Comments on: Not again. http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/ one writer's daily download Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:01:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Joan http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-181680 Joan Wed, 07 May 2008 16:13:31 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-181680 I'm new to your blog (now a favorite), invited to it by a mutal friend I'll just call "BILL". I'm a horsewoman in the least possible sense of the word. I've worked with and trained rescue horses for the past 8 years, have only attended horse shows-never participated. I guess knowing what needs to be accomplished with a horse and to a horse to achieve any kind of success at any level of competition, not to mention how many of the competitors treat their horse, I decided backyard riding is for me. However I have learned a lot about horse behavior over the years and your assesment of the horse is spot on. As for the Derby, I agree that the culprit in the destruction of the legs of these horses is all of the above mentioned factors plus the fact that the horses are way too young. Their knees haven't even fused together yet at the age of 2 or 3. While horses can be worked with at any age, it really isn't the best for the horse to be worked at the pace and speed that racing requires at such young ages. In short, it is the fault of humans that these beautiful animals are injured. Yes, they love to run-but given a choice I doubt very much that any horse would run 4-5 times a week at full speed for over a mile just for snicks. On a different subject, I saw RFK too-I believe I was 9 or 10 at the time. Fourty years later Indiana still counted for a day. I love it! I’m new to your blog (now a favorite), invited to it by a mutal friend I’ll just call “BILL”.

I’m a horsewoman in the least possible sense of the word. I’ve worked with and trained rescue horses for the past 8 years, have only attended horse shows-never participated. I guess knowing what needs to be accomplished with a horse and to a horse to achieve any kind of success at any level of competition, not to mention how many of the competitors treat their horse, I decided backyard riding is for me. However I have learned a lot about horse behavior over the years and your assesment of the horse is spot on. As for the Derby, I agree that the culprit in the destruction of the legs of these horses is all of the above mentioned factors plus the fact that the horses are way too young. Their knees haven’t even fused together yet at the age of 2 or 3. While horses can be worked with at any age, it really isn’t the best for the horse to be worked at the pace and speed that racing requires at such young ages. In short, it is the fault of humans that these beautiful animals are injured. Yes, they love to run-but given a choice I doubt very much that any horse would run 4-5 times a week at full speed for over a mile just for snicks.

On a different subject, I saw RFK too-I believe I was 9 or 10 at the time. Fourty years later Indiana still counted for a day. I love it!

]]> By: Sue http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-181035 Sue Tue, 06 May 2008 13:36:38 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-181035 Sounds bad enough to me, given the description of what happens in all-out running. But the article also uses the term "equine athlete" (no anthropomorphic attributes there), so I guess if you think of it in terms of what human athletes do to gain optimum performance, it lines up as it should. I don't have to like it, though. Nobody's going to make any money raising horses to frolic in fields all day. Sounds bad enough to me, given the description of what happens in all-out running. But the article also uses the term “equine athlete” (no anthropomorphic attributes there), so I guess if you think of it in terms of what human athletes do to gain optimum performance, it lines up as it should. I don’t have to like it, though. Nobody’s going to make any money raising horses to frolic in fields all day.

]]> By: nancy http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-181023 nancy Tue, 06 May 2008 13:07:47 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-181023 It's not that bad. Follow the lasix link above, and all is explained. It’s not that bad. Follow the lasix link above, and all is explained.

]]> By: Sue http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-181020 Sue Tue, 06 May 2008 12:58:53 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-181020 Bleeding in the lungs? That sounds awful. Why would anyone allow doing that to a horse? I thought it was just little bleeding, bruising or something. Really, I want to know. Nancy? Bleeding in the lungs? That sounds awful. Why would anyone allow doing that to a horse? I thought it was just little bleeding, bruising or something. Really, I want to know. Nancy?

]]> By: brian stouder http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-181017 brian stouder Tue, 06 May 2008 12:53:34 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-181017 John - thanks for the link!! A very good Washington Post opinion piece, by the proprietress her-own-self! (If that was in the News-Sentinel, it would generate upset letters to the editor for the next month!) edit - my lovely wife and I voted this morning (at different times); no lengthy lines of voters were present - although one could say it was 'steady' (I had two people ahead of me, and one after me, and another voter [presumeably] was pulling in as I drove away).....and no dramatic challenge to me when I went for "D" status for the first time in a primary. (I had an Obama button tucked inside my pocket, as a ready talisman in case I was challenged). Real life Hoosier voting was (as always) much more relaxed than the cable channels might have us believe...at least hereabouts John - thanks for the link!! A very good Washington Post opinion piece, by the proprietress her-own-self!

(If that was in the News-Sentinel, it would generate upset letters to the editor for the next month!)

edit - my lovely wife and I voted this morning (at different times); no lengthy lines of voters were present - although one could say it was ’steady’ (I had two people ahead of me, and one after me, and another voter [presumeably] was pulling in as I drove away)…..and no dramatic challenge to me when I went for “D” status for the first time in a primary. (I had an Obama button tucked inside my pocket, as a ready talisman in case I was challenged).

Real life Hoosier voting was (as always) much more relaxed than the cable channels might have us believe…at least hereabouts

]]> By: nancy http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-181014 nancy Tue, 06 May 2008 12:46:45 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-181014 Lasix is used to control pulmonary bleeding, which can happen in extreme exertion. (Everything you always wanted to know about lasix <a href="http://www.thinkythings.org/horseracing/lasixinfo.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a>) It's not given to induce peeing; when a horse is worked, either in training or racing, he's always given a long cooling-out period and grooming routine -- bathing, walking, sipping water, maybe some liniment and stretching -- and then put back in the stall. The stall is a cue to "relax, work's over," and many horses celebrate with a nice long pee. Some claim you can train a horse to pee as a conditioned response by whistling in their ears, and lots of trainers do. The guy or girl who collects the sample has a jar on the end of a long pole, and enters the stall when the horse is put away. Pat pat on the neck, whistle in the ear and pretty soon they stretch out and produce. You can't just walk up to a horse, whistle in their ear and watch them pee. All the other factors have to be right, too. Lasix is used to control pulmonary bleeding, which can happen in extreme exertion. (Everything you always wanted to know about lasix here.) It’s not given to induce peeing; when a horse is worked, either in training or racing, he’s always given a long cooling-out period and grooming routine — bathing, walking, sipping water, maybe some liniment and stretching — and then put back in the stall. The stall is a cue to “relax, work’s over,” and many horses celebrate with a nice long pee. Some claim you can train a horse to pee as a conditioned response by whistling in their ears, and lots of trainers do. The guy or girl who collects the sample has a jar on the end of a long pole, and enters the stall when the horse is put away. Pat pat on the neck, whistle in the ear and pretty soon they stretch out and produce.

You can’t just walk up to a horse, whistle in their ear and watch them pee. All the other factors have to be right, too.

]]> By: Sue http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-181006 Sue Tue, 06 May 2008 12:37:19 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-181006 Lasix is used in humans to control edema, usually in the course of treatment for a medical condition. I believe it's used in racehorses on race day to control bleeding, although I don't know why. Either way it's a diuretic. Imagine having to do some monstrous physical activity while balancing on the edge of dehydration. Seems wrong. Lasix is used in humans to control edema, usually in the course of treatment for a medical condition. I believe it’s used in racehorses on race day to control bleeding, although I don’t know why. Either way it’s a diuretic. Imagine having to do some monstrous physical activity while balancing on the edge of dehydration. Seems wrong.

]]> By: John http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-180990 John Tue, 06 May 2008 11:37:48 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-180990 Did I miss your note to check out the Washington Post yesterday for a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/05/AR2008050500796.html" rel="nofollow">guest column</a> on Indiana? Did I miss your note to check out the Washington Post yesterday for a guest column on Indiana?

]]> By: Terry WAlter http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-180946 Terry WAlter Tue, 06 May 2008 10:07:19 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-180946 Lasix is the drug that causes racehorses to pee. Also used in humans. Lasix is the drug that causes racehorses to pee. Also used in humans.

]]> By: caliban http://nancynall.com/2008/05/05/not-again/#comment-180807 caliban Tue, 06 May 2008 06:54:34 +0000 http://nancynall.com/?p=1778#comment-180807 Princess Anne is a gender unto herself. Princess Anne is a gender unto herself.

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