[QUOTE=shawneeAcres;3187069]
First I’d like to say this about “what happened”. I think, very likely there are two possible scenarios which led to breakdown of this fabulous filly. The first is tiring. The filly ran a hard race, and obviosuly in the stretch she was tiring. When any animal tires, the support from the muscles, ligaments and tendons begins to give way, the animal can then take a misstep, which can lead to injury. How many times do you see a human runner tire and sprain or even break an ankle becuase their legs were jsut giving out from the exhaustion. I feel that is the most likely reason for this fillies breakdown., Second is that possiby she had a very smal hairline fracture that during the race weakened and then gave way at the end of the race. Noone will ever know for sure, but these are the two most likely causes of her broken ankles.
Secondly, all of you that want to stop watching that is fine. I too did not like what happened, it saddened and sickened us to see that filly lying there, yet she was swiftly attended to, diagnosed and euthanized. One thing racing has over ALL other equine sports is absolutely the best and fastest veterinary care available. It was IMMEDIATE that they attended to her. As someone else said a far better fate than what many ex-racers face! I do not understand the mentality that becuase a horse breaks down in racing,e venting or any other horse sport that we should cease that sport. If that DOES occur then there is not going to be a logical reason for horses to remain in our country, they aren’t used for work, except in very limited places, and they aren’t used for meat. They really are not companion animals like dogs or cats, so then what reason to feed, house and care for such a very large and expensive creature??? they exist SOLELY for sport, period. Our responsibility is to do our BEST to properly prepare and condition them, ride them, train them and compete them as fairly as we can. Accidents ARE going to happen, and the best we can do is swiftly attend to that animal and make the humane decision to euthanize when needed. And then to ELARN from the incident and try and improve things, but NOT to bash the sport altogether for one incident. It happens, and guess what, so do car wrecks and airline catastrophes. The hrose doesn’t have a say in what he is used for, but if he wasn’t usd for sport, he wouldn’t exist in our culture during this day and age.[/QUOTE]
Very well said
Ain’t that the truth!
What a filly! My thoughts are with her connections tonight and in the days that follow as they deal with her empty stall and their aching hearts.
