[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;8720289]
[QUOTE=dog&horsemom;8719851]I worked for a Vet yrs ago and I will never forget while we were in surgery, a racing buddy came in to visit and they talkled about a new drug that made his horses run better than ever. The Vet I worked for was completely on board with this and said he would try to get him some.
You might be surprised at how many Vets are NOT on the side of animal welfare. They pay lobbists to fight humane legislation.
IMO - that is worse than hsus trying to fight Inhumane treatment to animals.[/QUOTE
I agree wth you. But notice how the people who don’t want interference with what they do with horses claim that those of us who want disclosure are ignorant. I wanted to be a vet, but didn’t want to experiment so when I was accepted into vet school, I chose law school instead. But I kept up with the development of drugs to mask horse problems since I’ve ridden since a child and owned horses since I was 10 yrs old. TBs have always been my favorites and I raced mine against the QHs across the road.
But some people will always violate all the rules. Anyone who thinks Barbaro’s leg just happened to break in, was it 28 or 38 places?, is unwillingly to believe anything about the dark side of racing. Just one of many horses who should have been brought along slowly and not raced as he was.
It’s the breeding, the training and all other factors as well as the drugs. Ever taken Bute? You can run on a broken leg if you dope up on it. I believe in using drugs to relieve pain, etc., but would not race a horse on Bute.[/QUOTE]
I generally don’t get involved in this sort of thread/conversation. I’ve spent way too much futile time in the past. In one on one conversations in person and in various forums
If kind of falls under “no sense wrestling with a” in the general use this is NOT directed at ANYONE.
I respect your passion but based on some of the things you have written, stated it is a bit misdirected. You opinions and or statements come off more on the subjective side than based on a LOT of solid experience in the business of racing and or horses in general.
I am a person that believes 100% in the expression; “If you are going to do the talk you better have done the walk”
Which is why I provide a link to my website which gives my background information and the “miles” that I have walked. I am not saying that I wrote the “book” but would like to believe I have added a few sentences and or a bit of “updating”. But one things for sure I have read it thoroughly and had the luxury of talking with many that have written a number of paragraphs if not chapters.
I may not always agree with them in part or entirely but I respect and listen to what they have to say because I know they have walked the walk.
There are few in this (racing) forum that I can tell by what/how they comment have a pretty solid background/experience in the sport and or some in the business of the industry. In other words they have put their money where their mouth is and or made it their life’s work.
“You might be surprised at how many Vets are NOT on the side of animal welfare”
I’m not but I am not so sure I would cast such a wide blanket. I am not sure I would say “they all” are not on the side of animal welfare. I may not agree with their “reasons” but I understand them. I live in the REAL world.
“Anyone who thinks Barbaro’s leg just happened to break in, was it 28 or 38 places?, is unwillingly to believe anything about the dark side of racing. Just one of many horses who should have been brought along slowly and not raced as he was”
This statement of fact is what got my dander up. Incredibly subjective, self serving and totally incorrect. Please explain where you got your “inside information” from.
Me, I know Dr. Richardson and some members of his team. Had one on one conversations at the time and after. Yes it did “just break”. The “event” started at the gate and cascaded shortly after. This sort of breakdown" could have and has happened in a field/paddock regardless of age.
Had a beautiful long yearling break it’s shoulder while turned out in a VERY safe paddock by itself.
I know the owners of Barbaro and anyone that did/does would also know they they are NOT in it for the money. They DON"T need the money. Social media painted them as greed owners who’s only reason they put the horse through so much “pain” was so they could make a fortune off of him as a stallion. They DID NOT try and save the horse spending a fortune in the process so he could be a stallion. They knew given the nature and extent of his injury that was not going to happen if he pulled through. He would not be able to cover mares. They have a farm and he would have lived out his life there.
I know Michael Matts have broke bread with him. He does not need the money he is marry to a member of one of the wealthiest families in the country. Given his horse background in the “non-racing” world he does at times “bring along a horse slowly” too slowly in some minds.
I know some of the people who worked in his barn at the time. On and on their backs. Anyone that has spent a LOT of time on the “backside” of the racetrack knows “barn help” can have big mouths. But not the most reliable source of information. There was no “scuttlebutt”, detractors about how the horse was trained and or handled, cared for.
I am not “picking” on you, you ran into someone who’s facts come directly from the horses mouth so to speak.
“The whole idea is to protect the horses and return racing to what it was in the 50s and 60s”
I was born in 56 grew up in around racing ever since. I may of been just a kid, fly on the wall, at the farm and shedrows on the backside. But kids hear and understand far more than adults realize. NO we do not want to go back to the 50s-60s I promise you. Nor the 70’s or 80s.
The fact is TBs are FAR better off now they have ever been in the history of racing. On the track and after being retired. This is maybe a subjective statement but it is based on a lifetime, 60 years in the business and sport.
I am not saying that it is a perfect world now just a much better one.
“Ever taken Bute? You can run on a broken leg if you dope up on it.”
Sorry, saying this leads me to believe you have never taken Bute. Nor have a solid understanding of its “properties” and or usage.
My apologies if this sidetracks the thread.
No questions unless you feel anything I said shows I had the wrong opinion… which I hope is not the case. And for you {{}} to be part of that team that tried so long and so hard to make his recovery be successful. I followed it from a distance but woke up every morning (then week, etc) to see how he was doing and heartbroken in the end with so many others.