Comments on: Eight Belles: A Lost Story about Why Horses Came to Earth http://themoderatevoice.com/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:20:13 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kentucky derby horse names http://themoderatevoice.com/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-112046 kentucky derby horse names Tue, 06 May 2008 06:15:21 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/religion/ideologies/mythology/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/#comment-112046 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: i want to die http://themoderatevoice.com/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-112042 i want to die Mon, 05 May 2008 19:59:26 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/religion/ideologies/mythology/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/#comment-112042 [...] [...] [...] [...]

]]> By: LadyLogician http://themoderatevoice.com/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-142926 LadyLogician Mon, 05 May 2008 18:24:20 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/religion/ideologies/mythology/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/#comment-142926 Dr. E...that is exactly what I am saying. Race training starts at 2. The Breeders Cup races (the finale of the racing season) has a race for 2 year olds and most of these horses have at least one or two races under their belts. Large breeds (like thoroughbreds) take 3-4 year for full development of knee and ankle joints. I rode hunter/jumpers in my youth and we NEVER started sport horses before 3 and then we didn't start the galloping/jumping until 4 because their joints couldn't take the stress!<br><br>I got out of the horse business (in part) because I saw so much that was done in order to "win" and it just sickened me. My horses were my best friends, my confidants (my one horse absorbed so many teenaged tears....) and my babies. I would have never hurt them intentionally and yet I saw owners and trainers do it on a daily basis! It really soured me on "the business". It has changed (somewhat) since then but now I just take care of my human kids and my dogs!<br><br>LL Dr. E…that is exactly what I am saying. Race training starts at 2. The Breeders Cup races (the finale of the racing season) has a race for 2 year olds and most of these horses have at least one or two races under their belts. Large breeds (like thoroughbreds) take 3-4 year for full development of knee and ankle joints. I rode hunter/jumpers in my youth and we NEVER started sport horses before 3 and then we didn't start the galloping/jumping until 4 because their joints couldn't take the stress!

I got out of the horse business (in part) because I saw so much that was done in order to “win” and it just sickened me. My horses were my best friends, my confidants (my one horse absorbed so many teenaged tears….) and my babies. I would have never hurt them intentionally and yet I saw owners and trainers do it on a daily basis! It really soured me on “the business”. It has changed (somewhat) since then but now I just take care of my human kids and my dogs!

LL

]]> By: archangel http://themoderatevoice.com/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-142925 archangel Mon, 05 May 2008 03:18:34 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/religion/ideologies/mythology/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/#comment-142925 You know LadyLogician, and welcome tonight by the way, any creature lover is a friend .... especially if you can still weep after seeing so much 'of so much' in our world<br><br>Something seems to have changed over the decades of horse racing, even though long ago people said some owners spiked their horses for races... but I did not realize they were racing the horses so very young before... before bone development is solidified for a number of years...I think that's what you're saying.<br><br> CStanley, one of our other commenters is a vet, not sure if she's a horse vet though, but maybe she will comment on stress-bearing bone development. I would like to know more. And I'd also like to know if those who race horses know or dont know more about young horses' endurance vs injury vs age. Or if they do, do they just figure they'll lose some horses like this? That cant be it.<br><br>dr.e You know LadyLogician, and welcome tonight by the way, any creature lover is a friend …. especially if you can still weep after seeing so much 'of so much' in our world

Something seems to have changed over the decades of horse racing, even though long ago people said some owners spiked their horses for races… but I did not realize they were racing the horses so very young before… before bone development is solidified for a number of years…I think that's what you're saying.

CStanley, one of our other commenters is a vet, not sure if she's a horse vet though, but maybe she will comment on stress-bearing bone development. I would like to know more. And I'd also like to know if those who race horses know or dont know more about young horses' endurance vs injury vs age. Or if they do, do they just figure they'll lose some horses like this? That cant be it.

dr.e

]]> By: LadyLogician http://themoderatevoice.com/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-142924 LadyLogician Mon, 05 May 2008 02:39:13 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/religion/ideologies/mythology/19366/eight-belles-a-lost-story-about-why-horses-came-to-earth/#comment-142924 "…and the horse will literally love you so hard, it will run its heart out for you until it is dead.”<br><br>A truer statement was never spoken. I still remember the match race between Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure. I cried as I watched that sweet filly try to continue to race after she shattered her leg.<br><br>I love horse racing, but the industry needs to change. It is past time to quit racing 2 and 3 year olds. They are simply not physically developed enough to handle the stress (of racing) on their developing bones.<br><br>LL “…and the horse will literally love you so hard, it will run its heart out for you until it is dead.”

A truer statement was never spoken. I still remember the match race between Ruffian and Foolish Pleasure. I cried as I watched that sweet filly try to continue to race after she shattered her leg.

I love horse racing, but the industry needs to change. It is past time to quit racing 2 and 3 year olds. They are simply not physically developed enough to handle the stress (of racing) on their developing bones.

LL

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