective gave us unprecedented access to his day to day life. Did the ordinary person know what happened day to day for Charismatic (gosh I didn’t actually know he made it until I saw another thread today).
They allowed us into Barbaro’s life. They provided insight when things were good and when things went bad. I think we all knew the end was near on Sunday. Monday morning they told us he did not have a good night. Was anyone that follows this thread every day surprised that he was euthanized on Monday? I don’t think so. This team kept us in the know. Thank you.
I do have a question. Does anyone know if they are doing any type of autopsy. Obviously we all know why he died but I am just wondering if they will try to find out the size of his heart. Secretariat had such a big heart as several champions have. Would really like to know what Barbaro’s was if it was noteworthy and they would like to share.
I am actually going to get the opportunity to see Dynaformer, Barbaro’s Sire, in April at 3 Chimneys. I was so hoping that Barbaro was going to be released and might be there as well :sadsmile:.
Opps worked on the above post before the whole PETA thing.
The Philly.com site has link where folks can leave condolences. As of this writing there are 95 pages (approx 10 entries a page). That’s 950 entries from people all over the country. It is a testament to the effect this horse had on everyone. Here is the link: http://www.legacy.com/philly/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=86211889.
[QUOTE=Oakstable;2181162]
Barbaro was eating, sleeping, and interacting with people. How do you euthanize a horse before it becomes an obvious quality of life issue? When the horse changed and was clearly unhappy, the owners said that’s it.
Everyone knew the odds were long.
I agree with another poster, no decision would have satisfied everyone.
All in all, it is their business.[/QUOTE]
Amen.
It’s over. I don’t think now is the time to argue over this. We can’t change what happened, but we can celebrate a magnificent horse and talk about the good things in his life.
